Craps Odds Explained: A Guide to Understanding Payout Charts

If you've spent any time on a casino floor, you've probably heard plenty of cheers and shouts coming from the craps table. Craps is one of the most exciting and popular casino games in the world, but it can be an intimidating game to learn for newcomers. This guide on craps odds will get you up to speed as we'll cover everything you need to know about online craps, including how to play, the house edge, the payout on every craps bet, and the best online casinos to choose for playing craps.

Craps players are given an opportunity to place bets at the beginning of each round. After players have placed their bets, including line bets on "pass" or "don't pass", the shooter rolls two dice in what is known as the "come out roll", which is used to establish a point. The point is the number that the shooter will attempt to roll again (to win on the pass line) before rolling a seven (to lose on the pass line).

• If the come out roll is a 7 or 11, pass line bets win and don't pass line bets lose.

• If the come out roll is a 2, 3, or 12, pass line bets lose and don't pass line bets win.

• If the come out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the point is established as this number.

Once the point is set, the point phase begins. The shooter rolls the dice until they hit the established point again or "crap out" by rolling a seven. If the shooter succeeded in hitting the point, they continue to roll the dice into the next round with another come out roll to set a new point.

If the don't pass bet won due to the shooter rolling craps, a new shooter takes over for the next roll. If you are playing craps by yourself at an empty table in person or online, you will continue to be the shooter even if the previous point phase ended with a seven being rolled.

True Odds in Craps

True craps odds refer to the actual probabilities of dice combinations or winning craps bets occurring. A dice roll with the two standard six-sided dice used in craps can generate exactly 36 different combinations, with the two dice adding up to 7 being the most likely outcome. Here's a look at all 36 potential combinations, along with the true odds of rolling each number on any given throw:

• 2 - 1 combination (1 + 1), True Odds: 35 to 1

• 3 - 2 combinations (1 + 2, 2 + 1), True Odds: 17 to 1

• 4 - 3 combinations (1 + 3, 2 + 2, 3 + 1), True Odds: 11 to 1

• 5 - 4 combinations (1 + 4, 2 + 3, 3 + 2, 4 + 1), True Odds: 8 to 1

• 6 - 5 combinations (1 + 5, 2 + 4, 3 + 3, 4 + 2, 5 + 1), True Odds: 6.2 to 1

• 7 - 6 combinations (1 + 6, 2 + 5, 3 + 4, 4 + 3, 5 + 2, 6 + 1), True Odds: 35 to 1

• 8 - 5 combinations (2 + 6, 3 + 5, 4 + 4, 5 + 3, 6 + 2), True Odds: 6.2 to 1

• 9 - 4 combinations (3 + 6, 4 + 5, 5 + 4, 6 + 3), True Odds: 8 to 1

• 10 - 3 combinations (4 + 6, 5 + 5, 6 + 4), True Odds: 11 to 1

• 11 - 2 combinations (5 + 6, 6 + 5) True Odds: 17 to 1

• 12 - 1 combination (6 + 6), True Odds: 35 to 1

With this understanding of the true odds on each dice roll, you can also solve for the actual odds on any specific craps bet. For example, if the point is set at 4, there are six losing combinations in which the shooter can roll a 7 compared to three winning combinations in which they can roll a 4. Those 6 to 3 odds can be reduced to 2 to 1, which reflects the true odds of winning the pass bet with the point set at 4 or 10.

Craps Payout Odds/House Odds

The craps odds chart displays the casino or "house" payout odds for craps bets, which are not the true odds. There are many different craps bets offered at a wide range of prices on the craps odds table, ranging from 1:1 (even money) on the "Field" bet to 30:1 on the "Craps 2" bet.

It is important to note the difference between the craps payout odds on a winning bet and what the actual odds of an occurrence are. This discrepancy between actual bet odds and the payout table is where the casino generates its house edge.

House Edge at the Craps Table

The house edge (or house advantage) is the mathematical advantage, displayed as a percentage, that a casino has over a player in a particular game or bet. As mentioned above, the house edge for a specific bet is determined by how much the payout odds differ from the true odds of that bet winning.

