Craps 3-4-5x Odds Explained, with Payouts
By Halfonred Editorial · · 2 min read
Figures checked against the rules of the live table.
“3-4-5x odds” is the most common odds limit at a craps table, and it is the one on the Halfonred table. It decides how much you can bet behind the pass line at true odds — the one bet in the casino with no house edge.
What 3-4-5x means
Once a point is set, you can add an odds bet behind your pass line. The maximum depends on the point: 3 times your line bet on 4 or 10, 4 times on 5 or 9, and 5 times on 6 or 8.
| Point | Max odds | Pays | Max odds win on a $10 line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3× ($30) | 2 to 1 | $60 |
| 5 or 9 | 4× ($40) | 3 to 2 | $60 |
| 6 or 8 | 5× ($50) | 6 to 5 | $60 |
The limits are set so a winning max odds bet always pays six times your line bet. Add the even-money line win and a $10 pass bet with full odds wins $70 whenever the point is made, whatever the point.
Why the house edge drops
The pass line alone costs 1.41%. The odds bet costs nothing. When you take full odds, most of the money you put on the table sits on the free bet, so the edge across everything you wager falls to about 0.37%. On average, you put just under $38 on the table per round for every $10 of line bet.
A worked round
- Bet $10 on the pass line. The come-out roll is 5, so 5 is the point.
- Add $40 in odds behind the line, the 4× maximum for a 5.
- If a 5 rolls before a 7: the line pays $10 and the odds pay $60, so you win $70.
- If a 7 rolls first: you lose the $10 line bet and the $40 odds bet.
Small line, big odds
If you are comfortable risking up to $60 a round, a $10 line with full odds is much cheaper than a flat $60 on the pass line, because only $10 of it carries the 1.41% edge. Shrink the line and push money behind it; the swings get bigger, but the cost goes down.
Don't pass and laying odds
Don't pass players can lay odds against the point. Because the 7 is more likely than the point, you risk more to win less — for example laying $60 to win $30 against a 4. The house edge on the combination is even lower than the pass side. See the best bets in craps for the full ranking.