This guide explains which craps wagers provide the best long-term return and how to check that math with a craps payouts calculator. It is written for players who want clear, evidence-based advice on minimizing house edge without promising guaranteed outcomes. You will learn why the free odds bet dominates when available, how combined line-plus-odds play compares to the best standalone place bets, and which proposition bets typically hurt long-term bankrolls.

The free odds bet has a 0 percent house edge and lowers the combined edge when paired with a line bet.

Pass Line plus full odds (eg 3-4-5x) produces one of the lowest combined house edges available to players.

Avoid proposition bets like Any 7 and many hardways if your goal is long-term bankroll preservation.

Quick answer: which craps wagers give the best long-term return

Short summary

The single most profitable component available to a player is the free odds bet, because that portion carries a 0 percent house edge and is only allowed after a point when it is paired with a Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come bet, a fact documented by established game math sources Wizard of Odds craps page.

When casinos allow meaningful multipliers of that free odds stake, the overall expected house edge on the qualifying line bet falls substantially; for example, standard 3-4-5x odds reduce the combined Pass Line edge to about 0.37 percent and the Don’t Pass combined edge to roughly 0.34 percent on typical tables, which improves long-term returns relative to most standalone wagers Wizard of Odds craps odds.

Learn how the FundedPlays Challenges page explains structured evaluation of skill and disciplined decision-making

Before you bet, check table payouts and use a payouts calculator to confirm math for the table you will play.

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One-line recommendation

Prioritize taking full allowed odds with a qualifying line bet, use Place 6 or Place 8 if odds are not available, and avoid high-edge proposition bets for durable bankroll preservation Wizard of Odds proposition bets section.

How craps payouts and house edge work: the essential concepts

Definition of house edge and expected value

House edge is the average percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long run, while expected value describes the average result a player should expect from a wager after many repetitions; this basic framing helps translate payout tables into practical choices at the table Wizard of Odds house edge explained and the derivation Wizard of Odds appendix.

How payouts translate to long-term returns

Minimalist full frame craps payouts calculator UI on dark Funded Plays background showing payout table numeric inputs and accent yellow calculate button

A payout rate determines how much the game pays when you win, and the combination of payout and outcome probabilities produces the expected value. In craps, some bets are composites, for example a line bet plus a free odds component. Because the free odds portion has no built-in edge, it reduces the combined expected house advantage when paired with the paid line bet Wizard of Odds craps odds. See a payouts guide at New Game Network.

Think of the line plus odds combination as two linked wagers: the paid line bet supplies the casino edge, while the free odds act as neutral volume that pushes the overall edge down in proportion to how much money you place behind the line.

Why the free odds bet is the most profitable single option

How free odds are placed

Free odds are only available after a point is established, and you must have an active qualifying line bet, such as Pass Line or Come, or the corresponding Don’t Pass or Don’t Come, to place them; this requirement is central to how the bet functions at the table Wizard of Odds craps page.

Which bet offers the best expected return in craps?

The free odds portion of a line bet offers the best expected return because it has a 0 percent house edge and, when combined with a paid line bet, reduces the overall house advantage for the player.

Why a 0 percent house edge matters in practice

Because the odds segment has no house edge, adding it in proportion to your line bet directly lowers the blended edge of your combined stake. With common multipliers such as 3-4-5x the player shifts most of the wagering volume onto the zero-edge portion, producing a combined edge near the low tenths of a percent range on standard tables Wizard of Odds craps odds.

In practice the availability and cap on odds determines how close a player can get to that theoretical advantage; where casinos limit odds, the blended edge will be higher than at a table that allows larger multipliers.

How to compare combined bets: line plus odds example

Step-by-step EV comparison for Pass Line with 3-4-5x odds

A useful worked example compares a Pass Line bet paired with standard 3-4-5x full odds to a lone place or proposition bet. Using established calculations, that Pass Line plus 3-4-5x odds combination yields a combined house edge around 0.37 percent, which you can reproduce by entering the payout and odds multipliers into a calculator and observing the blended EV Wizard of Odds craps odds.