For example, the "Any Craps" bet is a one-roll wager on the next roll being a 2, 3, or 12. With one combination of 2 (1 + 1), one combination of 12 (6 + 6), and two combinations of 3 (1 + 2 and 2 + 1), there are four winning combinations out of the 36 possible combinations on any dice roll. This works out to true odds of 32:4 (32 losing rolls to four winning rolls) or an 8:1 probability (winning one out of every nine rolls).

But the payout odds on the craps odds chart list this bet at 7:1. So, doing the math on this wager for our expected one win in every nine rolls betting $100 on every roll:

• 1 win for $700 = $700

• 8 losses for $1 each = -$800

• Expected result: -$100 on every 9 rolls

• -$100 divided by 9 = -$11.11 per roll

In the long run, we will lose 11.11% of our bet amount on every roll, giving the "Any Craps" bet a house edge of 11.11%. Understanding which craps odds have the highest and lowest house edge will help you to make better betting decisions at the craps table.

Craps Betting Odds

Pass Line Bet:

• Pays 1:1

• House Edge: 1.41%

A pass line bet in craps is made prior to the come out roll that establishes the point. It pays 1:1 if a 7 or 11 is rolled and loses if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. If a point is established, pass bets pay 1:1 if the point is rolled again before a 7 and lose if a 7 is rolled before the point.

Don't Pass Bet:

• Pays 1:1

• House Edge: 1.36%

This is the opposite of a pass line bet. Don't pass bets pay 1:1 if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled on the come out and loses if a 7 or 11 is rolled. After a point is set, this wager pays 1:1 if a 7 is rolled before the point and loses if the point is rolled first.

Any 7:

• Pays 4:1

• House Edge: 16.67%

This is a one-roll bet, also called a seven bet, on the next roll being a 7. With payout odds of just 4:1 compared to mathematical odds of 5:1, this bet has one of the highest house edges on the craps table.

Hedge Bet:

• Pays vary depending on the bet type

• House Edge: Varies

A hedge bet is any bet made to cover your potential losses, such as betting on "Any Craps" to protect a bet on the pass line. Hedging is generally an unwise craps strategy, as the house edge on side bets tends to be high.

Place Bets:

• Pays 9:5 on 4 or 10, 7:5 on 5 or 9, 7:6 on 6 or 8

• House Edge: 1.67% on 4 or 10, 1.11% on 5 or 9, 0.46% on 6 or 8

A place bet is a wager made after the point is established that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) will be rolled before a 7. Payout odds and house edges vary based on which number the place bet is made on.

Big 6 and Big 8 Bets:

• Pays 1:1

• House Edge: 2.78%

This is a wager made after the point is established on a 6 (Big 6) or 8 (Big 8) rolled before a 7. This is an unfavorable bet to make as you can wager on these numbers with a place bet instead of with better craps odds and a lower house edge.

3 or 11:

• Pays 15:1

• House Edge: 11.11%

This is a one-roll bet on the next roll being a 3 or 11. Betting on one of these individual numbers is a high-risk, high-reward bet that pays well at 15:1 but has only two winning outcomes out of 36 potential combinations (1 + 2 and 2 + 1 for 3, 6 + 5 and 5 + 6 for 11).

Hardway Bet:

• Pays 7:1 on 4 or 10, 9:1 on 6 or 8

• House Edge: 2.78%

A hardway bet is a wager that the "hard" way, or a double, will be rolled before a 7 or an "easy" way is rolled. The hardway options are 4 (2 + 2), 6 (3 + 3), 8 (4 + 4), or 10 (5 + 5). The 6 and 8 pay better at 9:1 than the 4 and 10 do at 7:1 because there are more easy way combinations that can cause your bet to lose.

