What is the approximate house edge for craps on pass/come bets with double odds?

What is the approximate house edge for craps on pass/come bets with double odds?

• A. 1.4% And Less Than 1% (Pass/Come With Double Odds)
• B. 2.5%
• C. 3.5%
• D. 4.0%

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the Pass Line and Come bets have a built‑in house edge, but adding odds changes the math. The base bet on a Pass Line or Come carries about a 1.414% house edge. The odds portion, however, is paid at true odds, so it has essentially no house edge of its own. When you add odds, you’re increasing the total amount wagered without increasing the casino’s edge on that extra amount. If you place double odds, the total wager is the base amount plus twice that base amount, i.e., three times the base bet. The overall house edge, relative to the total amount staked, becomes the base edge divided by that total multiplier: roughly 1.414% / 3 ≈ 0.47%. So you still have the same base risk, but it’s spread over a larger total bet, bringing the edge below 1%. That’s why the option states the house edge starts around 1.4% and drops to under 1% when you take double odds.

The key idea is that the Pass Line and Come bets have a built‑in house edge, but adding odds changes the math. The base bet on a Pass Line or Come carries about a 1.414% house edge. The odds portion, however, is paid at true odds, so it has essentially no house edge of its own. When you add odds, you’re increasing the total amount wagered without increasing the casino’s edge on that extra amount.

If you place double odds, the total wager is the base amount plus twice that base amount, i.e., three times the base bet. The overall house edge, relative to the total amount staked, becomes the base edge divided by that total multiplier: roughly 1.414% / 3 ≈ 0.47%. So you still have the same base risk, but it’s spread over a larger total bet, bringing the edge below 1%.

That’s why the option states the house edge starts around 1.4% and drops to under 1% when you take double odds.