How Don’t Pass compares

Don’t Pass also benefits when paired with full odds and typically shows a slightly lower combined edge than Pass Line under the same multipliers, roughly near 0.34 percent with common 3-4-5x setups. The assumptions behind either example are the usual pay rates and the presence of full or standard odds, so if a table imposes lower odds the numbers will shift upward for the player Wizard of Odds craps page.

To reproduce the comparison you need only the line payout, the exact odds multiplier allowed by the table, and the free odds rule; a quick calculation then gives the blended house edge so you can compare alternatives before risking funds.

Best standalone bets: placing the 6 and 8

Why 6 and 8 are stronger than other place bets

If you cannot or choose not to take odds, the next-best commonly available single wagers are the Place 6 and Place 8, because their payout structure and probability make them the most efficient of the place bets. Typical place payouts of 7:6 for 6 and 8 produce a house edge near 1.52 percent, which is materially better than other place numbers and many proposition bets Wizard of Odds place bets section.

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How 7:6 pay affects house edge

The 7:6 pay ratio for a Place 6 or Place 8 gives a win amount that closely tracks the actual probability of those totals, which explains the comparatively low house edge. If the place payout is reduced below 7:6, or if the casino uses a different fraction, the house edge for those numbers will rise and should be recalculated against the alternative bets Wizard of Odds craps page.

Always verify the table-specific place payouts, because small differences in the payout fraction have an outsized impact on long-term expected value compared to differences among low-edge line-plus-odds combinations.

Bets to avoid: proposition bets and hardways

Typical house edges on common proposition bets

Proposition bets, like Any 7 and many hardways, carry very high house edges; Any 7 is often cited around 16.67 percent and many hardways are commonly at or above 11 percent, making them poor choices for players focused on long-term profitability Wizard of Odds proposition bets section.

Why these bets hurt long-term bankrolls

High house edge means that the average loss per dollar wagered is large, and over repeated sessions this quickly erodes bankrolls compared to low-edge play. For players aiming to protect capital or to produce consistent, repeatable returns, proposition bets are best treated as occasional entertainment rather than central strategy Wizard of Odds craps page.

If you do play propositions, set strict limits and accept that the expected value is significantly worse than line-plus-odds or Place 6/8 options.

How table rules and state regulations change expected value

Examples of table-level variations

Casinos can and do set table-specific rules that change EV, such as the maximum allowed odds multiplier and whether the field pays on 12; these operational choices directly alter the blended house advantage of common strategies and should be checked before you commit money Wizard of Odds craps page.

Where to find official rules

Regulator rulebooks are the authoritative source for permitted procedures and payout methods in a jurisdiction; for example the New Jersey rules document explains how the game is to be conducted under that regulator, and players can consult such PDFs to confirm permitted payouts and table practices New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement rules.

Because house edge calculations depend on the exact payout fractions and caps in force, verifying the posted table signage and any state-mandated procedures is a necessary step before placing large combined bets.

Using a craps payouts calculator to verify EV

What inputs a reliable calculator needs

A reliable payouts calculator needs the bet type, the precise payout fractions for that bet, the allowed odds multiplier for line bets, and any table caps on combined exposure so it can return a blended expected value for your planned wager, as explained by established calculator guidance Wizard of Odds craps odds.

Short walkthrough of a calculator check

craps payouts calculator

To check a common scenario, enter the line bet size, choose the odds multiplier the table allows, and enter the place payout for 6 or 8 if you plan a place bet. The calculator will combine the paid line edge with the zero-edge odds portion to show the blended house advantage so you can compare options before wagering Wizard of Odds craps odds. See a calculator guide at Action Network.

Estimate a simple combined payout from bet size, odds multiplier, and place payout

Use as a quick check, not a full variance model

Remember that calculators report mathematical EV and do not reduce short-term variance; they let you compare long-run expectations but cannot predict session outcomes Wizard of Odds house edge explained.

Common mistakes when judging profitability at the table

Misreading payout fractions

Players frequently misread payout fractions or assume a place or field payment is standard across casinos; small changes, such as paying 7:6 versus a lower fraction for a place bet, change the house edge enough that it must be recalculated on the fly Wizard of Odds place bets section.

