Craps Odds Calculator
Craps is one of the most exciting games in any casino—but also one of the most confusing. With over 40 different bets available, the house edge ranges from 0% (yes, zero!) to over 16%. This calculator helps you understand which bets are mathematically sound and which ones are designed to empty your wallet. Knowledge is power—understanding these odds won't help you win, but it will help you make informed decisions.
Craps Bet Analyzer
Select any craps bet to see its true odds, house edge, and expected value over time.
🎯 Line Bets (Best Odds)
The fundamental craps bet. Win on 7 or 11 on come-out, lose on 2, 3, or 12.
Betting against the shooter. Slightly better odds but socially unpopular.
Like a Pass Line bet, but made after the point is established.
Like Don't Pass, but made after the point is established.
✨ Free Odds Bets (The Casino's Secret)
Taken behind Pass Line after point. Pays true odds with ZERO house edge!
Laid against Don't Pass. Also pays true odds with no house edge.
🔢 Place Bets
Bet that 6 or 8 will be rolled before 7. Pays 7:6.
Bet that 5 or 9 will be rolled before 7. Pays 7:5.
Bet that 4 or 10 will be rolled before 7. Pays 9:5.
⚠️ One-Roll Proposition Bets (Avoid These)
Bet that next roll is 7. The worst bet on the table!
Bet that next roll is 2, 3, or 12. Pays 7:1.
Bet on exact pair (3-3 or 4-4) before 7 or easy way. Pays 9:1.
Bet on exact pair (2-2 or 5-5) before 7 or easy way. Pays 7:1.
Bet that next roll is 11. Pays 15:1 (should pay 17:1).
Bet that next roll is 12. Pays 30:1 (should pay 35:1).
The Casino's Best-Kept Secret: Free Odds Bets
Most casino bets have a built-in house edge—but free odds bets in craps have 0% house edge. This is the only bet in any casino that pays at true mathematical odds. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, casinos must allow these bets, but they rarely advertise them because they make no money on them.
Here's how it works: After a point is established on a Pass Line bet, you can "take odds" by placing additional chips behind your original bet. When you win, this portion pays at true odds (2:1 for 4/10, 3:2 for 5/9, 6:5 for 6/8). The American Gaming Association notes that combining a Pass Line bet with maximum odds is mathematically the smartest play in any casino.
Understanding Craps Mathematics
Craps might seem complicated, but the math behind it is beautifully simple. Two six-sided dice create 36 possible combinations, and understanding these combinations is the key to understanding every craps bet. The probability theory behind dice games has been studied for centuries.
The 36 Dice Combinations
Two dice can produce 36 possible outcomes. Here's why 7 is the most common roll—and why the casino builds its advantage around this fact:
| Total | Ways to Roll | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 way | 1-1 | 2.78% |
| 3 | 2 ways | 1-2, 2-1 | 5.56% |
| 4 | 3 ways | 1-3, 2-2, 3-1 | 8.33% |
| 5 | 4 ways | 1-4, 2-3, 3-2, 4-1 | 11.11% |
| 6 | 5 ways | 1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, 5-1 | 13.89% |
| 7 | 6 ways | 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1 | 16.67% |
| 8 | 5 ways | 2-6, 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, 6-2 | 13.89% |
| 9 | 4 ways | 3-6, 4-5, 5-4, 6-3 | 11.11% |
| 10 | 3 ways | 4-6, 5-5, 6-4 | 8.33% |
| 11 | 2 ways | 5-6, 6-5 | 5.56% |
| 12 | 1 way | 6-6 | 2.78% |
Why 7 Matters in Craps
The number 7 appears more than any other roll—6 out of 36 rolls (16.67%). This is why most craps bets revolve around whether a 7 will appear before or after other numbers. When you understand this, the entire game makes sense:
- Pass Line: You want the point to appear before 7
- Don't Pass: You want 7 to appear before the point
- Any Seven: You're betting 7 appears on the very next roll (low probability, terrible payout)
Craps Bet Comparison Chart
Not all craps bets are created equal. Here's how they compare, ranked from best to worst for the player:
| Bet | House Edge | True Odds | Payout | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Odds (behind Pass/Don't Pass) | 0% | Varies | True odds | Best |
| Don't Pass / Don't Come | 1.36% | 976:949 | 1:1 | Excellent |
| Pass Line / Come | 1.41% | 251:244 | 1:1 | Excellent |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% | 6:5 | 7:6 | Good |
| Place 5 or 9 | 4.00% | 3:2 | 7:5 | Fair |
| Field Bet | 5.56% | 5:4 | 1:1 (2:1 on 2/12) | Poor |
| Place 4 or 10 | 6.67% | 2:1 | 9:5 | Poor |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 9.09% | 10:1 | 9:1 | Bad |
| Any Craps | 11.11% | 8:1 | 7:1 | Bad |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 11.11% | 8:1 | 7:1 | Bad |
| Any Seven | 16.67% | 5:1 | 4:1 | Worst |
Why Casinos Love Proposition Bets
Walk up to any craps table and you'll see the flashiest, most exciting bets in the center of the layout—proposition bets like "Any Seven," "Yo-Eleven," and the hardways. These bets have the highest house edges on the table, sometimes over 15%. Casinos design the table this way intentionally, placing the worst bets in the most visible positions.
This is similar to how casinos design their floors to maximize engagement. The exciting proposition bets with big payouts (30:1 on 12!) are mathematically designed to drain bankrolls faster than any other bet in the casino. As we explored in our Bankroll Simulator, a higher house edge means faster expected losses.
The Smart Way to Play Craps (Mathematically Speaking)
If you're curious about the most mathematically sound approach to craps—purely from an educational standpoint—here's what the numbers suggest:
- Stick to Pass/Don't Pass or Come/Don't Come: These have among the lowest house edges in any casino game
- Always take maximum odds: Free odds bets have 0% house edge—the only fair bet in the casino
- Avoid the center of the table: Proposition bets have house edges 10x higher than line bets
- Place 6 and 8 if you must: At 1.52% house edge, these are the only place bets worth considering
Explore More Tools
Want to dive deeper into casino mathematics? Try our other educational calculators:
- Casino Odds Calculator: Compare house edge across blackjack, roulette, slots, and more
- Bankroll Simulator: Visualize how variance affects gambling outcomes over time
- Blackjack Strategy Chart: The mathematically optimal play for every blackjack hand
- Poker Probability Calculator: Calculate the odds of any poker hand
Related Stories
Curious about how people have tried to beat the craps table? Explore these related articles:
- The MIT Blackjack Team: Card counting doesn't work in craps, but these students found another game where math could beat the house
- Ron Harris Slot Scandal: An insider who knew the math—and used it to cheat
- Gambling Superstitions: Why players blow on dice, and other rituals that have zero effect on mathematics
- Bizarre Casino Bans: What happens when casinos suspect you of having an edge—even at craps