Craps: Complete Odds, House Edge & Strategy Guide
Craps looks chaotic because the felt is crowded. Mathematically, it is a clean two-dice game: every bet has a probability, a payout, a house edge, and a volatility profile. This guide turns the table into a map.
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What is Craps?
Craps is a casino dice game built around whether a shooter rolls certain totals before rolling a 7.
Two dice produce 36 equally likely ordered combinations. The distribution is not flat: 7 is most common, 6 and 8 are next, and 2 and 12 are rare. Every serious craps decision starts with that distribution.
The best-known wagers are Pass Line and Don't Pass. They are low-edge flat bets that unlock odds bets after a point exists. Odds are mathematically special because the odds portion pays true odds, meaning the casino has no edge on that additional wager.
That does not make craps favorable to the player over time. The flat bet still has house edge, and larger odds bets increase short-term swings. The goal is to understand cost, not to pretend the game can be beaten by a pattern.
The flagship rule
Low house edge and low variance are different things. Pass plus max odds lowers expected cost per dollar wagered, but it also puts more money live when a 7 can end the hand.
How Craps Works
The game alternates between a come-out roll and a point phase. The same dice distribution drives both phases.
1. Come-out roll
- Pass Line wins on 7 or 11.
- Pass Line loses on 2, 3, or 12.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 becomes the point.
2. Point phase
- Pass Line wins if the point repeats before 7.
- Don't Pass wins if 7 appears before the point.
- Come, Don't Come, odds, Place, Buy, Lay, and proposition bets can now be added.
Dice Probabilities
The table is built on this distribution. Totals near 7 occur more often because more ordered dice combinations produce them.
Why 7 Matters
Seven has six combinations, more than any other total. It wins immediately on the come-out for Pass Line, then becomes the seven-out threat after a point.
Six winning combinations out of 36 equals 16.67%. That frequency is why Place 6/8 are less expensive than Place 4/10, why odds payouts differ by point, and why center-table Any 7 can be expensive despite hitting more often than any other single total.
Pass Line and Don't Pass
These are the two anchor wagers. They carry the lowest flat-bet house edges and unlock odds.
Pass Line
Low RiskBest used as the minimum flat bet that unlocks odds. Its edge is low, but the flat portion still has negative expectation.
Don't Pass
Low RiskSlightly lower edge than Pass Line, but it wins when the shooter fails to make the point.
Come and Don't Come Bets
Come and Don't Come repeat the line-bet math after the initial point already exists, creating independent mini-contracts on later rolls.
Come Bet
A Come bet acts like a new Pass Line bet placed after a point exists. It wins immediately on 7 or 11, loses immediately on 2, 3, or 12, and any 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 becomes that Come bet's own point. Once moved to a number, it wins if that number rolls again before 7.
A Come bet creates its own come point. Multiple Come bets increase action and variance without changing the flat-bet edge.
Don't Come Bet
Don't Come mirrors Don't Pass after the point. It wins immediately on 2 or 3, pushes on 12, loses on 7 or 11, then moves behind a come point. After that, it wins if 7 arrives before the assigned number.
It wins immediately on 2 or 3, pushes on 12, loses on 7 or 11, then wins if 7 appears before the come point.
Multiple Come bets do not improve the edge of each flat bet; they increase the amount of money exposed. The educational value is that Come bets spread Pass Line math across several point numbers.
Odds Bets
Odds are additional wagers behind Pass/Come or Don't Pass/Don't Come after a point exists. The odds portion pays true odds.
Why odds have 0% house edge
If a point is 4, there are 3 ways to roll 4 and 6 ways to roll 7. The true odds against making the point are 6:3, or 2:1. Paying 2:1 exactly matches the probability, so the odds portion has no mathematical edge for either side. The Pass Line bet that allowed the odds still has its normal 1.41% house edge.
Single odds
1x
Effective Pass edge on total action
0.85%
$10 Pass Line plus up to $10 odds after a point.
Double odds
2x
Effective Pass edge on total action
0.61%
$10 Pass Line plus up to $20 odds.
3x-4x-5x odds
3x on 4/10, 4x on 5/9, 5x on 6/8
Effective Pass edge on total action
0.37%
A $10 Pass Line bet allows $30, $40, or $50 odds depending on point.
10x odds
10x
Effective Pass edge on total action
0.18%
$10 Pass Line plus up to $100 odds.
