Craps Odds Bet Guide | Understanding Bets, Payouts & House Edge
Playing craps involves a range of betting options, each with its own rules, payouts and house edge. Understanding how these bets work can help you approach the game with clearer expectations, whether you are new to craps or reviewing the basics.
This guide covers the main craps bets, typical payouts and how the house edge applies to different wagers, explained in straightforward terms. Gambling involves risk, so set limits that are appropriate for you and use the responsible gambling tools available on the site.
Read on to understand the key craps odds bets and how they work.
What Are the Main Types of Craps Bets?
Craps offers many bets, though a handful appear far more often and form the backbone of most play. Below are the bets you’ll meet most frequently, described so you can recognise how each one behaves at the table. They are the basic options most players use before moving on to more exotic wagers.
Pass Line Bet
This is the most common wager and a good starting point for beginners. You back the shooter to win on the come-out roll.
- Wins on 7 or 11.
- Loses on 2, 3 or 12.
- If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 appears, that number becomes the point.
- The shooter must roll the point again before a 7 for the Pass Line bet to win.
Pass Line bets are popular because they are simple and carry a relatively low house edge compared with many other bets. They are placed before the come-out roll and remain active until resolved.
Don’t Pass Line Bet
This bet opposes the shooter and is effectively a bet on the 7 appearing before the point is made.
- Wins on 2 or 3.
- Loses on 7 or 11.
- 12 is a tie, often called a push.
- If a point is set, the Don’t Pass wager wins if a 7 appears before the point is repeated.
Don’t Pass is sometimes called the “dark side” bet and can be slightly more favourable in terms of house edge. It is also placed prior to the come-out roll and stays until the outcome is decided.
Come Bet
Placed after the come-out roll, the Come bet operates like a Pass Line wager but applies to the next roll the shooter makes.
- It treats the next roll as its own mini come-out.
- If a 7 or 11 is rolled on that next roll, the Come bet wins.
- If a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled, the Come bet loses.
- If a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, that number becomes the Come point and the bet wins if that number is rolled again before a 7.
Come bets let you join the action after the initial phase and are useful for building multiple active bets across different numbers.
Don’t Come Bet
The counterpart to the Come bet, made after the come-out roll and operating like the Don’t Pass line for the next roll.
- It wins on 2 or 3 and loses on 7 or 11.
- 12 typically results in a tie.
- Once a number is established for the Don’t Come bet, it wins if a 7 appears before that number is rolled again.
Don’t Come bets allow players to take the opposing position after the come-out roll and can be used alongside other bets for different strategies.
Place Bets
Place bets are wagers on individual numbers — 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 — to appear before a 7. You put the money directly on the desired number.
- Payout rates differ by number because each number has a different probability of appearing.
- You can take or lay Place bets at most tables, depending on whether you want the number to hit before a 7 or the 7 to come first.
Place bets give you flexibility to target specific numbers and manage your risk, but be aware that payout differences reflect the varying odds for each number.
If you want a bit more context before we cover payouts, the next section explains how the various rates translate into money you can win.
How Do Craps Payouts Work?
Payouts in craps depend on the bet type and the true odds of rolling the numbers involved. Some bets pay even money, others pay at ratios that reflect the frequency of a number occurring. The payout shown by the dealer or on the table tells you how much you receive in winnings, and in most cases your original stake is returned in addition to that amount.
Different bets resolve at different times. Some settle immediately, while others remain active until a particular number or a seven is rolled. Knowing when a bet pays and whether the stake is returned helps you understand the practical value of each wager.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass
Both pay at 1:1. A £5 win returns £5 in winnings plus the original £5 stake, for a total of £10.
These are two of the simplest and most commonly used bets at the table. They tend to have relatively low house advantage compared with many other wagers, which is why players often favour them.
Come and Don’t Come
These also pay at 1:1 when they resolve in your favour. Like Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets, they effectively act as fresh Pass Line or Don’t Pass bets once a point has been established.
They are useful for players who join a game after a point has already been set, because they allow similar exposure to the basic Pass/Don’t lines while keeping play flexible.
Place Bets
Different numbers have different payouts, matching how likely each is to be rolled before a 7.
- Place 6 or 8, pays 7:6 (a £6 bet returns £7)
- Place 5 or 9, pays 7:5 (a £5 bet returns £7)
- Place 4 or 10, pays 9:5 (a £5 bet returns £9)
Place bets pay out if your chosen number is rolled before a seven. The less likely a number is to appear, the larger the payout ratio tends to be. Stake handling can vary by table, so check whether the casino requires specific chip amounts for certain payouts.
