The field bet house edge depends mainly on what the casino pays for 12. If both 2 and 12 pay double, the house edge is about 5.56%. If 2 pays double and 12 pays triple, the house edge improves to about 2.78%. Same bet, same layout, very different cost.
Quick Facts
- The field is a one-roll bet.
- It wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
- It loses on 5, 6, 7, or 8.
- There are 16 winning dice combinations and 20 losing combinations.
- The 12 payout is the key rule to check.
- A triple-12 field is half as costly as a double-12 field.
- The field feels busy because it covers many numbers, not because it is favored.
Plain Talk
The field bet is popular because it looks simple. Put chips in the field. The next roll decides everything. If the dice land on one of the field numbers, you win. If the dice land on 5, 6, 7, or 8, you lose.
The trap is visual coverage.
The field covers seven totals. The losing side covers only four totals. That looks good until you count dice combinations. In craps, totals are not equal. A 7 has six ways to appear. A 6 and 8 have five ways each. The losing side is heavy because it includes the most common totals on the dice.
That is why field math must be built from combinations, not from how many numbers are printed on the layout. The Wizard of Odds craps guide breaks craps bets down by probability and house edge, and the same combination logic is used in formal rule and payout analysis. Published table-game rules, such as the Massachusetts craps and mini-craps rules, also show how pay schedules define the actual value of a wager.
How It Works
The field resolves on the next roll only.
| Roll | Result | Common payout |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Win | Usually 2:1 |
| 3 | Win | 1:1 |
| 4 | Win | 1:1 |
| 5 | Lose | — |
| 6 | Lose | — |
| 7 | Lose | — |
| 8 | Lose | — |
| 9 | Win | 1:1 |
| 10 | Win | 1:1 |
| 11 | Win | 1:1 |
| 12 | Win | Usually 2:1 or 3:1 |
Now count combinations:
| Field group | Totals | Combinations |
|---|---|---|
| Even-money field winners | 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 14 |
| Double-payout winner | 2 | 1 |
| Double or triple-payout winner | 12 | 1 |
| Field losers | 5, 6, 7, 8 | 20 |
A field layout with triple on 12 is materially better than a field layout with double on 12. The print on the felt matters.
Craps Table Example
A player bets $10 on the field.
On a double-12 table:
| Roll | Player result |
|---|---|
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | Wins $10 |
| 2 or 12 | Wins $20 |
| 5, 6, 7, 8 | Loses $10 |
On a triple-12 table:
| Roll | Player result |
|---|---|
| 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | Wins $10 |
| 2 | Wins $20 |
| 12 | Wins $30 |
| 5, 6, 7, 8 | Loses $10 |
That extra $10 on boxcars does not sound like much. Over the full combination set, it changes the edge from about 5.56% to about 2.78%.
From the Casino Side:
Dealers like the field because it is self-service and fast. Players put chips directly on the field. Base dealers pay or collect after the roll. The stickman calls the result. The boxman watches for late bets, short pays, wrong placements, and players trying to slide money into the field after the dice are moving.
For the floor, the field is attractive because it adds action without slowing the game too much. It also creates the feeling of constant participation. A player can have a pass line bet working and still fire field bets every roll.
Surveillance cares about timing. Field bets are often made late because players react to table rhythm. On a crowded table, hands crossing the layout after the dice are out can create disputes.
Common Mistakes
- Judging the field by how many numbers it covers instead of dice combinations.
- Not checking whether 12 pays double or triple.
- Treating the field as a hedge against other bets.
- Pressing field wins because it “keeps hitting.”
- Forgetting that every field bet is a fresh one-roll decision.
- Thinking triple on 12 makes the field a strong bet.
- Confusing the field with place bets, which work differently.
Hard Truth
The field bet sells coverage. The math charges for the dice combinations hiding under that coverage.
FAQ
Is the field bet good in craps?
It is not one of the lowest-edge bets. A triple-12 field is playable for entertainment, but it still has a house edge.
What is the field bet house edge?
Commonly about 5.56% when both 2 and 12 pay double, or about 2.78% when 12 pays triple and 2 pays double.
Why does the 12 payout matter so much?
Because 12 has one dice combination. Paying one extra unit on that one combination improves the expected value by 1/36 of the wager.
Does the field win more often than it loses?
No. The field wins on 16 combinations and loses on 20 combinations.
Is the field better than Any Seven?
Yes by house edge, but that does not make it low-cost. Any Seven is much worse, commonly around 16.67% house edge.
Can the field hedge place bets?
It can offset some single-roll outcomes, but hedging does not remove the house edge. It usually increases total action.
Should beginners avoid the field?
Beginners should understand it first. If they play it, the triple-12 version is the less costly version.
Deeper Insight
The field bet is a strong example of why craps players must separate “number count” from “combination count.” Totals 2 and 12 look equal to totals 6 and 8 on the layout as printed words or boxes. The dice do not treat them equally.
Here is the full combination count:
| Total | Combinations |
|---|---|
| 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 2 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 6 |
| 8 | 5 |
| 9 | 4 |
| 10 | 3 |
| 11 | 2 |
| 12 | 1 |
The field wins on totals with 16 combinations. It loses on totals with 20 combinations. The special payouts on 2 and 12 are what bring the bet closer to fair, but they do not make it fair.
For comparison, the Wizard of Odds craps house-edge appendix discusses how craps edge can be measured on different bases. For one-roll bets like the field, the direct one-roll expected value is clean because the bet always resolves immediately.
Formula / Calculation
For a $1 field bet where 2 and 12 both pay 2:1:
Expected Value = [(14 × $1) + (2 × $2) - (20 × $1)] / 36
Expected Value = ($14 + $4 - $20) / 36
Expected Value = -$2 / 36 = -$0.0556
House Edge = 5.56%
For a $1 field bet where 2 pays 2:1 and 12 pays 3:1:
Expected Value = [(14 × $1) + (1 × $2) + (1 × $3) - (20 × $1)] / 36
Expected Value = ($14 + $2 + $3 - $20) / 36
Expected Value = -$1 / 36 = -$0.0278
House Edge = 2.78%
Formula Explanation in Plain English
You count every possible dice result. Then you add what the field wins, subtract what the field loses, and divide by 36. The only difference between the two common versions is one extra unit paid on 12. That single extra unit cuts the edge in half.
Related Reading
Start with the full craps guide if you want the table flow before the math. For the underlying dice count, read craps odds and craps probability basics. For the broader cost ranking, use craps house edge or test the result with the house edge calculator. If you want the player-facing bet explanation, read Field Bet Explained before comparing it with worst craps bets.