What Does '3-4-5× Odds' Mean at Craps? (And Why You Want It)
Last reviewed: August 2026
The placard says “3-4-5× Odds” and most new players scroll right past it. It’s actually the most important sign on the table, it tells you how much of the only zero-edge bet in the casino you’re allowed to buy.
The system, decoded
After a point is established, you can back your pass bet with free odds; paid at true odds, zero house edge. 3-4-5× sets the maximum by point:
| Point | Max odds | True payout | You win (per $10 pass + max odds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3× | 2:1 | $10 + $60 = $70 |
| 5 or 9 | 4× | 3:2 | $10 + $60 = $70 |
| 6 or 8 | 5× | 6:5 | $10 + $60 = $70 |
That’s the elegant trick of 3-4-5×: every winning point pays exactly the same total, six times your pass bet, so dealers pay every winner identically and you always know your exposure and your payoff. It’s a rounding convenience that happens to give players generous room.
What it does to your cost
The pass line alone carries a 1.41% edge. Adding zero-edge odds doesn’t change your expected loss per hand, but it massively grows the fair-odds share of your total action:
| Play | Combined house edge |
|---|---|
| Pass only | 1.41% |
| Pass + 2× odds | 0.61% |
| Pass + full 3-4-5× odds | 0.37% |
| Pass + 10× odds (where offered) | 0.18% |
At full 3-4-5× odds you’re playing one of the two or three cheapest games in any casino, beaten only by bigger odds multiples and expert blackjack.
The practical notes
- Odds are optional and removable; you can take them down anytime (never do this; they’re your best money).
- Size your session for it: playing $10 pass with full odds means $40 to $60 more per point. The right move is a smaller pass bet with maximum odds behind it, not the reverse.
See the 1.41% → 0.37% drop happen live; the simulator’s odds feature charts it as you play.