Every proposition, computed
Each of these resolves on the next roll. The true odds column is what a fair payout would be; the payout column is what you actually get.
| Bet | Payout | True odds | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 5:1 | 16.67% |
| Any craps (2,3,12) | 7:1 | 8:1 | 11.11% |
| 2 (snake eyes) | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% |
| 12 (boxcars) | 30:1 | 35:1 | 13.89% |
| 3 (ace deuce) | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% |
| 11 (yo) | 15:1 | 17:1 | 11.11% |
Any 7 is the worst bet on the table
Six of 36 rolls make a 7, so the true odds are exactly 5:1. The house pays 4:1. That single unit of shortfall on a one-in-six shot produces a house edge of 1/6, or 16.67% — around twelve times the cost of the Pass Line.
Why the payouts sound generous
30:1 on the 12 reads like a lottery ticket, and that is the design. The 12 arrives once in 36 rolls, so a fair payout would be 35:1. Paying 30:1 removes five units from every 36, which is 13.89%.
The pattern repeats across the centre: the longer the odds, the larger the shortfall the house can hide inside a number that still looks large.
Horn and world bets
A horn splits your stake across 2, 3, 11 and 12; a world adds any 7. Neither is a distinct wager mathematically — each is a bundle of the propositions above, and its edge is the weighted average of its components. Bundling does not improve anything; it only makes the cost harder to see.
The verdict
There is no proposition bet on a craps table that is competitive with the line bets. The cheapest, any craps at 11.11%, is still eight times the Pass Line. Play them for fun in small amounts or not at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the worst bet in craps?
- Any 7, at 16.67%. True odds are 5:1 and the house pays 4:1.
- Why do proposition bets pay so much?
- Because they hit so rarely. A 30:1 payout on the 12 sounds large but the true odds are 35:1, which is where the 13.89% edge lives.
- Is a horn bet better than betting the numbers individually?
- No. A horn is simply four proposition bets in one, and its edge is the weighted average of its parts. Bundling changes nothing but the visibility.
- Do props resolve on every roll?
- Yes, all of the bets on this page are one-roll wagers. They win or lose immediately.
Every figure on this page is computed from the 36 outcomes of two dice using exact rational arithmetic, then checked against published reference values before publication. Where a number depends on a house rule, the rule is named. Payouts vary between casinos, so read the felt before you bet.