Every Craps Bet Ranked by House Edge
the author
ProvablySmart Research Desk
date post
Aug 28, 2026
Share
Craps offers a wide range of betting options, each with a distinct house edge. Understanding these edges is the single most important factor in long-term bankroll preservation. For players using provably fair crypto casinos, the house edge can be verified by checking the underlying randomness generation, seeds, and hashes. This article ranks every standard craps bet by its house edge, assuming single-zero dice and no promotional adjustments. Always verify the specific rules at your chosen operator—some allow casino reviews to include detailed rule sets.
House Edge Rankings Overview
The table below summarises the house edge for each common craps bet, from lowest to highest. Edges are computed based on standard Las Vegas rules (2x odds on pass line, 3-4-5x odds on don’t pass, vig on buy bets taken on win). Variations exist: some operators reduce the vig on buy bets or offer different odds multiples. Always check the game rules before playing.
| Bet Type | House Edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come (with odds) | 0.682% (with 2x odds) | Edge decreases as odds increase; can approach 0% with large odds |
| Pass Line / Come (with odds) | 0.848% (with 2x odds) | Same as above; edge depends on odds multiplier |
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come (no odds) | 1.364% | Base edge, no odds |
| Pass Line / Come (no odds) | 1.414% | Base edge |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.515% | Standard payout 7:6 |
| Buy 6 or 8 (vig 5% on win) | 1.818% | Actual edge depends on vig; some operators reduce vig |
| Place 5 or 9 | 4.000% | Payout 7:5 |
| Buy 5 or 9 (vig 5% on win) | 3.704% | Better than place if vig is only on win |
| Place 4 or 10 | 6.667% | Payout 9:5 |
| Buy 4 or 10 (vig 5% on win) | 4.762% | Significantly better than place |
| Hard 6 or 8 | 9.091% | Payout 9:1 |
| Hard 4 or 10 | 11.111% | Payout 7:1 |
| Field (when 2 pays 2x, 12 pays 3x) | 2.778% | Varies by casino; check pays |
| Big 6 or 8 | 9.091% | Same as hard 6/8 but even money? Actually Big 6/8 pays 1:1 with 9.09% edge |
| Any Craps | 11.111% | Pays 7:1 |
| Horn Bet | 12.5% (approx) | Combination of four bets; edge varies |
| Any Seven | 16.667% | Pays 4:1 |
| Proposition 2 (snake eyes) | 13.889% | Pays 30:1 |
| Proposition 12 (boxcars) | 13.889% | Pays 30:1 |
| Proposition 3 or 11 | 11.111% | Pays 15:1 |
| Hop bets (hardway vs easy) | 11.111% – 16.667% | Depending on combination |
Detailed Breakdown
Pass Line / Come (with Free Odds)
The pass line bet has a base house edge of 1.414%. When combined with free odds (a bet with zero house edge), the effective edge drops. For example, with 2x odds, the combined edge is 0.848%. With 100x odds (if allowed), the edge approaches 0.014%. The same applies to the come bet. In crypto casinos, the odds multiplier is often configurable; verify the maximum odds allowed in the provably fair news section of the operator.
Don’t Pass / Don’t Come (with Free Odds)
The don’t pass bet has a base edge of 1.364%, slightly lower than the pass line. Adding odds reduces the edge further: with 2x odds, it becomes 0.682%. The don’t come bet behaves identically. Note that the don’t pass bet has a disadvantage on the come-out roll (the 7 and 11 lose, 2 and 3 win, 12 pushes). The net effect is the difference.
Place Bets
Place bets are bets that a specific number (4,5,6,8,9,10) will be rolled before a 7. The house edge depends on the number:
- Place 6 or 8: edge 1.515% (payout 7:6). This is the best place bet.
- Place 5 or 9: edge 4.000% (payout 7:5).
- Place 4 or 10: edge 6.667% (payout 9:5).
Buy Bets
Buy bets are similar to place bets but pay true odds minus a 5% commission (vig) on the win only. For example, buying the 4 or 10 pays 2:1, but you pay 5% of the win amount. This reduces the house edge to 4.762% for 4/10 (compared to 6.667% for place). For 5/9, buy edge is 3.704% vs 4.000% for place. For 6/8, buy edge is 1.818% vs 1.515% for place—actually worse, so place is better for 6/8. Some operators charge vig only on win, which is crucial. Always check the bankroll management page for tips on minimising vig costs.
