Quick Answer: What Are Free Odds In Craps?
Free odds means the odds portion of your bet is priced fairly, with no house edge on that specific part.
It does not mean you can’t lose.
A cleaner way to say it is:
- odds are “free” in pricing, not free in outcome
You still win or lose based on what the dice do.
If you want the full big-picture guide first, start here: The Complete Guide To Craps.
Where Odds Bets Happen (You Can’t Place Them Anytime)
Odds bets are add-ons that you can usually place only after you make a base bet like:
- Pass Line
- Come
- Don’t Pass
- Don’t Come
Once a point is set, you can:
- take odds (with Pass Line or Come)
- or lay odds (with Don’t Pass or Don’t Come)
If you want a refresher on points, read How Point Numbers Work In Craps.
What “True Odds” Means (In Plain English)
True odds means the payout matches the real math of the dice.
That’s the whole reason odds are “free”:
- the casino isn’t shaving a percentage off the odds payout
Most other bets have payouts that are slightly worse than the true math, which creates the house edge.
So What Does “Paid Odds” Mean?
Here’s the truth: “paid odds” is not usually a separate official bet type.
Most of the time, when players say “paid odds,” they mean one of these:
- “You get paid at true odds when your odds bet wins.”
- “Odds are paid fairly compared to other bets.”
So in everyday craps talk:
- Free odds = the odds bet has no house edge
- Paid odds = a casual way of saying you’re paid true odds when it wins
Same concept, different phrasing.
Why Odds Are Good (But Not Magic)
Odds are good because they add action that isn’t “taxed” by extra house edge.
But odds still increase:
- the total money you have exposed
- the size of your swings
So odds can be a “good deal” mathematically while still being risky emotionally.
If you want the swing side, read Understanding Volatility In Craps Betting Sequences.
How Odds Work On The Pass Line (Taking Odds)
Here’s the simple flow:
- You place a Pass Line bet
- A point is established (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10)
- You can “take odds” behind your Pass Line bet
- If the point hits before a 7, both bets win
- If a 7 hits first, both lose
Key Detail
Your base Pass Line bet still has house edge.
The odds portion is the “free” part.
Adding odds doesn’t remove the casino edge completely, but it reduces the blended cost per dollar you’re wagering because some of your action is now priced fairly.
How Odds Work On The Don’t Pass (Laying Odds)
With Don’t Pass, the flow flips:
- You place a Don’t Pass bet
- A point is set
- You can “lay odds” behind your bet
- You win if a 7 shows before the point
- You lose if the point hits first
The odds portion is still paid at true odds relative to:
- 7 showing first
versus - the point showing first
Your base Don’t Pass bet still has a small house edge, but the odds portion is “free” in the same pricing sense.
Why Casinos Limit Odds
If odds are priced fairly, why don’t casinos allow unlimited odds?
Because higher odds reduces the casino’s average profit on your total action.
The base bet still has house edge, but the more odds you add, the larger share of your total wager goes into the 0% edge portion.
That’s why casinos cap it with rules like:
- 2x odds
- 3-4-5x odds
- 10x odds
- or even higher
The Smart Way To Use Odds (Simple Rules)
Odds are best used as a tool for cost control, not as a way to “fix” losses.
Rule 1: Decide Your Odds Size Before You Start
Example:
- “I’m taking 1x odds all session.”
Not:
- “I’ll max odds when I’m down.”
Rule 2: Don’t Use Odds To Chase
If you increase odds after losses, you’re raising exposure, not improving your odds of winning.
If you want to learn why chasing is dangerous, read Why Chasing Losses Is Especially Dangerous In Craps.
Rule 3: Start Small If You’re New
It’s completely fine to:
- use low odds
- or skip odds until you’re comfortable tracking the flow
Rule 4: Don’t Let Odds Push You Into A Bigger Table Minimum
A table with huge odds might sound good, but if the base minimum is too high, your bankroll will feel squeezed.
If you want to know how table limits shape risk, read How Table Minimums & Maximums Work In Craps.
Rule 5: Remember Odds Can Increase Volatility
Odds can lower your average cost per dollar wagered, but they can increase session swings.
So “best” depends on your goal:
- lower cost per dollar
- or calmer sessions
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Odds Bets Really “Free” In Craps?
“Free” means no house edge on the odds portion, not that you can’t lose.
Should I Always Take Max Odds?
Not always. Max odds can be too swingy for your bankroll and can increase volatility.
What Does “Paid Odds” Mean?
Most players use it as casual language for being paid at true odds when your odds bet wins, not a separate bet type.
Do Odds Bets Remove The House Edge?
No. The base bet still has a house edge. Odds reduce the blended edge per total amount wagered, but don’t eliminate it.
Is Don’t Pass With Odds Better Than Pass Line With Odds?
The Don’t side is slightly lower on the base bet, but both can be fine depending on your style and comfort.
Where To Go Next
You now know what “free odds” really means: the odds portion is priced fairly (no house edge), but you can still lose because outcomes are random.
Next, we’ll look at rare craps bets you might see in certain casinos, what they mean, and why some of them are surprisingly expensive.
Continue with Rare Craps Bets Found In Certain Casinos.