Field Bet:

• Pays between 1:1 and 3:1

• House Edge: 2.78% or 5.56%, depending on casino payout rules

A field bet is a one-roll wager that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. If the roll is a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11, the bet pays 1:1. Some casinos pay 2:1 on both the 2 and 12, while others pay 3:1 on one of them. The house edge on the field bet drops to 2.78% if the 2 or 12 pays out at 3:1.

Buy Bet:

• Pays 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, 6:5 on 6 or 8

• House Edge: 1.67% to 4.76%, depending on casino payout rules

This bet works the same as a place bet, except it is paid out at true odds, and the player pays a 5% commission to the house. Specific casino rules, like how this commission is rounded up or down, can impact the bet's house edge.

Fire Bet:

• Pays 25:1 on 4 points, 250:1 on 5 points, 1000:1 on 6 points

• House Edge: 24.7%

This proposition bet is placed before the shooter begins his turn. It pays out if four or more different numbers are set as points before the shooter craps out. For example, if the shooter sets a 4, 5, 8, and 10 as points and hits them all before setting a four again and crapping out, this bet would pay 25:1. Fire bets have the biggest potential payout on the table, but also come with the highest casino advantage.

'Taking the Odds'

• House Edge: 0%

Taking the odds, also known as an odds bet, is an additional wager a player can make on the pass line after the point is established. While pass bets always pay 1:1 when they win, the odds bet is paid out at true odds:

• 2:1 for points 4 and 10

• 3:2 for points 5 and 9

• 6:5 for points 6 and 8

The craps odds bet is capped at three times your wager amount on the pass line for 4 and 10, four times your wager amount on 5 and 9, and five times your wager amount on 6 and 8. Very few casino games offer a bet paying their actual odds like this one does.

'Laying the Odds'

• House Edge: 0%

Laying the odds is the counterpart to taking the odds on the pass line, allowing players to make an additional wager backing up their don't pass line odds:

• 1:2 for points 4 and 10

• 2:3 for points 5 and 9

• 5:6 for points 6 and 8

Once again, this craps payout is exactly in line with the actual mathematical odds, and it comes with the same wager amount limit.

Craps RTP (Return to Player)

The return-to-player (RTP) percentage is the amount of money a player can expect to win back from their total bets over the long run on a specific game or bet. The RTP percentage on a wager is the exact opposite of its house edge.

For example, a place bet on the 6 in craps has a house edge of only 0.46%. Subtracting this amount from 100%, we can solve for the RTP percentage, which is 99.54% (100 - 0.46). For every $100 a player bets on this wager, they will win back $99.54 over the long term. The odds bet has a 100% RTP percentage due to its 0% house edge, while the fire bet boasts a dismal 75.3% RTP (100 - 24.7).

How to Calculate Craps Payouts

Once you know how to read craps payout charts, you should easily be able to solve for the potential payout on any given bet. The number on the left is the number you stand to win, while the number on the right is what you are risking. For example, if you bet "Any 7" at 4:1, you stand to win $4 for every $1 you wager, or four times your amount. If you bet $10 and a 7 hits, you'll win $10 times 4 = $40.

To keep the math simple, when making place bets on the 6 or 8, which pay 7:6, players usually make this bet in multiples of six. For instance, betting $12 to win $14 or $24 to win $28 instead of $10 to win $11.67.

Online casinos are currently legal in seven states in the US:

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Michigan

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• West Virginia

Players looking to place craps bets online in these legal states can do so at any of the top-rated casinos highlighted in this section. Learn more about each of these online casinos and the craps game offerings that they have below.

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For more information, check out our page on the best US real money casinos to find the best options for playing craps online in your area.

Responsible Gambling

Always gamble responsibly when playing craps and other games at the casino. Players should only gamble with money that they can safely afford to lose. It may help to set a gambling budget with deposit limits and to manage your bankroll with bet sizing appropriate for the total amount you plan to wager. By keeping track of how much money you gamble with and how much time you spend gambling, you can maintain control and enjoy your favorite games on your terms.

If you are struggling with control and feel that you may have a gambling problem, don't hesitate to reach out for help. You can call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER or contact a professional via live chat at ncpgambling.org.