Craps Bets Explained
The craps layout offers excellent wagers, expensive long shots, and plenty of bets that sit between those extremes. A smart player knows not only what a bet pays, but when it wins, when it loses, and how much the casino keeps over time. Use this page with the rules walkthrough, the strategy guide, and the glossary to build a complete table plan.
Before you place any wager, separate bets into three mental groups. Contract bets, such as Pass Line and Come, usually cannot be removed once they travel to a point. One-roll bets resolve immediately on the next throw. Dealer-placed number bets may often be turned off, pressed, reduced, or removed between rolls. Knowing which category you are using prevents many beginner surprises.
The Fundamental Bets
Pass Line Bet
The Pass Line is the classic right-side wager. It wins on a come-out 7 or 11, loses on a come-out 2, 3, or 12, and moves into the point phase on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Once a point is set, Pass Line wins if the point repeats before a 7. The house edge is about 1.41%, making it one of the best beginner bets.
Don't Pass Bet
Don't Pass is the opposite of the Pass Line after the point is established, but it is not a perfect mirror on the come-out roll. It wins on come-out 2 or 3, usually pushes on 12, loses on 7 or 11, and then wins if a 7 arrives before the point. The house edge is about 1.36%, slightly better than Pass Line, though some players dislike betting against the shooter.
Come Bet
A Come bet works like a Pass Line bet made after the come-out roll. Its first roll can win on 7 or 11, lose on 2, 3, or 12, or travel to a come point. Once moved, it wins if that number repeats before a 7.
Don't Come Bet
The Don't Come mirrors Don't Pass after a point exists. Its first roll loses on 7 or 11, wins on 2 or 3, usually pushes on 12, and otherwise travels to a don't come point. Once it travels, it wins if 7 appears before that point number. It is useful for players who prefer dark-side strategy across several numbers, but it requires patience and comfort with table opposition.
| Bet | Wins | Loses | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 7/11 come-out or point before 7 | 2/3/12 come-out or 7-out | 1.41% |
| Don't Pass | 2/3 come-out or 7 before point; 12 usually pushes | 7/11 come-out or point hit | 1.36% |
| Come | 7/11 first roll or come point before 7 | 2/3/12 first roll or 7-out | 1.41% |
| Don't Come | 2/3 first roll or 7 before don't come point; 12 usually pushes | 7/11 first roll or don't come point hit | 1.36% |
Odds Bets: Free Odds
Taking Odds
After a Pass Line or Come bet travels to a point, you can place an odds bet behind it. Odds are powerful because they pay at true mathematical odds, meaning the casino has no built-in edge on that extra wager. The catch is that the original flat bet still carries its normal house edge.
Laying Odds
Don't Pass and Don't Come players may lay odds, risking more to win less because the 7 is more likely than any individual point. Laying odds also pays true odds and reduces the combined edge on your total action.
| Point | Taking Odds Pays | Laying Odds Pays | House Edge on Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 1 to 2 | 0% |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 2 to 3 | 0% |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 5 to 6 | 0% |
Place Bets
Place to Win
A Place to Win bet chooses 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 and wins if that number rolls before a 7. The 6 and 8 are strongest because they appear more often and carry a house edge around 1.52%. The 5 and 9 are weaker at about 4%, while the 4 and 10 sit around 6.67% unless bought.
Place to Lose
Place to Lose bets are the reverse: you win if a 7 arrives before your chosen number. They are less common, dealer-placed, and often less intuitive for beginners.
Buy Bets and Lay Bets
A Buy bet improves the payout on 4 or 10 by charging a commission, usually called vig or juice. A Lay bet lets you bet that a 7 will appear before a chosen number, also with commission. Rules vary on whether the vig is charged upfront or only on wins.
| Number | Place Win Pays | Approx. House Edge | Beginner Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% | Consider buying instead if commission rules are fair. |
| 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% | Playable, but not as strong as 6/8. |
| 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% | Best place numbers for most players. |
Field Bets and Big 6/8
Field Bet
The Field is a one-roll bet. It wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 and loses on 5, 6, 7, or 8. Many tables pay double on 2 or 12; better tables pay triple on one of those numbers. The edge depends on that rule, so read the felt before playing.
Big 6 and Big 8
Big 6 and Big 8 win if 6 or 8 rolls before 7, but they pay even money. A regular Place 6 or Place 8 pays better for essentially the same idea, so experienced players generally avoid Big 6 and Big 8.
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets live in the center of the table and usually resolve quickly. They produce exciting payouts, but their house edges are often far higher than the line, come, odds, and place bets. Treat them as entertainment, not a core strategy.
Any Seven
Any Seven wins if the next roll totals 7. It pays 4 to 1 on many tables despite true odds of 5 to 1, creating a steep house edge.
Any Craps
Any Craps wins on 2, 3, or 12. It is fun on a come-out roll but carries a large cost over time.
Hardways
Hard 4, 6, 8, and 10 win when the number appears as matching pairs before it appears easy or before a 7. Hardways are popular, especially as small dealer tokes, but they should not dominate a disciplined bankroll.
Horn, World, and Hop Bets
Horn bets cover 2, 3, 11, and 12. World bets add Any Seven. Hop bets call a specific dice combination on the next roll. These wagers are high-volatility and best used sparingly.
Summary Comparison Table
When comparing bets, do not look only at the advertised payout. A bet can pay 15 to 1 and still be much worse than a bet that pays even money. The important comparison is true probability versus casino payout. Pass Line wins often enough and pays fairly enough to stay inexpensive. Any Seven wins often compared with other proposition bets, but its 4 to 1 payout is short of the true 5 to 1 odds, so the edge is severe.
Another key concept is resolution speed. A one-roll bet exposes your money for only one throw, but it also gives the house many chances to apply its edge if you repeat it. A Place 6 can sit through several rolls, win multiple times, and be taken down between rolls. A Pass Line bet is a contract bet, so it stays until resolved. These differences affect both math and bankroll feel.
| Bet | Typical Pays | House Edge | When Resolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1 to 1 | 1.41% | Come-out or point/7 |
| Don't Pass | 1 to 1 | 1.36% | Come-out or point/7; 12 usually pushes on come-out |
| Come | 1 to 1 | 1.41% | First roll or come point/7 |
| Free Odds | True odds | 0% | Point/7 |
| Place 6/8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% | Number/7 |
| Field | 1 to 1, bonus on 2/12 | Varies | Next roll |
| Hardways | 7 or 9 to 1 | High | Hard number, easy number, or 7 |
| Any Seven | 4 to 1 | Very high | Next roll |
How to Build a Simple Betting Plan
A beginner can play an entire session with only three ideas. First, make a Pass Line bet before the come-out roll. Second, when a point is established, take odds behind that bet. Third, if you want more action, place the 6 and 8 or add one Come bet with odds. This plan avoids the most expensive areas of the felt while still giving you enough rolls to enjoy the game.
More advanced players can layer in Buy bets on 4 and 10 when commission rules are favorable, Don't Come bets for dark-side coverage, or controlled pressing on place numbers. The danger is clutter. Every chip on the layout should have a reason. If you cannot explain when it wins, when it loses, and what it pays, skip it until you can.
Dealer communication also matters. For example, "Place the six and eight for twelve each" is clearer than tossing chips and pointing. "Press my six one unit" tells the dealer exactly how to use a win. "Take me down" removes eligible bets. Clear language reduces errors and keeps the table moving.