The free odds bet — the only 0% bet in craps.
Every other bet on the table keeps something for the house. The free odds bet keeps nothing. It is paid at true mathematical odds, so its house edge is exactly 0%. Understanding this one bet is the whole reason craps rewards a player who reads the math.
1 · What the odds bet is
A second bet, only after a pointOnce a point is established, you may place an additional wager directly behind your Pass / Don't Pass / Come / Don't Come bet. That extra wager is the free odds bet. It is not marked on the table — you just set chips behind the line — which is part of why so many beginners never make it.
It wins or loses with the bet it backs (point repeats → both win; 7 first → both lose). The difference is the payout: the line bet pays even money; the odds bet pays true odds.
2 · Exact payouts by point
The true odds against each numberEach point is a different probability, so the odds bet pays a different ratio for each — exactly the true odds:
| Point | Ways to make it | Ways to seven-out | True odds | Odds pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3 | 6 | 2 : 1 | 2 : 1 |
| 5 or 9 | 4 | 6 | 3 : 2 | 3 : 2 |
| 6 or 8 | 5 | 6 | 6 : 5 | 6 : 5 |
3 · Why the house edge is exactly 0%
A fair bet, by definitionA bet's house edge is the gap between the true odds of an event and the payout odds offered. Any 7 pays 4:1 when the true odds are 5:1 — that gap is the 16.7% edge. The Field underpays its numbers. Place 4 pays 9:5 when true odds are 2:1.
The odds bet has no gap. A point of 6 is a 6-to-5 underdog and pays exactly 6:5. The expected value of a perfectly-fair bet is zero: you neither gain nor lose expectation on the odds portion. It's the only place in the building that's true. That single fact is the entire thesis of skilled craps: which bets you choose is the only edge — see craps strategy basics.
4 · How it flattens your real edge
Same dice, dramatically less lostYour Pass Line bet is a fixed 1.41% edge. Adding a 0% bet next to it dilutes the average — the more odds you add, the closer your blended edge gets to zero (it never reaches zero, because the line portion stays 1.41%):
| Strategy | Blended house edge | Lost per $100 of total action |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line, no odds | 1.41% | $1.41 |
| Pass + 1× odds | 0.85% | $0.85 |
| Pass + 2× odds | 0.61% | $0.61 |
| Pass + 3-4-5× odds | 0.37% | $0.37 |
| Pass + 10× odds | 0.18% | $0.18 |
The rule is absolute: always take the maximum free odds you can afford.
5 · The 3-4-5× rule
The standard odds limit, decodedTables cap how much odds you can take. The modern standard is 3-4-5×: up to 3× the line bet on a 4/10 point, 4× on a 5/9, 5× on a 6/8. It looks random but it's designed so the maximum odds payout is always exactly 7× the line bet, whatever the point — which makes the dealer's payout instant. Higher-limit tables (10×, 20×, 100×) exist; the higher the cap, the lower your achievable blended edge. Full context in the craps rules guide.
6 · FAQ
Odds bet questionsWhat is the free odds bet in craps?
What does the odds bet pay?
Why always take max odds?
Can the house edge ever hit 0%?
Take real odds on a real table.
The fastest way to internalise a 0% bet is to make one. On LiveRoll you back a point with free odds and watch true-odds payouts land — free, no signup, no real money, every roll a live MLB pitch.
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