Craps Odds Table: True Odds vs Payout Odds for Every Bet
The complete craps odds table comparing true mathematical odds to actual casino payout odds, plus how the free odds bet lets you wager with zero house edge.
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Craps Odds Table: True Odds vs Payout Odds for Every Bet
The short answer
Craps has one bet with a true, mathematically verified 0% house edge: the free odds bet you place behind a pass or don't pass wager. It works because the casino pays you at the exact true odds of the dice, with no built-in markup. Every other bet on the table pays slightly less than true odds, which is where the house edge comes from. This page lays out both sets of numbers side by side.
If any of these terms are new, check our craps terms glossary first. For how each bet's edge compares dollar for dollar, see our house edge breakdown.
The odds bet is the single best wager in any casino, table game or slot included, because it's the only common bet with a genuine 0% house edge (Wizard of Odds). Always take the odds when you can — it's free money math in a business that doesn't usually give any away.
What is the difference between true odds and payout odds?
True odds describe the actual mathematical probability of an outcome, based purely on the 36 possible combinations of two six-sided dice. Payout odds describe what the casino actually pays you when you win. On almost every casino bet, payout odds are set slightly lower than true odds — that gap is the house edge.
For example, a point of 4 has true odds of 2:1 (Casino.com) against making it before a 7 (there are 3 ways to roll a 4, and 6 ways to roll a 7, so 6:3, reduced to 2:1). If a bet on the 4 paid exactly 2:1 every time, it would have zero house edge. The free odds bet on a point of 4 does exactly that, no more, no less.
Why do true odds differ by point number?
Dice combinations aren't evenly distributed. Some point numbers are easier to roll than others, which changes the true odds against them versus a 7.
Point number | Ways to roll it | Ways to roll a 7 | True odds against making point |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | 3 | 6 | 2:1 |
5 | 4 | 6 | 3:2 |
6 | 5 | 6 | 6:5 |
8 | 5 | 6 | 6:5 |
9 | 4 | 6 | 3:2 |
10 | 3 | 6 | 2:1 |
Numbers 6 and 8 are the easiest points to make (5 combinations each), so the odds against them are the tightest at 6:5. Numbers 4 and 10 are the hardest points to make (3 combinations each), so the odds against them stretch out to 2:1.
What does the free odds bet pay on every point?
Here's the same set of numbers, this time showing exactly what the free odds bet pays you if you take (back a pass line bet) or lay (back a don't pass bet) odds on each point.
(Figures verified against the Casino.com craps odds reference.)
Point | True odds against | Odds bet payout (pass line / "taking odds") | Odds bet payout (don't pass / "laying odds") |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 1:2 |
5 | 3:2 | 3:2 | 2:3 |
6 | 6:5 | 6:5 | 5:6 |
8 | 6:5 | 6:5 | 5:6 |
9 | 3:2 | 3:2 | 2:3 |
10 | 2:1 | 2:1 | 1:2 |
Notice the payout odds column matches the true odds column exactly. That's what makes this the only zero-house-edge bet in the building. A don't pass odds bet ("laying odds") requires you to risk more to win less, because you're betting on the more likely outcome, but the underlying math is still perfectly fair.
How does the odds bet actually work at the table?
You can only place an odds bet after a point is established, and only if you already have a pass line or don't pass bet working. You can't make an odds bet on its own — it always rides behind your original wager.
Here's the basic sequence:
- Make a pass line bet before the come-out roll.
- Wait for a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) to be rolled.
- Place your odds bet behind the pass line, usually by setting chips just behind your original bet.
- If the point repeats before a 7, both bets win — your pass line bet at even money, your odds bet at true odds.
- If a 7 shows first, both bets lose.
Most casinos cap how much odds you can add, typically expressed as a multiple of your original bet — "3x-4x-5x odds" is a common house rule, meaning you can bet 3x your line bet on the 4 or 10, 4x on the 5 or 9, and 5x on the 6 or 8. Some casinos offer flat 10x or unlimited odds instead. Always check the table's rules card before you sit down.
