Lay Bets Explained
What this guide covers
Lay bets are the "don't" side equivalent of buy bets, letting you bet against a specific number in exchange for paying a commission. This guide covers exactly how they work, their payout structure, and when they represent good value. For the "do" side bet they mirror, see buy bets explained; for the broader betting menu, see craps betting guide.
How a lay bet works
A lay bet wagers that a 7 appears before a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) — the exact opposite of what a place or buy bet on that number wagers. Like buy bets, lay bets pay true mathematical odds in exchange for a commission, typically 5%, though the commission calculation works slightly differently than on buy bets, as covered below.
Lay bet payout table
| Number | True odds payout | Commission basis | Effective house edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 1:2 | On potential winnings | ~2.44% |
| 5 or 9 | 2:3 | On potential winnings | ~3.23% |
| 6 or 8 | 5:6 | On potential winnings | ~4.0% |
Notice the pattern here runs opposite to buy bets: lay bets on 4 and 10 carry the lowest house edge of the group, while lay bets on 6 and 8 carry the highest — a reversal driven by how commission is calculated relative to each number's payout structure.
Why lay bet commission is calculated differently
Unlike buy bet commission (typically calculated on your stake), lay bet commission is typically calculated on your potential winnings rather than your total wager, since a lay bet requires risking more than you stand to win (you're betting on the less-probable side of a "7 versus a specific number" race for the low numbers, and the more-probable side for the higher numbers). This calculation basis is what produces the inverted house-edge pattern compared to buy bets.
Worked example: laying the 4
To lay the 4, you might risk $40 to win $20 (the 1:2 payout ratio), with a 5% commission calculated on the $20 potential win — a $1 commission. If a 7 appears before a 4, you win $20 and pay the $1 commission, for a net profit of $19 on your $40 at-risk stake. If a 4 appears first, you lose your full $40 stake (commission is typically only charged on a win in this structure, though policies vary).
Worked example: laying the 6
To lay the 6, you might risk $30 to win $25 (the 5:6 payout ratio), with 5% commission on the $25 potential win — $1.25. If a 7 appears before a 6, you win $25 and pay $1.25 commission, for a net profit of $23.75. Compared to laying 4 or 10, laying 6 or 8 requires risking a larger amount relative to the potential win, which is part of why its effective house edge runs higher.
Why lay bets suit "don't" side players
If you're already inclined toward don't pass and don't come play — betting against the shooter generally — lay bets extend that same don't-side approach to standing number bets, letting you bet against specific numbers with the same flexibility that place and buy bets offer on the "do" side. See pass line vs don't pass bets for the broader context of don't-side play.
Comparing lay bets to don't pass and don't come
Lay bets share the same fundamental "betting on 7 before a number" logic as don't pass and don't come during their point phase, but with two key differences: lay bets can be placed and removed at any time (not tied to a come-out/point cycle), and they involve a commission that don't pass and don't come don't carry. This makes lay bets a more flexible but slightly more expensive way to achieve similar don't-side exposure on a specific number.
Why lay bets require risking more than you win
A structural quirk of lay bets that surprises new players: because you're betting on the more probable outcome (a 7 appearing before a specific number, when that number is less likely than a 7), you must risk a larger amount to win a smaller amount — the inverse of a buy bet's risk-reward structure. This isn't a bad deal mathematically; it simply reflects that you're betting on the side of the wager that wins more often but pays less per dollar risked.
Minimum bet considerations
Because commission is calculated on potential winnings rather than the full stake, very small lay bets can again run into minimum-commission rounding issues similar to buy bets — checking a specific table or platform's minimum commission policy before laying small amounts is worth doing to make sure the math works out as expected.
Are lay bets a good value choice?
Lay bets on 4 and 10 specifically offer a genuinely reasonable house edge (around 2.44%), making them a legitimate don't-side alternative worth considering if you're comfortable with the larger at-risk stake relative to potential winnings. Lay bets on 6 and 8, at roughly 4.0% house edge, are less compelling — a don't come bet backed with odds typically achieves better value for equivalent don't-side exposure on those specific numbers.
Frequently asked questions
What does a lay bet actually wager on? That a 7 appears before a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) — the opposite outcome from what a place or buy bet on that same number wagers.
Why do I have to risk more than I can win on a lay bet? Because you're betting on the more probable side of the race between a 7 and your chosen number, the payout structure requires a larger stake relative to the smaller potential win.
How is lay bet commission different from buy bet commission? It's typically calculated on your potential winnings rather than your total stake, which produces a different house-edge pattern across the different numbers compared to buy bets.
Which lay bets offer the best value? Lay bets on 4 and 10 carry the lowest house edge (around 2.44%), making them the most reasonable choice within this bet category.
Can I remove a lay bet at any time? Yes — like buy and place bets, lay bets can be added, adjusted, or removed at the player's discretion.
Is a lay bet the same thing as don't pass? They share similar underlying logic (betting on a 7 before a specific number), but lay bets are flexible standing bets that can be placed independent of the come-out/point cycle, while don't pass is tied directly to it.
