🎯 Best Bets in Craps: Play Smart, Not Loud
If you want to beat craps long-term — or at least walk away with your bankroll intact — you need to ignore the flashy bets and focus on what works. These are the only bets serious players rely on. All others are just noise.
- ✅ Pass Line — House edge: 1.41%
The standard bet. You win on 7 or 11, lose on 2, 3, or 12. Once the point is set, you win if it’s rolled again before a 7. Clean and trusted.
- ✅ Come Bet — House edge: 1.41%
Works just like the Pass Line, but placed after a point. Great for layering safe bets as the roll continues.
- ✅ Don’t Pass — House edge: 1.36%
This “dark side” bet wins when the shooter craps out. Less popular at loud tables, but it’s the mathematically superior choice.
- ✅ Don’t Come — House edge: 1.41%
A Don’t Pass variation placed after the point is established. Great for strategic control late in the sequence.
Mark’s Tip: These four bets are the foundation of real craps play. They’re simple, low risk, and work best when paired with odds behind them.
🧠 Want more smart table game strategy? Visit our full guide to beating casino table games online.
📊 Best vs Worst Craps Bets – Know the Difference
Some bets stack your odds. Others stack the house’s. This quick-reference visual shows which craps bets give you the edge — and which ones bleed you dry.
🧠 Use this as your cheat sheet before placing your next bet. The house counts on confusion — this puts you in control.
🎲 Taking & Laying Odds — The Only 0% House Edge in Craps
Most casino bets carry a house edge — even the good ones. But this is the exception. When you add odds to a Pass, Come, Don’t Pass, or Don’t Come bet, you’re betting at true odds with zero house advantage. The more you place behind your line bets, the lower your total edge becomes.
- ✅ Taking Odds: You place this behind a Pass or Come bet after a point is set. You win if the point hits before a 7. Pays 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. No house edge.
- ✅ Laying Odds: The opposite — placed behind Don’t Pass or Don’t Come. You win if a 7 rolls before the point. Pays 1:2 on 4 or 10, 2:3 on 5 or 9, and 5:6 on 6 or 8. Also 0% house edge.
Mark’s Tip: Most casinos let you take odds up to 2x–3x your base bet. Always max this out when you can — it’s the only time the house doesn’t have an edge.
🎲 Craps Dice Probabilities – Roll Outcomes You Should Know
Every outcome in craps depends on two dice. Here’s how often each number appears — and which combos trigger it.
| Number Rolled |
Dice Combinations |
Ways to Roll |
| 2 |
1-1 |
1 |
| 3 |
1-2, 2-1 |
2 |
| 4 |
1-3, 2-2, 3-1 |
3 |
| 5 |
1-4, 2-3, 3-2, 4-1 |
4 |
| 6 |
1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, 5-1 |
5 |
| 7 |
1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1 |
6 |
| 8 |
2-6, 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, 6-2 |
5 |
| 9 |
3-6, 4-5, 5-4, 6-3 |
4 |
| 10 |
4-6, 5-5, 6-4 |
3 |
| 11 |
5-6, 6-5 |
2 |
| 12 |
6-6 |
1 |
📊 Craps Bet Comparison – Payouts vs House Edge
Want to know which bets are worth your money? Use this table to compare payouts and house edge — so you know exactly what you’re risking vs what you’re getting paid.
| 🎲 Bet Type |
💰 Payout |
📉 House Edge |
| ✅ Pass / Come |
1:1 |
1.41% |
| ✅ Don’t Pass / Don’t Come |
1:1 |
1.36% |
| ✅ Place 6 or 8 |
7:6 |
1.52% |
| 🟢 Odds Bets (All) |
2:1 / 3:2 / 6:5 |
0% |
| ⚠️ Place 5 or 9 |
7:5 |
4.00% |
| ⚠️ Place 4 or 10 |
9:5 |
6.67% |
| ⚠️ Field Bet |
1:1 or 2:1 |
5.56% |
| 🔴 Big 6 / Big 8 |
1:1 |
9.09% |
| 🔴 Hardways (4, 6, 8, 10) |
8:1 / 10:1 |
9–11% |
| 🔴 Any 7 |
4:1 or 5:1 |
16.67% |
| 🔴 Proposition Bets |
15:1 to 30:1 |
11–13.9% |
Pro Tip: Stick to the top four bets above — Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, and Odds — and you’re playing craps with an edge most players never see.
