Craps Complete Guide — Rules, Bets, Odds & House Edge

Craps Complete Guide: Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come Bets, Odds, Place Bets and House Edge

Craps looks complicated because a single table contains many betting areas, several stages of a round and a large amount of casino jargon. The underlying structure is simpler than the layout suggests. Two dice are rolled. Some bets resolve immediately, some establish a point, and others remain active until a later roll.

The most important distinction is between bets with relatively low house edges, such as Pass Line with free odds under standard rules, and high-margin proposition bets that can look attractive because of their large payouts. A player who treats every box on the layout as equivalent will misunderstand the game.

For NivaroBet, craps should therefore be documented bet by bet. The useful unit is not “craps RTP” but the exact wager, rule, odds multiple, payout and whether the bet is resolved on the come-out roll or after a point is established.

The core editorial principle is simple: the dice are the same, but each bet prices a different event.

The two-dice probability model

Craps uses two standard six-sided dice.

There are 36 ordered outcomes.

The totals are not equally likely.

Number of combinations:

2: 1
3: 2
4: 3
5: 4
6: 5
7: 6
8: 5
9: 4
10: 3
11: 2
12: 1

Seven is the most common total because it can be made in six ways.

Two and twelve are the rarest because each has only one combination.

Every craps probability begins with this distribution.

The come-out roll

A new Pass Line round begins with a come-out roll.

Under standard rules:

7 or 11: Pass wins;
2, 3 or 12: Pass loses;
4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10: that number becomes the point.

Once a point is established, the shooter keeps rolling.

The Pass Line wins if the point repeats before a 7.

It loses if a 7 appears first.

This creates the two-stage structure that makes craps different from a simple one-roll wager.

Pass Line

Pass Line is the most common basic bet.

The come-out roll creates immediate wins and losses.

If a point is established, the bet becomes a race:

point before 7 = win;
7 before point = loss.

The Pass Line normally pays 1:1.

Under standard rules, its house edge is approximately 1.41% on the base wager.

That figure does not include optional odds.

Why Pass Line is not a 50/50 bet

The immediate 7 and 11 wins are balanced against 2, 3 and 12 losses plus the point-stage probabilities.

Once a point is set, 7 is more likely than many point numbers.

For point 4, for example:

four can be rolled in 3 ways;
seven can be rolled in 6 ways.

The probability that 4 appears before 7 is therefore 3 / (3 + 6) = 1/3.

The casino edge emerges from the full two-stage tree.

Don't Pass

Don't Pass is roughly the opposite of Pass Line.

On the come-out roll under a common rule:

2 or 3: Don't Pass wins;
7 or 11: Don't Pass loses;
12: push;
4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10: point established.

After the point:

7 before point = win;
point before 7 = loss.

Because 12 pushes instead of winning, the house retains an edge.

The standard Don't Pass house edge is slightly lower than Pass Line, around 1.36%.

Bar 12 and rule variants

Some tables use “Bar 12,” meaning 12 pushes on Don't Pass.

Others can bar 2 instead.

The effect is symmetrical in probability because 2 and 12 each have one combination.

But the table rule should still be recorded.

NivaroBet should not assume every online variant uses identical Don't Pass wording.

The layout or help panel should state the barred number.

Come bets

A Come bet works like a Pass Line bet placed after a point already exists.

The next roll acts as the Come bet’s personal come-out:

7 or 11 wins;
2, 3 or 12 loses;
another box number establishes a Come point.

Then that Come point must repeat before 7.

Multiple Come bets can exist at once on different numbers.

This can make the table look complex, but each wager follows the same Pass-like logic.

Don't Come

Don't Come is the corresponding opposite-side version.

The next roll acts as its personal starting roll.

Under common rules:

2 or 3 wins;
7 or 11 loses;
12 pushes;
a box number establishes a Don't Come point.

After that:

7 before the number wins;
number before 7 loses.

Again, the exact barred-number rule should be verified.

Odds bets

After a Pass Line point is established, the player can often place an additional Odds wager.

The key feature is that standard odds pay at true mathematical odds.

Common Pass odds:

point 4 or 10: pays 2:1;
point 5 or 9: pays 3:2;
point 6 or 8: pays 6:5.

Because payout matches the true probability, the Odds wager itself has zero house edge.

That does not remove the house edge from the underlying Pass bet.

Why odds reduce the blended edge

Suppose a player has 10 units on Pass Line and takes 20 units of odds when allowed.

The base 10 units still have the standard Pass Line edge.

