Craps odds bet explained: the house edge at 1x to 100x odds
The Odds bet itself has a house edge of 0%: it pays the true odds of the point (2 to 1 on 4 and 10, 3 to 2 on 5 and 9, 6 to 5 on 6 and 8). Backing a Pass Line bet with full 3-4-5x odds lowers the house edge on all the money you bet from 1.41% to 0.37%; at 10x odds it is 0.18% and at 100x 0.02%. Don't Pass with full lay odds drops from 1.36% to 0.27% at a 3-4-5x table.
Once a point is set you may add an Odds bet behind your Pass or Come bet (or lay odds behind Don't Pass or Don't Come). It wins and loses with the flat bet, but at true odds. Every figure below is computed exactly by the crappy math module, for a $10 flat bet with the full odds on every point.
What is the house edge with 1x, 2x, 3-4-5x, 5x, 10x, 20x or 100x odds?
| Odds taken | Average odds bet per $10 Pass | Pass + odds | Don't Pass + lay odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| No odds | $0 | 1.414% | 1.364% |
| 1x | $6.67 | 0.848% | 0.682% |
| 2x | $13.33 | 0.606% | 0.455% |
| 3-4-5x | $27.78 | 0.374% | 0.273% |
| 5x | $33.33 | 0.326% | 0.227% |
| 10x | $66.67 | 0.184% | 0.124% |
| 20x | $133.33 | 0.099% | 0.065% |
| 100x | $666.67 | 0.021% | 0.014% |
Don't Pass lay limits: 6x at a 3-4-5x table; at a flat Nx table, enough to win N times the flat bet.
What does 3-4-5x odds mean?
At a 3-4-5x table you may take 3 times your flat bet in odds on 4 and 10, 4 times on 5 and 9 and 5 times on 6 and 8. The limits are set so a winning odds bet pays 6 times the flat bet on every point.
| Point | Max odds on a $10 Pass | Odds pays | Odds win | Chance to make the point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | $30 (3x) | 2 to 1 | $60 | 33.33% |
| 5 | $40 (4x) | 3 to 2 | $60 | 40.00% |
| 6 | $50 (5x) | 6 to 5 | $60 | 45.45% |
| 8 | $50 (5x) | 6 to 5 | $60 | 45.45% |
| 9 | $40 (4x) | 3 to 2 | $60 | 40.00% |
| 10 | $30 (3x) | 2 to 1 | $60 | 33.33% |
Does taking odds lower your expected loss?
No. Your expected loss is still $0.14 per $10 Pass decision (1.41% of the flat bet), however much odds you take, because the odds bet itself costs nothing. Odds lower the edge per dollar bet, not the dollars you expect to lose, and they make your swings much bigger. That is why the lowest-edge way to play is a small flat bet with as much odds as your bankroll is comfortable with.
The app shows the edge of every bet before you place it, odds included.
Take odds at the table in crappy: free, play money