Every bet on the craps table has a built-in mathematical edge for the casino. Some are tiny (the Free Odds bet literally has a 0% edge), and some are brutal (Any 7 takes 16.67% of every dollar you put down). This chart lays out every bet so you can see exactly what you are paying to play.
Click any column header to sort. Green bets are where you want your money. Red bets are where the casino wants your money.
| Bet ▲ | Payout ▲ | House Edge ▲ | Win Probability ▲ | Verdict |
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Understanding why 7 shows up more than any other number is the key to understanding craps odds. There are 36 possible combinations of two dice, and 7 has the most ways to appear (6 combinations). That is why a seven-out during the point phase is the most likely outcome on any given roll.
A 5% house edge does not mean you lose 5% of the time. It means that for every $100 you wager over the long run, the casino keeps about $5. In a single session anything can happen, but over thousands of bets the math converges.
This is why bet selection matters so much in craps. If you bet $10 per roll for 100 rolls on the Pass Line (1.41% edge), you expect to lose about $14. The same 100 rolls on Any 7 (16.67% edge) costs you about $167. Same table, same rolls, wildly different cost.
The Only Bet in the Casino With 0% House Edge
The Free Odds bet (placed behind your Pass or Come bet after a point is set) pays true mathematical odds. The casino makes zero profit on it. This is unique across every game on the floor. The more you put on odds relative to your flat bet, the lower your overall house edge drops. With 10x odds behind a Pass Line bet, your combined edge falls to just 0.18%.
The Bets That Will Drain You
Anything in the center of the table (proposition bets, hardways, Big 6/8) exists to generate profit for the casino. They look exciting, they pay big when they hit, and they bleed your bankroll faster than anything else in the building. If a dealer calls out a tempting center bet, just smile and keep your chips on the Pass Line.