The 20 odds units have zero edge.

Measured against total money at risk, the blended expected-loss percentage falls.

The absolute expected loss attached to the base Pass bet does not disappear.

This is why “craps with odds has no house edge” is wrong.

Only the odds portion is paid at true odds.

Odds limits

Casinos can offer:

1x odds;
2x odds;
3-4-5x odds;
5x odds;
10x odds;
higher multiples.

“3-4-5x odds” commonly means:

3x on 4/10;
4x on 5/9;
5x on 6/8.

The structure is designed so a maximum odds win is similar across point numbers.

NivaroBet should record the actual odds multiple because it materially affects the blended house edge.

Laying odds behind Don't Pass

Don't Pass players can lay odds.

Because 7 is more likely than the point, the player risks more than the potential win.

Common lay-odds ratios:

against 4 or 10: risk 2 to win 1;
against 5 or 9: risk 3 to win 2;
against 6 or 8: risk 6 to win 5.

The payout is again true odds.

The exact maximum lay amount depends on the table.

Place bets

Place bets allow direct wagers that a box number will roll before 7.

Common payout conventions:

Place 4 or 10: 9:5;
Place 5 or 9: 7:5;
Place 6 or 8: 7:6.

These are not true-odds payouts.

The house edge differs by number.

Place 6 and 8 are relatively low-edge compared with Place 4 and 10.

A NivaroBet craps page should show them separately.

Place 6 and 8

Six and eight each have five combinations.

Seven has six.

A fair price on 6 before 7 would reflect 5 versus 6.

The common 7:6 payout is slightly worse than true odds.

That creates a house edge of approximately 1.52%.

This makes Place 6/8 popular among lower-edge non-contract bets.

The number should still be verified against the active paytable.

Place 5 and 9

Five and nine each have four combinations.

Seven has six.

The common 7:5 payout is less than true odds.

The house edge is higher than Place 6/8.

A player choosing between place numbers should compare expected value, not just payout size.

The larger-looking payout on 5 or 9 compensates for lower hit probability only partially.

Place 4 and 10

Four and ten each have three combinations.

Seven has six.

The true odds would be 2:1.

A common Place payout of 9:5 is lower.

That creates a materially higher house edge than Place 6/8.

Again, every place number belongs in its own row.

Buy bets

A Buy bet pays closer to true odds but charges a commission, commonly called vig.

For example, a Buy 4 or 10 can pay 2:1 with a 5% commission.

The effective house edge depends on:

whether commission is charged on wager or win;
whether it is charged upfront or only on winning bets;
rounding.

Modern online tables can use different commission handling.

NivaroBet should never quote one Buy-bet edge without the commission rule.

Lay bets

A Lay bet is the opposite of a Buy bet.

The player bets that 7 will appear before the selected number.

Because 7 is more likely, the player risks more than the amount won.

A commission is typically charged.

The effective edge depends on the vig rule and selected number.

These are advanced bets that should be explained after the core Pass/Come structure.

Field bet

The Field is a one-roll bet on a group of totals.

A common field wins on:

2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12.

It loses on:

5, 6, 7, 8.

The special payouts on 2 and 12 vary.

Some tables pay:

2: 2x;
12: 2x.

Others pay triple on one of them.

That rule changes the house edge.

NivaroBet should record the exact 2/12 payout.

Any 7

Any 7 wins if the next roll totals seven.

Probability:

6/36 = 1/6.

A common payout is 4:1.

Fair profit odds would be 5:1.

The lower casino payout creates a large house edge.

This is a classic high-margin proposition bet.

A large frequency of hits does not make the payout fair.

Any Craps

Any Craps usually wins on:

Number of combinations:

1 + 2 + 1 = 4.

Probability:

4/36 = 1/9.

A common payout is 7:1.

Fair profit odds would be 8:1.

The difference creates the house edge.

The exact payout should be verified.

Horn bet

A Horn bet covers:

It is usually four separate one-roll bets bundled together.

The total stake is divided across the four numbers.

If one hits, the other three components lose.

The net win therefore depends on:

component payouts;
stake division;
table rules.

A review should not quote the gross winning component without subtracting losing components.

Hardways

Hardways bet on:

Hard 4: 2-2;
Hard 6: 3-3;
Hard 8: 4-4;
Hard 10: 5-5.

The bet normally loses if:

7 rolls;
the same total rolls “easy” before the hardway.

For Hard 6, a 6 made as 1-5 or 2-4 loses the bet even though total 6 appeared.

