By Alex Bennett · Updated
The craps house edge is the statistical advantage a casino holds over players in the game of craps. Mastering the house edge craps means understanding which bets leverage this advantage and which ones, while offering tempting payouts, actually significantly increase the casino's edge. In essence, informed players aim to play bets with the lowest house edge to maximize their potential playtime and winning opportunities. The primary goal for any astute craps player is to identify and consistently make these favorable wagers, effectively reducing the inherent mathematical disadvantage imposed by the casino.
What is the House Edge in Craps?
At its core, the house edge craps represents the average percentage of each bet that the casino expects to keep over the long run. This isn't about manipulating dice or unfair play; it’s a purely mathematical certainty built into the game's structure. Every bet offered in craps has a predetermined payout schedule, and these schedules are slightly skewed to ensure the casino profits. For instance, certain bets might offer a payout that doesn't precisely reflect their true odds of occurring, thereby creating a statistical profit margin for the establishment. Understanding this concept is fundamental to developing any kind of winning strategy or even just playing the game with a realistic expectation of outcomes.
Different bets within craps come with drastically different house edge percentages. While some bets might boast an edge of less than 1%, others can soar into double digits. This disparity is crucial for players to recognize because it directly impacts their long-term profitability. A player who consistently makes bets with a low house edge will, on average, lose money at a much slower rate than a player who gravitates towards the high-edge propositions. The game isn’t designed for players to win consistently, but by making superior choices regarding wagers, players can significantly lessen the mathematical uphill battle they face.
The concept of house edge is not unique to craps; it's a foundational aspect of virtually all casino games. Whether it's slots, roulette, blackjack, or poker, the house always has a built-in advantage. However, craps stands out due to the sheer variety of bets available, some of which are among the best in the entire casino when it comes to low house edge figures. The key to successful craps play, therefore, lies in differentiating these advantageous bets from the disadvantageous ones and sticking to the former as much as possible.
Deconstructing Common Craps Bets and Their House Edge
The pass line bet is the most fundamental and popular wager in craps, and fortunately for players, it offers one of the lowest house edges. When made without any odds, the house edge on a pass line bet is approximately 1.41%. This relatively low figure makes it an attractive starting point for new players and a staple for experienced ones. The game begins with the “come-out roll,” and if a 7 or 11 is rolled, the pass line bet wins. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled (craps), the bet loses. Any other number rolled establishes that number as the “point,” and the shooter must roll that point again before rolling a 7 for the pass line bet to win.
The Come bet is very similar to the pass line bet but is made after a point has been established. It functions identically to a pass line bet but essentially starts on the next roll. If the next roll is a 7 or 11, the Come bet wins; if it’s a 2, 3, or 12, it loses. Any other number becomes the “point” for the Come bet. The house edge on a Come bet, without odds, is also about 1.41%. Like the pass line, Come bets are significantly improved when taking odds behind them.
The Don't Pass bet is the inverse of the pass line bet. You win if the come-out roll is a 2 or 3, and lose if it's a 7 or 11. A roll of 12 is typically a push (tie), not a win or loss. If any other number is rolled, it becomes the point, and the Don't Pass bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the point number. The house edge here is approximately 1.36%, making it slightly better than the pass line bet. The Don't Come bet mirrors the Don't Pass but is made after a point is established.
Now, let's delve into bets that players should generally avoid due to their exorbitant house edge. The Any 7 bet, for instance, pays 4 to 1, but the true odds of rolling a 7 are 1 in 6. This difference equates to a massive house edge of 16.67%. Similarly, the Any Craps bet (2, 3, or 12) pays 7 to 1, but the odds are higher, resulting in a house edge of about 11.11%. Proposition bets, which include things like Hardways (rolling a specific pair before a 7), Horn bets (covering 2, 3, 11, 12), and Field bets, often carry house edges ranging from 5.56% upwards. While the payouts can seem enticing, the mathematical disadvantage is substantial.
The Power of Taking Odds in Craps
The most significant strategy for reducing the effective house edge in craps is by taking odds. Once a point is established on either a pass line or Come bet, players have the option to place an additional bet behind their original wager. This “taking odds” bet is placed on the proposition that the point number will be rolled again before a 7. The crucial aspect of taking odds is that these bets are paid out at true mathematical odds, meaning the casino has **zero** house edge on this portion of your wager.
The actual odds of rolling a specific number vary. For example, to roll a point of 4 or 10, there are three ways to do so (1-3, 2-2, 3-1 for 4; 3-6, 4-5, 5-4, 6-3 for 10). There are six ways to roll a 7 (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1). Thus, the odds are 6-to-3, or 2-to-1, against rolling a 4 or 10. If you bet $10 on the pass line and a 4 becomes the point, you can then bet, say, $20 in odds. If a 4 is rolled before a 7, you win your original $10 on the pass line (at 1.41% edge) and $40 on your odds bet (0% edge). The casino pays true odds on the odds bet, which is precisely why it's so beneficial.
