Craps bets fall into two groups: the line and box bets around the edge, which are cheap and simple, and the center bets, which are flashy but expensive. The best are the pass line, come, and the free odds behind them, all with a low house edge. The proposition bets in the middle are the worst value on the table.
A craps table shows around forty different bets, which is exactly why the game looks so intimidating. The good news is that only a handful are worth making, and they are the simplest ones. This guide explains every craps bet, groups them from best to worst by house edge, and gives you an interactive table you can tap to see the payout and true odds behind each one.
- The line bets are the foundation. Pass, don’t pass, come and don’t come all sit near a 1.4 percent house edge.
- Free odds is the one bet with no edge. Always back your line bet with as much odds as the table allows.
- Place the 6 or 8, not the 4 or 10. The 6 and 8 cost 1.52 percent; the 4 and 10 cost 6.67 percent.
- Skip the center of the table. Hardways and proposition bets carry the worst odds in the game.
The main types of craps bets
Every craps bet falls into one of two groups. Around the outside of the layout are the line and box bets, the pass line, come, place and field wagers, which are simple and carry low house edges. In the middle are the center bets, the hardways and one-roll propositions, which look exciting but are the most expensive bets in the casino. Good craps play lives entirely in the first group.
This guide walks through each bet in turn, from the cheapest to the priciest, so you can see exactly which ones to make and which to ignore. If you are still learning the round itself, our how to play craps guide covers the come-out roll and the point first, and our craps strategy guide explains why bet selection, not any system, is what matters.
Pass, don’t pass, come and don’t come
The four line bets are the heart of craps and the best place to start. The pass line and come bet back the shooter and win at even money, each with a house edge of about 1.41 percent. The don’t pass and don’t come bets do the opposite, betting against the shooter, and are a touch cheaper at 1.36 percent. The come and don’t come simply let you make the same wager on any roll rather than only on the come-out.
Whichever side you prefer, these four are as good as flat bets get in craps, and there is no meaningful difference between betting with or against the shooter over time. Pick the style you enjoy and stick with it.
The free odds bet
The free odds bet is the best wager in the entire casino, because it is the only one with no house edge at all. Once a point is set, you can place odds behind your pass, don’t pass, come or don’t come bet, and it is paid at true odds: 2 to 1 on the 4 and 10, 3 to 2 on the 5 and 9, and 6 to 5 on the 6 and 8. Since the payout exactly matches the real probability, the house makes nothing on it.
The practical takeaway is simple: always back your line bet with as much odds as the table allows, because it lowers your average cost without adding any edge. Our craps odds guide shows how taking maximum odds pulls your combined house edge down toward zero.
Place, buy and lay bets
Place bets let you wager that a specific number rolls before a 7, without waiting for it to become the point. They are not all equal: placing the 6 or 8 pays 7 to 6 for a low 1.52 percent edge and is well worth making, the 5 or 9 pays 7 to 5 for 4 percent, and the 4 or 10 pays 9 to 5 for a steep 6.67 percent. As a rule, place the 6 and 8 and leave the rest.
Buy bets are place bets on the 4 or 10 paid at true odds in exchange for a small commission, which can be cheaper than placing them if the commission is only charged on wins. Lay bets are the reverse, betting a number will not appear before a 7. Both are situational, so most players never need them.
Field, big 6 or 8 and the center bets
The remaining bets are where the house makes its money. The field is a one-roll bet on a group of numbers that looks generous but carries a 2.78 to 5.56 percent edge depending on the payouts, and it skips the most common totals. The Big 6 and Big 8 pay even money for a 9.09 percent edge, when placing the same numbers pays 7 to 6 instead, so they are simply a worse version of a place bet.
Worst of all are the center bets: the hardways and the one-roll proposition wagers in the middle of the table, with house edges from around 9 percent up to nearly 17 percent. They are covered in full, and explained as the sucker bets they are, in our craps proposition bets guide.
Explore the craps table
The layout below is a simplified craps table. Tap any bet to see what it is, what it pays, and its house edge, colour coded from the best bets to the ones to avoid.
Betting the smart way
You do not need most of the craps table. Stick to a line bet, back it with free odds, and place the 6 or 8 if you want more action, and you are playing about as well as the game allows. Leave the field, the Big 6 and 8, and the center bets to everyone else. When you want to try it, pick a licensed site with table limits that suit you.
