Craps Odds & House Edge
Craps is one of the few casino games where you can find a bet with no house edge at all. But that is only true for one specific wager, and the rest of the table ranges from very fair to genuinely punishing. Here are the honest numbers so you can choose with your eyes open.
The headline edges
Pass line: about 1.41% — one of the best base bets in any casino.
Don't Pass: about 1.36% — marginally better still.
The Odds bet: 0% — this is the only true-odds bet on the floor. It pays exactly in proportion to the real probability, so the house takes nothing. By backing your pass line with Odds you lower your combined average edge well below 1%.
That free Odds bet is the single most important idea in craps. It is why experienced players keep their pass line modest and load the Odds behind it.
Why the prop bets are so costly
The centre proposition bets tell the opposite story. They run from roughly 10% to over 16% house edge. The reason is in the dice maths: a 7 is the most likely total (six ways to roll it out of 36 combinations), while a 2 or 12 has only one way each. The flashy payouts on rare numbers never quite match how rare they are — that gap is the house edge, and on prop bets it is enormous.
Understanding the 36 dice combinations is the key. A 7 comes up on average once every six rolls; that single fact explains both why the pass line is fair and why the long-shot bets are not.
Reading the numbers honestly
Even at 1.41%, the house still wins over time — a lower edge slows the bleed, it does not reverse it. No system changes the underlying probabilities. See how to apply these numbers in Craps Strategy and Craps Bet Types, or return to the Craps Guide. There is more in the casino games guides and the main guides library. To see the dice roll for real, visit the live casino. 18+.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Odds bet really have no house edge?
Yes. The Odds bet is paid at true odds, meaning the payout matches the real probability exactly, so the house edge is zero. It is the only such bet on the casino floor and the reason to keep your pass line small and your Odds large.
What is the house edge on craps prop bets?
The centre proposition bets carry a house edge of roughly 10% to over 16%, depending on the wager. They are the most expensive bets on the table and are best avoided entirely.
Why is 7 so important in craps?
A 7 is the most probable total, rolled six ways out of 36 dice combinations. That is why it wins the come-out roll but ends the point phase, and why bets tied to rare numbers carry such a high house edge.