What Is the Odds Bet in Craps and Why Should You Place It?

What Is Craps?

Craps is a game of dice developed in the United States in the early 1800s. It's a simplified variant of the European hazard game and is brought by Jean-Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. He simplified the original game to increase the craps odds and minimize the player's disadvantage.

The start of craps was slow as the upper class did not approve of it at first, and the French-Creole nobleman had to promote it in the lower classes. Nowadays, craps tables are the hottest spots in every casino establishment around the world. There is always a crowd of players and spectators, high stakes, and a lot of emotions.

In this blog article, we decided to focus on the odds of craps, and more precisely, the odds bet. It's always the best wager in every casino because it comes with no House Edge and can be combined with other bets for optimal results. Don't worry if you haven't heard it because the odds bet is not part of the usual craps table layout!

What Are The Odds In Craps and Why Make This Bet?

Craps is played with a pair of dice thrown on a special table, and players bet on the final result. There are tens of possible bets, so it's no surprise that many new beginners wonder what are the odds of winning craps. First, let's learn the terms since there are two major types of craps bets - true odds and payout odds.

True Odds Of Rolling A Specific Number

True odds show a specific probability or how many times the chance to lose outweighs the chance to win. For example, the true odds of "Any 7" bet is 5 to 1, which can also be displayed as 5/1. Simply said, from 6 opportunities out there, 5 will lose, and 1 will win, or the chance to lose is 5 times greater.

At first, that might seem discouraging, but the true odds of other casino games are much worse. For example, the chance of spinning a number in European roulette is 36 to 1, and in American Roulette - 37 to 1. Then again, other bet types in craps come with lower odds, stretching from 5 to 1 all the way to 35 to 1.

House Edge And Payout Odds

Payout odds or craps odds reflect the House Edge or how much the casino will earn in any way. That is the reality, and it will also show how much you can expect to win. Let's give a simple example with one standard dice (six sides)! If you are playing to guess the rolled number, you must cover them all.

So, if you want to make single bets of $2, you will need to wager a total of $12 - 6 x $2. If we assume that the payout odds are 3 to 1 (3/1) and regardless of the outcome, you will win $6. Five of your bets will be lost, and 1 will win in any case. So, the casino juice is $6, and that is the House Edge for the round (House Odds).

Odds Bets (Taking Or Laying Odds)

Take odds is the best odds in craps because the House Edge with them is 0%. It is an extra wager you can make in addition to your standard bets (pass or don't pass and come or don't). Take odds makes the true odds and payout odds the same, or equal to zero, which makes them honest and fair.

This is a side bet, and as such, it comes with a risk because, essentially, the player stakes for a combination of numbers before a 7 has been rolled. The bet and the payout are usually limited by the casino because they are not making profits of these wagers and try to limit the exposure.

Moreover, take odds bets can't be part of your strategy if you are playing online, especially if you are using a bonus. The odds bets are usually excluded from the wagering requirements! Below, you can see the payout odds for different numbers:

• 4 or 10 - 2 to 1
• 5 or 9 - 3 to 2
• 6 or 8 - 6 to 5

Laying odds is the opposite side bet, which is placed by players who believe that a 7 will be rolled before the established point is repeated. The House Edge here is again 0%, and casinos may limit the action. The payout odds here are reversed so is the action:

• 4 of 10 - 1 to 2
• 5 or 9 - 2 to 3
• 6 or 8 - 5 to 6

Odds Of Winning Various Bets

Craps odds are many and diverse, which makes the game more difficult than other gambling classics, like roulette or blackjack. The House Edge varies from 0% to 16.90%, and the trick is to know how to combine bets in a winning combination. Surely, placing side bets might sound like a good idea, but remember that they may never close. In the next section of this article, I'll introduce all craps bets and the respective odds!

Best Odds In Craps For Different Bets

Since odds bets have been covered, it's time to answer another complex question: What are the odds in craps? As I already mentioned, there are too many options on the table, but they all are united in two main categories - Multi-Roll and Single-Roll bets. Here are their characteristics, along with the respective odds!

Multi-Roll Bets

The multi-roll bets offer the best odds in craps overall and, respectively, the best payouts. They are based on multiple rolls of the dice, and they are the most played across Las Vegas and the other big-casino destinations. Below, you can see the main multi-roll Dice bets:

Pass Line Bet

This type of bet has the highest odds of winning at craps. The Shooter must toss the dice and have 7 or 11 to win the wager, while 2, 3, and 12 lead to an instant loss. If any other number is rolled, it becomes the "Point". It must be rolled again, and the bettor wins if that happens before 7 appears but loses if the opposite happens.

Pass Line comes with true odds of 251 to 244, or a win probability of 49.30%. The potential here is massive since the House Edge is just 1.41%, and the payout odds are 1 to 1. This wager is often combined with the odds bet in craps.

Don’t Pass Line Bet

The logic here is almost exactly the opposite of Pass Line, and the odds bet craps is still applicable. You lose if the Shooter throws 7 or 11, and you win if the number is 2 or 3, while 12 is a tie. If a Point is established, 7 will bring you victory, while any repeater will lead to your bet loss.

Don’t Pass Line true odds are 976 to 949, with the probability of winning - 49.30%. Nevertheless, the House Edge is lower - 1.36% because of the tie option, while the payout odds remain 1 to 1.