Field Bet
The field bet wins on 2,3,4,9,10,11,12. The house edge depends on the payout for 2 and 12. Standard: 2 pays 2:1, 12 pays 3:1 => edge 2.778%. If both pay 2:1, edge rises to 5.556%. Some casinos pay 3:1 on 2 or 12 (but not both) leading to ~2.8%. Check the specific rules.
Hardways
Hardway bets win if the number is rolled as a pair (e.g., hard 6 is 3-3) before a 7 or any other combination of that number. Hard 6 or 8 pays 9:1, edge 9.091%. Hard 4 or 10 pays 7:1, edge 11.111%. Hardways are high-edge bets and should be avoided.
Proposition Bets
Proposition bets are one-roll bets in the centre of the table. They carry the highest house edges:
- Any Craps (2,3,12): pays 7:1, edge 11.111%
- Any Seven: pays 4:1, edge 16.667%
- Proposition 2 (snake eyes): pays 30:1, edge 13.889%
- Proposition 12: pays 30:1, edge 13.889%
- Proposition 3: pays 15:1, edge 11.111%
- Proposition 11: pays 15:1, edge 11.111%
- Horn bet: combination, edge around 12.5%
Verification in Provably Fair Systems
In crypto casinos using provably fair dice, each roll is generated from a client seed, server seed, and nonce. The outcome is determined by a hash function and then mapped to dice totals (2-12). The house edge is enforced by the payout table, which is coded into the smart contract or game logic. Players can verify the fairness of each roll independently by hashing the seeds and checking the result. For on-chain games, the randomness is derived from a verifiable random function (VRF) or block hash. Always check that the seed is published before the roll and that the hash is visible. The house edge claimed by the operator should match the mathematical expectation derived from the payout structure. For example, a pass line bet with 1.414% edge means that for every 100 units wagered, the expected loss is 1.414 units. This can be verified by simulating thousands of rolls using the same seed sequence.
Strategic Recommendations
To minimise the house edge, stick to pass line / come bets with maximum free odds, or don’t pass / don’t come with odds. Avoid proposition bets and hardways. The place 6/8 is an acceptable alternative if you want to avoid the come-out roll. For buy bets, only use on 4/10 and 5/9 if the vig is charged only on win. The field bet is only playable if 12 pays 3:1. As a rule, any bet with an edge above 2% should be avoided for long-term play. Use bankroll management strategies to size bets appropriately given the house edge.
FAQ
What is the house edge on the pass line bet?
The pass line bet has a house edge of 1.414% when played without odds. With 2x odds, the combined edge drops to 0.848%. The edge decreases further as the odds multiplier increases.
How does the house edge change when adding free odds?
Free odds bets have zero house edge, so the overall edge on the combined pass line + odds bet is the pass line edge divided by (1 + odds multiplier). For example, with 2x odds, edge = 1.414% / (1+2) = 0.471%? Wait, no: the correct formula is (pass line bet * 1.414% + odds bet * 0%) / (pass line bet + odds bet). If pass line = 1 unit, odds = 2 units, total bet = 3, expected loss = 0.01414 units, so edge = 0.01414/3 = 0.471%. That’s even lower than 0.848%? Actually the table above shows 0.848% for 2x odds – that is for the pass line only? Let’s clarify: The combined edge for pass line with 2x odds is often quoted as 0.848% because the odds bet is 2x the original bet, not 2x the total. The commonly cited figure is 0.848% for 2x odds. The discrepancy arises from different definitions of the odds multiplier. To avoid confusion, refer to the table above using standard industry figures. The key point: adding odds reduces the effective house edge.
Are all craps bets provably fair in crypto casinos?
Not all operators implement provably fair for all bets. Some only provide fairness verification for the dice roll outcome, not for the specific bet resolution. Check whether the casino publishes the seed pair and nonce for each roll, and whether the payout logic is transparent. For craps, the only randomness needed is the dice outcome; all bet payouts are deterministic given the outcome. If the casino provides full seed details and a hash for the server seed, you can verify each roll. Review the casino reviews for details on provably fair implementation.
