Katrina Griffiths
Senior editor
Published on: October 15, 2026
Craps explained: bets, odds, and the ones to avoid
Craps is a dice game where you bet on the total of two dice rolled by one player called the shooter. The best bets are pass and don’t pass, with a house edge of about 1.4%, plus the odds bet behind them, which has no house edge at all. The worst are the one-roll bets in the middle of the table, where the edge climbs to 16.67%.
The table has dozens of betting boxes, but most players use only three or four.
How a round of craps works
A round has two stages: the come-out roll and the point. Here’s how it plays out on a pass line bet:
- The come-out roll: 7 or 11 wins straight away, and a 2, 3 or 12 (craps) loses.
- The point is set: any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the point.
- Roll until it’s decided: the point coming up again wins, and a 7 loses.
The 7 wins for you on the come-out roll and loses for you once a point is set.
Craps odds: how often each total comes up
Two dice can land in 36 combinations, and every bet in craps is priced from them. A 7 can be made six ways, which makes it the most common total.
| Total | Ways to roll it | Chance per roll |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or 12 | 1 | 2.78% |
| 3 or 11 | 2 | 5.56% |
| 4 or 10 | 3 | 8.33% |
| 5 or 9 | 4 | 11.11% |
| 6 or 8 | 5 | 13.89% |
| 7 | 6 | 16.67% |
The house edge is the gap between these true odds and what a bet pays.
The best bets in craps
These bets have the lowest house edges in craps. GameSense, AGLC’s responsible gambling program, explains how each one works.
Pass line (1.41%)
The pass line is the standard craps bet and follows the round described above. It pays even money and wins about 49.3% of the time.
Don’t pass (1.36%)
Don’t pass is the opposite bet: it wins on a 2 or 3 on the come-out roll and loses on a 7 or 11. Once a point is set, it wins if a 7 comes first. A come-out 12 is a push, which keeps the house edge in place.
Come and don’t come (1.41% and 1.36%)
Come and don’t come work like pass and don’t pass, but you place them after a point is set, and the next roll acts as their come-out roll.
The odds bet (0%)
Once a point is set, you can add an odds bet behind your pass or come bet. It pays true odds, so it’s the only bet in the casino with no house edge:
- Point of 4 or 10: pays 2:1
- Point of 5 or 9: pays 3:2
- Point of 6 or 8: pays 6:5
The table caps how much you can add, often as a multiple of your original bet. A pass line bet with full 3-4-5x odds brings the combined edge down to about 0.37%.
Place 6 or 8 (1.52%)
A place bet on 6 or 8 wins if that number is rolled before a 7 and pays 7:6. Place 5 or 9 (4.00%) and place 4 or 10 (6.67%) cost noticeably more.
The craps bets to avoid
The bets to avoid are mostly the proposition bets in the middle of the table. They pay big multiples, but each one pays well below its true odds.
| Bet | Wins when | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field | 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 on the next roll | 1:1, plus 2:1 on 2 and 12 (some tables pay 3:1 on one of them) | 5.56%, or 2.78% with the 3:1 payout |
| Big 6 or Big 8 | 6 or 8 before a 7 | 1:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 6 or hard 8 | 3-3 or 4-4 before a 7 or the easy way | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 or hard 10 | 2-2 or 5-5 before a 7 or the easy way | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any craps | 2, 3 or 12 on the next roll | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Yo (11) | 11 on the next roll | 15:1 | 11.11% |
| Aces (2) or boxcars (12) | That total on the next roll | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| Any seven | 7 on the next roll | 4:1 | 16.67% |
Big 6 and Big 8 win on the same rolls as a place bet on 6 or 8 but pay even money instead of 7:6, which takes the edge from 1.52% to 9.09%. The field looks generous because it covers seven totals, but they make up only 16 of the 36 combinations.
What the house edge costs you in dollars
Expected loss = total wagered × house edge
Over $500 wagered in a session, the average cost is about $7 on the pass line, $33 on place 4 or 10, and $83 on any seven. Any single session can go either way, but the low-edge bets make the same budget last longer.
Playing craps online in Alberta
Online craps comes as digital tables, where a random number generator (RNG) decides each roll, or live dealer tables with real dice on camera. The house edges above apply to both if the table uses standard payouts, so check the paytable first.
On an AGLC-registered site, every game is certified by an accredited testing lab. Not every Alberta lobby carries craps, so check the game list before you deposit. Digital craps also plays faster than a live table, so set a deposit or time limit before you start.
Craps FAQ
What is the best bet in craps?
A pass line or don’t pass bet with the maximum odds the table allows. The odds bet has no house edge, so the more you put on it, the lower your overall cost.
Is craps better than blackjack or roulette?
With pass line and odds bets, craps is cheaper than European roulette at 2.70% and close to blackjack played with basic strategy. With proposition bets, it’s one of the most expensive games in the casino.
Conclusion
Bet the pass line or don’t pass, add odds when a point is set, and use place bets on 6 and 8 if you want more action. Leave the proposition bets alone, because their big multiples come at a much higher cost. Set a budget before you play and treat each session as paid entertainment rather than a way to make money.
You must be 18 or older to gamble online in Alberta. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, the Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline is open 24/7 on 1-866-332-2322, and GameSense has free tools and advisors.
