The Field Bet in Craps: Payouts, Odds and the Real Edge

The field is a one-roll craps bet on a group of totals, usually 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. If the next roll lands on any of them, the bet wins; a 5, 6, 7 or 8 loses it. Seven winning totals against four losing ones sounds favourable, but those four are the most common results two dice can produce. Counted properly, the field wins 16 of every 36 rolls and loses 20, and the bonus payouts on 2 and 12 close only part of that gap.

Where it sits and how it pays

The field is a wide, clearly labelled strip on the player side of the layout, between the come box and the pass line. It can be placed before any roll, including the come-out, and it is settled at once. Typical payouts are:

• 3, 4, 9, 10, 11: even money (1 to 1)
• 2: 2 to 1
• 12: 2 to 1 or 3 to 1, depending on the table

The printed felt shows which version is in force, usually inside small circles next to the 2 and 12. How the field relates to the rest of the felt is shown in the guide to the craps table layout.

Counting all 36 rolls

Winning ways: 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 16. Losing ways: 4 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 20. The individual counts come from the two-dice probability chart.

Working out the edge

Picture betting one unit on each of the 36 possible outcomes exactly once.

• The 14 even-money wins bring in +14 units.
• The 2 pays +2.
• The 12 pays +2 at a 2-to-1 table, or +3 at a 3-to-1 table.
• The 20 losses cost −20.

The net result is −2 units for every 36 staked at the 2-to-1 table, an edge of about 5.56 percent. At the 3-to-1 table it is −1 unit in 36, about 2.78 percent. That single extra unit on the 12 halves the margin, so the payout circles are worth a glance before any chips go down.

How the field compares

The edge per bet is only part of the picture. Because the field settles on every roll, a player who keeps betting it makes far more wagers per hour than someone on the pass line, and the cost builds faster. The craps odds bet explained shows the opposite end of the table.

Why the field still appeals

• Instant results. No waiting for a point to repeat or a 7 to show.
• Easy to place. At most tables players can set chips in the field themselves.
• Lots of numbers. Seven winning totals feel like wide coverage, even though the arithmetic disagrees.

Common misreadings

"The field covers more numbers, so it must be the better bet."

Coverage counts totals, not outcomes. The four losing totals hold 20 of the 36 outcomes between them.

"After several 7s in a row, the field is due."

Each roll is independent. The 16-in-36 chance applies to every throw, whatever came before it.

Does the field work on the come-out roll?

Yes. Unlike place bets, which many tables treat as off during the come-out unless you say otherwise, the field is a single-roll wager that is always in action on the very next throw.

Is the field a sensible first bet for a newcomer?

It is simple to understand, which is its main merit. A newcomer who wants the lowest margin is usually better served by the pass line, perhaps with odds, and can watch a few field rolls before deciding whether its pace suits them.

Can the field be paired with place bets to cover everything?

Some players combine the field with place bets on 5, 6 and 8 so that most totals pay something. Every piece still carries its own margin, and a 7 sweeps the lot away, so the combination reshapes the swings without removing the edge.

Like any casino wager, the field is for adults playing with money already put aside for fun, and the rules on gambling where you live are worth checking before you play in person or online. For the broader idea behind every percentage on this page, see the explainer on the house edge.