Craps House Edge and Odds: How to Calculate Your Chances of Winning

The Pass Line Bet is the most common bet in craps. You win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the first roll (the "come-out" roll). You also win if the shooter establishes a "point" (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) and then rolls that point again before rolling a 7. Your odds of winning a Pass Line bet are roughly 50.7%.

The house edge in craps is the percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over time. Understanding the house edge is crucial because it helps you make smart betting decisions. If you want to improve your chances in the long run, focus on bets with a smaller house edge. Think of it like this: a lower house edge means more of your stake stays with you.

An Odds Bet is an extra bet you can make after placing a Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, or Don't Come bet. The beauty of an Odds Bet is that it has no house edge, meaning the payout is directly proportional to your chances of winning. By placing an Odds Bet, you effectively lower the overall house edge on your initial Pass Line or Come Bet.

The Any 7 Bet is a bet that the next roll will be a 7. While it might seem tempting, the house edge on this bet is a whopping 16.67%! This makes it a very risky bet because the casino has a significant advantage. The payoff is 4 to 1, but your chances of winning are slim, so it's best to avoid this bet if you're looking for value.

Place Bets are wagers on specific numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). You win if that number is rolled before a 7. A Come Bet is similar to a Pass Line Bet, but it's placed after the come-out roll. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 after you place a Come Bet, you win. You also win if the shooter rolls your Come Bet point before rolling a 7. Come Bets have the same odds as Pass Line Bets. There isn't a definitively "better" option; it depends on your betting strategy.

There's no guaranteed winning strategy, but focusing on bets with low house edges like the Pass Line with Odds, or Come bets with Odds, improves your odds. Managing your bankroll wisely is also essential. Avoid chasing losses and set a budget before you start playing.

The "3-4-5" rule relates to laying odds on the 6 and 8. You bet in multiples of 3, 4, and 5 to get the maximum payout. For example, if the table minimum bet is $5, you could bet $3 on the 6 or 8, and then lay odds of $5 on the 6 or 8. However, this rule is more relevant in casinos with specific odds structures and may not directly translate to all online craps versions available in Kenya.

The most "profitable" bet depends on your risk tolerance. The Pass Line bet with maximum odds offers a good balance of reasonable odds and potential payout. While other bets might have higher payouts, they come with a significantly higher house edge, making them less likely to be profitable in the long run.

There's no single "best" combination, but a common strategy is to combine a Pass Line bet with maximum odds, and then place Come bets with odds on additional numbers. This allows you to have multiple numbers working for you, increasing your chances of winning on each roll. Remember to manage your bankroll carefully when using this strategy.