Updated: September 2, 2026
Craps odds and payouts vary sharply across the table. The Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets have comparatively low built-in edges, while many one-roll and proposition bets cost much more over time. An additional Odds bet pays at the true mathematical odds, but it can only be made after a point is established and it increases the amount at risk.
Quick answer: a standard Pass Line bet has a house edge of about 1.41%, and a Don’t Pass bet with 12 as a push has an edge of about 1.36%. Pass/Come Odds pay 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. Those Odds wagers have no mathematical house edge by themselves, but they do not erase the expected loss on the required line bet.
18+ only. Craps is a negative-expectation casino game under ordinary rules. Lower edge does not mean low risk, and adding Odds increases the money exposed to each resolved point. Set a fixed budget and time limit before play, avoid chasing losses and never gamble with essential funds.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass rules
A round begins with the come-out roll. If the roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the point. The shooter then continues until the point repeats or a 7 appears.
| Come-out result | Pass Line | Don’t Pass | What happens next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 or 11 | Wins | Loses | Round resolves immediately |
| 2 or 3 | Loses | Wins | Round resolves immediately |
| 12 | Loses | Usually pushes | Check whether the table bars 12 or uses another rule |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 | Point is established | Point is established | Pass wins if the point repeats before 7; Don’t Pass wins if 7 appears first |
Line bets can remain active for several rolls. A Pass Line bet is normally a contract bet after the point is established, while rules may allow a Don’t Pass bet to be reduced or removed. Online interfaces can automate these restrictions, so check the help screen before assuming a control is available.
Two-dice probabilities
Two fair six-sided dice produce 36 equally likely ordered combinations. Seven appears most often because six combinations total 7. A total of 2 or 12 has only one combination.
| Total | Combinations | Probability on one roll | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or 12 | 1 each | 1/36 = 2.78% each | 1+1 or 6+6 |
| 3 or 11 | 2 each | 2/36 = 5.56% each | 1+2, 2+1 |
| 4 or 10 | 3 each | 3/36 = 8.33% each | Three ordered combinations |
| 5 or 9 | 4 each | 4/36 = 11.11% each | Four ordered combinations |
| 6 or 8 | 5 each | 5/36 = 13.89% each | Five ordered combinations |
| 7 | 6 | 6/36 = 16.67% | 1+6 through 6+1 |
Once a point exists, only that point and 7 matter to the line bet. For a point of 4, three combinations make 4 and six make 7, so Pass wins 3 out of the 9 decisive combinations and Don’t Pass wins 6. That ratio is why a true-odds Pass wager on 4 pays 2:1.
Craps odds and payouts chart
| Bet | Typical payout | Approximate house edge | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line / Come | 1:1 | 1.41% | Multi-roll bet with 2, 3 and 12 losing on the first roll |
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come | 1:1 | 1.36% | 12 usually pushes; confirm the barred number |
| Odds behind Pass / Come | 2:1, 3:2 or 6:5 | 0% on the Odds portion | Requires an established point and qualifying line/Come bet |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% | Wins if the number appears before 7 |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% | Wins if the number appears before 7 |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% | Buy-bet commission rules may offer a different cost |
| Field | 1:1 on most wins; 2/12 may pay more | 2.78% or 5.56% commonly | Edge depends on whether 2 or 12 pays double or triple |
| Any Craps | 7:1 | 11.11% | One-roll bet on 2, 3 or 12 |
| Any Seven | 4:1 | 16.67% | One-roll bet; payout is below true 5:1 odds |
Payouts and rules can differ. Field awards, Buy/Lay commission timing, hop bets, Fire Bet-style side wagers and electronic variants must be evaluated from the live table. Treat every named wager as its own product rather than quoting one “craps RTP.”
Taking and laying Odds
After a point is established, a player with a Pass Line or Come bet may be allowed to take Odds. A player with a Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bet may lay Odds. These additional wagers are settled at the true ratio between the point and 7.
| Point | Pass/Come Odds payout | Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Odds payout | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 1:2 | 7 has six combinations; 4 or 10 has three |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 2:3 | 7 has six combinations; 5 or 9 has four |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 5:6 | 7 has six combinations; 6 or 8 has five |
A zero-edge Odds wager does not make the complete position zero edge. Suppose a player has $10 on Pass Line and later adds $10 in Odds. The original $10 still carries the line bet’s expected cost; the additional $10 is paid at true odds. The expected dollar loss attached to the line portion is unchanged, while the total stake and possible swing are larger.
