Most casino welcome bonuses are built around slots. That math matters when you play craps. Come bets — despite carrying a house edge of just 1.41% — are frequently excluded entirely from wagering requirements, or credited at a reduced contribution rate of roughly 10–20%. Before you claim any bonus, check the terms carefully. A large playthrough requirement fulfilled at 10% contribution is functionally much harder to clear than one fulfilled at 100%.
Why are come bets restricted in bonus terms?
Casinos set wagering requirements to protect expected revenue. Low-edge bets like the come bet — especially when backed with free odds, which carry zero house edge — erode that expected revenue quickly. The odds bet behind a come point pays 2:1 on a 4 or 10, 3:2 on a 5 or 9, and 6:5 on a 6 or 8, all at true mathematical odds. A player combining a flat come bet with maximum odds is operating at a combined effective house edge well below 1%. Operators respond by limiting or excluding those wagers in bonus play. State-licensed casinos in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Delaware each set their own promotional rules; always read the terms for your specific state and operator. Legality varies — see Which US States Allow Real-Money Online Craps in 2026? before signing up anywhere.
What should you check before claiming a craps bonus?
Look for four things in the terms: the contribution percentage for table games, any explicit craps exclusion, whether odds bets are mentioned separately, and the total playthrough multiplier. A bonus that excludes come bets entirely is not worth chasing if craps is your primary game. If the contribution rate is listed generically as "table games: 10%," assume come bets fall into that bucket. No bonus guarantees a profit — the math still favors the house on the flat bet, just at 1.41%.
Does the come bet's low house edge make it better or worse for bonus clearing?
It depends entirely on the contribution rate. At 100% contribution, a low house-edge bet is ideal — you risk less of your bonus per dollar wagered. At 10% contribution, each dollar of come-bet action clears only ten cents toward the requirement, dragging out play and increasing total exposure. For a deeper look at which bets sit at the bottom of the house-edge ladder, see The Best Low House-Edge Bets at a Craps Table — Ranked. And if you want to understand how the come bet fits into a broader session structure, Come Bet vs Pass Line — Same Edge, Different Timing walks through the mechanics side by side.
Is there a smarter approach when a bonus allows craps at partial contribution?
Some players split action: meet a portion of the wagering requirement on a permitted game, then shift to craps for the remainder if terms allow. That only works if the operator permits switching games mid-playthrough — again, read the terms. Strategy context matters too; our full Come Bet Strategy: Using Odds to Cut the House Edge guide covers how to structure a session around the come bet regardless of whether a bonus is in play.
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