Craps Bets Explained: Which Ones Win and Which Ones Drain Your Bankroll

Walk up to a craps table, and you'll see dozens of betting spots scattered across the felt. Each one is a different way to bet on how the dice will land. Most players start with the pass line bet. It's simple: roll a 7 or 11 on the first toss, and you win. Roll 2, 3, or 12 and you're out. Anything else becomes the "point," and now the shooter needs to roll that number again before a 7 shows up.

Craps looks intimidating because there's so much happening at once. But that variety is exactly what makes it fun once you know what you're doing. Some bets give the house barely 1.5%. Others? The casino takes over 16% of every dollar you risk. Big difference. Let's break down the major bets.

What are craps bets

Every bet in craps comes down to what two dice will show when they stop rolling. That's it. The pass line bet gets the most action. The first roll is called the come-out roll. Hit 7 or 11, and you win. Hit 2, 3, or 12, and you lose. Any other number sets the "point." Now you need that exact number to show up again before a 7 does.

What sets craps apart from other table games is the variety of betting options spread across the table layout. Some bets are over in one roll. Others stick around until something specific happens. Every bet has its own payout and house edge. You need to know the difference or you'll get crushed.

How craps betting works

Craps happens in two parts. Get these two phases down, and the whole game makes sense.

The come-out roll

Each round starts with the come-out roll. Roll 7 or 11 on the come-out, and pass line bets win right there. Roll 2, 3, or 12, that's "craps", and pass line bets lose immediately. Roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, and that's your point. Game continues.

The point phase

Once the point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until one of two things happens. Either the point hits again, the pass line wins, or a 7 comes first and the pass line loses. Some point phases end in one roll. Others drag on forever. That's why craps is so unpredictable.

Winning and losing conditions

• Pass line wins: 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or hitting the point before a 7
• Pass line loses: 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll, or a 7 appearing before the point
• ‍Seven-out: When a 7 rolls after a point is established, ending the shooter's turn

Pass line and don't pass bets

Pass line and don't pass are the two basic bets in craps. They're opposites. Most people pick one and stick with it.

Pass line bet

Put your chips on the pass line before the come-out roll. Win on 7 or 11. Lose on 2, 3, or 12. If a point gets set, you win by hitting it before a 7. The house edge sits at 1.41%. That's one of the better bets you'll find in any casino.

Don't pass bet

Don't pass means you're betting against the shooter. Win on 2 or 3. Lose on 7 or 11. Roll 12, and you push, that's a tie. After the point is set, you're rooting for a 7 to show up first. House edge? 1.36%. Even better than pass line. Some people won't touch it because you're betting against everyone else at the table. But the numbers don't lie; it's a better bet.

Come and don't come bets

Come and don't come work just like pass line and don't pass. Only difference? You make them after the point is set.

Come bet

Place a come bet and the next roll becomes your personal come-out roll. Hit 7 or 11, you win. Get 2, 3, or 12 and you're out. Any other number sets your "come point." Now you need it to hit again before a 7.

Don't come bet

Don't come does the opposite. Win on 2 or 3. Push on 12. Lose on 7 or 11. Once your come point is set, you want a 7 before that number shows up again.

What are odds bets in craps?

Here's the thing about odds bets: they're the only wager in the entire casino where the house edge is zero. Actually zero. You can't place an odds bet by itself. You need a pass, don't pass, come, or don't come bet first. That's why smart players always add odds.

Pass line odds

Once the point is set, stack more chips behind your pass line bet. That's "taking odds." How much you win depends on the point:

Don't pass odds

Laying odds means you're betting a 7 shows up before the point. You're putting up more money to win less. But that's because the math is in your favor. Lay odds against 4 or 10 and you get paid 1 to 2.

Come odds and don't come odds

Come and don't come bets work the same way. Set your come point, add odds, and there's no house edge.

Place, buy, and lay bets

These bets skip the come-out roll. You just pick a number and bet on it directly. Each one has its own payout and cost.

Place bets

Pick 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 and bet on it whenever you want. Your number hits before a 7, and you win. Most people go with Place 6 or Place 8. The house edge is only 1.52%, way better than the other numbers.

