Craps field bet explained

How the craps field bet works

The field is the long, curved box on a craps layout with seven numbers printed across it. Put a chip there and the very next roll decides it. If the dice total 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11, you win even money. A 2 or 12 pays a bonus, usually 2 to 1 or 3 to 1. A 5, 6, 7 or 8 loses. There are no points and no waiting.

That simplicity makes it popular with newcomers. It also hides a trap: the box shows seven winning numbers against only four losers, which looks generous. The four losing totals, though, are the four most common rolls on two dice. Counting combinations shows the real picture, and the Wizard of Odds craps house edge table (opens in a new tab) confirms the edges below.

Field bet odds: counting the 36 combinations

Two dice give 36 equally likely results. Here is how they split between the field's winners and losers.

Add them up: 16 winning combinations and 20 losing ones. So the field loses 5 times for every 4 wins, a 55.6% chance of losing on any roll. The bonus on 2 and 12 exists to make up some of that gap. Our craps dice odds page breaks down every total in the same way.

Field bet payout tables and their house edge

Field paytables vary by casino and by game, and the difference is large. Here are the three you are likely to meet, with the arithmetic for a £1 stake over 36 rolls covering every combination once.

The 0% version is very rare, and you shouldn't expect to find it. Never assume which version a game uses: open the game's paytable or help screen and read what 2 and 12 pay. A single word on that screen moves the cost by half.

Unlike multi-roll bets, the field settles on every roll, so its house edge is the same whether you measure it per bet made, per bet resolved or per roll.

What the field bet really costs over a session

Here is where the field differs most from line bets. A pass line bet takes about 3.4 rolls on average to settle (the arithmetic is 557 rolls for every 165 decisions). The field settles every single roll. So at the same stake, you put money in action three to four times as often.

Even on the better field paytable, 100 rolls cost more than six times what the pass line costs. Use our cost per hour guide, or the house edge calculator, with your own roll rate to see the effect on your budget. These are averages, and short sessions can land a long way either side.

How to place a field bet online

1. Open the game's paytable and check what 2 and 12 pay.
2. Choose your chip; the field accepts bets before any roll, come-out or not.
3. Click the FIELD area on the layout.
4. Watch one roll: 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 pays even money, 2 or 12 pays the bonus, 5 to 8 loses.
5. Decide again before the next roll; a winning field bet may stay in place unless you remove it, so check the layout.

Field bet strategy myths

Because it is fast and easy, the field attracts plenty of folklore. None of it changes the numbers above.

• Myth: seven numbers against four means the field is a good bet. The four losers cover 20 combinations.
• Myth: after several 7s, the field is 'due'. Each roll is independent, and a 7 is always 6 in 36. See the gambler's fallacy.
• Myth: doubling after each field loss recovers your money. A Martingale system doesn't touch the edge and can hit the table limit after a short losing run.
• Myth: combining the field with place bets on 5, 6 and 8 covers every total but 7. It does, but each bet keeps its own edge, so the combined cost is the sum of their costs.

Craps field bet vs other one-roll and line bets

Among one-roll bets, the field is far cheaper than the craps proposition bets in the middle of the table. Against line bets with odds, it is expensive. Our craps house edge page puts every bet in one list.

Playing the field bet at UK online casinos

RNG craps uses software tested to produce random rolls, while live craps uses physical dice. Field paytables differ between games and studios. Evolution lists Craps among its First Person titles (opens in a new tab), and our live craps UK page compares formats; in every case, check the help screen for the 2 and 12 payouts.

Under UK rules, online casino games can't run on autoplay, and table games must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle. That minimum matters for a fast one-roll bet like the field, since it limits how many rolls you can play in a minute. Craps isn't covered by the slot stake limits. See casino game speed rules UK for the detail.

Where to play craps and the field bet

Our partners' welcome offers are slot-based rather than craps offers, and table and live games are often excluded from bonuses or count for less. Check each casino's game lobby for craps and read the full terms. 18+ and terms apply.

• Casumo: 50% up to £100 on a first deposit of at least £20 (opt in); wager the bonus 10x within 7 days, £5 maximum bet while active, game restrictions apply.
• 10bet: 100% up to £25 when chosen at sign-up with a first deposit inside 7 days; wager 10x on slots within 3 days, £1,000 maximum bonus winnings, no Skrill or Neteller deposits.
• Coral: bet £10 on slots to get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games; 48 hours to accept, 7 days to use, no wagering on winnings from the spins.

Fast bets can eat a budget quickly, so set a deposit limit and a time reminder. GamCare's support services (opens in a new tab) and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 are free and confidential.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.