The Free Odds Bet in Craps: The Only Casino Bet With a 0% House Edge
Jake WilfredThere’s exactly one bet in every casino on the planet that gives the house zero advantage over you. Not a small advantage. Not a fraction of a percent. Zero. The free odds bet in craps pays at true mathematical odds, which means over time, you break perfectly even on it.
No other bet on any table, any slot, any game in any casino can say that. The catch? You can’t place it on its own. It must ride behind a pass line, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet after a point is established.
But once it’s there, it’s the best mathematical position you can hold inside a casino. This guide breaks down exactly how free odds work, what they pay on every point, and why maxing out your odds is the single most important move in craps strategy.
- The free odds bet has a 0% house edge, paying at the exact true odds of the dice
- You can only place it after making a pass line, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet and a point number is established
- Taking odds (betting with the shooter) pays 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, and 6:5 on 6/8
- Laying odds (betting against the shooter) pays 1:2 on 4/10, 2:3 on 5/9, and 5:6 on 6/8
- With 3x-4x-5x odds behind a pass line bet, the combined house edge drops to approximately 0.37%
- The more you bet on odds relative to your flat bet, the lower your overall house edge becomes
What Is the Free Odds Bet?
The free odds bet (often just called “odds”) is a supplementary wager you place behind an existing line bet after a point number has been established. It’s called “free” because the casino charges no house edge on it. The payout matches the true mathematical probability of the outcome.
Here’s the setup. You’ve placed a pass line bet and the shooter rolls a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). The dealer flips the puck to “ON.” Now you can place additional chips directly behind your pass line bet. That stack behind your original wager? Those are your odds.
If the shooter rolls the point before a 7, your pass line bet pays even money (1:1) and your odds bet pays at true odds based on the point. If the 7 comes first, you lose both.
The free odds bet is not marked anywhere on the craps table layout. There’s no “ODDS” section printed on the felt. You place the chips directly behind your pass line bet (or tell the dealer to put odds on your come bet). Many new players don’t even know this bet exists because the casino doesn’t advertise it. And why would they? It’s the only bet where they don’t have an edge.
The reason the casino can offer a 0% edge bet without going broke is simple: you have to make a flat bet first. The pass line (1.41% edge) or don’t pass (1.36% edge) is the “price of admission.” The free odds bet reduces the blended house edge on your total action, but it can never eliminate the edge on the flat bet entirely.
Think of it like a restaurant that charges full price for the entree but gives you free refills on drinks. The entree still costs money. But the more free refills you drink, the better your overall value per dollar spent.
Taking Odds: How It Works on Pass Line and Come Bets
Taking odds means you’re adding money behind your pass line or come bet, betting that the shooter will roll the point before a 7. Since you’re betting on the less-likely outcome (the point), you get paid more than even money when you win.
Payouts for Taking Odds
| Point Number | True Odds | Payout on Odds Bet | Dice Combinations for Point | Dice Combinations for 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | $2 for every $1 wagered | 3 | 6 |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | $3 for every $2 wagered | 4 | 6 |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | $6 for every $5 wagered | 5 | 6 |
The payouts reflect the actual dice combinations in play. A 4 can be rolled 3 ways. A 7 can be rolled 6 ways. That’s a 2:1 ratio against you, so a fair payout is 2:1. No markup, no casino cut, no house edge.
You bet $10 on the pass line. The shooter rolls a 9. You place $20 in odds behind your pass line bet. Total at risk: $30. The shooter rolls a 9 before a 7. Your pass line pays $10 (even money). Your odds pay $30 (3:2 on $20). Total profit: $40. If the 7 had come first, you’d lose the full $30. The pass line portion ($10) carried a 1.41% house edge. The odds portion ($20) carried 0%. Your blended house edge on the $30 total? Roughly 0.47%.
How to Place Odds on the Pass Line
After the point is set, take your odds chips and place them directly behind your pass line bet, slightly offset (most players put them touching the back edge of their flat bet). The dealer will adjust the stack if needed.
For come bets, you can’t place the odds yourself because the dealer moves your come bet to the number box. Hand your odds chips to the dealer and say “odds on the come.” The dealer stacks them on top of (slightly offset from) your come bet in the number box.
Bet your odds on the 6 and 8 in multiples of $5 (so the 6:5 payout works out cleanly). On the 5 and 9, bet in even amounts (so the 3:2 payout is clean). Any amount works on the 4 and 10 since 2:1 is a whole number. Keeping your odds bets in the right increments prevents the dealer from rounding your payout down. For a complete list of proper bet sizing, check our craps payout chart.
Laying Odds: How It Works on Don’t Pass and Don’t Come Bets
Laying odds is the dark side version. After a point is set, don’t pass and don’t come bettors can place additional money that the 7 will appear before the point. Since the 7 is more likely than any single point, you’re on the favorable side of the probability, which means you risk more to win less.
