A “wheel bet” is a type of wager that is commonly placed in the game of craps. In craps, players wager on the outcome of the roll of a pair of dice. A wheel bet is a multi-roll bet that involves placing chips on a specific combination of numbers on the craps layout, with the intention of covering various potential outcomes.
The term “wheel bet” can refer to different specific bets depending on the context, but here are two common interpretations:
1. **Hard Way Wheel Bet**: This is a bet that a specific “hard way” number (4, 6, 8, or 10) will be rolled before a 7. A “hard way” number is a pair of the same value (e.g., two 3s make a hard 6). The bet is placed on the corresponding hard way section of the betting layout. If a 7 is rolled before the hard way number, the bet loses. If the hard way number is rolled, the bet wins. This bet is called a “wheel” because the numbers 4, 6, 8, and 10 form a sort of wheel pattern on the betting layout.
2. **Any Seven Wheel Bet**: This is a one-roll bet that the next roll will be a 7. Players place their chips in the middle of the layout where the 7 is marked. If a 7 is rolled, the bet pays 5 to 1. If any other number is rolled, the bet loses.
The term “wheel” in this context is somewhat metaphorical, as it doesn’t describe the actual mechanics of the dice roll but rather the way the numbers are laid out on the betting surface or the nature of the bet covering a range of outcomes like the spokes of a wheel. It’s important to note that the odds of winning these bets are not in the player’s favor, as they have a high house edge.
