Craps Payouts Guide

Craps is easily the most popular dice-based table game in physical and online casinos around the world—but it can be daunting for first-timers. After all, the craps table appears to have hundreds of different bets to offer, and the gameplay appears to be complex and too-fast paced at times. However, craps is more complex than it seems. Once you learn the available bets, payouts, and gameplay, you’ll get the hang of it. This guide will address craps wagers, craps payouts, and house edge, providing a craps payouts chart and teaching you how to calculate craps payouts on the fly.

Craps Payouts Summarized

Understanding craps table payouts is essential for making informed betting decisions and formulating craps strategies. Payout directly influences your potential wins, losses, and ultimately, your bankroll. Therefore, it’s important to have a good grasp of craps payouts, since they help manage your expectations about the risk of making a particular wager and the potential rewards you stand to gain from integrating it within your craps betting strategy.

Basic Concepts in Craps Odds and Payouts

Just as craps dealers memorize payout odds to ensure everyone at the table gets paid accordingly, it’s absolutely necessary for you to understand the basic concepts of craps bets, odds, and payouts to ensure a productive session each time you play craps at Mega Dice. Let’s go on a deep dive in the following sections.

What Are Craps Odds?

True odds refer to the statistical probability of winning a particular wager within the context of a craps game. For instance, if a particular craps bet has its true odds displayed as 3 to 1 (3:1), this basically means that on average, for every one time you win, you can expect to lose the game thrice. You can convert the true odds of any particular craps bet to determine your potential win percentage—meaning, odds in craps translates directly to your potential profits. Craps payout odds range anywhere between 1:1 (even money) to up to 30:1, which are determined by the true odds of a particular wager and its specific house edge.

The House Edge

The house edge refers to the difference between the true odds of a particular craps bet and the actual odds a brick-and-mortar or online money casino pays to a winning bettor. The house edge is the mathematical advantage that the casino has over games of chance they offer, including craps. In essence, the house edge is the casino’s potential profit.

The lower the house edge of a craps bet, the better it is for the player, because of the better odds and the greater likelihood of winning over time. On the other hand, the higher the house edge, the higher the potential payouts, but with a greater likelihood of losing over the long run.

Probability vs. Payouts

As you may have probably guessed, like the house edge, probability plays a major role in determining the potential payouts of a particular craps bet.

That is, the less likely a particular bet will hit based on its odds, the higher the payout they offer. Conversely, the more likely that a particular bet will occur, the lower the payout.

Not surprisingly, one of the most effective craps betting strategies is to concentrate on bets that offer a lower house edge, and avoiding bets with a high house edge as relying heavily on the latter could translate into a hefty loss.

High-probability bets include the Pass Line/Don’t Pass Line bet and the Come/Don’t come bets, which pay out at 1:1, while low-probability bets include one-roll bets such as Snake Eyes (rolling a 2), or Box Cars (rolling a 12), which pay out at 30:1. We’ll take a closer look at craps bets in the following sections.

Craps Bets and Payouts

Every craps bet has its own unique odds, payout, and house edge. It is for this reason why craps players need to have a good foundational knowledge of the various craps bets available and understand their payouts, likelihood of hitting, and their odds to increase their chances of turning in a profit.

Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bets

Pass Line bets and Don’t Pass bets offer the lowest house edges in craps. Pass line bets offer a 1.41% house edge, while Don’t Pass bets offer a 1.36% house edge. These foundational bets pay out at a 1:1 or even money owing to their low house edge.

Pass Line bets are paid if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll (the first dice roll with a new shooter or the first dice roll after the shooter has made a point). The Pass Line bet loses if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12. Pass Line bets also lose whenever a point is established and a 7 appears before the point.

Don’t Pass bets are the polar opposite of Pass Line bets. Don’t Pass bets are paid whenever the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 on the come-out roll, and loses on a 7 or 11, and results in a push if the shooter rolls a 12. Don’t Pass bets win whenever a point is established and a 7 is rolled before the point. Don’t Pass bets are the polar opposite of Pass Line bets.

Come and Don’t Come Bets

Come and Don’t Come bets offer the same payouts and house edge as the Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets. The rules governing Come bets are exactly the same as the Pass Line bet, while the rules governing Don’t Come bets are exactly the same as the Don’t Pass bet. The main difference is that Come and Don’t come bets are made after the come-out roll has been made and a point is established.

