Rules · Payouts · House edge · Complete bet directory
Craps offers dozens of wagers, but they reduce to a few families: line and Come bets, true Odds, number bets, one-roll propositions and bonus combinations. Learn Pass Line first, then judge every new bet by its rules, payout, probability and total money at risk.
Written and reviewed by Sam 20+ years playing in 65+ casinos
Last reviewed August 2026
Directory scope 37 detailed bets and math guides
Start with the structure
Craps bets at a glance
| Bet family | Common examples | Typical duration | General cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line and Come | Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come | One game cycle or a number-versus-7 race | Low house edge |
| True Odds | Taking or laying Odds | Until point/number or 7 | 0% on the Odds portion |
| Number bets | Place, Buy, Lay, Put | Normally until resolved or removed | Varies by number and commission |
| One-roll propositions | Field, Any 7, Any Craps, 2, 3, 11, 12, C&E, Horn, hop | Next roll only | Usually medium to very high |
| Multi-roll propositions | Hardways | Until easy number, hard number or 7 | High |
| Bonus bets | Fire, Small, Tall and All | Across a shooter’s turn | Paytable-specific |
Sam’s starting point
For a first session, I would rather see a player understand one $10 Pass Line bet than scatter $10 across five boxes they cannot explain. Add permitted Odds only after you understand the point cycle and can afford the extra exposure. Complexity is not an advantage.
Line, Come and true Odds bets
| Bet | Core rule | Standard payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 7/11 wins and 2/3/12 loses on come-out; then point before 7 | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | 2/3 wins, 7/11 loses, 12 normally pushes; then 7 before point | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
| Come | Uses Pass rules beginning on the next roll | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | Uses Don’t Pass rules beginning on the next roll | 1 to 1 | 1.36% |
“Right way” and “wrong way” are table slang for Pass-side and Don’t-side action, not quality judgments. Don’t Pass and Don’t Come have slightly lower mathematical edges, but some players dislike betting against the shooter. That social preference does not change the probability.
Taking and laying Odds
Free Odds bets pay at the true number-versus-7 probability and therefore have no house edge on that supplemental portion. They require an established Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come wager. The combined wager still has negative expectation because the required base bet has an edge.
| Point | Taking Odds payout | Laying Odds payout |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 1 to 2 |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 5 to 6 |
Zero edge does not mean zero risk. Odds increase the dollars exposed and the size of short-term swings. “5× Odds” describes a permitted multiplier, not a guarantee or a fivefold advantage.
Place, Buy, Lay and Put bets
| Bet | What it means | Important variable |
|---|---|---|
| Place | Selected number before 7 | 6/8 have a lower standard edge than 5/9 or 4/10 |
| Buy | Selected number before 7 at true odds less commission | Commission amount and timing change value |
| Lay | 7 before selected number at true odds less commission | You risk more than the amount won |
| Put | Enter a Pass/Come-style number after it is established | Value depends heavily on permitted Odds |
Standard Place-bet payouts
| Number | Standard payout | Correct unit | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | $5 | 6.67% |
| 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | $5 | 4.00% |
| 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | $6 | 1.52% |
The commission rule can determine whether buying is better than placing. Compare Place versus Buy on 4 and 10 and when buying 5 and 9 can make sense. A casino that collects commission only on wins produces a different result from one that collects it upfront.
Hardways and one-roll propositions
| Bet | Standard payout | House edge | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard 4 or 10 | 7 to 1 | 11.11% | Hard number, easy number or 7 |
| Hard 6 or 8 | 9 to 1 | 9.09% | Hard number, easy number or 7 |
| Any 7 | 4 to 1 | 16.67% | One roll |
| Any Craps | 7 to 1 | 11.11% | One roll |
| 2 or 12 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% | One roll |
| 3 or 11 | 15 to 1 | 11.11% | One roll |
| Horn | Combination payoff | 12.50% | One roll |
These bets create dramatic wins because the successful totals are uncommon, but the posted payouts are substantially below the true odds. The short duration also allows the expected cost to be applied repeatedly in a fast game. A small chip does not make the percentage cheap.
Bonus bets
The Fire Bet and Small, Tall and All can remain active across much of a shooter’s turn. Their paytables, qualifying totals and reset rules vary. Never transfer an edge or payout from one layout to another without checking the printed rules.
A repeatable test
How to judge any craps bet
- Define exactly what wins, loses and pushes. Do not rely on the bet’s nickname.
- Identify the relevant dice combinations. Use a verified probability when the bet spans multiple rolls.
- Read the displayed payout and commission rule. “For one” and “to one” are not always equivalent.
- Calculate expected loss and house edge. The size of a possible win is meaningless without its probability.
- Consider duration and variance. A low average cost can still produce large short-session swings.
- Confirm the correct betting unit and total exposure. Improper units can create rounded-down payouts.
Start with craps probability and house edge, use the payout table for common units, and see what the phrase “sucker bet” does—and does not—mean. None of these measurements predicts the next roll.
House edge measures cost, not safety
A lower edge generally reduces expected loss per dollar resolved, but the amount wagered and number of decisions still matter. More bets, larger Odds and longer play can create more total exposure even when the average percentage looks attractive.
All surviving Bets & Odds guides
Complete craps bet directory
Core wagers
Line, Come and Odds
Number wagers
Place, Buy, Lay and Put
Propositions
One-roll and hardway bets
Math and decisions