Don't Betting Path:

Paths are guided shortcuts around the website teaching different parts of Craps. You can learn more about Paths here. Paths are guided shortcuts around the website teaching different parts of Craps. You can learn more about Paths here.

Betting Overlays in Craps

An Overlay is when you bet directly against a Point. Unlike the Don't Pass or Don't Come, where the dice determines the Point, you get to pick which Point you want to bet against. The dealer will put your Overlay behind the Point you picked and put a lammer on it that says 'Lay'. You get paid True Odds for an Overlay but must pay a commission. Once you have decided to Overlay a Point, you win when the 7 is rolled and lose if that Point is rolled.

Overlays
Overlay Pays Wins Loses
6 or 8 5:6 7 When Point Rolls
5 or 9 2:3 7 When Point Rolls
4 or 10 1:2 7 When Point Rolls

* All bets have a 5% commission fee on winnings

  • Overlays are not contract bets
  • You cannot turn OFF Overlays
Overlays
$60 Overlay behind the point nine.

5% Commission on the Winnings of an Overlay Bet in Craps

Overlays get paid True Odds, which have no advantage for a casino, so they charge a 5% Commission on how much your bet wins. This is different from the 'buy' which charges a 5% commission on the bet itself, not its winnings. For every $20 you would win on your Overlay you pay $1 for commission.

How Do You Bet an Overlay in Craps?

When you want to make an Overlay you say it using the term "No ___(Point)___" and you add the cost of commission in with the bet. E.g. If you want to Overlay the 10 for $40 + $1 commission, you'd say "Can I have a $41 No 10?”, If you wanted to Overlay the 5, you could say “$31 No 5”. You should know how much you want to bet including the Vig.

How to bet an overlay
Overlay bets are set up behind each of the six poinits.

Where Are Your Overlays on the Craps Table?

Like most other bets on the Dont's, Overlays are put behind the Point they are betting against. To distinguish an Overlay from a Don't Come bet, the dealers put a lammer on top of the bet that says 'Lay'. This tells you, the Boxperson, and any other dealer that the bet is not a Don't Come Bet but an Overlay. Overlays are placed in a general area behind each Point relative to the players place on the table.

Placement of an overlay
Up close overhead view of the boxes behind the place bets and the craps table rail. There are 16 colored spots that correspond with each other.

What Does an Overlay Pay at the Craps Table?

An Overlay pays True Odds but you need to pay a commission in order to make the bet. Because they are True Odds you need to bet them in correct increments and while making the bet include the commission that you’ll be paying.

You Must Pay a 5% Commission on it's Winnings

Overlays are essentially the opposite of a Buy on a Place Bet. Where you pay a 5% Commission on the amount of a Buy on a Place Bet, for an Overlay, you pay 5% Commission on what that Overlay is going to win. For every $20 you would win on your Overlay you pay $1 for commission.

Overlays Must Win at Least $20

The minimum commission you must pay for an Overlay is $1. $1 is 5% of $20. The minimum amount you need to win is going to be $20 in order to pay the minimum commission of $1. Regardless of the Point you are going to Overlay, the minimum the Overlay is going to win must be $20.

Overlay the 6 and 8

True Odds for the Don't Side on the 6 and 8 are 5:6 or “$5 for every $6”. Therefore you must bet an Overlay in increments of 6. At the same time, your Overlay must win at least $20. The minimum you can Overlay the 6 or 8 for is $24 because $24 wins $20. When you include the cost of commission the bet total is $25. You would make that bet by telling the dealer “I would like a $25 no 6 (or 8)”. If you would like to keep the bet up after it wins you would have to drop $1 for commission.

$25 No Six
$24 behind the point six with a lay button on top. Bubble reads $25 total bet cost
$25 No Six Paid
$24 behind the point six paid $20. Two purple dice show 2-5.

Overlays Payment Calculators

Check the payment for Overlays against any Point.

Check the payment for all the bets on the craps table here.