The best craps bets, in order: the free odds bet (0%), then Don’t Pass (1.36%), Pass Line (1.41%), Come (1.41%), and placing the 6 or 8 (1.52%). The worst is Any Seven (16.67%). Ranking is simple: lower house edge is better.
There’s no opinion in this ranking. House edge is a fixed number for each bet, so “best” just means “costs you least over time.” Here’s the full list, top to bottom, with the reasoning for each so you understand why the order is what it is.
The best: free odds (0% edge)
The odds bet sits at the top and nothing else comes close. Its edge is 0%, none at all, because it pays true odds. On a 4 or 10 point it pays true odds, matching the real probability exactly.
The one catch is that you can’t make it on its own. You need a Pass Line or Come bet down first, and a point set. That’s why the real move is to bet the line small and the odds large: you’re diluting a small edge with a zero-edge bet. If a bet could be called free money at a casino, this is the closest thing.
Tier 1: the line bets (under 1.5%)
These are the bets to build your session on.
Don’t Pass, 1.36%. Technically the lowest edge of any bet you can make first, edging out the Pass Line thanks to the barred 12. The downside is social, not mathematical: you’re betting against most of the table. Some players love the quiet contrarian angle.
Pass Line, 1.41%. The classic. A hair higher edge than Don’t Pass, but you’re rooting with the crowd, which is most of the fun of craps. This is the standard first bet for a reason.
Come, 1.41%. The Pass Line’s twin, made after the point is set. Same low edge, and it lets you get more numbers working without dropping to a worse bet. Back it with odds and it’s as efficient as craps gets.
Don’t Come, 1.36%. The Don’t Pass version of a Come bet. Same reasoning, contrarian side.
Tier 2: the decent place bets
Place 6 or 8, 1.52%. The best of the place bets, and a fine choice if you don’t want to manage Come bets. The 6 and 8 are the most common point numbers after 7, so betting them directly makes sense. Pays 7:6.
Buy 4 or 10, 1.67%. A place bet on the 4 or 10 that pays true odds minus a commission. This is the smart way to bet those two numbers, since a straight place bet on them is much worse.
Tier 3: the middling bets
You can make these without disaster, but you’re giving up ground.
Place 5 or 9, 4.00%. Reasonable, a step down from the 6 and 8.
Lay bet, 1.67% to 2.27%. Betting a 7 before a number, paying true odds minus commission. A niche play for don’t-side bettors.
Place 4 or 10, 6.67%. Skip this and buy the 4 and 10 instead. The buy version’s commission costs you less than this place edge.
Field, 5.56%. Tempting because it covers seven numbers on one roll, but the losing numbers show up more often. A fun occasional toss, not a core bet.
Tier 4: the bets to avoid
Everything here carries a steep edge. Make them for fun with money you’ve written off, never as a plan.
Big 6 or Big 8, 9.09%. Pointless when placing the same number pays better. Just place the 6 or 8.
Hardways, 9.09% to 11.11%. Pays 9:1 or 7:1 and feels great when it hits, which is rarely.
Any Craps, 11.11%. One-roll bet on 2, 3, or 12.
C and E, 11.11%. Craps and eleven combined.
Horn, 12.50%. A split across 2, 3, 11, and 12.
Yo (eleven), 11.11%. Pays 15:1 on a single 11.
Snake eyes, 13.89%, and boxcars, 13.89%. Single-number long shots.
Hop bet, 11.11%. A one-roll bet on an exact combination.
The worst: Any Seven
Any Seven earns its own line. Edge of 16.67%, the highest on the table. It pays 4:1 and wins whenever a 7 rolls, which is the most common result, and yet it’s still the worst bet in the house. That’s the whole lesson of craps in one bet: the payout is set so far below the true odds that even a frequent winner is a money loser. Anytime a bet wins often and still ranks last, the payout is the trap.
Try the good bets free
The ranking is easy to accept on paper and easy to ignore at a loud table. So test it. In the free game here, play only the top-tier bets for a stretch, then let yourself run wild on the props, and watch which play-money bankroll survives. Seeing 0% beat 16.67% over a few hundred rolls is more convincing than any list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the single best bet in craps?
The free odds bet, placed behind a Pass Line or Come bet after a point is set. Its house edge is 0%, the only bet in the casino with no house advantage, because it pays true odds. You can’t bet it alone, so pair it with a low-edge line bet and make it as large as the table allows.
Is Don’t Pass better than the Pass Line?
Mathematically, slightly. Don’t Pass has an edge of 1.36% versus the Pass Line’s 1.41%, because the come-out 12 pushes instead of losing. The gap is tiny. The bigger difference is social: Don’t Pass bets against most of the table, while the Pass Line roots with the crowd. Pick the one you’ll enjoy.
What are the worst bets in craps?
The center proposition bets. Any Seven is the worst at 16.67%, followed by the Horn at 12.50%, boxcars and snake eyes, C and E at 11.11%, and the hardways at 9.09% to 11.11%. They pay big but win rarely, so the house edge is far higher than on the line bets.
Should I ever bet the Field?
Only for fun, in small amounts. The Field covers seven numbers but carries a 5.56% edge, because the four numbers it misses (5, 6, 7, 8) roll more often. It’s not a core bet. If you want a low-cost way to play, stick to the Pass Line and odds instead.
Why is placing the 6 better than Big 6?
Both bet a 6 rolls before a 7, but a place 6 pays 7:6 while Big 6 pays only even money. Same risk, worse payout on Big 6. That drops Big 6 to a 9.09% edge versus the place bet’s 1.52%. Always place the number rather than betting the Big 6 box.