Odds Bets

Once a point has been established, players can make free odds bets when they have a live Pass Line/Don’t Pass bet or Come/Don’t come bet. Free odds bets are additional wagers that are placed behind the original stake. They offer players a major advantage since they have no house edge, making odds bets favorable to the bettors.

You can take the odds as an additional wager to your Pass Line and Come bets, or lay the odds as an additional wager for your Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets. While the initial stakes players make on the original Pass Line/Don’t Pass bet always pay even money on a win, odds bets are paid out at the true odds as follows:

2 to 1 for points 4 and 10
3 to 2 for points 5 and 9
6 to 5 for points 6 and 8

Odds bets are capped depending on the casino’s specific rules and regulations, ranging from three times to up to six times your initial Pass Line/Don’t Pass or Come/Don’t come bet. Odds bets can, in general, be reduced or removed at any time.

Place Bets

Place bets are wagers made on individual numbers such as 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 after the point is established. If the numbers you wagered on appear before a 8 does, you win a corresponding payout. If a 7 appears before your number does, your bets lose. Place bets are inactive (or OFF) during the come-out roll unless a player specifically activates them or turns them ON. Payouts and house edges vary depending on the number wagered on.

9 to 5 for place bets on 4 (6.67% house edge)
7 to 5 for place bets on 5 (4% house edge)
7 to 6 for place bets on 6 (1.52% house edge)
7 to 6 for place bets on 8 (1.52% house edge)
7 to 5 for place bets on 9 (4% house edge)
9 to 5 for place bets on 10 (6.67% house edge)

The odds of this bet are a wager on the chances of the player winning, so the easier the one of the aforementioned numbers chances of landing are, the lower the odds are for that number. The best house edge for place bets are on numbers 6 and 8, offering a 1.52% house edge.

Field Bets

Field bets are one-roll bets that can be placed on each dice roll. If you place a wager on a field bet and a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 is rolled, you win even money. If a 2 or 12 is rolled, you win double your stake. Some casinos pay out at a 3 to 1 rate if a 2 or 12 is rolled.

If a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is rolled, you lose your stake. The house edge on a field bet ranges between 2.78% to 5.56% based on prevailing casino rates.

Big 6 and Big 8 Bets

Big 6 and Big 8 bets are wagers made after the point is established on 6 and 8, respectively. They work exactly as a place bet on a 6 or 8, except that they pay out even money. They win even money on any combination of a six or eight, and lose if a 7 appears. These are NOT one-roll bets. However, these bets aren’t recommended since you can make place bets on 6 or 8 for a higher payout of 7 to 6, better odds, and a lower house edge. Big 6 and Big 8 offer a house edge of 2.78% compared to a place bet on 6 or 8’s 1.52% house edge.

Proposition Bets

Proposition bets in craps offer scintillating payouts, but they each come with much higher house edges compared to their lower-risk counterparts. Here are some examples of common prop bets in craps.

Any 7. The Any 7 bet is a one-roll prop bet that the next dice roll will be a 7. If a 7 comes out, you can win a 4 to 1 payout on your wager; however, this bet has one of the highest house edges on the craps table at 16.9%
Hardways. Hardways bets are prop bets that a double 4 (2 + 2), 6 (3 + 3), 8 (4 + 4), or 10 (5 +5) will be rolled before a 7 or rolling the aforementioned numbers the “easy” way (e.g., any other permutation than a double). Hard 4 and 10 pays out at 7 to 1, while hard 6 and 8 pays out at 9 to 1. Hard 6 and Hard 8 pay more than Hard 4 and Hard 10 since there are more ways to land a 6 and 8 the easy way. Unlike other prop bets, hardways remain live until the number or a 7 appears. Hardways bets feature a 2.78% house edge.
Any Craps. Any Craps is typically referred to as a hedge bet since it covers 2, 3, or 12, and pays out at a 7 to 1 clip in the event any of the three aforementioned numbers are rolled. If any other number is rolled, the bet loses. However, its high house edge of 11.11% offers poor value for money.
Horn Bet. The Horn Bet is a prop bet allowing you to bet on the next roll’s outcome being 2, 3, 11 or 12. The payouts on a 3 or 11 is 15 to 1, while a 2 or a 12 is 30 to 1.
Aces/Snake Eyes. A single-roll prop bet that the next roll will be a 2 that pays 30 to 1, with a high house edge of 13.89%.
Midnight/Box Cars. A single-roll prop bet that the next roll will be a 12 that pays 30 to 1, with a similarly high house edge of 13.89%.
Ace-Deuce. A single-roll prop bet that the next roll will be a 3 that pays 15 to 1 and a house edge of 11.11%.
Yo/Eleven. A single-roll prop bet that the next roll will be an 11 paying out 15 to 1 and a house edge of 11.11%.Payout Charts for Quick Reference

