Proposition Bets in Craps: Every Prop Bet, Payout, and House Edge Explained
Jake WilfredThe center of the craps table is a graveyard for bankrolls. That’s where the proposition bets live: a cluster of one-roll and multi-roll wagers with house edges ranging from 9.09% to 16.67%. The stickman calls them out between every throw. “Hard eight!” “Yo!” “Horn bets, anyone?”
Those calls are a sales pitch, and the product they’re selling is the most expensive real estate on the felt. Yet proposition bets (also called “prop bets” or “center bets”) are also the most exciting wagers in craps. A $1 bet on snake eyes pays $30. A $1 yo eleven pays $15.
The payouts look great on a per-bet basis. The math looks terrible over 100 bets. This guide covers every proposition bet on the craps table: what it is, how it works, what it pays, the true house edge, and whether it deserves a single chip from your bankroll.
- Proposition bets carry house edges from 9.09% (hardways 6/8) to 16.67% (Any Seven), compared to 1.41% on the pass line
- Most prop bets resolve on a single roll; hardways are the exception, staying active across multiple rolls
- The stickman controls all center-table bets; you toss your chips and call your bet verbally
- Prop bet payouts listed as “for” (e.g., “8 for 1”) include your original wager; “to” (e.g., “7 to 1”) shows profit only
- Prop bets can often be placed below the table minimum, sometimes for as little as $1
- Every dollar on a proposition bet is a dollar not earning 0% on free odds behind your pass line
What Are Proposition Bets in Craps?
Proposition bets are a category of wagers concentrated in the center of the craps table layout. They’re managed exclusively by the stickman. You can’t place them yourself. You toss your chips toward the center and call out your bet; the stickman catches them and positions them in the correct box.
Most proposition bets are one-roll bets, meaning they resolve on the very next throw of the dice. The shooter rolls, you win or lose, and it’s over. The exception is hardways bets, which stay active across multiple rolls until the hard number, the easy number, or a 7 appears.
Prop bets are sometimes called “center bets” (because of their position on the layout) or “sucker bets” (because of their house edges). The second nickname isn’t entirely fair. Prop bets aren’t scams. They’re clearly posted, the odds are calculable, and nobody forces you to make them. They’re just expensive. Very expensive. The casino makes more profit per dollar from the center of the table than from any other section.
Prop bets typically allow wagers below the table minimum. At a $10 or $15 table, you can often bet $1 on a proposition. The maximum is usually capped based on the maximum payout the casino will allow from a single roll, not the table maximum. Ask the dealer for the prop bet limits at your table. If you’re still learning how to play craps, understand the core bets first before exploring propositions.
The Complete Proposition Bet Reference Table
Here’s every standard proposition bet with its payout, true odds, and house edge. Bookmark this. Refer to it before placing any center-table action.
| Prop Bet | Winning Numbers | Payout | True Odds | House Edge | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Seven | 7 | 4:1 | 5:1 | 16.67% | One-roll |
| Snake Eyes (Aces) | 2 | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% | One-roll |
| Boxcars (Midnight) | 12 | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% | One-roll |
| Ace-Deuce | 3 | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% | One-roll |
| Yo Eleven | 11 | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% | One-roll |
| Any Craps | 2, 3, 12 | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% | One-roll |
| Hi-Lo | 2, 12 | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% | One-roll |
| C and E | 2, 3, 11, 12 | Varies | Varies | 11.11% | One-roll |
| Hop (easy) | Specific combo | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% | One-roll |
| Hop (hard) | Specific pair | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% | One-roll |
| Horn | 2, 3, 11, 12 | Varies | Varies | 12.50% | One-roll |
| Whirl/World | 2, 3, 7, 11, 12 | Varies | Varies | 13.33% | One-roll |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 3+3 / 4+4 | 9:1 | 10:1 | 9.09% | Multi-roll |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 2+2 / 5+5 | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% | Multi-roll |
For a side-by-side comparison with every bet on the table, including the low-edge outer bets, see our craps payout chart.
One-Roll Proposition Bets
One-roll props resolve on the very next throw. Miss, and your money is swept. Hit, and you collect. There’s no carry-over, no standing bet, no second chance. Here’s each one.
Any Seven
The Any Seven bet is the worst standard wager on the craps table. You’re betting the next roll produces a 7. Six dice combinations produce a 7, giving you a 16.67% chance of winning. The casino with craps usually pays 4:1. True odds are 5:1. House edge: 16.67%.
