Odds Bet

After the come-out roll, craps may establish a point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). Once a point is on, many players add an Odds Bet, sometimes called “taking odds,” to get better value from a basic wager.

What an Odds Bet Is

An Odds Bet is an extra wager you add to a qualifying base bet after its point is established. It can be used with Pass Line and Come bets, and it can also be used with Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets (called laying odds). The odds chips sit behind your main bet and cannot exist on their own. Odds Bets pay at true odds, meaning the payout matches the real chances. For Pass Line and Come, common payouts are 2 to 1 on points 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on 5 or 9, and 6 to 5 on 6 or 8\. For Don’t Pass and Don’t Come, you usually risk more to win less, but the payout is still fair.

Why It Matters for Beginners

The Odds Bet has zero house edge by itself. The casino advantage comes from the original line or come bet, not from the odds portion. Here is why many beginners are encouraged to use it:

It lowers the overall house edge on the total amount you wager on that bet
It boosts your win when your number hits, without changing the rules of the base bet
It is easy to follow because it has set payout ratios for each point number

A Quick Example

You place $10 on the Pass Line and the point becomes 6\. The table allows up to 3x odds, so you add $30 in odds behind your $10 chip. If a 6 rolls before a 7, your Pass Line wins $10. Your $30 odds on 6 pays 6 to 5, so it wins $36. Total profit is $46. If a 7 appears first, you lose both amounts.

Online vs. Land-Based Play

Online and land-based craps use the same meaning for an Odds Bet. Online games usually show an Odds button and may let you auto-add odds each round. At a physical table, you place chips behind your bet, and the dealer confirms the amount. Maximum odds vary by casino and table, so check the posted limit.