We’ve provided craps payout charts based on common craps bets, odds bet payouts by point number, and proposition bet payouts as follows:

Wager	Payout
Pass	Even Money
Don’t Pass	Even Money
Come	Even Money
Don’t Come	Even Money
Place Bet on 4	9:5
Place Bet on 5	7:5
Place Bet on 6	7:6
Place Bet on 8	7:6
Place Bet on 9	7:5
Place Bet on 10	9:5
Field Bet (3, 4, 9, 10, 11)	Even Money
Field Bet (2 and 12)	2:1

Pass Line/Come/Buy Bet Odds	Payout
4 Pays	2:1
5 Pays	3:2
6 Pays	6:5
8 Pays	6:5
9 Pays	3:2
10 Pays	2:1

Don’t Pass/Don’t Come/Lay Odds Bet	Payout
4 Pays	1:2
5 Pays	2:3
6 Pays	5:6
8 Pays	5:6
9 Pays	2:3
10 Pays	1:2

Proposition Bet	Payout
Any Seven	4:1
Two/Aces/Snake Eyes	30:1
Twelve/Midnight/Box Cars	30:1
Horn Bet	30:1 on 2 and 12; 15:1 on 3 and 11
Ace-Deuce/Three	15:1
Yo/Eleven	15:1
Any Craps	7:1
Hard Four	7:1
Hard Ten	7:1
Hard Six	9:1
Hard Eight	9:1
Big Six / Big Eight	1:1

High vs. Low Payout Bets in Craps

Low payout bets in craps tend to be “safer bets” due to their low house edge favoring the player. These bets feature the best craps odds and often feature in many craps strategies. They include the Pass Line bet, which features a low house edge of 1.41%. Other options include the Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets, which both offer the lowest possible house edge in craps with 1.36%.

High payout, high house edge bets in craps are significantly more risky due to their much higher house edge that favors the casino. These include proposition bets such as Hardways and single-roll prop bets. These bets are designed for players looking for the thrill of the dice’s randomness and offer big-time payouts—but their high house edges make them a less profitable bet over the long run.

Payouts Craps Strategy

When formulating a craps strategy designed to give you the best chance of turning in a profitable session, consider low-risk bets such as Pass Line bets or bet against the shooter by favoring Don’t Pass/Don’t Come bets that offer the lowest possible house edge in the game. Refrain from betting on high-risk bets like hardways or props, which feature high house edges.

Progressive betting strategies such as the Martingale strategy entail doubling your bets after a loss. However, the inherent house edge in games like craps can quickly erode bankrolls due to the sheer randomness of the dice, making progressive strategies less effective. Set a budget, set hard stop loss and win limits, and adjust your stakes based low-risk bets to give you the best shot at profitability.

FAQ

What are the standard payouts in craps?

Standard payouts in craps vary based on the bet. Please refer to the craps odds chart section above to see the standard odds and payouts.

How do odds bets work in craps?

Odds bets allow you to place an additional wager on an existing Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet, boosting your potential wins without affecting the house edge.

Why do some bets have higher payouts than others?

Certain bets offer higher payouts due to their higher house edge and the unlikelihood of hitting them consistently.

What is the best bet for beginners based on payouts?

The best bet for beginners based on payouts and odds is the Pass Line bet or the Don’t Pass bet due to their low house edge.

Are there any no-house-edge bets in craps?

Odds bets do not have any house edge; however, they require you to have a “live” Pass Line/Come or Don’t Pass/Don’t Come bet.

Can I use payout knowledge to improve my craps strategy?

Yes, understanding payouts and their house edge helps you make better betting decisions and formulate better strategies.

Do online casinos offer different payouts than land-based casinos?

Both casinos tend to offer similar payouts for most bets; however, there may be some slight differences.

Which bets offer the highest payouts in craps?

Prop bets such as Aces (2) or Box Cars (12) offer the highest payouts at 30:1.

What are proposition bets, and why do they pay more?

Proposition bets are high-risk, high-reward bets on rolling a specific number combination that pay more because of their low probability.

Is it better to play low or high payout bets in craps?

In the context of a profitable betting strategy, it is better to play low payout bets in craps.