Part III: Business & Regulation · Gambling Mathematics & Probability

47. Craps Pass Line / Come Bet Odds

Table Game Math

The Pass Line bet in craps is one of the best wagers in the casino, with a house edge of just 1.41%. After a point is established (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), players can place an additional “odds” bet behind their Pass Line wager that pays at true odds with zero house edge — 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, and 6:5 on 6/8. The availability of these Free Odds bets is what makes craps attractive to knowledgeable players. Come bets function identically to Pass Line bets but can be placed after the point is established. The house edge on a Pass Line bet combined with single odds drops to 0.85%, and with 100x odds (available at some properties), the combined edge falls to approximately 0.02%. Surveillance should monitor the maximum odds multiplier offered, as this directly affects game profitability.

In practice

Maximum odds multipliers vary widely by casino — typical offerings are 3x-4x-5x, 10x, or 20x. Some casinos offer “Crapless Craps,” where 2, 3, 11, and 12 become point numbers; this increases the Pass Line house edge to 5.38%. Don’t Pass / Don’t Come bets have a marginally lower house edge (1.36%) but are less popular due to social stigma (betting against the shooter).

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.