Payouts for Laying Odds
| Point Number | Lay Odds Payout | You Risk | You Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 1:2 | $20 to win $10 | Win 2 out of 3 times |
| 5 or 9 | 2:3 | $30 to win $20 | Win 3 out of 5 times |
| 6 or 8 | 5:6 | $30 to win $25 | Win 6 out of 11 times |
The payouts look unappealing at first glance. Risking $20 to win $10 on the 4 or 10? But remember: you win that bet twice as often as you lose it. Over time, the expected value is exactly even, zero house edge.
You bet $10 on don’t pass. The point is 4. You lay $40 in odds. The 7 shows before the 4. Your don’t pass pays $10 (even money). Your lay odds pay $20 (1:2 on $40). Total profit: $30. If the 4 had come first, you’d lose $50 total ($10 flat + $40 odds). The higher risk per bet is offset by winning this matchup roughly 66.7% of the time.
To place lay odds, put your chips behind your don’t pass bet in the don’t pass area, or hand them to the dealer for don’t come bets. The placement is similar to taking odds, just on the opposite side of the layout.
How Much Can You Bet on Free Odds?
Every casino offering craps sets its own maximum odds multiplier. The most common structures in 2026:
| Odds Limit | Combined House Edge (Pass + Odds) | Combined House Edge (Don’t Pass + Lay Odds) | Where You’ll Find It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1x | 0.85% | 0.68% | Low-limit tables |
| 2x | 0.61% | 0.46% | Common at mid-range tables |
| 3x-4x-5x | 0.37% | 0.27% | Most casinos in Vegas and major markets |
| 5x | 0.33% | 0.23% | Some downtown Vegas casinos |
| 10x | 0.18% | 0.12% | Select casinos, promotional tables |
| 100x | 0.02% | 0.01% | Very rare (Cromwell in Vegas, select others) |
The 3x-4x-5x structure is the most common. It works like this: you can take 3x odds on the 4 and 10, 4x odds on the 5 and 9, and 5x odds on the 6 and 8. This system produces identical maximum win amounts ($150 on a $10 flat bet regardless of the point), which simplifies payouts for the dealers.
The “3x-4x-5x” structure is designed for even payouts, not player generosity. A $10 pass line bet with max odds pays $60 on the 4/10 (3x$10 = $30 at 2:1 = $60), $60 on the 5/9 (4x$10 = $40 at 3:2 = $60), and $60 on the 6/8 (5x$10 = $50 at 6:5 = $60). The casino standardized the max win to $60 across all points. Smart design. It’s still the best bet structure available to you, so take full advantage of it.
Why Maxing Out Your Odds Is the Single Best Move in Craps
This is the most important concept in craps strategy, so let’s spell it out clearly.
Your flat bet (pass line, don’t pass, come, don’t come) carries a house edge. Every dollar you put on the flat bet costs you money over time. Your odds bet carries zero house edge. Every dollar you put on odds costs you nothing over time.
The more of your total action that sits in the odds portion, the less you pay the house overall. It’s that simple.
Player A bets $10 on the pass line with no odds. House edge: 1.41%. Expected loss per $100 wagered: $1.41. Player B bets $10 on the pass line with $50 in 5x odds ($60 total at risk). The $10 flat bet costs $0.14 per bet in expected loss. The $50 odds costs $0.00. Combined, Player B risks $60 per decision but only “pays” the same $0.14 in expected house take. That’s an effective edge of 0.23% on the total $60 action, compared to 1.41% on Player A’s $10. Same flat bet. Dramatically different cost per dollar risked.
This is why experienced players keep their flat bets as small as possible (table minimum) and put the bulk of their money into odds. If you have $50 to wager per roll, you’re mathematically better off betting $10 on the pass line with $40 in odds than betting $50 on the pass line with no odds. Both risk $50. But the first option costs you roughly 75% less in house edge per dollar.
Free odds increase your volatility. A $10 pass line bet with $50 in odds means you can win or lose $60 on a single decision instead of $10. The house edge percentage drops, but the dollar amount swinging on each roll goes up. Make sure your bankroll can handle the bigger swings. A good rule: bring at least 30 to 40 times your total per-roll exposure as your session bankroll. If you’re risking $60 per decision (flat + odds), that’s $1,800 to $2,400 for a comfortable session.
How Free Odds Fit Into Craps Strategies
The free odds bet is the engine behind every serious craps strategy. Here’s how it powers the most popular approaches.
Pass Line + Max Odds (Foundation Strategy)
The simplest, strongest approach in craps. Bet table minimum on the pass line. Take maximum odds after the point is set. Repeat. With 3x-4x-5x odds, your combined house edge sits around 0.37%. That’s competitive with basic strategy blackjack and better than virtually every other casino game. Our craps strategy guide covers this in full detail.
The Three Point Molly
The Three Point Molly takes the foundation strategy and adds come bets. You maintain three numbers working at all times: one pass line bet and two come bets, all backed with maximum odds. This gives you broader number coverage while keeping the blended house edge below 0.50%.
If your bankroll is limited, prioritize odds depth over bet width. One pass line bet with max odds is better than three bets with no odds. The math always favors putting more money into the 0% edge odds portion and less into the 1.41% edge flat portion. Only spread to multiple numbers after you’ve maxed odds on each one. For more on sizing your approach, see our tips for winning at craps.
