Course contents
The Full Odds Table
Free odds bets pay true mathematical odds with zero house edge: 2:1 on 4 and 10, 3:2 on 5 and 9, and 6:5 on 6 and 8.
This lesson is a reference you'll come back to. Building on understanding house edge, the free odds bet is the only wager on the craps table with no house edge, and its payout depends entirely on which point number is active.
Free odds are placed behind an existing pass line, don't pass, come, or don't come bet, after a point is established. You're betting the same direction as your original wager, just at better math.
Point number | True odds against rolling it before a 7 | Odds bet payout |
|---|---|---|
4 or 10 | 2:1 | 2:1 |
5 or 9 | 3:2 | 3:2 |
6 or 8 | 6:5 | 6:5 |
Notice the payout column matches the true odds column exactly. That equivalence is what "zero house edge" means in practice: the casino pays you exactly what the probability says it should, with nothing skimmed off.
Odds bets are the one corner of the craps table where the math is completely fair — always add them if your bankroll allows it.
Here's a worked example. Say the point is 4. There are 3 ways to roll a 4 (1-3, 2-2, 3-1) and 6 ways to roll a 7, so a 7 is twice as likely. That's exactly the 2:1 relationship the odds bet pays. Bet $10 in odds behind a 4, and if the 4 hits before a 7, you win $20.
Casinos limit how much odds you can add, usually expressed as a multiple of your original bet, like "3x-4x-5x odds." A table offering 3x-4x-5x lets you bet 3 times your pass line wager in odds on 4 or 10, 4 times on 5 or 9, and 5 times on 6 or 8 — a structure designed so your total payout multiple stays roughly even across point numbers.
Combining a pass line bet with maximum odds is the standard advice for lowering your overall cost per roll, because it blends the small edge on the pass line with a zero-edge add-on. It doesn't eliminate the house edge on your total action, but it dilutes it: the more of your money sits in odds versus pass line, the lower your effective edge. The best bets ranked lesson puts this table to work in a full ranking.
This table is worth memorizing or bookmarking before you play. The next module puts this math to use, ranking every bet on the table and building a full strategy lesson around the numbers you've just learned.
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)
- VegasSlotsOnline: Craps Odds & Payouts — free odds bet mechanics, taking vs laying odds (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, the true odds against making the point are 6:5, and the odds bet pays 6:5 exactly (VegasSlotsOnline).
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 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.
Finished this lesson?
Mark it complete to track your progress.