Odds bet meaning: an odds bet is an extra craps wager you place behind a pass line or come bet after a point is set, and it pays at true odds: 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. It carries no house edge, so it lowers the average cost of your combined bet.
An odds bet is added behind a pass line, come, don't pass or don't come bet.
It pays true odds, so the house has no edge on the odds portion.
Payouts are 2:1 on 4 and 10, 3:2 on 5 and 9, and 6:5 on 6 and 8.
Adding 2x odds cuts the combined edge from about 1.41% to about 0.61%.
It lowers the cost per dollar bet but puts more money at risk per round.
Term
Odds bet (craps)
Placed
Behind a line or come bet, after a point
Payouts
2:1 (4, 10), 3:2 (5, 9), 6:5 (6, 8)
House edge on odds
0%
Pass line plus 2x odds
About 0.61% combined (computed)
Odds bet meaning: the fair bet in craps
Our glossary of gambling terms lists the odds bet as the one wager in the casino with no built-in house edge. You can't make it on its own. It's an add-on that goes behind an existing pass line bet or a come bet once that bet has a point, and it wins or loses together with it.
Why would a casino offer a fair bet? Because you have to make a line bet with a house edge first, and the odds bet only appears after the come-out roll, the moment the line bet stops favoring you. It's often described as taking odds (behind a pass or come bet) or laying odds (behind a don't pass or don't come bet).
Odds bet payouts for each point
Each point has a fixed chance of repeating before a 7, and the odds bet pays exactly that ratio. On a 4, for example, there are 3 ways to roll it and 6 ways to roll a 7, so you're a 2-to-1 underdog and you're paid 2:1.
Odds bet payouts and what a $10 odds bet returns
Point
Ways to roll point vs 7
Taking odds pays
Profit on $10 odds
Laying odds pays
4 or 10
3 vs 6
2:1
$20
1:2
5 or 9
4 vs 6
3:2
$15
2:3
6 or 8
5 vs 6
6:5
$12
5:6
Check the 4: you win $20 three times for every six times you lose $10, so (3 × $20 − 6 × $10) ÷ 9 = $0. The same works for every point. At live tables, odds on 5 and 9 usually need an even amount and odds on 6 and 8 a multiple of $5 so payouts come out evenly.
How odds bets lower the craps house edge
The odds bet doesn't change the 1.41% house edge on your pass line bet. What it does is add fair money alongside it. The average loss stays about $0.14 per $10 pass line bet, but it's now spread over a larger total amount wagered, so the cost per dollar falls.
The arithmetic for 2x odds on a $10 pass line bet: a point is set two times in three, so on average you add $20 × 2/3 = $13.33 of odds. The average action is $23.33, and $0.1414 ÷ $23.33 is about 0.61%.
Combined edge on a pass line bet with odds (standard dice math)
Odds taken
Combined house edge
Average cost per $100 of pass line bets
No odds
About 1.41%
About $1.41
1x odds
About 0.85%
About $1.41
2x odds
About 0.61%
About $1.41
3x odds
About 0.47%
About $1.41
3-4-5x odds
About 0.37%
About $1.41
Notice the last column. Per $100 of pass line bets, the average cost is the same whatever the odds; only the total amount at risk grows. That's the honest way to see the odds bet: it's the best value per dollar in craps, but it isn't a way to win more, and it makes each losing round bigger.
An odds bet worked through, roll by roll
Place $10 on the pass line before the come-out roll.
The come-out roll is 5, so 5 becomes the point.
Take $20 in odds behind your pass line bet (2x odds).
If a 5 rolls before a 7, you win $10 on the pass line plus $30 on the odds (3:2), $40 in all.
If a 7 rolls first, you lose both bets: $30 in all.
Without odds you'd risk $10 to win $10 in that round. With 2x odds you risk $30 to win $40. The win is bigger, and so is the loss, which is why your budget should decide how much odds to take. Our bankroll management guide helps with that.
Laying odds on don't pass and don't come
Players betting the dark side lay odds instead. Because a 7 is more likely than any point, laying odds means risking more to win less: $20 to win $10 on a 4 or 10, $15 to win $10 on a 5 or 9, and $12 to win $10 on a 6 or 8. These are fair prices too, with no edge for the house.
Whether you take or lay, the rule is the same: the odds bet is the cheapest money on the table, and the line bet beneath it is where the house earns. Our how to play craps guide covers both sides of the layout.
Odds bets in RTG online craps
RealTime Gaming lists Craps among its table games, per GamblingNews (opens in a new tab), but third-party listings don't publish whether it offers odds bets, what multiple it allows or its RTP. Check the help screen in the game before relying on the figures above. See our craps game page for more on the online version.
No odds multiple turns craps into a profitable game; the line bet's edge always remains. If you're tempted to raise odds to recover losses, the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) can help, and our chasing losses guide explains the pattern.
Craps odds bets at casinos with an offer via our links
Craps is reported in the RTG lobbies of Planet 7, Royal Ace and Slot Madness, but whether their version takes odds bets isn't published, so check the game's rules after confirming it's in the lobby. All three are offshore and not licensed or regulated by any US state: there's no state regulator to complain to and no state protection of balances, and the casino sets the terms. Check your state's law. Bonuses there are slot-based, and craps is commonly excluded. We earn commission from these links, and the order is commercial.
Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). LCB (opens in a new tab) reports 30x (bonus plus deposit) on slots and a $1,000 max cashout, and Blockonomi (opens in a new tab) says craps doesn't count on its free chip. Michigan's regulator named Planet 7 on April 9, 2025. Read the Planet 7 Casino review.
Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report 30x (bonus plus deposit) on slots and a max cashout of 10 times the deposit, with sources disagreeing on the package, so the terms shown at sign-up apply. See our Royal Ace Casino review.
Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). esports.gg's review (opens in a new tab) reports a $30 minimum deposit and no max cashout, with slots and keno counting; LCB reports 30x (bonus plus deposit). The Michigan Gaming Control Board named it on August 14, 2025. See the Slot Madness Casino review.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
Planet 7 Casino#5 on our listRealTime Gaming slots
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 200% match with code WELCOME200; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, April 9, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: $1,000 (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
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21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Frequently asked questions
What is an odds bet in craps?
An odds bet is an extra craps wager placed behind a pass line, come, don't pass or don't come bet after a point is set. It pays true odds, 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8, so the house has no edge on it. It wins or loses together with the bet it backs. See our craps pass line entry for the base bet.
Why is the odds bet the best bet in craps?
The odds bet is the best value in craps because it's the only casino bet with no house edge. Every dollar on it is paid at the true chance of winning. You must make a line bet with an edge first, but adding odds lowers the combined cost per dollar wagered, for example from about 1.41% to about 0.61% with 2x odds. Our house edge explained guide shows the method.
What does 3-4-5x odds mean?
3-4-5x odds means a table allows odds of three times your line bet on 4 or 10, four times on 5 or 9, and five times on 6 or 8. Those multiples make every winning odds bet pay six times the line bet. Combined with a pass line bet, the edge falls to about 0.37%. Online, the allowed multiple isn't published for RTG's craps. See our craps game page.
Should I always take the maximum odds?
Not always, because more odds means more money at risk each round even though the cost per dollar falls. The average dollar loss per pass line bet stays about $1.41 per $100 whatever odds you add. Take only the odds your budget can comfortably cover through losing rounds. Our bankroll management guide helps you set those limits.
Can I remove an odds bet?
Yes, under standard rules you can usually reduce or remove an odds bet at any time, unlike a pass line bet once a point is set. At many tables, odds on come bets are also off during the come-out roll unless you say otherwise. Online games set their own rules, so check the help screen. Our come bet entry explains how come bets and odds interact.
Can a casino bonus be used on odds bets?
Generally no, because offshore casino bonuses are designed for slots and craps is a common exclusion. Third-party reviews say craps doesn't count on Planet 7's free chip, and Silver Oak's terms exclude craps from bonus play. Breaking game rules can void winnings. Check the terms first and see our game weighting entry.
Is the don't pass bet with odds better than the pass line with odds?
Slightly, on paper: standard dice math puts the don't pass edge at about 1.36% per bet, against about 1.41% for the pass line, because a 12 on the come-out is a push for don't pass players. Laying odds behind it adds fair money with no edge, just as taking odds does on the pass side. The gap is a few cents per $100, so pick the side you enjoy. Our craps pass line entry and how to play craps guide cover both bets.
Is an odds bet better than a place bet on 6 or 8?
Yes, the odds bet is cheaper, because it has no house edge while a place bet does. A place bet on 6 or 8 pays 7:6 and wins 5 times in 11, which works out to about a 1.52% edge. Place bets on 5 or 9 pay 7:5, about 4%, and on 4 or 10 pay 9:5, about 6.67%. The odds bet pays 6:5 on 6 or 8 at no edge, though you need a line or come bet first. See our house edge entry and casino math basics.
How much does craps with 2x odds cost per hour?
About $4.24 an hour on average if you make 30 pass line bets of $10 with 2x odds; the 30-bet pace is only an assumption for the arithmetic. Each $10 pass line bet costs about $0.14 on average whether or not you add odds, so 30 × $0.1414 ≈ $4.24. The odds add risk per round, not cost, so your swings will be much bigger than that average. Plan a session with our gambling budget guide and session entry.
Can I make odds bets in online craps at Planet 7?
It isn't published: craps is reported in Planet 7's RTG lobby, but no listing confirms whether that version accepts odds bets or what multiple it allows. Open the game's help screen to check before relying on the figures on this page. Bonus play won't help either, since Blockonomi reports craps doesn't count on Planet 7's free chip. Planet 7 is offshore, and Michigan's regulator named it on April 9, 2025. See the Planet 7 table games page and our best craps casinos list.
Is online craps legal in Rhode Island?
Yes, Rhode Island is one of the seven states with legal online casinos, run as a state monopoly through the Rhode Island Lottery with Bally's (Gamesys) as the single operator since March 5, 2024, under SB 948 of 2023. The online casino age is reported as 21. Which table games it carries, and their rules, are set by that operator, so check its lobby. Offshore casinos aren't licensed there. Help: 1-877-GAMBLE (1-877-942-6253). Read our Rhode Island online casino guide and states with legal online casinos.
Are craps odds bet winnings taxable?
Yes, winnings from craps, odds bets included, are taxable federal income even though the odds bet itself carries no house edge. Form W-2G rules depend on the game: for payments made in 2026, slot, keno and bingo wins of $2,000 or more trigger it, while other wagering needs winnings that meet the threshold and are at least 300 times the bet. Keep your own session records either way. From tax year 2026 the loss deduction is reported to be capped at 90% of losses; check IRS guidance. See our gambling taxes page and gambling loss deduction explainer.
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