House Edge Craps Field Bet
Posted By admin On 30/03/22
Every game at the casino is tipped in the casino’s favor – that is how they make their money.
For sure, as a player you have a chance of winning and finishing a session ahead – there would be no reason to go to a casino otherwise – but overall every game will make the casino money in the long run.
- Some people learn about the house edge and expected value, and then try to apply those concepts to non-casino games like the lottery, and come to the bad conclusion that the lotto is a horrible bet, or the the ridiculous conclusion that it's better to play when the jackpot reaches a certain level because then there will be no house edge.
- Craps Strategy Using the Don’t Come Bet. As explained above, craps can be played with a very low house edge, which makes it a better alternative to other casino games where the house have a huge advantage over players. It also has several bets that could be described as “sucker bets” – wagers where the house edge is significantly higher.
By playing to a certain strategy, the player can reduce the House Edge by some percentage points giving them a better chance of walking away up. There are strategies for many of the most popular casino games on this website.
However, the amount of House Edge does vary from game to game and in some cases from the different types of bet from within the same game. Here, we look at the most popular games and their House Edge so you can make an informed decision of which to play.
It would be easier to overcome the lower edge, obviously. But not many players can actually control the dice well enough to even overcome a 2.7 percent house edge. The Field is a bet that many craps players make as an aside. They'll throw a dollar or two up every so often on the Field in an attempt to have many numbers working for them.
| Game | Betting Rules | House Edge |
| Blackjack | Vegas Rules | 0.28% |
| Pontoon | Standard Bet | 0.32% – 0.65% |
| Spanish 21 | Dealer Stands on Soft 17 | 0.40% |
| Spanish 21 | Dealer Hits on Soft 17 | 0.76% |
| Blackjack Switch | Standard Bet | 0.58% |
| Atlantic City Blackjack | Standard Bet | 0.35% |
| Vegas Strip Blackjack | Standard Bet | 0.35% |
| Progressive Blackjack | Standard Bet | 0.28% – 0.76% |
| Super Fun 21 | Standard Bet | 0.94% |
| European Roulette | Single Zero | 1.35% – 2.70% |
| American Roulette | Double Zero | 5.26% |
| French Roulette | Single Zero | 1.35% – 2.70% |
| Baccarat | Player | 1.24% |
| Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% |
| Baccarat | Tie | 14.36% |
| Punto Banco | Player | 1.24% |
| Punto Banco | Banker | 1.06% |
| Punto Banco | Tie | 14.40% |
| EZ Baccarat | 1.01% | |
| 3 Card Baccarat | 17% – 20.8% | |
| European Baccarat | Player | 1.24% |
| European Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% |
| European Baccarat | Tie | 14.40% |
| Banque Baccarat | Player | 1.24% |
| Banque Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% |
| Banque Baccarat | Tie | 14.40% |
| Chemin De Fer | N/A | |
| Craps | Pass Line/Come Bet | 1.41% |
| Craps | Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Bet | 1.40% |
| Craps | Pass Line Odds/Comes Bet Odds/Buy Bets – 4 or 10 | 4.76% |
| Craps | Pass Line Odds/Comes Bet Odds/Buy Bets – 5 or 9 | 4.76% |
| Craps | Pass Line Odds/Comes Bet Odds/Buy Bets – 6 or 8 | 4.76% |
| Craps | Don’t Pass Odds/Don’t Come Bet Odds/Lay Bets – 4 or 10 | 2.44% |
| Craps | Don’t Pass Odds/Don’t Come Bet Odds/Lay Bets – 5 or 9 | 3.23% |
| Craps | Don’t Pass Odds/Don’t Come Bet Odds/Lay Bets – 6 or 8 | 4.00% |
| Craps | Field Bets – 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 | 5.50% |
| Craps | Field Bets – 2 or 12 | 5.50% |
| Craps | Place Bets – 4 or 10 | 6.70% |
| Craps | Place Bets – 5 or 9 | 4.00% |
| Craps | Place Bets – 6 or 8 | 1.52% |
| Craps | Hardways – 6 or 8 | 9.09% |
| Craps | Hardways – 4 or 10 | 11.10% |
| Craps | One Roll Bets – Any 7 | 16.90% |
| Craps | One Roll Bets – Any Craps | 11.10% |
| Craps | One Roll Bets – 2 Craps or 12 Craps | 13.90% |
| Craps | One Roll Bets – 3 Craps or 11 Craps | 11.10% |
| Craps | One Roll Bets – Big 6 or 8 | 9.09% |
| 3 Card Poker | Ante Bet | 3.37% |
| 3 Card Poker | Pair Plus | 7.28% |
| Pai Gow Poker | 1.50% | |
| Let It Ride | 3.51% | |
| Caribbean Stud | 5.22% | |
| Video Poker | Jacks or Better | 0.46% |
| Video Poker | Bonus Poker | 0.83% |
| Video Poker | Joker Poker | 1.91% |
| Video Poker | Deuces Wild | 1.09% – 5.03% |
| Video Poker | Aces & Faces | 0.74% |
| Video Poker | Pick’em Poker | 0.5% – 10% |
| Video Poker | Aces & Eights | 0.22% – 2.51% |
| Video Poker | Tens or Better | 0.86% – 2.04% |
| Casino War | Go to War on Ties | 2.88% |
| Casino War | Surrender on Ties | 3.70% |
| Casino War | Bet on Ties | 18.65% |
| Keno | 25% – 29% | |
| Sic Bo | 2.78% – 33.33% | |
| Red Dog | 2.80% |
What is the House Edge?