Tables may allow single, double, 3-4-5×, 10× or another maximum. “3-4-5× Odds” usually means three times the line bet behind points 4/10, four times behind 5/9 and five times behind 6/8, producing a similar maximum win across the points. Never add Odds simply to reach a theoretical percentage if the larger exposure exceeds the preset budget.
Come and Don’t Come bets
Come and Don’t Come apply line-bet logic to a new individual wager after the table point has been established. On the Come bet’s first roll, 7 or 11 wins and 2, 3 or 12 loses. Any point number moves the bet to that number; it then wins if the number repeats before 7. Don’t Come reverses the result, with 12 commonly pushing.
Several Come bets can occupy different numbers at once, which makes total exposure easy to underestimate. The table’s next come-out roll can also affect whether existing Odds are on or off. Check the interface or ask the dealer rather than assuming every wager remains active.
Place, Buy, Lay, Field and proposition bets
Place bets win when the selected number appears before 7. The 6 and 8 normally pay 7:6 and have a much lower edge than placing 4 or 10 at 9:5. Buy and Lay bets use closer-to-true payouts but add commission, commonly called vig. The edge depends on whether commission is charged before or only after a win and whether stakes or payments are rounded.
The Field is a one-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. Its cost changes with the special award on 2 and 12. Proposition bets such as Any Seven, Any Craps, hardways and horn bets are visually prominent and can resolve quickly, but many carry double-digit edges. Faster resolution also allows more total wagering per hour.
Online, live-dealer and electronic craps checks
- Confirm whether the game uses two independent dice and standard totals.
- Check which number is barred on Don’t Pass and Don’t Come.
- Read the maximum Odds multiple and minimum chip increments.
- Verify Field, hardway, proposition, Buy and Lay payouts.
- Check whether commission is taken on the stake, win or both.
- Identify when existing Come Odds are on or off during a come-out roll.
- Separate main-game rules from side bets, multipliers or bonus rounds.
For broader mathematical comparisons, see the casino house-edge guide, roulette odds and payouts, baccarat odds and video poker pay-table guide.
Craps systems and common misconceptions
- “Seven is due”: earlier rolls do not change the probabilities of the next fair roll.
- “Covering more numbers removes risk”: multiple wagers increase total exposure and do not cancel their individual edges.
- “Odds make the Pass Line free”: the Odds portion is paid fairly; the required line bet still has an edge.
- “Pressing after wins creates profit”: changing stake size changes volatility and total wagering, not the underlying payouts.
- “All craps bets are low edge”: the table contains both relatively low-edge line bets and expensive proposition bets.
Craps and casino bonus wagering
Craps is often excluded from promotions or given a reduced contribution percentage. Odds and low-edge bets may contribute nothing even when another wager is eligible. Maximum-bet rules can apply to the combined round exposure rather than one chip placement.
Read the current eligible-games list, contribution table, maximum stake, excluded patterns and cashout conditions in the casino bonus terms guide. Use the wagering calculator for qualifying turnover and the RTP calculator for long-run cost illustrations.
Sources, methodology and limitations
Core rules and true-odds payouts were checked against the Bally’s Atlantic City craps rules and the current New Jersey craps payout regulation. Probability examples use the 36 equally likely ordered outcomes of two fair six-sided dice.
House edge is expected casino win divided by the original wager under the stated rules and is rounded here for readability. The guide does not model dice-control claims, session bankroll, progressive side bets, commission rounding or every proprietary online variant. Live rules and pay tables take priority. Review our editorial policy, corrections policy and responsible-gambling resources.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pass Line house edge?
About 1.41% under standard rules. It pays even money, wins on a come-out 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3 or 12, and otherwise resolves when the point or 7 appears.
Is Don’t Pass better than Pass Line?
Its standard edge is slightly lower at about 1.36% when 12 pushes, but both remain negative-expectation bets. Table rules and personal budget matter more than the small difference in a short session.
Do craps Odds bets have a house edge?
The separate Odds portion is paid at true mathematical odds and therefore has no built-in edge. It requires a qualifying line or Come bet that still carries its own edge.
What do Pass Line Odds pay?
Normally 2:1 on points 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. Don’t-side Odds reverse those ratios.
Which Place bet has the lowest edge?
Placing 6 or 8 at a 7:6 payout has an edge of about 1.52%, lower than the standard Place 5/9 or 4/10 wagers. Confirm the actual payout before betting.
Can a craps betting system beat the house?
No staking progression changes the probability or payout of an independent dice result. A system can change volatility and turnover but cannot guarantee profit.