That’s $16.67 lost per $100 wagered. For context, the pass line loses $1.41 per $100. The Any Seven costs nearly 12 times more per dollar.
Some casinos advertise the Any Seven payout as “5 for 1” instead of “4 to 1.” These are the same thing. “For” includes your original bet in the total return. “To” shows only the profit. A $1 bet at “5 for 1” returns $5 total ($4 profit + $1 original). A $1 bet at “4 to 1” returns the same $5. This “for” vs. “to” distinction appears across all proposition bets and is designed to make payouts look more generous than they are. Always do the math. Our craps terms glossary explains more table language.
Snake Eyes and Boxcars
Snake eyes (the 2) and boxcars (the 12) are mirror images. Each has one winning combination out of 36. Both pay 30:1. True odds: 35:1. House edge: 13.89% each. A $1 bet on either returns $31 total when it hits.
Ace-Deuce (3) and Yo Eleven (11)
The ace-deuce bets on a 3. The yo eleven bets on an 11. Each has two winning combinations out of 36 (5.56% win probability). Both pay 15:1. True odds: 17:1. House edge: 11.11%. The “yo” term exists to prevent confusion between “seven” and “eleven” on the noisy casino floor.
Any Craps
The any craps bet covers the 2, 3, and 12 on the next roll. Four winning combinations out of 36 (11.11% probability). Pays 7:1. True odds: 8:1. House edge: 11.11%. Players sometimes use this as “insurance” against the pass line losing on a craps come-out, but the hedge costs more than it saves.
You have $10 on the pass line. You add $1 on any craps as “insurance.” If the shooter rolls 2, 3, or 12, your pass line loses $10, but your any craps wins $7. Net loss: $3 instead of $10. Sounds smart. But on the 32 out of 36 rolls where craps doesn’t appear, you lose that $1 insurance bet on top of whatever happens to your pass line. Over 36 theoretical come-out rolls, the insurance costs you $4 in expected value (36 x $1 = $36 wagered x 11.11% edge = $4 lost). The pass line losses on craps numbers over those same rolls average about $3.33. You’re paying $4 to protect against $3.33. The hedge loses money.
Hi-Lo
The Hi-Lo bet covers both the 2 and the 12 in a single wager. Two winning combinations out of 36 (5.56%). Pays 15:1. House edge: 11.11%. If you’d typically bet snake eyes and boxcars separately ($2 total at 13.89% each), the Hi-Lo covers both for $1 at a lower combined cost.
Horn Bet
The horn bet splits four units across the 2, 3, 11, and 12. One unit each. Minimum: $4. Six winning combinations out of 36 (16.67%). The 2 or 12 pays a net 27:4; the 3 or 11 pays a net 12:4. You always lose three units even when you win. Blended house edge: 12.50%.
C and E Bet
The C and E splits two units: one on “C” (any craps: 2, 3, 12) and one on “E” (eleven). Must be bet in even amounts. Covers the same four numbers as the horn but with a different split structure. House edge: 11.11% on both halves, making it cheaper than the horn (12.50%) for the same number coverage.
Whirl/World Bet
The whirl bet is the horn plus an Any Seven unit. Five units covering 2, 3, 7, 11, and 12. Minimum: $5. Rolling a 7 produces a push (break even). Blended house edge: 13.33%. Adding the 7 feels like insurance, but it raises the cost from 12.50% (horn) to 13.33%.
Hop Bet
The hop bet wagers on a specific dice combination, not just a total. “Hop the 5-3” wins only if the dice land 5+3 or 3+5. Easy hops (two different numbers) pay 15:1 at 11.11%. Hard hops (pairs like 4+4) pay 30:1 at 13.89%. The hop isn’t printed on most layouts; you call it verbally to the stickman.
If you want to bet center-table props, the C and E (11.11%) and the Hi-Lo (11.11%) give you the lowest house edges among combination proposition bets. They cover the same “exciting” numbers (2, 3, 11, 12) at a lower blended cost than the horn (12.50%) or whirl (13.33%). But even 11.11% is roughly 8 times the cost of a pass line bet. Keep that ratio in mind.