It is important to clarify exactly what the House Edge is and how it is calculated.
The definition of House Edge is ‘the ratio of the average loss when compared to the initial bet’. Some games allow you to place an extra bet during the hand such as Splitting or Doubling in Blackjack. When working out the House Edge for a game, this extra bet is not taken into consideration as it is not a forced bet and the player doesn’t have to pay the extra if they don’t want to.
In games where an extra bet is mandatory, the total bet necessary is taken into account when working out the House Edge.
We work out the House Edge on the original bet and not the average bet to make it easier to see how much you can expect to lose over a period of time. Although this may sound negative, it is worth mentioning again that every bet in a casino is in the casino’s favor – if there was a bet where the player is expected to win over a long period of time, players would be sitting making this bet the whole day and the casino would lose money. They are clearly not going to let this happen.
Another point to note when looking at House Edge is that for bets which feature a Tie – such as Baccarat or the Don’t Pass bet in Craps – some places don’t count these on the basis that if a bet hasn’t been settled then it should be ignored.
There are other variables that could affect the bottom-line House Edge such as mindset of the player at the time the player, how much they are concentrating on their game or how much they can afford to lose the chips they have in front of them.
Conclusion
It is worth remembering that the above table gives a rough idea of House Edge but one or two less than optimal decisions can have an adverse effect and therefore there will inevitably be some small discrepancies based on the way the game/s are played.
The lower the House Edge, the more chance there is for the player to win so take that into consideration when deciding which game to play.
Featured Gambling Guides
Introduction
One argument that comes up a lot is how to quantify the house edge in craps. Normally the house edge is defined as the ratio of expected loss to the initial bet. However, how do you treat bets, like the place bet for example, when many rolls may be required to resolve the bet and the player can take it down anytime? Is it a push or should we assume the bet will stay on the table until resolved?
Personally, I prefer to define the house edge in craps on a 'per bet resolved' basis. However, for those who disagree, I present this page, which defines the house edge all three ways.
Multi-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which may take multiple rolls to resolve. The house edge is shown three ways: per bet made, per bet resolved, and per roll.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Expected Rolls | House Edge Per Bet Made | House Edge Per Bet Resolved | House Edge Per Roll |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | 1 to 1 | 3.38 | 1.41% | 1.41% | 0.42% |
| Don't Pass | 1 to 1 | 3.47 | 1.36% | 1.40% | 0.40% |
| Taking Odds 6 and 8 | 6 to 5 | 3.27 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 5 and 9 | 3 to 2 | 3.60 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 4 and 10 | 2 to 1 | 4.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 6 and 8 | 5 to 6 | 3.27 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 5 and 9 | 2 to 3 | 3.60 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 4 and 10 | 1 to 2 | 4.00 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Place 6 and 8 | 7 to 6 | 3.27 | 0.46% | 1.52% | 0.46% |
| Place 5 and 9 | 7 to 5 | 3.60 | 1.11% | 4.00% | 1.11% |
| Place 4 and 10 | 9 to 5 | 4.00 | 1.67% | 6.67% | 1.67% |
| Big 6 and 8 | 1 to 1 | 3.27 | 2.78% | 9.09% | 2.78% |
| Don't Place 6 and 8 | 4 to 5 | 3.27 | 0.56% | 1.82% | 0.56% |
| Don't Place 5 and 9 | 5 to 8 | 3.60 | 0.69% | 2.50% | 0.69% |
| Don't Place 4 and 10 | 5 to 11 | 4.00 | 0.76% | 3.03% | 0.76% |
| Buy 6 and 8 * | 23 to 21 | 3.27 | 1.46% | 4.76% | 1.46% |
| Buy 5 and 9 * | 29 to 21 | 3.60 | 1.32% | 4.76% | 1.32% |
