Craps FAQ — Common Questions Answered

What does “sevening out” mean in craps?

Sevening out means the shooter rolled a 7 during the point phase — after a point has been established — before rolling the point number again. This ends the round, the pass line loses, don’t pass wins, and the dice pass to the next shooter. The term is specific to the point phase; a 7 on the come-out roll is called a natural, not a seven-out, and it wins for the pass line rather than losing.

For a full walkthrough of how both phases of a round work, see Craps Rules.

What is the best bet in craps?

The best bet in craps is the odds bet — the additional wager you can place behind a pass line, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet once a point is established. The odds bet pays at true mathematical odds with zero house edge. Combined with the pass line’s 1.41% house edge, taking maximum odds brings your effective combined house edge as low as 0.37% (at tables offering 3x–4x–5x odds), which is one of the best deals in any casino. If the odds bet is unavailable, the pass line and don’t pass are the next best options at 1.41% and 1.36% respectively.

See Craps Strategy for a full breakdown of how to structure your play around these bets.

What is a “natural” in craps?

A natural is a come-out roll of 7 or 11. When the shooter rolls a natural, the pass line wins immediately, the don’t pass loses, and no point is established — the shooter simply rolls again for a new come-out. The term natural indicates an outright win without a point phase being needed, in the same sense as a blackjack in card games. On the come-out roll, 7 and 11 together account for eight of the 36 possible dice combinations, making a natural the single most likely outcome of any come-out roll.

What are odds bets and why are they special?

Odds bets are supplemental wagers placed behind an existing pass line, don’t pass, come, or don’t come bet after a point is established. They are special because they pay at true odds — the exact probability of the event occurring — meaning the casino has no mathematical edge on them whatsoever. A point of 6 or 8 pays 6:5 on odds because those numbers have a 6-in-11 chance of occurring before a 7. A point of 4 or 10 pays 2:1 because the 7 is twice as likely. Casinos limit odds bet sizes (commonly to 2x, 3x–4x–5x, or more) because they represent a genuine concession to the player. The odds bet is the only casino bet with a 0% house edge.

For odds payouts and their impact on the combined house edge, see Craps Bets.

Can you win consistently at craps?

No casino game, including craps, can be beaten consistently in the long run. Every bet at the craps table — except the odds bet, which has no house edge — has a built-in advantage for the casino. Over a large number of rolls, that edge grinds away at any bankroll. Individual sessions can absolutely be profitable, and sessions where a shooter runs hot and the table wins together are among the most exciting experiences in gambling. But the house edge is mathematically certain over time and cannot be overcome by betting systems, pattern recognition, or dice control claims.

What is the house edge in craps?

The house edge in craps varies enormously by bet. Pass line: 1.41%. Don’t pass: 1.36%. Odds bet: 0%. Place bet on 6 or 8: 1.52%. Place bet on 5 or 9: 4.00%. Place bet on 4 or 10: 6.67%. Field bet: 2.78%–5.56% depending on the table’s payout on 12. Any craps: 11.11%. Any seven: 16.67%. Hardways: 9.09%–11.11%. The range from 0% on odds bets to 16.67% on any seven illustrates why bet selection matters more in craps than in almost any other table game.

The full bet-by-bet breakdown with payouts and house edges is in Craps Bets.

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For the complete rules of craps from the come-out roll to the seven-out, see Craps Rules. For strategy guidance and bankroll management, see Craps Strategy. For a look at where the game came from, see History of Craps. Play craps online — no registration required.