Multi-Roll Proposition Bets: Hardways
Hardways are the only proposition bets that don’t resolve on a single roll. A hardway bet wins if the shooter rolls a specific pair (hard 4 = 2+2, hard 6 = 3+3, hard 8 = 4+4, hard 10 = 5+5) before rolling a 7 or the “easy” version of that number.
The “easy” version means rolling the same total with two different numbers. Easy 6 could be 5+1, 4+2, or 2+4. A hard 6 wins only on 3+3. If any easy 6 or a 7 shows up first, the hard 6 bet loses.
| Hardway Bet | Winning Combo | Payout | True Odds | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard 6 | 3+3 | 9:1 | 10:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 8 | 4+4 | 9:1 | 10:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 | 2+2 | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% |
| Hard 10 | 5+5 | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% |
Hard 6 and hard 8 carry the lowest house edge of any proposition bet at 9.09%. That’s still 6 times the cost of the pass line, but it’s significantly cheaper than the one-roll props. Hard 4 and hard 10 are more expensive at 11.11% because they have fewer ways to win (only 3 total combinations for 4 and 10 versus 5 for 6 and 8) while the “easy” ways and the 7 appear more frequently.
You place $5 on the hard 8. The shooter rolls a 10 (no effect), then a 5 (no effect), then a 4+4. Hard 8 hits. You win $45 (9:1 on $5) plus your original $5 stays on the table (hardways are standing bets). If the shooter had rolled 5+3 (easy 8) or a 7 before the hard 8, you’d have lost $5. The bet can sit there for 2 rolls or 20 rolls before it resolves.
Hardways bets are typically “off” during the come-out roll unless you tell the dealer “keep my hardways working.” If you don’t specify, a 7 on the come-out (which is good for pass line bettors) won’t kill your hardways. An easy way on the come-out will, though, since only the 7 turns off. Ask the dealer if you’re unsure about your table’s default. Full hardways details are in our hardways guide.
How to Place Proposition Bets: Table Etiquette
The center of the table is the stickman’s territory. You don’t touch the chips once they’re there. Here’s the proper sequence.
Wait for a break between rolls. Catch the stickman’s eye. Toss your chips toward the center and clearly state your bet: “$1 yo,” “$2 any craps,” “$4 horn,” or “$5 hard eight.” The stickman catches your chips and places them in the appropriate box, positioned to identify which player owns the bet.
Get your bet in before the stickman pushes the dice to the shooter. Tossing chips at the last second disrupts the game and annoys the crew. If you miss the window, sit the roll out and bet on the next one.
When a prop bet wins, the stickman instructs the base dealer to pay your profit, but your original wager stays on the table. This means you’re automatically betting on the same proposition again on the next roll. If you don’t want to keep the bet active, say “take down my [bet name]” immediately after collecting your payout. If you stay quiet, your money rides again. This is how prop bets quietly drain bankrolls: players forget their winning bet is still live, lose on the next roll, and the profit disappears. Always take down or consciously choose to let it ride. For full table behavior guidelines, see our craps etiquette guide.
Proposition Bets vs. the Best Craps Bets: A Cost Comparison
Here’s the real-world cost difference between proposition bets and the table’s best bets.
| Bet | House Edge | Expected Loss Per $100 Wagered | Multiple of Pass Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Odds | 0% | $0.00 | 0x |
| Don’t Pass | 1.36% | $1.36 | 0.96x |
| Pass Line | 1.41% | $1.41 | 1x (baseline) |
| Place 6/8 | 1.52% | $1.52 | 1.08x |
| Hard 6/8 | 9.09% | $9.09 | 6.4x |
| Any Craps | 11.11% | $11.11 | 7.9x |
| Yo Eleven | 11.11% | $11.11 | 7.9x |
| Horn | 12.50% | $12.50 | 8.9x |
| Snake Eyes | 13.89% | $13.89 | 9.9x |
| Any Seven | 16.67% | $16.67 | 11.8x |
The “Multiple of Pass Line Cost” column tells the story. Every dollar on hard 6/8 costs 6.4 times what a dollar on the pass line costs. A dollar on Any Seven costs nearly 12 times more. A dollar on free odds costs nothing.
Say you bet $5 on proposition bets every roll. At 80 rolls per hour, that’s $400 in total proposition action. At an average house edge of 11% (middle of the prop range), your expected hourly loss is $44. Meanwhile, a player betting $10 on the pass line with $50 in odds at 80 decisions per hour puts about $4,800 in action at a combined 0.37% edge, losing an expected $17.76 per hour. The prop bettor puts less money in play and loses more than twice as much.