| Buy 4 and 10 * | 39 to 21 | 4.00 | 1.19% | 4.76% | 1.19% |
| Buy 6 and 8 ** | 23 to 20 | 3.27 | 0.69% | 2.27% | 0.69% |
| Buy 5 and 9 ** | 29 to 20 | 3.60 | 0.56% | 2.00% | 0.56% |
| Buy 4 and 10 ** | 39 to 20 | 4.00 | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.42% |
| Lay 6 and 8 * | 19 to 25 | 3.27 | 1.22% | 4.00% | 1.22% |
| Lay 5 and 9 * | 19 to 31 | 3.60 | 0.90% | 3.23% | 0.90% |
| Lay 4 and 10 * | 19 to 41 | 4.00 | 0.61% | 2.44% | 0.61% |
| Lay 6 and 8 ** | 19 to 24 | 3.27 | 0.69% | 2.27% | 0.69% |
| Lay 5 and 9 ** | 19 to 30 | 3.60 | 0.56% | 2.00% | 0.56% |
| Lay 4 and 10 ** | 19 to 40 | 4.00 | 0.42% | 1.67% | 0.42% |
| Hard 6 and 8 (US) | 9 to 1 | 3.27 | 2.78% | 9.09% | 2.78% |
| Hard 6 and 8 (AU) | 19 to 2 | 3.60 | 1.39% | 4.55% | 1.26% |
| Hard 4 and 10 (US) | 7 to 1 | 4.00 | 2.78% | 11.11% | 2.78% |
| Hard 4 and 10 (AU) | 15 to 2 | 4.00 | 1.39% | 5.56% | 1.39% |
Footnotes:
* Commission always paid
** Commission on win only
AU Australia rules
US United States rules
House Edge Craps Field Betting
Let me add two more things, based on frequent reader comments:
House Edge Craps Field Bets
- Some of these bets may not exist anywhere on earth. For example, I've never seen a casino with buy bets on a 5, 6, 8, and 9 where the commission was payable on a win only. Nevertheless, I don't know the rules of every craps table on earth. I also know that if I omit such bets, somebody will write in and take me to task for the omission.
- The table above assumes wins are calculated exactly. In other words, no rounding up or down. Let me make it perfectly clear that you can lower the house edge if the dealers will round a win up or a commission down. A common one is a 5% commission on a $25 bet is $1.25. If the casino rounds that down to $1, then that cuts the commission to 4%. Finding other situations is an exercise left up to the reader.
Single-Roll Bets
The following table shows the house edge of all the bets in craps which are always resolved in a single roll, except the field. Thus, there can be only one way to define the house edge.
Craps House Edge
| Bet | Pays | Probability Win | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 33 | 2.78% | 5.56% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 32 | 2.78% | 8.33% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 31 | 2.78% | 11.11% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 30 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| 2, 12, and all 'hard' hop bets | 29 | 2.78% | 16.67% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 16 | 5.56% | 5.56% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 15 | 5.56% | 11.11% |
| 3, 11, and all 'easy' hop bets | 14 | 5.56% | 16.67% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7 | 11.11% | 11.11% |
| Any craps (2, 3, or 12) | 7.5 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Any seven (US) | 4 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
| Any seven (AU) | 4.5 | 16.67% | 8.33% |
Field
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 5.56%.
- If the field bet pays 2 to 1 on the 2 and 3 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on the 2 and 2 to 1 on the 12, then the house edge is 2.78%.
- If the field bet pays 3 to 1 on both the 2 and 12, then the house edge is 0.00%.
Internal Links
- How the house edge for each bet is derived, in brief.
- The house edge of all the major bets on both a per-bet made and per-roll basis
- Dice Control Experiments. The results of two experiments on skillful dice throwing.
- Dice Control Advantage. The player advantage, assuming he can influence the dice.
- Craps variants. Alternative rules and bets such as the Fire Bet, Crapless Craps, and Card Craps.
- California craps. How craps is played in California using playing cards.
- Play Craps. Craps game using cards at the Viejas casino in San Diego.
- Number of Rolls Table. Probability of a shooter lasting 1 to 200 rolls before a seven-out.
- Ask the Wizard. See craps questions I've answered about:
- Simple Craps game. My simple Java craps game.
Written by: Michael Shackleford