Come Line Bet

Essentially, this is a personalized Pass Line bet, which can be only placed after the Point has been established. If any number except 7, 11, 2, 3, and 12 is rolled, it becomes the new Point for the bettor. The rest remains the same:

• True Odds - 251 to 244
• Win Probability - 49.30%
• Payout Odds - 1 to 1
• House Edge - 1.41%

Don’t Come Line Bet

This is the last type of wager that can be combined with the craps odds bet, and as expected, it is the opposite of Come Line. It is also similar to the Don't Pass Line and can be placed after the Point is established. The twist is still valid - 12 is a tie, and the numbers are as show below:

• True Odds - 976 to 949
• Win Probability - 49.30%
• Payout Odds - 1 to 1
• House Edge - 1.36%

Place Bet Odds On 6 Or 8

The Big Six and Big Eight bets are pretty simple as their names suggest. The type of wager requires you to pick one of the numbers and bet on it to appear before a 7. True odds for both wagers are 6 to 5, while the payout odds are 1 to 1. However, you are facing a significant House Edge here of 9%.

Buy Bets: Craps Odds And Payouts

These bets also have the best craps odds because they pay the true odds, and there is no House Edge. It's not actually a wager here because players "buy" the numbers they like instead of betting on them. They pay every time they're rolled out until a 7 appears. Casinos get a 5% commission or vigorish on all winning Buy bets. Here are the expected payouts and odds:

• 4 or 10 - 2 to 1
• 5 or 9 - 3 to 2
• 6 or 8 - 6 to 5

Hardways Bets In Craps

If you choose the "hard way", you need to fight a House Edge of 9.09% (6 or 8) or 11.11% (4 or 10). The true odds and payout odds are 8/1 and 7/1 and 10/1 and 9/1, respectively, for the same numbers. The trick here is that both dice must show the same number for the bet to win.

Fire Odds Bet In Craps

If you like side bets and the thrill, the Fire Bet is the one for you. Exactly because of such wagering options, the game is so popular and wild. The bet is that a single Shooter will score 3, 4, or 6 consecutive unique points. A unique point is a number from 4 to 10 without the 7.

The Fire bets come with some of the highest payout odds in this and all other gambling games! However, the true odds are comparable with some lotteries and instant-win games, where the House Edge is massive.

• 4 points - pays 25 to 1 with true odds of 113/1
• 5 points - pays 250 to 1 with true odds of 610/1
• 6 points - pays 1,000 to 1 with true odds of 6,156/1

Single-Roll Bets

Single-roll bets are less popular, fewer, and with lower odds, in general, when compared to multi-roll dice. As expected, they are based on single rolls, and players win or lose instantly. The odds bet in craps can't be combined with any of these wagers.

Craps Odds For Single Roll Bets

This might be the simplest bet, but it comes with a high House Edge for almost all numbers. Moreover, they require high stakes since the payout odds are from 7/5 to 9/5. In other words, you need to bet $5 for a potential winning of just $7 or $9. Here are all the numbers with the respective true odds, payout odds, and casino advantages:

• Number 4: 2/1 - 9/5 - 6.67%
• Number 5: 3/2 - 7/5 - 4%
• Number 6: 6/5 - 7/6 - 1.52%
• Number 8: 6/5 - 7/6 - 1.52%
• Number 9: 3/2 - 7/5 - 4%
• Number 10: 2/1 - 9/5 - 6.67%

Field Bet Odds In Craps

The field craps odds bet covers the following numbers: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. So, if the Shooter rolls one of these 16 numbers, you win, but if it is one of the remaining 20, you lose. This makes a win probability of 44%, which isn't too bad, and the true odds are 5 to 4.

The payout odds for the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 are always 1 to 1, while for numbers 2 and 12, each casino has a different offer. It may vary, so make sure to check this detail before placing a real money wager.

They both can be paid 1/1, 2/1, or 3/1, or the number 2 gets 2/1, while the number 12 - 3/1. The House edge varies between 5.56% and 2.78% for 1/1 to 3/1.

Any Craps Bet / Odds On Specific Craps Numbers

The "craps numbers" are 2, 3, and 12, and betting that one of them will land on the next round is "crapping out". The House Edge here is very high - 11.11%, while the true odds and payout odds are 8/1 and 7/1, respectively.

Any Seven Bet Odds

Well, nothing much here, as the name of the bet tells it all! If the Shooter rolls a 7, you win, but the House Edge is significant - 16.67%. On the other hand, betting a dollar can bring a $4 payout, and the true odds are relatively fair 5/1.

Odds For Other Craps Numbers

There are two other single-roll number bets that deserve attention, but they come with not particularly attractive craps odds. Horn Bet is to split your wager between the numbers 2, 3, 11, and 12. If 3 and 11 are rolled out, your bet is multiplied by x3, while if 2 and 12 come up - with x6.75.

Whirl Bet or World Bet is a combination between Horn and Any Seven wagers. All these provide some of the highest payout odds in craps - up to 30/1, but the House Edge is high - 11.11% to 13.90%, as well as the true odds - up to 35/1.

What Are The Worst Bets In Craps In Terms Of Odds?

Well, most certainly, the worst odds of winning craps are with the Any Seven bets, where the House Edge is highest - 16.67%, or an RTP rate of 83.33%. The less beneficial true odds are with the Single-Roll bets of 2 and 12 - 30/1, where the edge is also high - 13.90%.

Summary

Craps is and will remain one of the most extravagant casino games in terms of betting options and stakes. Some spectacular Las Vegas establishments offer different variants of the game with additional side bets, higher wagers, and insurance options. However, don't forget that the glamor usually disguises a higher risk.

Hopefully, this article helped you to learn what is the odds bet in craps and how to use it to your advantage. Despite the true and payout coefficients, and even despite the House Edge, the best craps strategy is always the one that fits your unique taste. For example, high rollers have riskier profiles and might go for the high-payout Multi-Roll bets!

If you like the craps odds bet and wish to try it with no strings attached, you should go online. At SlotCatalog, we have thousands of demo versions, and some of them cover the best-rated craps games. Once you've mastered your strategy, you can test it for real in the top casino sites verified by our experts!