I’m generally a fan of the money-making opportunities the game of craps affords the players. If you take the time and have the patience to really learn the game, you can make some nice money a little more consistently than trying your luck at other games of chance. However, like most casino games, there are always exceptions. Craps’ exception is what’s called the “fire bet.”

Much like a blackjack side bet, the edge is so ridiculously skewed in the house’s favor it’s almost not worth playing. But also like a few blackjack side bets, the top payoff is so enticing, it helps sustain the game as a money-making avenue for the casino all on its own.

A fire bet is as follows. The player is betting that a single roller will be able to make 4, 5 or 6 individual points after an initial point is established. Individual points meaning no duplicated numbers. The player has to hit the point of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 – before rolling a seven.

Impossible, you say, or at least highly improbable. And you’d be right. You can typically bet between $1 and $5 on a fire bet, and if you go for the max, the house edge is between 21 and 25% depending on the payouts. That’s right up there with the worst blackjack side bets offered in any casino around the world.

Here are the payoffs. Either 25:1, 25:1 and 1,000:1 for hitting 4, 5 or 6 points, respectively, or 10, 200 and 2,000 – depending on where you’re playing.

A few other notes. Pass bets or craps rolls on the Come Out Roll don’t count, nor does making the same point more than once. Remember, it has to be 4, 5 or all 6 individual points in a row – no duplications. Points do not have to be make in sequential order. They can be made in any order. And it probably goes without saying, but you only get one payoff. You don’t automatically keep the payoff for hitting four points if the roller goes on to hit a fifth or sixth point, as well. The casino pays off just the highest amount.

So there you have it. No doubt the allure of hitting the craps jackpot of a possible $10,000 payoff is enough to keep energy pumped into this already high-energy game. Is it worth a shot? Sure, just be prepared for your $5 flame to get doused many times before hosing down one of those big payoffs.