100x odds
100x
Effective Pass edge on total action
0.02%
$10 Pass Line plus up to $1,000 odds. Variance becomes enormous.
True Odds vs Casino Odds
House edge appears when the casino pays less than the mathematically fair payout.
| Bet | True Odds | Casino Pays | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odds on point 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 0% edge on the odds portion |
| Place 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 7:6 | 1.52% house edge |
| Place 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 7:5 | 4.00% house edge |
| Place 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 9:5 | 6.67% house edge |
Expected Value
Expected value is the long-run average result per bet. In casino craps, EV is negative except for the fair odds portion.
Core formula
EV = probability of win × win amount − probability of loss × loss amount
For quick house-edge estimates, expected loss = amount wagered × house edge.
A $100 total of Pass Line flat action has an expected loss of $1.41.
Worked examples
- $10 Pass Line: expected loss is about $0.14 per resolved $10 flat bet.
- $10 odds portion: expected loss is $0 because it pays true odds.
- $10 Field, double 2/12: expected loss is about $0.56 per one-roll wager.
For a deeper primer, read the CasinoMath guides to expected value and house edge.
Field Bet Variants
The Field bet is often quoted incorrectly because layouts differ. The payout on 2 and 12 changes the house edge.
Double on 2 and 12
2:1 on 2 and 12; 1:1 on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11
Common layout. EV is -2 units per 36 rolls, so the house edge is 5.56%.
Double on 2, triple on 12
2:1 on 2; 3:1 on 12; 1:1 on other Field numbers
Better layout. EV is -1 unit per 36 rolls, so the house edge is 2.78%.
Single on 2, double on 12
1:1 on 2; 2:1 on 12; 1:1 on other Field numbers
Worse alternative. EV is -3 units per 36 rolls, so the house edge is 8.33%.
Place, Buy, Lay, Hardways and Proposition Bets
These bets make craps feel rich, but their costs vary sharply. Use them as math examples before using them as entertainment.
Place bets
Place 6 or 8
Medium RiskIt should be made in $6 units. The casino pays 7:6 instead of the true 6:5.
Place 5 or 9
Medium RiskThe true odds are 3:2, but the table pays 7:5.
Place 4 or 10
High RiskOften inferior to buying the 4 or 10 when commission rules are favorable.
Buy and Lay bets
Buy 4 or 10
Medium RiskCommission rules matter. If commission is charged up front, the edge is worse.
Buy 5 or 9
Medium RiskCan beat Place 5/9 under win-only commission rules, but table rules must be checked.
Lay 4 or 10
Medium RiskLower hit volatility than Buy bets, but the win is smaller than the amount at risk.
Lay 5 or 9
Medium RiskCosts more than Lay 4/10 because the target number is easier to roll.
Lay 6 or 8
Medium RiskHigher cost than laying 4/10 or 5/9 because 6 and 8 appear frequently.
Hardways and proposition bets
Hard 6 or 8
High RiskLower cost than Hard 4/10 but still a poor long-run wager.
Hard 4 or 10
High RiskUseful as an example of why proposition-style bets are expensive.
Any 7
High RiskThe classic center-table trap: the most likely roll is paid far below true odds.
Any Craps
High RiskWins on 2, 3, or 12 only. High drama, high cost.
Yo 11
High RiskA single-total proposition bet with a double-digit long-run cost.
Variance in Craps
Craps strategy is mostly a trade-off between expected loss and volatility. Odds lower edge per total dollar but increase live exposure.
Pass Line only
Low-medium
Flat even-money action with many multi-roll decisions.
Don't Pass only
Low-medium
Slightly lower edge than Pass Line, with a 12 push on common rules.
Pass/Come with odds
Medium-high
Lower effective edge, but larger total money at risk after points are established.
Proposition bets
High
One-roll or hardway bets create sharp swings and high expected loss.
Bankroll Risk
A good craps plan starts with table minimums and maximum odds. The lower-edge option can still be too volatile for a small bankroll.
Twenty flat-bet units before odds. Max odds can improve the edge but also concentrates the bankroll quickly.
$1.41 per $100 of Pass Line flat action; $0 on the odds portion.
Enough room for normal streaks, but multiple Come bets can turn a quiet table into $60-$100 of live exposure.