The payout is below fair odds.

Hardways typically have much higher house edges than Pass or Come bets.

One-roll versus multi-roll bets

This distinction simplifies the table.

One-roll bets resolve on the next roll:

Any 7;
Any Craps;
Horn;
Field.

Multi-roll bets can remain active:

Pass;
Come;
Place;
Hardways;
Buy/Lay.

A user should know whether the wager disappears after one roll or continues.

The interface should show active bets clearly.

Contract bets

Pass Line and Come become contract bets after a point is established.

The player generally cannot remove them until the bet resolves.

Odds can often be removed or adjusted.

Place bets can usually be turned off or removed.

These control differences matter in live and digital UX.

NivaroBet should record whether the interface allows bet cancellation or deactivation.

Working and off bets

Certain bets can be marked “off” for a come-out roll or other roll.

This means they remain on the layout but do not have action.

The rule varies by wager and table.

Online interfaces may automate this.

A review should explain when a bet is working.

Do not assume every Place or Hardway remains active on every roll.

Crapless craps

Crapless craps is a variant where come-out 2, 3, 11 and 12 can become points instead of creating the standard immediate outcomes.

This changes the game substantially.

The attractive feature is that some come-out craps losses disappear.

But the added point numbers can be difficult to make before 7.

The house edge can therefore differ materially from standard craps.

NivaroBet should treat Crapless Craps as a separate variant.

Simplified craps

Some online games remove many proposition bets.

A simplified interface can offer:

Pass;
Don't Pass;
Odds;
selected place bets.

That does not change the mathematics of the retained bets if payouts are the same.

It can improve usability by reducing clutter.

A game review should distinguish visual simplification from rule changes.

Live craps

Live dealer craps uses physical dice and a studio or casino setup.

Online live versions can use:

a shooter;
automated dice equipment;
result-recognition systems.

The betting window closes before the roll.

The exact table can offer different limits and odds multiples.

The physical presentation does not automatically make the game mathematically different.

RNG craps

RNG craps resolves dice outcomes in software.

The game can run much faster.

A good interface should:

show current point;
show active contract bets;
expose payout information;
identify odds limits;
retain round history.

NivaroBet should verify the exact paytable and version rather than assume a digital table matches a physical casino standard.

Betting systems do not remove the house edge

Martingale, Fibonacci, regression and press systems change stake size.

They do not change:

dice probabilities;
payouts;
expected value of the underlying wager.

A system can change volatility and session shape.

It cannot make a negative-expectation bet positive by itself.

NivaroBet should not present progression systems as winning strategies.

The “dice are due” myth

Independent fair dice do not remember previous rolls.

A long run without 7 does not make 7 more likely on the next roll.

A point that has missed repeatedly is not due.

Each roll starts with the same two-dice distribution, assuming a fresh independent random event.

History boards are descriptive, not predictive.

Shooter influence claims

Physical craps sometimes attracts claims that skilled shooters can control dice outcomes.

This is contested and difficult to demonstrate under casino conditions.

A general NivaroBet guide should not present dice control as an established advantage technique.

If discussing it, separate:

anecdotal claims;
controlled evidence;
casino procedure.

Do not state that a user can reliably overcome the house edge with throwing technique.

Expected cost per hour

A low-edge bet can still create meaningful expected loss at high speed.

Expected loss depends on:

total action;
bet edge;
rolls per hour;
number of simultaneous wagers.

A player placing Pass + odds + several Place bets has more total money in action than someone using one Pass wager. The same bet-level discipline appears in Sic Bo complete guide, where one dice table also contains wagers with very different prices.

Odds reduce blended percentage edge but increase total money exposed.

Budgeting should use absolute stake as well as percentage.

Example: Pass with 2x odds

Suppose:

Pass = 10 units;
point = 4;
odds = 20 units.

The Pass bet retains its standard expected cost.

The 20-unit odds wager is paid at true odds.

If point 4 wins:

Pass profit = 10;
odds profit = 40.

Total stake returned plus profit follows the table rules.

The odds do not change the probability of point 4 beating 7.

Example: Place 6

A Place 6 has five winning combinations versus six losing combinations against 7.

Common payout:

7:6.

If the wager is 6 units:

win profit = 7;
loss = 6.

Expected profit per resolution:

5/11 × 7 - 6/11 × 6

= -1/11 unit

relative to 6 units risked.

That corresponds to roughly 1.52% house edge.

Example: Any 7

Probability of 7:

6/36 = 1/6.

