Question on the house edge of craps don’t bets 2r6u32

17 May 2025

By Jerry Stickman

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From Wanda.

Hello Mr. Stickman.

I have been reading your columns for quite a while and I enjoy them very much.

I used to only play slots when I was at casinos. I thought other games were too hard to understand. Video poker requires knowledge about probability of hands occurring when some cards are in the dealt hand. Too much for me.

Table games are even worse. Slot machines and video poker pit me against the machine. I can play however I want with no concern for other people’s feelings. I don’t have to worry about doing something wrong and having other players yell at me.

Besides proper table decorum, there is more I need to know for table games. I have to know the proper strategy for playing blackjack, and the strategy changes based on table rules. That is a lot to learn. For craps and roulette, I need to learn the proper method for placing bets.

That being said, I have recently taken up craps. There is a lot to learn about placing bets and other table rules, but players always seem to have a lot of fun at the craps tables and I wanted to be a part of that. I have learned a few things like placing the lowest house edge bets.

My question is this – the listing of the house edge for all craps bets is the same no matter who posts them, all of them except the don’t . Some lists show the house edge a 1.40 percent and others show it as 1.36 percent. Which one is correct and which one is wrong? I know it does not make that much difference, but I like to understand exactly what is going on.

Thank you in advance for your response.

Wanda from Connecticut

Hi Wanda,

Thank you for your comment about my articles. It is good to know.

I also am very impressed that you are concerned about properly playing whatever games you play.

You are correct in stating that the house edges for almost all the various possible bets on a craps table are always the same. The house edge for most craps bets (such as place, hop, field, and hardway bets) are based on the odds of the number occurring before the appearance of the dreaded seven.

, don’t , come, and don’t come bets are different. That is because these bets can win or lose in different ways. Before a point number is established, a line bet wins on any 7 or 11 and immediately loses on a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number rolled becomes the point, each of those with different odds of winning. The player has the edge until a point is established, then the edge switches solidly to the house.

Don’t and don’t come lose on a 7 or 11. In most casinos, they win on a 2 or 3. The 12 is a push – the bet is not resolved. Any other number becomes the point. The don’t player has the edge after the point is made.

The reason there are different values is one edge (1.36 percent) includes the pushes, where the other (1.40 percent) does not. Different players have different ideas on whether to include the pushes, which are really unresolved bets. You can decide for yourself.

I hope this clears this up for you, Wanda.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and tiny.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines and 888casino.com. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can Jerry “Stickman” at [email protected]