Craps is the most mathematically interesting game on the casino floor. It offers some of the lowest-edge bets available (Pass Line + Max Odds at under 0.5% combined edge per dollar wagered) and some of the worst (Any 7 at 16.67%). The difference between a smart craps player and a recreational one comes down to which bets they make — and whether they take full odds.
Our Craps Odds Calculator covers every major bet type: Pass/Come with odds, Don’t Pass/Don’t Come with lay odds, Place bets on all six numbers, and common proposition bets (Field, Any 7, Hardways, Yo, C&E). For each bet, it shows the exact house edge, expected loss per decision, and estimated hourly cost at your pace.
What this tool does and does not do:
- Shows mathematically exact house edge for every standard craps bet.
- Calculates combined edge when odds are taken behind Pass/Come or Don’t Pass/Don’t Come.
- Estimates hourly cost based on your bet size and table speed.
- Does not model betting strategies, progression systems, or dice control claims.
Craps Odds Calculator
House Edge & EVHow to Use the Calculator
The calculator has four tabs:
- Pass / Come: Enter your base bet and odds multiple (1× to 100×). The tool shows how odds reduce the combined edge. At 100× odds, the combined edge drops to about 0.02%.
- Don’t Pass / Come: Same structure but for wrong-side bets. Base edge is 1.36% (bar 12). Lay odds reduce the combined edge the same way.
- Place Bets: Select a number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). Edge ranges from 1.52% (Place 6/8) to 6.67% (Place 4/10).
- Other Bets: Field, Any 7, Any Craps, Hardways, Yo, C&E. These are the highest-edge bets on the table.
Why the Odds Bet Is Special
The odds bet (also called “free odds” or “taking odds”) is the only bet in a casino that pays at true mathematical odds with zero house edge. It is available only after a point is established on Pass/Come or Don’t Pass/Don’t Come.
The catch: you must first make the base bet (1.41% or 1.36% edge) to access the odds bet. Taking free odds does not change your expected loss in dollars — the house edge on the Pass Line is exactly 1.41% of the base bet, period. However, because the odds bet carries zero edge, your total action increases while the expected loss stays the same. This dilutes the house edge as a percentage of total dollars wagered:
Combined Edge (per dollar wagered) = (Base Edge × Base Bet) / (Base Bet + Odds Bet)
This is the standard industry formulation (used by Wizard of Odds and most gambling references). It does not mean the casino takes less money from you — it means each dollar you put on the table faces a lower average edge. The practical benefit is lower volatility relative to your total bet size.
The more odds you take, the closer the combined edge approaches zero:
| Odds Multiple | Combined Edge (Pass) | Combined Edge (Don’t Pass) |
|---|---|---|
| No odds | 1.414% | 1.364% |
| 1× | 0.848% | 0.682% |
| 2× | 0.606% | 0.455% |
| 3-4-5× | 0.374% | 0.273% |
| 5× | 0.326% | 0.227% |
| 10× | 0.184% | 0.124% |
| 20× | 0.099% | 0.065% |
| 100× | 0.021% | 0.014% |
At 3-4-5× odds (the most common maximum at US casinos), the combined edge is only 0.37% per dollar wagered — better than most Blackjack tables and comparable to the best Video Poker paytables. This is the practical benchmark for most players. Higher multiples (10×, 20×, 100×) are available at a few casinos and drive the edge even lower, but they are rare and require substantially larger bankrolls.
Complete Craps House Edge Reference
Note: Payouts listed as “to 1” (net profit). Some casino felts display “for 1” format, which includes your original bet in the return — e.g., “10 for 1” is the same as “9 to 1.”
| Bet | House Edge | Payout | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come | 1.36% | 1:1 | Best |
| Pass / Come | 1.41% | 1:1 | Best |
| Place 6 / Place 8 | 1.52% | 7:6 | Good |
| Field (3× on 12) | 2.78% | 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 | Acceptable |
| Place 5 / Place 9 | 4.00% | 7:5 | Moderate |
| Field (2× on 12) | 5.56% | 1:1 / 2:1 / 2:1 | Poor |
| Place 4 / Place 10 | 6.67% | 9:5 | Poor |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 9.09% | 9:1 | Bad |
| Any Craps | 11.11% | 7:1 | Bad |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 11.11% | 7:1 | Bad |
| Yo (11) | 11.11% | 15:1 | Bad |
| Any 7 | 16.67% | 4:1 | Worst |
The range from 1.36% to 16.67% — all on the same table — is why craps rewards knowledgeable players. A smart bettor making Pass + Max Odds faces less than 0.5% edge. A recreational player tossing chips on Any 7 and Hardways faces 10-17%. Same game, vastly different math.
