How To Win At Craps? - 888 Casino

Let's be upfront with this: every craps bet except the free odds/lay odds has a house edge, and there's nothing most players can do to reverse the math. What you can do is select the best craps bets, cut the house edge to the bone, win more often and have more frequent big wins.

That's what we'll cover in this article: the best ways to win at craps, from dice control to odds bets to managing a smaller bankroll.

Key Takeaways for Winning at Craps

• Keep pass and come bets at table minimum
• Fill out the rest of your wager with odds bets (paid at true odds)
• Dice control requires extensive practice and doesn't work online
• Place 6 and 8 offer low house edges (1.52%) for budget players

How to Win at Craps: Does Dice Control Really Work?

A small number of dice controllers may be able to decrease the frequency of sevens and increase the frequency of point numbers enough to change the odds in their favor. However, dice control is a physical skill that demands hours of practice, and even devoted controlled shooters will tell you the skill sometimes deserts them with fatigue or changing conditions.

In the online casino, dice are rolled by a random number generator, so there's no opportunity for dice control. For most players, the best approach is using pass and come bets with odds to minimize the house edge.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like blackjack tips.

Best Craps Strategies: How Odds Bets Reduce the House Edge

The key is to keep your initial wagers to table minimum, then fill out the rest of your intended bet with odds. Here's why this matters:

If your intended total bet is $25 and you bet $25 on pass with no odds, your average loss is 1.41% of $25, or 35 cents. If instead you bet $5 on pass and add $20 in odds, your average loss is 1.41% of $5, just 7 cents. The majority of your bet is then paid at true odds, so when the shooter makes their point, you win more money.

Pass/Come Plus Odds: House Edge by Odds Level

In a winning session, as your bankroll builds, if you want to raise your bets, do it by increasing your odds wager while keeping pass and come bets at table minimum. That gives you a chance to boost winnings while exposing the smallest part of your bets to the house edge.

Most craps players like to have several numbers working at once. Follow your pass bet with come bets, then back them with the free odds you can afford. The same applies to don't pass and don't come: keep original bets to table minimum, then lay the odds.

Don't Pass/Don't Come Plus Odds: House Edge

Note that at all levels, the house edge is slightly lower on the don't side. Still, the majority of players choose to bet with the shooter for win-together fun.

Craps Tips for Small Bankrolls

The best craps strategy for winning at craps can be expensive. If you bet $5 each on pass plus two come bets, and add $15 on each in 3x odds, you have $60 riding on one roll. A low house edge doesn't mean you can't lose big and fast. Here are options for smaller bankrolls:

Bet pass plus odds only. Skip the come bets and just bet pass plus odds. This keeps the house edge at a minimum, though you'll have only one number working.

Pass and come without odds. Instead of sub-1% edges with odds, you're facing 1.41% on pass/come or 1.36% on don't pass/don't come. Either way, edges are lower than all non-odds bets at the table.

Place 6 and 8. The house edge of 1.52% is only slightly higher than pass and come, and you get the most frequently rolled numbers other than 7.

Pass plus place 6 and 8. If the point is 6, place 8. If it's 8, place 6. Otherwise, bet both. The house edge is 1.41% on part of your bet and 1.52% on the rest, with frequent 6 and 8 rolls.

Step-by-Step: How to Manage Your Craps Bankroll

1. Bet table minimum on the pass line.
2. Wait for the point to be set.
3. Add maximum odds you can afford behind your pass bet.
4. If adding come bets, keep them at table minimum and back with odds.
5. Avoid high-edge bets like hardways, proposition bets, and the Big 6/8

How to Win at Craps FAQ

What is the best bet in craps?

The pass line or don't pass with maximum odds offers the lowest house edge. With 3x odds, you're looking at just 0.5% on pass or 0.3% on don't pass. These are among the best odds in any casino game.

Does dice control really work?

Some skilled players claim success, but it requires extensive practice and doesn't work online, where random number generators determine outcomes. Most players are better served focusing on optimal bet selection.

How do odds bets reduce the house edge?

Odds bets are paid at true odds with zero house edge. By keeping your pass/come bet at minimum and putting most of your wager into odds, you reduce the overall percentage the house takes from your total bet.

What's the difference between pass and don't pass?

Pass bets win when the shooter makes a point; don't pass wins when they seven out. Don't pass has a slightly lower house edge (1.36% vs 1.41%), but most players prefer pass for the social aspect of rooting with the shooter.

Updated Dec. 22, 2026, by Frederico Pereira, a professional and experienced casino player in the field.