Master Pass Line bets and free Odds in craps. Learn how true odds payouts and 3x-4x-5x or 100x limits drastically cut the house edge.
Last updated:If you play craps anywhere in the United States, your game probably starts on the Pass Line. It is simple, the house edge is low, and it unlocks the single fairest bet in any casino: Pass Line Odds – one of several bets broken down across our full craps section.
Pair the base bet with maximum Odds behind it, and you shrink the house advantage down to almost nothing.
Key Takeaways: Pass Line and Free Odds
- Pass Line Basics: The foundation of craps carries a low 1.41% house edge, winning instantly on 7 or 11, losing on 2, 3, or 12, and locking in as a contract bet once a Point is established.
- Pure Zero House Edge: Taking Pass Line Odds pays True mathematical Odds (2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8) with an absolute 0.00% casino advantage.
- Standard 3x-4x-5x Limits: Tables cap Odds wagers at 3x, 4x, or 5x your flat bet depending on the Point number, standardizing payouts across all targets.
- Drastic Edge Reduction: Backing your line bet with maximum Odds—especially on high-limit tables offering up to 100x—dilutes the overall house edge to below 0.2%.
How the Base Pass Line Bet Operates
You drop your chips on the outer rail marked “Pass Line” during the Comeout Roll while the puck still reads OFF.
The baseline rules take seconds to learn:
- Roll a 7 or 11 on the Comeout, and you win.
- Roll a 2, 3, or 12, and you lose.
- Hit a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, and that number becomes the Point. From there, your chips stay right where they are until the shooter rolls that Point again to win, or rolls a 7 to lose.
A flat Pass Line bet pays even money (1:1) and gives the casino a mild 1.41% advantage.
Keep one detail in mind: once that Point is set, the bet locks in as a contract bet. You cannot pull your money back or lower the amount until the dice decide the outcome.
Pass Line Odds: The Real Zero-Edge Bet
Once the puck flips to ON, the casino lets you slide extra chips directly behind your original bet. This is called Taking Odds.
Here is why players care so much about this move: the casino holds an absolute 0.00% house edge on it. They pay you True Odds, matching the exact math of rolling your number against a 7:
- Point 4 or 10: Pays 2:1 (3 combinations to roll a 4 or 10 versus 6 ways to hit a 7).
- Point 5 or 9: Pays 3:2 (4 combinations versus 6 ways to hit a 7).
- Point 6 or 8: Pays 6:5 (5 combinations versus 6 ways to hit a 7).
How Odds Limits Work: 3x-4x-5x and Vegas High Limits
Casinos cannot let you bet infinite money at zero house edge, so they cap the amount you can put behind the line.
The standard setup across most US online apps and brick-and-mortar tables is the 3x-4x-5x rule:
- Up to 3x your Pass Line bet on 4 and 10.
- Up to 4x your Pass Line bet on 5 and 9.
- Up to 5x your Pass Line bet on 6 and 8.
Casinos set it up this way so that maxing your Odds pays out the exact same profit across every Point number on a standard unit.
Head to select spots in Las Vegas, though, and you will find tables pushing those limits to 10x, 20x, or even 100x Odds. Loading up on those giant limits waters down the casino’s grip on your total cash in action, dragging your combined house edge down below 0.2%.
Author:
Lucas Portela
Owner, BoldGambler • Avanhandava/SP
Oddsmaker, affiliate and content creator in the iGaming industry.