Worked Example
Scenario: $10 Pass Line with 3-4-5× odds. Table speed: 100 rolls/hour (~30 Pass decisions/hour).
- Average action per decision: On come-out rolls (1/3 of decisions), only the $10 base bet is at risk. On point rolls (2/3 of decisions), odds are added: $30 on 4/10, $40 on 5/9, $50 on 6/8. Weighted average total action per decision: ~$37.78.
- EV per decision: -$0.14 (this is constant regardless of odds — the house edge applies only to the $10 base bet)
- Combined edge per dollar wagered: $0.14 / $37.78 = 0.37%
- Hourly cost: -$0.14 × 30 = -$4.20/hr
The key insight: taking odds does not reduce your expected dollar loss — it reduces the house edge per dollar at risk, and it lowers your volatility relative to your total action.
Compare to $10 on Any 7 at 60 bets/hour: edge 16.67%, EV per bet -$1.67, hourly cost -$100/hr. The hourly cost difference is dramatic even at the same nominal bet size.
Best and Worst Bets at a Glance
Best use cases (lowest cost per hour):
- Pass Line + maximum odds (3-4-5× or higher)
- Don’t Pass + maximum lay odds
- Place 6 or Place 8 (1.52% edge — best standalone number bet)
- Come bet + odds (same math as Pass + odds, adds more action)
Worst use cases (highest cost per hour):
- Any 7 (16.67% — the worst standard bet on the table)
- Yo / Any Craps / C&E (11.11% each)
- Hardways (9-11% — tempting payouts, terrible math)
- Place 4 or Place 10 (6.67% — consider Buy bets instead if the casino charges commission only on wins)
Limitations
- Standard rules assumed. Some casinos offer non-standard payouts (e.g., 6:5 on Place 6/8 instead of 7:6). The Field bet edge depends heavily on whether 12 pays 2× or 3× — always check the posted payouts at your table.
- Decisions per hour are approximate. ~30 Pass decisions per 100 rolls is a practical estimate. Actual frequency depends on table crowding and shooter behavior.
- No strategy modeling. This calculator shows the house edge for individual bets. It does not model combined strategies (e.g., Pass + Come + Place), progression systems, or dice control. No system changes the mathematical edge.
- 3-4-5× odds simplified. Under 3-4-5× rules, odds are 3× on 4/10, 4× on 5/9, and 5× on 6/8. The calculator uses a flat multiplier as a simplification. The combined edge values in the reference table above use the exact weighted average.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best bet in craps?
Don’t Pass / Don’t Come with maximum lay odds has the lowest combined house edge of any standard craps bet. Pass / Come with maximum odds is nearly as good. Both are among the lowest-edge standard wagers in the casino, alongside the best blackjack and video poker situations.
Why do casinos offer a 0% edge bet?
Because you must make the base bet first. The casino makes its money on the 1.41% (or 1.36%) base bet edge. The free odds bet attracts more total action to the table, and most players also make high-edge proposition bets alongside their Pass/Odds strategy. The casino profits overall even though the odds bet itself has zero edge.
Should I play Pass or Don’t Pass?
Mathematically, Don’t Pass is slightly better (1.36% vs 1.41%). The mathematical gap is small enough that comfort and table experience matter more than the edge difference for most players. Most players prefer Pass because you win with the shooter and the table, which is more socially enjoyable.
Are Place 6 and Place 8 good bets?
At 1.52% house edge, Place 6/8 are the best bets on the table after Pass/Don’t Pass (without odds). They are significantly better than Place 5/9 (4.00%) and Place 4/10 (6.67%). If you want action on numbers without going through the Come bet process, Place 6/8 are the rational choice.
Does dice control (dice setting) work?
This is debated. Proponents claim that controlled throws can influence outcome distributions. Skeptics (and most mathematicians) argue that the physics of dice bouncing off a felt table with a rubber backstop make consistent control extremely difficult or impossible. This calculator assumes fair dice and standard probabilities.