Craps bets fall into categories: line bets, come bets, odds bets, place bets, buy bets, lay bets, field bets, hardways, and proposition bets. The safest way to learn the table is not to memorize every wager. Learn which bets are cheap, which are expensive, which are one-roll bets, and which stay active across several rolls.
Quick Facts
- Pass Line and Come bets carry about a 1.41% house edge.
- Don’t Pass and Don’t Come are slightly lower, about 1.36%.
- Odds bets pay true odds and have 0% house edge.
- Place 6 and 8 are usually better than Place 5/9 or Place 4/10.
- Field bets resolve in one roll and depend heavily on the 2 and 12 payout rules.
- Most center-table proposition bets are expensive entertainment, not smart value.
- More active bets mean more total action, which usually means more expected loss.
Plain Talk
The craps layout is a menu. The mistake is assuming every item on the menu is priced fairly.
Some bets are the core game. Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come, and odds are the foundation. Some bets are number bets. Place, buy, and lay bets focus on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Some bets are one-roll shots. Field, Any Seven, Any Craps, Horn, Yo, Aces, and Boxcars resolve immediately.
This page is the overview. For exact payoffs, go to Craps Payouts. For probabilities, use craps odds. For the casino’s advantage, use craps house edge.
For outside comparison, see the Wizard of Odds craps basics, the Wizard of Odds house-edge table, and the official Massachusetts craps and mini-craps rules for recognized wager names and payout structures.
How It Works
Start by separating bets by how they resolve.
| Bet category | Example bets | How they resolve | Beginner value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line bets | Pass Line, Don’t Pass | Start on come-out, then point race | Core learning |
| Come bets | Come, Don’t Come | Start after a point is on | Useful after basics |
| Odds bets | Taking or laying odds | Attached to line/come bets | Best pricing, higher swing |
| Place bets | Place 6, Place 8, Place 5, Place 9 | Number before 7 | Simple, varied cost |
| Buy/Lay bets | Buy 4, Lay 10 | True-odds style with commission | Rule-sensitive |
| Field bet | Field | One-roll selected totals | Fast, often overused |
| Hardways | Hard 4, 6, 8, 10 | Pair before easy version or 7 | Fun, costly |
| Props | Horn, Any Seven, Any Craps | Usually one-roll center action | High cost |
Line Bets
Line bets are the backbone.
| Bet | Wins on come-out | Loses on come-out | If point is set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 7, 11 | 2, 3, 12 | Point before 7 wins |
| Don’t Pass | 2, 3; 12 usually pushes | 7, 11 | 7 before point wins |
These are where beginners should start. They teach the rhythm of the game.
Come and Don’t Come Bets
A Come bet acts like a new Pass Line bet made after the puck is ON. A Don’t Come bet acts like a new Don’t Pass bet after the puck is ON. They can travel to box numbers and then wait for resolution.
These bets confuse beginners because they start in one area and move. They are not bad bets, but they require attention.
Odds Bets
Odds bets are attached to Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come. They pay true odds.
| Point | Right-side odds pay | Wrong-side lay odds pay |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Odds bets have no house edge, but they increase the amount you can lose on a single decision.
Place Bets
Place bets let you choose 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. You win if your number rolls before 7.
| Place number | Common payout | Plain-English note |
|---|---|---|
| 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | Most reasonable place bets |
| 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | Higher cost |
| 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | Often poor unless bought under favorable rules |
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets live in the center. They are usually booked by the stickman and resolved quickly.
| Prop type | Example | Beginner warning |
|---|---|---|
| One-roll total | Any Seven, Any Craps, Yo | Fast hit, high edge |
| Horn-style | Horn, Horn High Yo | Splits money across long shots |
| Hardways | Hard 4, Hard 6, Hard 8, Hard 10 | Multi-roll, but fragile |
Craps Table Example
A player buys in for $400 at a $15 table.
