Craps Odds Explained: A Guide to Understanding Payout Charts
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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.
How to Play 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).
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If the come out roll is a 7 or 11, pass line bets win and don't pass line bets lose.
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If the come out roll is a 2, 3, or 12, pass line bets lose and don't pass line bets win.
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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:
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2 - 1 combination (1 + 1), True Odds: 35 to 1
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3 - 2 combinations (1 + 2, 2 + 1), True Odds: 17 to 1
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4 - 3 combinations (1 + 3, 2 + 2, 3 + 1), True Odds: 11 to 1
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5 - 4 combinations (1 + 4, 2 + 3, 3 + 2, 4 + 1), True Odds: 8 to 1
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6 - 5 combinations (1 + 5, 2 + 4, 3 + 3, 4 + 2, 5 + 1), True Odds: 6.2 to 1
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7 - 6 combinations (1 + 6, 2 + 5, 3 + 4, 4 + 3, 5 + 2, 6 + 1), True Odds: 35 to 1
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8 - 5 combinations (2 + 6, 3 + 5, 4 + 4, 5 + 3, 6 + 2), True Odds: 6.2 to 1
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9 - 4 combinations (3 + 6, 4 + 5, 5 + 4, 6 + 3), True Odds: 8 to 1
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10 - 3 combinations (4 + 6, 5 + 5, 6 + 4), True Odds: 11 to 1
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11 - 2 combinations (5 + 6, 6 + 5) True Odds: 17 to 1
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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:
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1 win for $700 = $700
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8 losses for $1 each = -$800
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Expected result: -$100 on every 9 rolls
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-$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:
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Pays 1:1
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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:
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Pays 1:1
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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:
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Pays 4:1
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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:
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Pays vary depending on the bet type
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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:
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Pays 9:5 on 4 or 10, 7:5 on 5 or 9, 7:6 on 6 or 8
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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:
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Pays 1:1
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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:
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Pays 15:1
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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:
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Pays 7:1 on 4 or 10, 9:1 on 6 or 8
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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:
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Pays between 1:1 and 3:1
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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:
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Pays 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, 6:5 on 6 or 8
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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:
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Pays 25:1 on 4 points, 250:1 on 5 points, 1000:1 on 6 points
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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'
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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:
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2:1 for points 4 and 10
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3:2 for points 5 and 9
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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'
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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:
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1:2 for points 4 and 10
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2:3 for points 5 and 9
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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.
Where to Play Craps Online
Online casinos are currently legal in seven states in the US:
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.
bet365 Casino
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- Available States: New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Bet365 is a global sports betting and iGaming brand based out of England. It was founded in 2000. While bet365 is a well-established brand outside of the United States, it is just starting in America, offering sports betting in 10 states and casino gaming only in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The casino's licensing agreement in New Jersey comes from a partnership with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, and in Pennsylvania, they're partnered with Presque Isle Downs & Casino.
Fanatics Casino
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- Available States: Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and West Virginia
Fanatics Inc. was founded in 2011 and started as a manufacturer and retailer of licensed sportswear and sports memorabilia. In 2023, Fanatics purchased PointsBet USA and launched online sportsbooks and casinos across the country. With the addition of New Jersey in 2024, Fanatics Online Casino now operates in four states.
Craps Games Available (2):
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First Person Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
BetMGM Online Casino
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- Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
BetMGM Online Casino is owned by MGM Resorts International, another company well known for operating retail casinos around the country, including the Bellagio in Las Vegas and the MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts. This online casino is well-respected for its mobile experience and live dealer offerings, which include a live dealer version of craps.
Craps Games Available (2):
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First Person Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
Caesars Palace Online Casino
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- Available States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan
Caesars Palace Online Casino is owned by Caesars Entertainment Inc., which also operates retail casinos around the United States, including Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada and Harrah's Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Playing craps and other casino games on the Caesars Palace Online Casino can earn you rewards points that can be redeemed for hotel stays, entertainment, dining and more at retail locations.
Craps Games Available (2):
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First Person Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
DraftKings Online Casino
- Read our DraftKings Casino Promo Code & Review
- Bonus Offer: Play $1 and Get $100 in Casino Credits Instantly + $35 Extra on Deposit!
- Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
DraftKings Casino is a well-known provider of daily fantasy sports (DFS) games getting poised in the online casino market. Their big name and deep pockets translates to a good deal of value for users, as you'll find a fair number of real money video poker options that can be tested in free play.
- Game King with all of the games listed under Golden Nugget
- Multi Rise Deuces Wild
- Multi Rise Bonus Poker Deluxe
- Multi Rise Double Bonus Deuces Wild
- Multi Rise Jacks Or Better
- Multi Rise Double Double Bonus
DraftKings Inc. was founded in 2012 out of Boston, Massachusetts and quickly became one of the most recognizable brands in the United States for its daily fantasy sports offerings. The company has successfully branched out into online sports betting and casino gaming since then. DraftKings is available in more states (five) and has more variations of craps available (four) than any other online casino on this list.
Craps Games Available (4):
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DraftKings Andrew Dice Clay Craps
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DraftKings Craps
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First Person Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
Golden Nugget Online Casino
- Read our Golden Nugget Casino Bonus Code & Review
- Bonus Offer: Deposit $7 Get $77 in Casino Credits! No code required!
- Available States: Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
- 21+. Physically present in MI/NJ/PA/WV only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Void in ONT. 1 per new customer. Min. $7 deposit req. Max. $77 issued in Casino Credits for select games that are non-withdrawable and expire in 7 days (168 hours). Terms: goldennuggetcasino.com/welcome. Ends 9/29/24 at 11:59PM ET. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (MI/NJ/PA/WV) or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
Golden Nugget Online Casino was acquired by DraftKings Inc. in 2022. This acquisition allowed Golden Nugget's online casino software to receive a major upgrade to the same one used by DraftKings Casino. This also means that Golden Nugget Online Casino can offer DraftKings-exclusive games to its players, such as the Andrew Dice Clay craps game, which is only available on these two sites.
Craps Games Available (3):
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DraftKings Andrew Dice Clay Craps
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Golden Nugget Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
Borgata Casino
- Read our Borgata Casino Bonus Code & Review
- Bonus Offer: Use promo code ACTIONBCASINO to claim the following promo: Get up to a $1,000 Deposit Match + $20 in Bet Credits!
- Available State: Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Borgata Online Casino is partnered with the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, owned by MGM Resorts International. A live dealer craps game is one of three craps options players can choose from at Borgata, which also features Roulette Live From Borgata, broadcast live from the popular casino.
Craps Games Available (3):
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Craps
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First Person Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
FanDuel Online Casino
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- Bonus Offer: No promo code is needed to claim the following new user offer: Deposit $10, Get $20 In Site Credit & Play It Again up to $1000!
- Available States: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan, and West Virginia
FanDuel Online Casino's majority owner is Flutter Entertainment, a massive global iGaming brand that purchased its stake in the company in 2018. At the time of this purchase, FanDuel was already a massively popular brand in daily fantasy sports and is now one of the biggest and best online sportsbook and casino brands in the United States as well.
- IGT Game King has all of the same games listed under the Golden Nugget.
Craps Games Available (2):
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First Person Craps
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Live Dealer Craps
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.