Don’t Pass + Max Lay Odds
Dark side players use the same principle in reverse. Bet don’t pass, lay maximum odds after the point. The combined house edge with 3x-4x-5x lay odds drops to roughly 0.27%. The trade-off: you need a bigger bankroll because lay odds require risking more to win less. You also need to be comfortable betting against the table.
Free Odds on Come-Out Rolls: What Happens to Your Odds?
This is a common source of confusion. Here’s the rule.
Odds on come bets are off during the come-out roll by default. If the shooter makes the point and a new come-out begins, your come bet odds are temporarily inactive. A 7 on the come-out will lose your flat come bet but return your odds chips. This protects you from losing the odds portion on a roll that’s typically good for pass line bettors.
You can override this default. Tell the dealer “odds working” and they’ll place an “ON” button on your chips. Now your odds are live during the come-out. If your come point hits, you collect the full payout (flat + odds). If a 7 rolls, you lose everything.
Don’t pass odds are typically “on” during the come-out by default (since a 7 helps don’t bettors). However, house rules vary. Always confirm with your dealer. For more on table procedures, see our craps etiquette guide.
Free Odds vs. Other Craps Bets: Why Nothing Else Compares
Let’s put the free odds bet in context against the rest of the craps table.
| Bet | House Edge | How Much More It Costs vs. Free Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Free Odds | 0% | Baseline |
| Don’t Pass | 1.36% | Infinite % more (any number vs. 0 is infinite) |
| Pass Line | 1.41% | Same idea |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% | You’re paying 1.52% the casino takes nothing on odds |
| Field Bet (triple 12) | 2.78% | 2.78% vs. 0% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 4.00% | 4.00% vs. 0% |
| Hardways (6/8) | 9.09% | 9.09% vs. 0% |
| Any Seven | 16.67% | 16.67% vs. 0% |
Every dollar you move from any bet on that list into free odds saves you money. That’s why the smartest players at any craps table bet minimum on the line and maximum on odds. They’ve read the same math you’re reading right now.
- 0% house edge, the only bet in the casino with no built-in advantage for the house
- Pays at true mathematical odds based on actual dice probabilities
- Available on all four line bets: pass, don’t pass, come, and don’t come
- Dramatically reduces the blended house edge on your total action
- Can be added, reduced, or removed at any time (you control the size)
- Can’t be placed as a standalone bet; requires a flat bet first (which does carry a house edge)
- Increases volatility since your total amount at risk per roll is higher
- Requires a larger bankroll to withstand normal swings
- Laying odds on don’t pass/don’t come means risking more to win less
- Table limits cap how much you can place in odds, varying by casino
The Free Odds Bet: The Sharpest Tool on the Craps Table
No casino offers anything else like this. A bet that pays true odds, charges no house edge, and is available on every single point. The free odds bet is the reason craps has the reputation it does among serious gamblers. It’s the reason a $10 bettor taking full odds can play with a lower house edge than a blackjack player counting cards at a six-deck shoe.
Every chip you move from your flat bet into odds is a chip the house can’t tax. Min on the line, max on odds. That’s the formula. It works on the pass line, it works on come bets, it works on the dark side. Practice it on our free craps simulator until the muscle memory is automatic, then take it to a live table and play the best odds in the building.
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Free Odds Bet FAQs
The free odds bet is an additional wager placed behind a pass line, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet after a point is established. It pays at true mathematical odds with a 0% house edge. It’s the only bet in the casino where the house has no built-in advantage. See our full craps bets explained guide for how it fits alongside every other wager.
It depends on the casino. The most common structure is 3x-4x-5x, meaning you can take 3x your flat bet on points of 4/10, 4x on 5/9, and 5x on 6/8. Some casinos offer 5x, 10x, or even 100x odds. The higher the multiplier, the lower your combined house edge. Always check the table placard before sitting down.
From a pure math perspective, yes. Every dollar on odds carries 0% house edge versus 1.41% on the flat bet. However, max odds increase your volatility and require a bigger bankroll. Only take max odds if your session bankroll can handle 30 to 40 times your total per-roll exposure. If it can’t, take whatever odds you can afford comfortably.
Free odds on the 6 and 8 pay 6:5 when taking odds (pass line/come). A $25 odds bet wins $30. When laying odds on don’t pass/don’t come, the payout is 5:6, meaning a $30 bet wins $25. These payouts reflect the true probability based on dice combinations: 5 ways to roll a 6 or 8 versus 6 ways to roll a 7.
Taking odds means betting that the point will be rolled before a 7 (used with pass line and come bets). You risk less to win more. Laying odds means betting that a 7 will come before the point (used with don’t pass and don’t come bets). You risk more to win less. Both pay at true odds with 0% house edge.
By default, odds on come bets are “off” during the come-out roll. A 7 on the come-out returns your odds but takes your flat come bet. You can request “odds working” to keep them active. Don’t pass odds are typically “on” during the come-out by default. House rules vary, so confirm with your dealer.
