Calculate your expected loss at the craps table. Enter your bet size, odds multiple, and session length to see your mathematical expectation and how odds affect your bottom line.
Expected Loss
$16
$4/hour
Total Wagered
$1,160
House Edge
1.41%
Typical: 100-120
Best Case
$91 win
Expected
-$16
Worst Case
-$124
95% of sessions will fall within this range. Standard deviation: $54
| Odds | Total Bet | Edge | Total Wagered | Expected Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0x | $10 | 1.410% | $1,160 | $16 |
| 1x | $20 | 0.705% | $2,320 | $16 |
| 2x | $30 | 0.470% | $3,480 | $16 |
| 3x | $40 | 0.352% | $4,640 | $16 |
| 5x | $60 | 0.235% | $6,960 | $16 |
| 10x | $110 | 0.128% | $12,760 | $16 |
* All calculations based on 4 hours at 100 rolls/hour
A Pass Line player betting $10 at 100 rolls/hour for 4 hours will wager $4000 total. With 1.41% house edge, expected loss is $56.4. Adding 3x odds reduces the edge to 0.47%, cutting expected loss to $75.2 on $16000 total wagered.
Expected loss is the mathematical average of what you'll lose over time. It's calculated by multiplying your total action (all bets placed) by the house edge. While any individual session can vary wildly, over many sessions your results will approach this expected value.
Taking odds seems counterintuitive - you're betting more money. But odds bets have 0% house edge, so they dilute the overall edge of your total action. The more odds you take, the closer your combined edge approaches zero.
Expected Loss = Total Wagered × House Edge. If you bet $25 per roll for 100 rolls ($2,500 total) on Pass Line (1.41% edge), expected loss = $2,500 × 1.41% = $35.25. Actual results vary, but this is the mathematical average.
A typical craps table averages 100-120 rolls per hour, depending on the number of players and betting activity. During busy periods, it may slow to 60-80 rolls. For conservative session planning, use 100 rolls/hour.
Taking odds changes the math. With $10 Pass Line only: $10 × 1.41% = $0.14 per resolution. With $10 Pass + $30 odds: $40 total × 0.47% = $0.19. You lose slightly more dollars but at a much lower rate.
Total wagered is the sum of all bets made. A $500 buy-in recycled through wins might generate $2,000+ in total wagers. Casinos calculate comps and expected loss on total action, not your initial buy-in.
Rule of thumb: 30-50 bet units for a session. At $10 Pass + $30 odds ($40 total), bring $1,200-2,000. This provides reasonable protection against normal variance while still enjoying the game.
Quick-start with common scenarios
Expected Loss
$16
$4/hour
Total Wagered
$1,160
House Edge
1.41%