🚫 Big 6 & Big 8 vs Place 6 & 8: One Pays, One Robs
Here’s a brutal truth: Big 6 and Big 8 are sucker bets. They look easy, but the house edge is a ridiculous 9.09% — and you get the same payout as a Place bet that offers nearly 7x better odds.
Big 6 or 8: Pays 1:1 • House Edge: 9.09%
Place 6 or 8: Pays 7:6 • House Edge: 1.52%
The casino literally gives you worse odds on the exact same outcome if you place a Big 6 or Big 8 instead of a Place bet. Always choose the Place bet if you’re backing 6 or 8. It’s the same risk — but one actually pays you fairly.
Mark’s Tip: If you’re playing the Big 6 or 8, you’re not just playing badly — you’re tipping the house every spin.
🚨 Craps Bets to Avoid (Unless You’re Donating)
Not all bets on a craps table are created equal. These are the flashy, high-edge traps that casinos love — because they keep players broke and confused. Here’s what to skip:
- ❌ Hardways (4, 6, 8, 10)
They look fun, but the house edge is up to 11.11%. Unless you’re hunting YouTube clips, skip them.
- ❌ Field Bets
Tempting for fast payouts, but the house edge hits 5.56% on most tables. It pays more on 2 and 12 — but only if you hit them.
- ❌ Any 7
The worst bet at the table. Payout is 4:1 or 5:1, but the house edge soars to 16.67%. You’re betting against math.
- ❌ Proposition Bets (Aces, Ace-Deuce, Yo, etc.)
All smoke and mirrors. House edges range from 11% to 17%. Avoid unless you’re drunk or comp-hunting.
Mark’s Tip: Every one of these bets screams “entertainment only.” They’re fun for dealers, deadly for players. Stick to what pays.
🎯 5-Count Craps Strategy – When to Bet, When to Wait
The 5-Count filters out cold shooters. You’re not changing the odds — you’re changing how often you risk your bankroll. Wait for five successful rolls, then step in.
🎲 Count 0
Come-Out Roll
Don’t bet yet
🔁 Count 1
Point Established
Start watching
⏳ Count 2–4
No 7s Rolled
Stay on the rail
✅ Count 5
Now You Bet
Only if shooter is hot
Mark’s Take: This strategy won’t win you more bets. It’ll stop you from wasting money on bad rolls — and that’s a bigger edge than most players ever get.
🎯 Visual Guide: How the 5-Count Works in Craps
The 5-count strategy filters out bad shooters. You’re not betting until the table shows signs of a streak — and this graphic makes it crystal clear.
🧠 Wait for five solid rolls before betting. That’s how you cut exposure and let the table prove itself.
🎯 What Actually Works If You Want to Win at Craps
- ✔ Bet Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come only
- ✔ Always take or lay odds — it’s the only true 0% house edge bet
- ✔ Use Place bets on 6 and 8 only — avoid Big 6/8 or anything that looks “fun”
- ✔ Skip all proposition bets — they’re for tourists and TikTok clips
- ✔ Use the 5-count to filter cold shooters and extend bankroll
- ✔ Never chase losses with systems like Martingale
- ✔ Quit when you’re ahead — not when you’re broke
Mark’s Bottom Line: There’s no magic — just math and mindset. Play smart. Play slow. Walk when you’re up.
💣 Craps Systems to Avoid (Unless You Like Losing Fast)
- 🚫 Martingale (Double After Loss):
Looks smart on paper, destroys bankrolls in real play. You’ll hit the table limit — or your card limit — before it pays.
- 🚫 Iron Cross / Anything But 7:
Covers almost the whole board… except the most rolled number in the game. Casino wins when 7 shows up — and it always does.
- 🚫 Reverse Martingale:
Double up after wins? That’s fine — until your first loss wipes out your streak. No exit plan = no edge.
Mark’s Warning: These systems don’t beat craps — they beat your discipline. Avoid them unless you’re chasing comps or chaos.
🧾 Final Verdict: Craps Is About Precision, Not Luck
If you’re still chasing Hardways or falling for the Iron Cross, you’re playing their game — not yours. The real edge in craps comes from betting with math, managing your session, and knowing when to walk.
Use odds bets. Skip the gimmicks. Control your exposure. And never bet like it’s your last roll. The house wants volume. You want value. That’s the difference between a good night… and a dead bankroll.
Mark’s Final Tip: Craps is fast. Don’t let it rush your judgment. When in doubt, bet less — and bet better.
Craps Strategy
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