intermediate
7 min readSmart Craps Bets
Pass, don't pass, and the power of odds bets.
BonusBell Team
Craps offers some of the best and worst bets in the casino—all on the same table. Knowing which bets are smart and why can dramatically reduce the house edge you face. The secret weapon? The odds bet, which has zero house edge.
The Best Bets on the Table
Smart Craps Bets (Low House Edge)
| Bet | House Edge | Payout | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1.41% | 1:1 | Before come out roll |
| Don't Pass | 1.36% | 1:1 | Before come out roll |
| Come | 1.41% | 1:1 | After point established |
| Don't Come | 1.36% | 1:1 | After point established |
| Odds (behind Pass) | 0% | Varies | After point established |
| Odds (behind Don't Pass) | 0% | Varies | After point established |
The Odds Bet: Your Best Friend
The odds bet is unique—it's the only bet in the casino with no house edge.
Pro Tip
How it works: After the point is established, you can place additional chips "behind" your Pass Line bet. This bet pays true odds, meaning no mathematical advantage for the casino.
Odds Bet Payouts
Pass Line Odds Payouts
| Point | True Odds | Payout Example |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | $10 odds wins $20 |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | $10 odds wins $15 |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | $10 odds wins $12 |
Don't Pass odds pay the inverse (you're laying odds)
Odds Multipliers
Casinos limit how much you can bet on odds:
- 1x odds – Reduces combined edge to ~0.85%
- 2x odds – Reduces combined edge to ~0.61%
- 3-4-5x odds – Reduces combined edge to ~0.37%
- 10x odds – Reduces combined edge to ~0.18%
- 100x odds – Reduces combined edge to ~0.02% (rare)
3-4-5x Odds Explained
3x on 4/10 · 4x on 5/9 · 5x on 6/8=Your max win is always 6x your Pass bet
This system keeps wins consistent regardless of point.
Strategy Insight
Always take the maximum odds the table allows. Your combined house edge drops significantly with each odds multiplier level.
Pass vs. Don't Pass
"Don't Pass" bets against the shooter—socially unpopular but mathematically better:
Pass Line
- House edge: 1.41%
- Betting with the shooter
- Socially acceptable
- Taking odds (paid true odds)
Don't Pass
- House edge: 1.36%
- Betting against the shooter
- Can feel antisocial
- Laying odds (risk more to win less)
Place Bets: Acceptable Alternative
If you want action on specific numbers after the point:
Place Bet House Edges
| Number | House Edge | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 6 or 8 | 1.52% | 7:6 |
| 5 or 9 | 4.00% | 7:5 |
| 4 or 10 | 6.67% | 9:5 |
Only Place 6 and 8 are decent bets
Bets to Absolutely Avoid
Warning
The center of the table is a trap. All proposition bets have terrible odds.
Sucker Bets (Avoid These)
| Bet | House Edge | Why It's Terrible |
|---|---|---|
| Any 7 | 16.67% | One-roll bet with awful odds |
| Any Craps | 11.11% | One-roll, terrible payout |
| Hard 4/10 | 11.11% | High house edge |
| Hard 6/8 | 9.09% | Still very high edge |
| Big 6/8 | 9.09% | Same as Place 6/8 but worse payout |
| Hop Bets | 11-16% | One-roll propositions |
| Field (2x on 12) | 5.56% | Varies by paytable, usually bad |
Optimal Craps Strategy
- Bet Pass or Don't Pass before the come out roll
- Once a point is established, take maximum odds
- Avoid all proposition bets (center of the table)
- If you want more action, add Come/Don't Come with odds
- Place 6 and 8 are acceptable, but odds bets are better
Strategy Insight
The optimal strategy is simple: Pass + max odds, or Don't Pass + max odds. Everything else on the table increases the house edge.
Key Takeaways
- 1Pass/Don't Pass with maximum odds is the optimal strategy
- 2The odds bet has ZERO house edge—the only one in the casino
- 3Don't Pass has slightly lower edge (1.36% vs 1.41%)
- 4Only Place 6/8 are acceptable place bets (1.52% edge)
- 5Avoid all center table bets—they have 11-17% house edges