$7.05 per $500 of Pass Line flat action; odds add volatility, not house edge.
Comfortable for education-focused play, but 10x or 100x odds can still create large short-term drawdowns.
$14.10 per $1,000 of Pass Line flat action; proposition-heavy play loses much faster.
For bankroll modeling, use the Risk Lab and test conservative, medium, and high-variance exposure levels.
Table Limits
Minimum bets and maximum odds rules determine whether a mathematically attractive plan is actually comfortable.
$5 minimum, double odds
A $5 Pass Line bet may allow $10 odds. The edge is much lower than flat-only play, but total exposure triples after a point.
$15 minimum, 3x-4x-5x odds
The minimum table looks expensive because point 6 or 8 can require $75 odds behind a $15 line bet.
$25 minimum, 10x odds
The math is efficient, but the bankroll requirement is serious. Low house edge does not mean low volatility.
Advanced Strategy
Craps strategy can reduce cost and control volatility, but it cannot turn the game into a reliable profit engine or overcome negative EV.
Conservative Approach
- Bets
- Pass Line or Don't Pass only; small or no odds
- Edge
- 1.36%-1.41% on flat bets
- Variance
- Lowest among practical craps styles
Medium Variance Approach
- Bets
- Pass Line plus 1x-2x odds, or one Come bet with odds
- Edge
- Lower effective edge, larger swings
- Variance
- Moderate
High Variance Approach
- Bets
- Pass Line plus max odds and multiple Come bets with odds
- Edge
- Very low effective edge on total action
- Variance
- High because much more money is live
Premium strategy checklist
- Use Pass plus odds when you want right-side action with low effective edge.
- Use Don't Pass plus odds when you prefer the slightly lower wrong-side flat edge.
- Use multiple Come bets only when you can tolerate several numbers working at once.
- Avoid treating Field, hardways, and proposition bets as serious long-run tools.
- Do not rely on dice control claims; CasinoMath models craps as random dice outcomes.
- Set a loss limit before buying in, because variance can dominate short sessions.
Use the Craps Calculator
The calculator turns these sections into numbers: selected bet, payout, probability, house edge, expected loss, risk level, comparison mode, and bankroll examples for $100, $500, and $1,000.
Launch the Craps CalculatorRelated CasinoMath Resources
Craps sits alongside the other flagship CasinoMath pages, with direct links to the math tools behind this guide.
Craps FAQ
The most common questions about craps house edge, odds bets, proposition bets, and strategy myths.
What is the house edge in craps?
The house edge depends on the bet. Pass Line and Come are about 1.41%, Don't Pass and Don't Come are about 1.36%, the odds portion has 0% house edge, and many proposition bets run from roughly 9% to more than 16%.
What is the best bet in craps?
The best mathematical structure is a small Pass Line or Don't Pass bet followed by the maximum odds allowed. The odds portion is fair, but the flat bet still has negative expected value.
Why is 7 important?
Seven has six combinations out of 36, making it the most common two-dice total. It wins for Pass Line on the come-out roll and loses for Pass Line after a point is established.
What are odds bets?
Odds bets are wagers placed behind Pass/Come or Don't Pass/Don't Come after a point exists. They pay true odds: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, and 6:5 on 6/8.
Are proposition bets worth it?
They are usually poor mathematical bets. They can be entertaining, but their high house edge makes them unsuitable for players trying to minimize expected loss.
Can dice control beat craps?
There is no credible evidence that dice control reliably beats casino craps under normal table conditions. CasinoMath treats craps as a random dice game.
Do betting systems work?
No betting progression changes the expected value of a craps bet. Systems can change volatility and bet sizing, but they cannot remove the house edge.
Is craps better than roulette?
Played selectively, craps can be less costly than roulette. Pass/Don't Pass with odds can have a much lower effective edge than European roulette's 2.70% or American roulette's 5.26%.
What is the safest craps strategy?
A conservative approach is to make small Pass Line or Don't Pass bets, take only odds you can afford, avoid center-table proposition bets, and set a bankroll limit before playing.
What is the difference between Pass and Come?
Pass Line starts on the come-out roll. Come starts after a point already exists and then creates its own come point. Once established, Come uses the same math as Pass Line.
Responsible Gaming
This content is for educational purposes only. Gambling involves real financial risk and can be addictive. The house always has a mathematical advantage—there is no guaranteed winning strategy.