Most craps players know to take odds on the pass line — those chips go behind the line without a word. Come bet odds work differently. Unlike pass line odds, come bet odds must be verbally requested from the dealer each time. Players who forget to ask are effectively playing at a higher house edge than necessary. That single habit — speaking up every roll — is what separates a sharp come bettor from one leaving money on the table.
Why do come bet odds require a verbal request?
When your come bet travels to a box number, the dealer moves it there on your behalf. You cannot reach across the layout to place odds yourself. You have to tell the dealer where you want the chips to go. The dealer will not prompt you. Say something like "Odds on my six, please" or "Can I get odds on the ten?" — clear, direct, polite. The dealer places the odds on top of or alongside your come bet in the box. If the next shooter throws before you speak, the opportunity for that roll is gone and you waited at a full 1.41% house edge on the flat bet alone.
What exactly do come bet odds pay?
Free odds behind a come bet pay at true odds with zero house edge — no casino mathematical advantage applies to the odds portion of the wager. The payout depends on the come point:
| Come Point | Odds Payout |
|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 |
Those payouts reflect the true mathematical probability of rolling each number before a 7. No house margin is built in. That is why taking maximum allowable odds is the correct play whenever your bankroll permits. The flat come bet carries a 1.41% house edge; the odds portion carries none. Together, the combined effective edge on your total wager falls well below 1.41%.
What should I actually say to the dealer?
Keep it simple. Wait until the previous roll has settled and chips have been paid or collected. Make eye contact with the base dealer covering your side of the table. Then say:
- "Odds on my eight, please."
- "Can I take odds on the five?"
- "Odds behind the nine."
Place your odds chips on the layout in front of you — do not toss them across the table. The dealer picks them up and positions them correctly. Confirm visually that the amount is right before the next roll. If the payout looks off after a win, you can ask the dealer to verify the math. Dealers handle this constantly and expect the question.
What happens to my odds when a 7 is rolled?
A 7 during the point phase — a seven-out — ends the shooter's turn. Your flat come bet and the odds behind it both lose. That outcome stings more when the odds amount is large, but over time the zero-edge odds portion never costs you in expected value. Skipping odds to "protect" yourself from a bigger loss is a misconception; the odds bet has no long-run cost built into it.
How does this fit into broader come bet strategy?
Verbally requesting odds every roll is the foundational discipline behind strategies like the Three Point Molly: Cover Three Numbers at the Lowest Edge, which relies on fully-odds-backed come bets to keep the combined house edge as low as possible across three active numbers. For a full breakdown of how odds interact with your come bets from entry to resolution, see our Come Bet Strategy: Using Odds to Cut the House Edge. If you want to see how the come bet stacks up across the entire layout, our ranked guide to The Best Low House-Edge Bets at a Craps Table — Ranked puts it in context. And if you are still weighing whether to use come bets or simply stay on the pass line, Come Bet vs Pass Line — Same Edge, Different Timing covers the trade-offs directly.
Real-money online craps with come bet support is legally available in New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and Connecticut through state-licensed operators. Availability varies by state; check your local regulations before depositing. No strategy guarantees a winning session.
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