Ignoring the effect of odds caps

Another common error is failing to account for the cap on free odds. If a table only allows 1x or 2x odds the blended edge will be meaningfully higher than at a table allowing 3-4-5x or more, so always confirm the posted max odds before using a strategy that relies on the free odds bet Wizard of Odds craps odds.

Do not evaluate bets in isolation; combine the paid line payout with allowed odds and any place payout differences to get a true sense of long-term value before wagering.

Practical scenarios: choosing bets based on bankroll and table rules

Conservative approach with small bankroll

For smaller bankrolls, a conservative template is to prioritize the Pass Line or Don’t Pass and take whatever odds are available while controlling unit size. This approach leverages the low blended edge of line-plus-odds play while limiting exposure, and it is suitable for players who want predictable, repeatable behavior at the table Wizard of Odds craps page. See Funded Plays for related content on stake sizing.

Aggressive but disciplined use of odds

A more aggressive, EV-minded plan increases the portion of bankroll placed in the free odds component when the table allows large multipliers, and uses Place 6/8 as a fallback when odds are limited. Even when pursuing this route, track results and recompute expected value if table payouts or posted odds change Wizard of Odds craps odds.

Both templates assume responsible stake sizing and an understanding that even low-edge play carries variance and losing sessions.

Quick reference table and how to use it

One-paragraph guide to reading the table

In short rank order: the free odds component is best, followed by a qualifying line bet with full allowed odds, then Place 6 and Place 8 as the best standalone bets, and finally proposition bets which are typically poor for long-term EV; this ranking reflects standard math for common payout tables Wizard of Odds craps page.

When to recalc with a payouts calculator

Recompute with a payouts calculator whenever the table lists nonstandard place payouts, has unusual odds caps, or offers a special field payout. If the posted pay table differs from the standard 7:6 or the posted odds are lower, the calculator will show whether your planned stakes still make sense Wizard of Odds craps odds.

Keep a quick reference or bookmark a reliable calculator so you can recalc at the table when rules differ from the common examples.

Conclusion: practical takeaways for profitable play

Key rules to follow

Take full allowed odds on qualifying line bets whenever possible, use Place 6 or Place 8 if odds are not available, and avoid proposition bets if your objective is to preserve bankroll and win over many sessions; these priorities follow the basic house edge comparisons used by experienced, analytical players Wizard of Odds craps page.

Where to learn more

Verify table-specific rules with posted signage and regulator PDFs, use a payouts calculator to recompute EV for unusual pay tables, and remember that correct math lowers expected losses but does not eliminate variance or guarantee session profits Wizard of Odds house edge explained. For further reading and blog posts see our Funded Plays blog.

Appendix: sources, calculator links, and further reading

Primary references used

The numerical comparisons and payout guidance in this article use established reference material on craps odds and house edge, and regulator rulebooks for procedural confirmation; the key public references used here include game and odds pages and a state rulebook to illustrate where to check the official procedures Wizard of Odds craps page.

How to validate regulator rules

To validate a local table, consult the regulator PDF for your jurisdiction and ask casino staff to confirm table signage; where a regulator publishes a PDF it is the authoritative source until formally updated, so use it to confirm permitted payouts and procedures New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement rules. You can also review how Funded Plays evaluations work for related process notes.

What is the single most profitable bet in craps?

The free odds component is the most profitable portion because it carries no house edge; it must be paired with a qualifying line bet after a point.

Are Place 6 and Place 8 good bets?

Yes, Place 6 and Place 8 are the best standalone place bets when paid 7:6, offering a much lower house edge than most proposition bets.

Will using a payouts calculator guarantee I win?

No, a calculator shows mathematical expected value over the long run but cannot eliminate short-term variance or guarantee session results.

Use the ranking and the calculator steps in this article to confirm EV for the specific table you plan to play. Mathematical advantage improves expected results over many sessions, but it does not remove short-term risk. Practice disciplined bankroll sizing and verify posted payouts and odds before placing large combined bets.