Why doesn't the odds bet fix your overall edge?
The free odds bet has zero house edge on its own, but it's added on top of a pass line or don't pass bet that still carries its own edge (1.41% or 1.36% respectively, per Wizard of Odds). Adding odds lowers your combined, blended house edge across the total amount wagered — but it can't erase the edge on the base bet itself.
The more odds you add relative to your line bet, the lower your blended edge gets, because you're wagering more money at 0% and the same fixed amount at ~1.4%. This is why serious craps players treat maximizing odds as the single highest-value adjustment you can make to your play.
What does a $10 odds bet pay at each point?
(Figures verified against Wizard of Odds craps tables.)
Point | If you bet $10 in odds, pass line pays | If you bet $10 in odds, don't pass pays |
|---|---|---|
4 or 10 | $20 | $5 |
5 or 9 | $15 | $6.67 |
6 or 8 | $12 | $8.33 |
These numbers scale linearly, so double your odds bet and you double the payout. Table minimums for odds increments vary by casino, so round to whatever the table allows.
If you're building a bankroll strategy around odds bets, keep your line bet size consistent with what you're comfortable risking overall, since odds bets add variance even without adding house edge.
For the same true-odds-vs-payout-odds logic on a different game, see how betting odds work or try keno yourself.
Ready to see it in action? Play craps or browse the full craps category on Wild.io.
A quick note on playing smart: craps math is fun to study, but the house edge never goes away no matter how well you know it. Set a budget before you sit down, treat losses as the cost of entertainment, and use Wild.io's responsible gambling tools if you ever want to set limits or take a break.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds: Craps — Odds Bets — true odds and free odds bet mechanics (retrieved July 2026)
- Wizard of Odds: Craps Appendix 1 — House Edge Tables — pass/don't pass house-edge figures and odds payouts (retrieved July 2026)
- Casino.com: Craps Odds, Payouts & House Edge — true odds vs payout odds, point probabilities, combined-edge figures (retrieved July 2026)
- VegasSlotsOnline: Craps Odds & Payouts — free odds bet mechanics, taking vs laying odds (retrieved July 2026)
- Wikipedia: Craps — Odds — dice combination and odds reference (retrieved July 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Why does the free odds bet have a 0% house edge?
Because the casino pays it at exactly the true mathematical odds of the dice, with no built-in markup. On a point of 6 or 8, for example, the true odds against making the point are 6:5, and the odds bet pays 6:5 exactly (VegasSlotsOnline). No other common casino bet does this.
Can I make an odds bet by itself?
No. The odds bet only exists as an add-on behind an existing pass line, don't pass, come, or don't come bet. You have to have one of those bets working before the dealer will let you place odds behind it.
What does "3x-4x-5x odds" mean?
It's a common house limit on how much you can bet in odds relative to your original line bet: 3 times your bet on a point of 4 or 10, 4 times on 5 or 9, and 5 times on 6 or 8. Some casinos offer flat 10x or unlimited odds instead, so check the table's rules card.
Does taking odds lower my overall house edge?
Yes, in a blended sense. The odds portion carries 0% house edge, so adding more odds relative to your line bet lowers the combined edge across your total wager, even though the original line bet's edge (1.41% or 1.36%) never changes on its own.
Why does laying odds on don't pass cost more to win less?
Because you're betting on the more likely outcome (that a 7 comes before the point). To keep the payout mathematically fair, you have to risk more than you can win, for example laying $20 to win $10 on a point of 4 (VegasSlotsOnline). The math is still perfectly fair, just structured differently than taking odds.
Is the odds bet available on every craps table?
Nearly all US casinos offer some version of it, but the maximum multiple (3x-4x-5x, 10x, or unlimited) varies by casino and sometimes by table. Always check the rules card at the table before you sit down.
About the author
Trust & Responsible Play Writer
Marcus focuses on judging casinos before you deposit — licensing checks, red flags, scam patterns — and the bankroll habits and limit tools that keep play under control.
