Odds of Winning at Craps

Craps odds are a measure of how much of an advantage the casino holds in the game. Comparing the true odds of a craps wager against the payout, a gambler can see how much he or she is likely to pay to play. This article lays out the true odds in craps, discusses how they compare to the payoff, and extracts the house edge.

It is important for dice shooters to know the house edge in craps. If you don't, then you're likely to lose a lot of money on bad bets. Reading this guide to craps odds will give a gambler a better understanding of the windfalls and pitfalls encountered when betting on the dice.

The House Edge in Craps

Defining the house edge in craps is no easy task. The game has so many different wagers. Those wagers have so many different expected returns. It can be said that craps has dozens of different examples of a house edge. For the purposes of comparing craps to other table games, it's best to look at the best-case scenario.

Wise gamblers should look at the game's potential. If you're a smart craps player, then you'll make the smartest wagers with the lowest house edge. Thus, you'll bet on the don't pass/don't come bets to receive a 1.35% payout. Or if you don't want to bet on the wrong side, you can make the pass/come bets and have a 1.41% house edge.

These two wagers are comparable to the house edge on baccarat or European Roulette played with either imprisonment or "la partage" rules. Among the games with no strategy elements, craps has among the lowest odds. At the same time, if you don't know what you're doing, the odds in craps can be awful. No other game has more sucker bets.

Real Odds in Craps

Players wanting to know the craps odds are likely to want to know the true odds on a wager. Using this data, a player can compare the real odds with the payouts to get a new perspective on the house edge.

Craps Bet - Real Odds

  • Pass Line Bet - 251 to 244
  • Don't Pass Bet - 976 to 949
  • Come Bet - 251 to 244
  • Don't Come Bet - 976 to 949
  • Buy 4 or 10 - 2:1
  • Buy 5 or 9 - 3:2
  • Buy 6 or 8 - 6:5
  • Lay 4 or 10 - 1:2
  • Lay 5 or 9 - 2:3
  • Lay 6 or 8 - 5:6
  • Place 4 or 10 - 2:1
  • Place 5 or 9 - 3:2
  • Place 6 or 8 - 6:5
  • Hard 6 or 8 - 10:1
  • Hard 4 or 10 - 8:1
  • One Roll: Any 7 - 5:1
  • One Roll: Any Craps - 8:1
  • One Roll: Craps 2 or 12 - 35:1
  • One Roll: Craps 3 or 11 - 17:1

Craps Payouts

For easy reference, you can look at the chart below to see the common payouts or payoffs for craps bets. Compare them to the chart above to see the different in the real odds and the amount you're paid for a win. The difference is the house edge. Players thinking about the logic of betting systems like the Martingale technique should keep these two sets of numbers in mind. The casino always has the advantage, no matter how you vary your betting patterns.

Craps Bet Payouts

  • Pass Line Bet - 1:1
  • Don't Pass Bet - 1:1
  • Come Bet - 1:1
  • Don't Come Bet - 1:1
  • Buy 4 or 10 - 2:1
  • Buy 5 or 9 - 3:2
  • Buy 6 or 8 - 6:5
  • Lay 4 or 10 - 1:2
  • Lay 5 or 9 - 2:3
  • Lay 6 or 8 - 5:6
  • Field Bet (3,4,9,10,11) - 1:1
  • Field Bet (2,12) - 2:1
  • Place 4 or 10 - 9:5
  • Place 5 or 9 - 7:5
  • Place 6 or 8 - 7:6
  • Hard 6 or 8 - 9:1
  • Hard 4 or 10 - 7:1
  • One Roll: Any 7 - 4:1
  • One Roll: Any Craps - 7:1
  • One Roll: Craps 2 or 12 - 30:1
  • One Roll: Craps 3 or 11 - 15:1
  • Horn Bet 3 or 11 - 3.75 to 1
  • Horn Bet 2 or 12 - 7.5 to 1
  • Big 6 - 1:1
  • Big 8 - 1:1

Craps House Edge Compared to Payouts

As a general rule, the lower the payoff on a bet, the lower the house edge. You can look at the chart below to see that the wagers which have the best payouts also have a big house edge. These are the sucker bets in craps and I recommend you avoid them. Unless you want a one-bet thrill because you're about to leave the table, I would not suggest betting on one-roll bets like the craps bets or the "Any 7".

That being said, many players toke dealers by making a bet on one of the wagers with a high payout. The thinking goes that the dealers would prefer to receive a big payout than a small gratuity. That probably varies from dealer to dealer, though the four dealers on a craps table are required to share tips in some casinos, which might change attitudes.

Craps Bet House Edge

  • Pass Line Bet - 1.41%
  • Don't Pass Bet - 1.35%
  • Come Bet - 1.41%
  • Don't Come Bet - 1.35%
  • Buy 4 or 10 - 4.76%
  • Buy 5 or 9 - 4.76%
  • Buy 6 or 8 - 4.76%
  • Lay 4 or 10 - 2.44%
  • Lay 5 or 9 - 3.23%
  • Lay 6 or 8 - 4.00%
  • Field Bet (3,4,9,10,11) - 5.50%
  • Field Bet (2,12) - 5.50%
  • Place 4 or 10 - 6.70%
  • Place 5 or 9 - 4.00%
  • Place 6 or 8 - 1.52%
  • Hard 6 or 8 - 9.09%
  • Hard 4 or 10 - 11.11%
  • One Roll: Any 7 - 16.90%
  • One Roll: Any Craps - 11.11%
  • One Roll: Craps 2 or 12 - 13.90%
  • One Roll: Craps 3 or 11 - 11.11%
  • Horn Bet 3 or 11
  • Horn Bet 2 or 12
  • Big 6 - 9.09%
  • Big 8 - 9.09%

Guide to Craps Odds

The chances of winning at craps are affected by the bets you make. While there is no strategy when playing craps, there is a kind of strategy in knowing which bets to place. It's the difference in a house edge of 1.41% and 16.90%. In the real world, that translates to the probability of losing $1.41 for each $100 wagered, or losing a whopping $16.90 for every $100 wagered. Over an hour's time, making the wrong bets in craps is likely to cost you a lot of money. Craps odds matter.