Craps Strategy Guide: Best Bets & Winning Tips (2025)
Craps offers some of the best and worst bets in the casino—all on the same table. This guide shows you how to maximize your odds and minimize the house edge with smart betting strategy.
The Golden Rule of Craps
Stick to the low house edge bets:
- Pass/Don't Pass (1.41%/1.36%)
- Come/Don't Come (1.41%/1.36%)
- Free Odds (0% house edge!)
Everything else has a significantly higher house edge.
Best Bets in Craps
1. Pass Line + Odds
House Edge: 1.41% (Pass) + 0% (Odds)
The fundamental craps bet. Combined with free odds, this is one of the best bets in the entire casino.
How to play:
- Bet Pass Line before the come-out roll
- Win on 7 or 11, lose on 2, 3, or 12
- Any other number becomes the "point"
- Take maximum free odds behind your Pass bet
- Win if point rolls before 7
Example with $10 Pass + $30 Odds (3x):
- Combined house edge: ~0.37%
- This rivals blackjack with perfect strategy
2. Don't Pass + Lay Odds
House Edge: 1.36% (Don't Pass) + 0% (Odds)
Slightly better than Pass, but you're betting against the shooter.
How to play:
- Bet Don't Pass before come-out
- Win on 2 or 3, push on 12, lose on 7 or 11
- Any other number becomes the point
- Lay maximum odds against the point
- Win if 7 rolls before point
Social consideration: Some players consider "wrong" betting (Don't Pass) bad etiquette since you win when others lose.
3. Come/Don't Come Bets
House Edge: Same as Pass/Don't Pass
These work exactly like Pass/Don't Pass but can be made after a point is established.
Strategy: Make Come bets to have multiple points working with odds on each.
4. Place 6 and Place 8
House Edge: 1.52%
If you want action beyond Pass/Come, these are the next best options.
Payout: 7:6 (bet in multiples of $6)
Bets to Avoid
Proposition Bets (Center Table)
| Bet | House Edge | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Any 7 | 16.67% | Terrible |
| Any Craps | 11.11% | Bad |
| Hard 4/10 | 11.11% | Bad |
| Hard 6/8 | 9.09% | Bad |
| Yo (11) | 11.11% | Bad |
| Craps 2/12 | 13.89% | Terrible |
Big 6 and Big 8
House Edge: 9.09%
These pay even money for 6 or 8. Place bets on 6/8 pay 7:6 with only 1.52% edge. Never bet Big 6/8.
Field Bet (Usually)
House Edge: 5.56% (standard) or 2.78% (triple on 12)
Only acceptable if the casino pays triple on 2 or 12 (reducing edge to 2.78%).
Optimal Betting Strategy
The 3-Point Molly
A popular strategy for consistent action:
- Bet Pass Line - Wait for point
- Take full odds on Pass
- Bet Come - Wait for point
- Take full odds on Come
- Bet another Come - Wait for point
- Take full odds - Now you have 3 points working
- Stop - Let the points resolve
- Repeat when a point wins
Why it works:
- Always have 3 numbers plus 7 working
- Multiple ways to win each roll
- Low combined house edge with full odds
Conservative Strategy
For longer sessions with lower risk:
- Bet Pass Line only
- Take 2x odds
- Wait for resolution
- Repeat
Hourly expected loss: ~$5-10 at $10 minimums
Aggressive Strategy
For maximum action:
- Bet Pass Line with max odds
- Make continuous Come bets with max odds
- Place 6 and 8 if not covered
Warning: Higher variance, faster bankroll swings
Bankroll Management
Session Bankroll Guidelines
| Table Minimum | Recommended Bankroll |
|---|---|
| $5 | $150-200 |
| $10 | $300-400 |
| $15 | $450-600 |
| $25 | $750-1000 |
Odds Multiplier Impact
| Odds Taken | Combined House Edge |
|---|---|
| No odds | 1.41% |
| 1x | 0.85% |
| 2x | 0.61% |
| 3x-4x-5x | 0.37% |
| 10x | 0.18% |
| 100x | 0.02% |
Always take maximum odds!
Dice Control: Myth or Reality?
Some players claim they can influence dice outcomes through controlled throwing.
The theory: Set the dice in specific positions and throw with consistent motion to reduce certain outcomes.
The reality:
- Casinos aren't concerned (they allow it)
- Scientific studies show no consistent advantage
- Even tiny variations randomize results
- The felt, back wall, and bounces add chaos
Our take: Focus on bet selection, not dice setting. The math of good bets is proven; dice control is not.
Common Mistakes
1. Ignoring Free Odds
The only 0% house edge bet in the casino. Always take maximum.
2. Betting Propositions
"Just for fun" prop bets drain bankrolls fast. The house edge compounds.
3. Chasing Losses
Craps is streaky. Bad runs happen. Stick to your strategy and bankroll limits.
4. Increasing Bets After Wins
Pressing bets increases variance without improving odds. Stay consistent.
Related Guides
- Understand every bet: Craps Odds
- Complete rules: Craps Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Craps strategy is simple: Pass/Don't Pass with maximum odds, possibly supplemented by Come bets. Avoid the center of the table. With this approach, craps offers some of the lowest house edges in the casino.