Should You Make Proposition Bets?
The math says no. Every proposition bet carries a house edge 6 to 12 times higher than the table’s core wagers. Every dollar on a prop is a dollar that could be sitting behind the pass line at 0% on free odds.
But math isn’t everything. Props add excitement. A $1 snake eyes hit pays $30 and makes the whole table cheer. A $5 hard 8 grinding across 15 rolls builds tension that no pass line bet can match. The entertainment value is real.
- High payouts per dollar (15:1 to 30:1) create memorable winning moments
- Can be bet for as little as $1, making the absolute cost trivial per individual bet
- Add variety, excitement, and drama to a craps session
- Hardways create multi-roll tension that builds over several throws
- Available on any roll regardless of game phase
- House edges from 9.09% to 16.67%, the most expensive standard bets on the table
- One-roll props resolve instantly with an 83% to 97% loss rate depending on the bet
- Winning bets stay on the table automatically, creating a silent recurring drain
- The stickman actively promotes props between rolls, encouraging impulsive betting
- Every dollar here is a dollar not earning 0% on free odds
The practical approach: treat proposition bets as entertainment with a hard budget. Set aside $10 to $20 per session for center-table action. When it’s gone, stop. Your core strategy should be built on pass line, odds, and place bets on 6 and 8. The props are the seasoning, not the meal. For the complete strategic framework, see our craps strategy guide and our tips for winning at craps.
After a prop bet wins, always tell the dealer “take it down” if you don’t intend to bet again. Your original wager stays on the table by default. Many players forget this, win on one roll, then give back the profit (plus their original chip) on the next. The take-down call costs you nothing and protects every win. Practice calling prop bets on our free craps simulator to get the phrasing right before playing live.
Proposition Bets in Craps: Know the Cost, Set Your Limit, and Enjoy the Drama
The center of the craps table is the casino’s profit center. The pass line at 1.41% and free odds at 0% barely move the needle for the house. But every $1 yo, every $4 horn, every $5 hardway pours real margin into the casino’s bottom line. That’s why the stickman calls them out relentlessly. That’s why the payouts are displayed in bright colors on the felt.
None of that makes proposition bets evil. It makes them expensive. And expensive things are fine in small doses when you know the price. Build your game around the best craps bets. Fund your pass line and odds first. Fund your place bets second. Then, if there’s room left in the budget, drop a dollar on the yo or the hard 8 and enjoy the ride. Just know exactly what that ride costs.
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Proposition Bets FAQs
Proposition bets (also called prop bets or center bets) are high-payout wagers located in the center of the craps table layout. Most resolve on a single roll (Any Seven, snake eyes, yo, horn, any craps, Hi-Lo, C&E, hop). Hardways are the exception, staying active across multiple rolls. House edges range from 9.09% to 16.67%.
House edges range from 9.09% (hard 6/8) to 16.67% (Any Seven). Most one-roll props sit at 11.11% to 13.89%. Compare that to the pass line at 1.41% or free odds at 0%. The full edge table is in our craps payout chart.
Not as a core strategy. They carry house edges 6 to 12 times higher than the pass line. They work as occasional $1 to $5 entertainment bets with a separate budget. Your main money should always go to pass line, odds, and place bets on 6 and 8. See our best craps bets guide for the complete ranking.
“For” includes your original bet in the total return. “To” shows only the profit. A payout of “8 for 1” means you receive $8 total ($7 profit + $1 original). A payout of “7 to 1” means you receive $8 total ($7 profit + $1 back). They’re the same. The “for” phrasing is designed to make the payout look bigger. Always do the math.
Toss your chips toward the center of the table and call your bet to the stickman: “$1 yo,” “$4 horn,” “$5 hard 8.” The stickman catches the chips and places them in the correct box. Get your bet in before the dice are pushed to the shooter. Follow craps etiquette by not reaching into the center or making bets while the dice are in the air.
Yes. When a prop bet wins, the stickman instructs the dealer to pay your profit, but your original wager stays active for the next roll. If you don’t want to bet again, say “take it down” immediately after collecting your payout. Forgetting to do this is how many players give back their prop bet winnings on the very next throw.