Buy bets

Buy bets work on specific numbers, too, but they pay true odds instead of the reduced payout you get with place bets. Catch? You pay 5% commission, usually when you win. Buy 4 or 10, and the better payout usually covers that commission.

Lay bets

Lay bets flip everything around. You're betting a 7 shows up before your number does. You put up more money than you'll win back. But the payout matches the real odds, minus a commission.

What is a field bet

Field bets are one-roll wagers. You're betting the next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Most tables pay 2-to-1 on 2. The 12 pays either 2-to-1 or 3-to-1. Looks good because you've got seven winning numbers. But the house edge sits between 2.78% and 5.56%, depending on what your table pays.

Proposition bets and hardways

Those bets in the middle of the table? High risk, high reward. Prop bets and hardways pay huge. But the odds are terrible.

Common proposition bets

• Any 7: Bet on 7 for one roll. Pays 4 to 1. House edge? Over 16%.
• Any craps: Bet on 2, 3, or 12 for one roll. Pays 7 to 1.
• Yo (11): One roll on 11. Pays 15 to 1.
• Snake eyes/boxcars: Straight bet on 2 or 12. Pays 30 to 1.

Hardway bets

Hardway bets pay when you roll doubles, like 4-4 for hard 8, before that number shows up any other way or before a 7 hits. House edge on hardways? Between 9% and 11%. They'll drain your bankroll fast.

Single-roll vs multi-roll bets

Single-roll bets are over after one roll. They're risky, and the house edge is usually worse. Multi-roll bets stick around until something happens. Steadier action, better odds. Want your money to last? Stick with multi-roll bets like the pass line with odds.

Craps payouts and house edge

House edge is how much the casino takes on each bet over time. Know the payouts and house edge, and you'll see what you're really risking.

Want to lower the house edge? Add an odds bet. The only way to do it. Max out the odds on your pass line bet, and the total house edge drops under 1%.

Best craps bets for smart players

Pass line with odds

Ask any serious player, and they'll tell you: pass line with odds is the best bet in craps. The pass line has a low house edge. Add odds, and that part has zero house edge. Together, they create one of the best values at any casino table.

Don't pass with odds

Don't pass with odds has slightly better math than the pass line. Some people don't like betting against everyone else at the table. But the numbers say it's the better bet.

Place 6 and place 8

There are six ways to roll 6 or 8. That's more than any point number except 7. They come up often enough that the house edge stays low, 1.52%. You can bet them anytime without waiting for a come-out roll.

Craps bets to avoid

Big 6 and Big 8

Big 6 and Big 8 pay even money when 6 or 8 hits before a 7. Place bet on the same numbers? Pays 7 to 6 for the same thing. Don't waste money on Big 6 or Big 8. Place bets are right there, and they pay better.

Any 7

Any 7 pays 4-to-1. Sounds good until you see the 16.67% house edge. One of the worst bets you can make.

High-risk proposition bets

Those center bets will burn through your money fast. Sure, they're exciting. But they'll cost you way more than they're worth.

How to start playing craps online

Start with pass line bets. You'll get the hang of the game without getting lost. Live dealer craps brings the authentic table experience online. Get comfortable, then add odds bets. Cuts the house edge down. Find a table with a clean interface. Make sure the platform has provably fair verification.

FAQs about craps bets

What is the safest bet in craps?

Pass line with maximum odds. Lowest combined house edge in the casino. Best long-term bet you can make.

Can you consistently win at craps?

No system works every time. The house always has an edge over time. Pick smart bets and you'll lose less and play longer.

What does the $10 craps strategy involve?

Put $10 on the pass line, back it with odds, then make one or two come bets with odds. You're spreading your money across numbers while keeping the house edge low.

How many dice combinations exist in craps?

Two dice give you 36 possible combinations. Seven shows up more than any other number, six different ways to roll it. That's why 7 matters so much in craps.

What happens if you bet pass and don't pass together?

Bet pass and don't pass at the same time and they basically cancel out. Pass wins when don't pass loses. But the bar 12 rule, where don't pass pushes on 12, means you lose money slowly over time.