Other wagers, such as proposition bets, offer higher payouts but typically correspond with much lower probability. Examples include one-roll bets and special hard-way bets, which can pay many times your stake but have a much higher house advantage.
It is sensible to check the payout table for the specific game you are at, since casinos can vary slightly in how they handle odds, minimums and maximums.
If you are curious about how those numbers affect the house advantage, the next section explains that relationship.
What Is the House Edge in Craps?
The house edge is the casino’s statistical advantage expressed as a percentage. It estimates how much, on average, the house will retain from the amounts staked over many plays.
Low-edge bets, like Pass Line and Don’t Pass, sit around 1.4% and 1.36% respectively, which means a smaller expected loss per stake over time. By contrast, certain side bets and proposition bets can carry much larger edges, sometimes 10% or more, which makes them less favourable for longer sessions.
Knowing the house edge helps you compare bets. It doesn’t predict a single roll, but it does show which options are generally kinder to your bankroll over extended play. Set clear limits before you start and stick to them to keep things manageable.
Let’s look next at which specific bets tend to offer the best expected returns.
Which Craps Bets Have the Best Odds?
The bets with the lowest house edge are generally the best value. Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come and Don’t Come are all among the most favourable, each sitting just above 1% house edge. That makes them strong choices if your aim is to keep the expected loss low.
Another important option is the Odds bet, placed behind a Pass Line or Come bet once a point is established. The Odds bet pays true odds, so it carries no house edge; its value comes from letting you increase a bet at the fair probability rate, improving the overall expected return compared with relying on flat bets alone.
Recognise, though, that while these bets reduce the house’s statistical advantage, they do not guarantee a positive result on any given session. With that in mind, the comparison section below summarises payouts and edges to help you decide where to focus your play.
Comparing Common Craps Bets: Payouts & House Edge
The table below gives typical payouts and the house edge for popular bets, so you can weigh return against risk. Payouts shown are the usual figures you’ll see, but always check the table at the table you’re playing.
| Bet Type | Typical Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Come | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Odds Bet | Varies* | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% |
*Odds bet payouts match the true probability for the point: for 6 or 8 the payout is 6:5, for 5 or 9 it’s 3:2, and for 4 or 10 it’s 2:1.
After seeing the table, you might wonder which common ideas about dice truly hold up. The next section separates fact from fiction.
Are There Any Myths About Craps Odds?
Craps attracts plenty of folklore. One persistent myth is that certain numbers are “due” after a run of losses, as if past rolls change future outcomes. In fact, each roll is an independent event; previous results do not alter the underlying probabilities.
Another misconception is that betting systems, for example increasing stakes after losses, can overcome the house edge. Systems can influence variance over short periods but cannot change the mathematical advantage the house has over the long term.
You may also hear talk of “hot” or “cold” shooters. While streaks happen in sequences of rolls, they do not provide a reliable basis for predicting future results. Understanding the true probabilities and the house edge gives a clearer foundation for decision making than following patterns that only appear meaningful in hindsight.
If you want to get more comfortable at the table, learning key terms helps the game feel less mysterious — the glossary that follows covers the essentials.
Glossary of Craps Betting Terms
Here are common terms that come up in conversation and on the felt, explained so you can follow the action.
Come-Out Roll
The initial roll that starts a round and either resolves come bets immediately or establishes a point.
Point
A number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) set by the come-out roll; subsequent play focuses on whether that number or a 7 appears first.
Pass Line Bet
A wager that the shooter will win on the come-out roll or that the point will be rolled again before a 7.
Don’t Pass Bet
A wager that the shooter will lose on the come-out roll or that a 7 will appear before the point.
Come Bet
A bet made after the come-out roll that behaves like a Pass Line bet starting from the next roll.
Don’t Come Bet
A post-come-out bet that mirrors the Don’t Pass rules for the next roll.
Place Bet
A wager on a specific number to be rolled before a 7.
Odds Bet
An additional wager backing a Pass Line or Come bet once the point is set, paid at true odds and without a house edge.
Take a little time with these terms before you play and they’ll soon feel natural. If you keep the basics in mind — which bets carry lower edges and how payouts correspond to probability — you’ll be able to make choices that match the kind of session you want.
If you’d like, I can tailor the advice to different bankroll sizes or explain how to combine Pass Line and Odds bets for best expected return.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.