How a casino sets the odds on craps bets can be confusing, but once you know how the dice can be rolled the odds and the bets themselves seem easier. Of course sometimes players are intimidated by the game itself. It's not just the yelling and screaming of the players, it's the fear that somehow a new player will ruin the game. That's not possible, so don't worry. There is some etiquette to craps, but once you learn how to shoot the dice, you'll be fine.


As for how the casino sets the odds at craps, let's look at how the numbers can be made.

The easiest way to explain this to to make a chart that shows how the dice can be rolled - 36 ways. The numbers equal the spots on the dice, so the first line (1-1) equals a roll of two. Here are the 36 possible outcomes each roll:

1-1

1-2, 2-1

1-3, 3-1, 2-2

1-4, 4-1, 2-3, 3-2

1-5, 5-1, 2-4, 4-2, 3-3

1-6, 6-1, 2-5, 5-2, 4-3, 3-4

2-6, 6-2, 3-5, 5-3, 4-4

3-6, 6-3, 4-5, 5-4

4-6, 6-4, 5-5

5-6, 6-5

6-6

The first thing you might think is "Wow, it's hard to throw a 2." Yup, you can only throw a 2 or 12 in one way, with a pair of either the lowest number or the highest. On average, you'll only see a 2 rolled once in 36 rolls. That means the odds are 35 to 1 against the dice totaling 2. If you've ever played craps you know that you can made dozens of different craps bets and the house has the edge on all but one of them.

Unfortunately, the odds paid for different bets on a standard craps game vary from casino to casino.

And there are several craps bets you should avoid, including the bet on 2 or 12. Why? Because the house pays only 30 to 1. That gives the house a 13.90-percent edge, and that means in the long-run you'll pay $13.90 for every $100 you wager on a single-roll 2 or 12 bet. Ouch!

If you think you should make your bets on a number that is easier to roll, you might consider the 7, since it is easier to shoot than any other total. On average, you'll roll a total of 7, six-times in 36 shots. The odds are 5 to 1 against rolling a 7. Unfortunately, the house only pays 4 to 1 on the Any Seven wager. That means the house has an edge of 1 in 6, or 16.66-percent.

Pass and Don't Pass Odds

Fortunately, for players learning to play craps, the easiest and the best wager on the table is right there in front of you - on the Pass Line! The pass and don't pass always pay even money when they win, but the house offers you a chance to back your pass or don't pass line bet with an Odds Bet. The cool thing about taking odds is that the house doesn't quibble about what they pay on Odds Bet. Instead, they pay the true odds of the player's point rolling before a 7 rolls.

To explain a little better, suppose you join the game as a new shooter is on the come-out roll. You bet $10 on the Pass Line and the number they shoot is 10. If you look at the chart above, you'll see that there are three ways to roll a 10 - with the dice showing 4-6, 6-4 and 5-5. However, there are six ways to throw a 7. So, it's 6-3 odds that the 7 will roll before another 10. That's 2-1 odds, and that's what the house pays if the 10 rolls first, 2-1 on your Odds Bet. This is the payoff for a point of 4.

That's how the Pass and Don't Pass line odds are figured. If only you got such a great deal on other  craps bets. So, your best advice for playing craps? Bet the Pass or Don't Pass line, take odds, and steer clear of the other wagers offered except in moderation!