Different casinos allow different multiples of odds. Some might allow single odds (1x), others double odds (2x), and some very player-friendly casinos offer triple, five, or even 100x odds. The higher the odds you can take, the more of your total wager is placed on a bet with no house edge, significantly lowering your overall effective house edge. For instance, betting $10 on the pass line and then betting $100 in 10x odds on a point of 4 or 10 dramatically reduces the casino's advantage on your total $110 wager compared to just betting the $10 pass line without odds. This strategic move is the cornerstone of smart craps play.
Working Example: Pass Line Bet with Odds
Let's illustrate the impact of taking odds with a concrete example. Imagine you're at a craps table with triple odds offered. You place a $10 bet on the pass line. The come-out roll is a 5. This establishes 5 as the point. The house edge on your initial $10 pass line bet is 1.41%. Now, to reduce the overall edge, you decide to take triple odds. Since a 5 can be made by rolling (1-4, 2-3, 3-2, 4-1), there are four ways. Rolling a 7 has six ways. So, the true odds against rolling a 5 are 6-to-4, or 3-to-2. You can bet up to 3x your pass line bet in odds, so you place an additional $30 on the odds behind your pass line bet.
Your total wager on this upcoming roll is $40 ($10 pass line + $30 odds). Suppose the shooter rolls a 5 again before rolling a 7. You win your $10 pass line bet, typically paid even money, so you receive $10 profit, plus your original $10 back. For your $30 odds bet, you are paid at the true odds of 3-to-2. This means you win $45 profit ($30 x 3/2), plus your original $30 odds bet back. In total, you win $55 profit and get your $40 stake back. So, you’ve turned $40 into $95.
Now, let's consider the scenario if you *didn't* take odds. You just bet $10 on the pass line. If a 5 is rolled before a 7, you win $10. Your total return is $20. The house edge of 1.41% on the $10 bet means, on average, you'd expect to lose about 14 cents each time you make that $10 bet over a very long period. However, by taking the $30 in triple odds, you've placed $30 of your total $40 bet on a proposition with no house edge. This significantly decreases the *effective* house edge on your total $40 wager. The more odds you can take, the greater this reduction becomes, turning a relatively high-edge game into one of the most favorable casino games available when played optimally.
The Best Bets in Craps: Minimizing the House's Take
When discussing the best bets in craps, the conversation inevitably centers on those with the lowest house edge, particularly when combined with strategically taken odds. The pass line bet, with its 1.41% house edge, becomes exceptionally strong when odds are taken. This is because the odds bet itself is paid at true odds, meaning the casino makes no profit on that portion of your wager. The higher the odds you can take, the lower the overall effective house edge becomes on your total bet. For example, with single odds (1x), the house edge is reduced to approximately 0.85%. With double odds (2x), it drops to about 0.60%, and with 10x odds, it’s merely about 0.18%.
Similarly, the Come bet functions just like the pass line bet but is made after a point is established. It also carries a 1.41% house edge without odds, making it equally attractive to players aiming to minimize the house’s advantage. When combined with the maximum allowed odds, the Come bet offers the same advantageous reduction in effective house edge as its pass line counterpart. This makes consistently playing both the pass line and Come bets with maximum odds a highly recommended strategy for players looking to maximize their playtime and minimize their losses over the long term.
The Don't Pass and Don't Come bets offer a slightly lower house edge of about 1.36% when played without odds. These are "dark side" bets, as players are betting against the shooter rolling certain numbers. They win on 2, 3, or 7 out (12 is usually a push). Like the pass line and Come bets, these can also be augmented with odds, but in this case, it's "laying odds." When laying odds on a Don't Pass or Don't Come bet, you are betting that a 7 will be rolled before the point. The payouts are at true odds, so these bets also benefit immensely from laying maximum odds, further reducing the effective house edge, often to below 0.80% depending on the odds multiplier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craps House Edge
How can I significantly lower the craps house edge?
To significantly lower the house edge craps, always take full advantage of maximum odds bets allowed on Pass Line and Come bets, or lay maximum odds on Don't Pass and Don't Come bets. These bets pay at true mathematical probabilities, reducing the casino's inherent advantage on a larger portion of your overall wager.
Are proposition bets bad in craps?
Yes, proposition bets in craps, such as Any 7 or Hardways, are generally considered very bad bets due to their extremely high house edge, often exceeding 11%. While they offer higher payouts, the odds of winning are dramatically stacked against the player, making them costly over time.
What is the effective house edge when playing craps with maximum odds?
When playing craps with maximum odds (e.g., 100x), the effective house edge on Pass Line and Come bets can be reduced to as low as approximately 0.18%. This makes craps one of the most player-friendly casino games when played strategically using these low-edge bets and optimal odds.