At 4:1:

one win returns 4 units profit;
five losing outcomes lose 1 unit each.

Expected profit:

1/6 × 4 - 5/6 × 1

= -1/6.

House edge:

16.67%.

This shows how a frequently hitting proposition can still be expensive.

Comparing Pass and Place 6

Pass Line:

lower edge;
contract structure;
can add odds only after point.

Place 6:

direct number bet;
usually removable;
edge slightly higher;
pays whenever 6 appears before 7.

Neither is universally “better” for every user preference.

The mathematical comparison should be factual and separate from convenience.

Bonus wagering contribution

Casino bonuses often reduce or exclude craps contribution.

Some promotions can exclude:

Don't Pass;
low-edge bets;
hedging combinations;
proposition bets.

The exact bonus terms matter.

Game house edge and bonus contribution are separate systems.

See Casino bonus terms explained.

Rule disclosure

In Great Britain, applicable remote games must provide accessible rules and information about the likelihood of winning.

See UK Gambling Commission — RTS 3.

For craps, the paytable should identify:

payouts;
point rules;
odds limits;
proposition settlements.

Other markets can use different technical standards.

Game testing

Regulated RNG craps is subject to the relevant game-testing framework.

The UK Gambling Commission explains that online gambling games must be tested in line with its testing strategy.

See UK Gambling Commission — How online games are tested for fairness.

A provider name alone does not prove the exact live configuration.

NivaroBet should store title and version evidence.

Five-minute craps audit workflow

Confirm provider and variant.
Record standard or crapless rules.
Record Pass and Don't Pass settlement.
Record barred Don't number.
Record odds maximums.
Record Place payouts.
Record Buy/Lay commission.
Record Field 2/12 payouts.
Record proposition paytable.
Record table limits.
Record live or RNG format.
Save market, version and checked date.

This turns a crowded layout into a structured game record.

NivaroBet craps data model

Variant

Standard, crapless, simplified or provider-specific.

Core bets

Pass, Don't Pass, Come and Don't Come.

Odds

Maximum multiple and payout ratios.

Number bets

Place, Buy and Lay.

One-roll propositions

Field, Any 7, Any Craps, Horn and others.

Multi-roll propositions

Hardways and provider-specific bets.

Mathematics

Probability, payout and house edge per bet.

Limits

Min/max per wager, table maximum and payout caps.

Evidence

Rules URL, provider source, casino source and checked date.

A bet-level model is far stronger than one generic “craps RTP” field.

What NivaroBet should never claim

Do not say all craps bets have the same house edge.

Do not say odds remove the Pass Line house edge.

Do not hide the odds multiple.

Do not treat Crapless Craps as standard craps.

Do not present betting systems as probability advantages.

Do not claim dice are due after streaks.

Do not publish Buy/Lay edge without the commission rule.

Do not ignore special Field payouts.

Do not mix one-roll and contract bets.

The bottom line

Craps becomes manageable once the table is separated into bet families.

Pass, Don't Pass, Come and Don't Come use a point structure. Odds pay at true odds. Place, Buy and Lay bets price individual numbers. Proposition bets often carry much higher house edges.

For NivaroBet, the correct page is a bet-level mathematical map tied to the exact provider version, odds limits, commissions, payouts and market.

That gives users enough information to understand the layout without pretending every box on the table offers comparable value.

Related guides and tools

Craps Complete Guide: Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come Bets, Odds, Place Bets and House Edge

The two-dice probability model

The come-out roll

Pass Line

Why Pass Line is not a 50/50 bet

Don't Pass

Bar 12 and rule variants

Come bets

Don't Come

Odds bets

Why odds reduce the blended edge

Odds limits

Laying odds behind Don't Pass

Place bets

Place 6 and 8

Place 5 and 9

Place 4 and 10

Buy bets

Lay bets

Field bet

Any 7

Any Craps

Horn bet

Hardways

One-roll versus multi-roll bets

Contract bets

Working and off bets

Crapless craps

Simplified craps

Live craps

RNG craps

Betting systems do not remove the house edge

The “dice are due” myth

Shooter influence claims

Expected cost per hour

Example: Pass with 2x odds

Example: Place 6

Example: Any 7

Comparing Pass and Place 6

Bonus wagering contribution

Rule disclosure

Game testing

Five-minute craps audit workflow

NivaroBet craps data model

Variant

Core bets

Odds

Number bets

One-roll propositions

Multi-roll propositions

Mathematics

Limits

Evidence

What NivaroBet should never claim

The bottom line

Primary sources