He makes these bets:
- $15 Pass Line
- $30 odds after the point becomes 5
- $18 Place 6
- $18 Place 8
- $5 hard 6
- $5 Any Seven
The layout now has a mix of good, decent, and bad pricing.
| Bet | Type | Cost quality |
|---|---|---|
| $15 Pass Line | Line bet | Low edge |
| $30 odds | True-odds bet | No edge, higher swing |
| $18 Place 6/8 | Place bets | Reasonable |
| $5 hard 6 | Hardway | High edge |
| $5 Any Seven | One-roll prop | Very high edge |
The player may feel “covered,” but he is really increasing total exposure across several different prices.
From the Casino Side:
Dealers sort bets by who controls them. Player-position bets like Pass Line and Field are self-service. Place, buy, lay, and odds bets are dealer-managed. Center action is usually handled by the stickman.
This matters for speed and disputes. A player can put chips directly on the Pass Line, but a Place 6 must be placed by the dealer. A horn bet thrown to the stickman must be announced clearly. Odds behind the line must match the player’s existing line bet and table odds limits.
The floor supervisor cares about limits, proper payouts, late bets, and clean communication. Surveillance cares about hands reaching into the layout, cap attempts, past-posting, and whether the crew is correctly moving, paying, and taking bets.
Common Mistakes
- Learning bets by excitement instead of cost.
- Making five different bets before understanding the point.
- Confusing Place 6 with odds on the 6.
- Thinking a high payout means a good bet.
- Ignoring whether a bet is one-roll or multi-roll.
- Forgetting that more active bets create more total action.
- Copying a pressing player without understanding the bankroll swing.
Hard Truth
Craps gives you cheap bets and traps on the same felt. The casino does not need to hide the bad prices. The noise does that for free.
FAQ
What is the best craps bet for beginners?
Pass Line or Don’t Pass. They teach the core game and carry relatively low house edges.
Are odds bets the best craps bets?
They are the fairest bets because they pay true odds. But they must attach to another bet and they increase your money at risk.
Are place bets bad?
Not all of them. Place 6 and 8 are reasonable compared with many casino bets. Place 4 and 10 are much weaker unless buying them is allowed under favorable commission rules.
Why are proposition bets popular?
They are simple, loud, and pay quickly when they hit. That does not mean they are fairly priced.
Is the Field a good bet?
It depends on the payout for 2 and 12. Even then, it is a one-roll bet that can burn action quickly.
Can I remove place bets?
Usually yes, before the next roll. Tell the dealer to take them down.
Do all craps tables offer the same bets?
No. Side bets, odds limits, field payouts, buy-bet commission rules, and novelty bets can vary by casino and jurisdiction.
Deeper Insight
The clean way to understand craps bets is to ask three questions before making any wager.
First: what must happen for the bet to win?
Second: what must happen for it to lose?
Third: does the payout match the true probability?
Most players ask only the first question. That is why high-payout bets are so seductive. A $1 bet that can win $15 sounds attractive until you realize the true probability deserved more.
Line bets and come bets are not magical. They are simply priced better than most other bets. Odds bets are fair because the payout equals the point-versus-seven ratio. Proposition bets are not evil. They are entertainment with a higher toll.
Formula / Calculation
Expected Value = (Probability of Win × Net Win) - (Probability of Loss × Stake)
House Edge = -Player EV / Initial Stake
Expected Loss = Total Amount Wagered × House EdgeExample: if you put $300 of total action through a 1.41% Pass Line edge:
$300 × 0.0141 = $4.23 expected lossIf you put $300 through a 10% proposition-bet edge:
$300 × 0.10 = $30 expected lossSame total action. Very different price.
Formula Explanation in Plain English
The bet name does not matter as much as the price. A low-edge bet takes a small theoretical bite from repeated action. A high-edge bet takes a large bite. Craps becomes clearer when you stop asking, “Can it hit?” and start asking, “What am I paying for the chance?”
Related Reading
Use Craps Payouts next to see how common bets pay. Then compare those payouts with craps odds and craps house edge. For specific bet pages, start with Pass Line Bet Explained and Odds Bet Explained. Test examples with the craps odds calculator and house edge calculator. If a system tells you to combine many bets for “coverage,” read why betting systems fail.