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DE Edge
In craps, the house edge is the small built-in advantage the casino has on a bet. It shows what the casino expects to keep over time from the money placed on that wager. That does not mean the casino wins every roll, and it does not mean a player cannot have a good session. It simply means some bets are better for the house than others. The term matters because it explains why two bets can look similar, yet still offer very different values.
House Edge vs Odds
House edge and odds are related, but they are not the same thing. Odds describe the likelihood of an outcome and the payout attached to it. House edge shows how much value the player gives up to the casino over time when the payout is lower than the true probability would justify.
Why It Matters in Craps
Craps offers many different wagers, and they do not all give the same long-term value. A lower house edge means a bet gives up less money to the casino over time. A higher house edge means it gives up more. That is why two bets can both look attractive while still offering very different value in the long run.
What the Percentage Looks Like in Money
The percentage becomes easier to understand when you turn it into money. If a bet has a house edge of 1.5%, the casino expects to keep about $1.50 for every $100 wagered on that bet over time. That is not a separate fee, and it is not taken from each bet in a fixed way. It is simply a way to measure the average cost built into the wager.
Best-Value Bets in Craps
Some craps bets are much better value than others. Pass Line and Come bets each have a house edge of 1.41%. Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets are slightly lower at 1.36%. Odds bets added behind Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come pay at true odds and carry no house edge. By contrast, many proposition bets come with a much higher edge, which makes them more expensive over time.
Common True Odds on Odds Bets
When a point is established, taking and laying odds pay according to the number:
- 4 or 10: taking odds pays 2 to 1; laying odds pays 1 to 2\.
- 5 or 9: taking odds pays 3 to 2; laying odds pays 2 to 3\.
- 6 or 8: taking odds pays 6 to 5; laying odds pays 5 to 6\.
These are called true odds because the payout matches the underlying probability, which is why the odds bet itself has no house edge.
Long-Term Value
This is why simpler bets matter in craps. The goal is not to predict the next roll. It is to choose wagers that give up less value over repeated play. A larger payout can look attractive, but a lower-edge bet is usually the better long-term choice for players who want stronger value from each decision.
FAQ
Does house edge mean every bet will lose?
No. It means the casino has the mathematical advantage over time.
Can the house edge be removed?
Not from the main bet itself. In craps, the separate odds bet can be added at true odds, so that added portion has no house edge, but the base wager still does.
Is house edge the same as odds?
No. Odds describe probability and payout. House edge describes the casino’s built-in long-term advantage.
