How to Play Craps: Rules, Tips and How to Win

The Basics: How to Play Craps

Described as one of the most interesting table games on the casino floor, Craps is a dice game that involves players betting on the outcome of a roll of the dice. Its online versions have become one of the most popular games to play at online casinos.

It starts with a simple two-dice roll, called the ‘come-out roll,’ performed by ‘the shooter’. If the roll results in a 7 or an 11, the shooter wins. If the roll sees a 2, 3, or 12, the shooter loses - this is known as ‘craps’.

If it is any other number, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, this becomes the ‘point number’. The shooter must roll the point number again before rolling a 7 to win. 

These can also be referred to as:

• Natural - 7 or 11

• Craps - 2, 3 or 12

• Point - 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10

The Craps Table Layout

When first looking at the Craps table layout, it can be very intimidating, with lots of information and numbers. But fret not! Once you understand the main areas of the table, you will have the hang of the game in no time. 

It is a fast-paced and popular game with one simple goal, bet on the numbers that you think a pair of dice will roll.

The key betting areas on a Craps table that you can expect to come across are typically: 

• Pass Line & Don't Pass Line

• Come & Don't Come Bets

• Place Bets

• Proposition Bets

The game has many different areas and while at first glance it may look daunting, once you start playing, we are sure you will agree that it is maybe one of the best-designed games! 

To help new players understand the game, the best way to think of it is that the game of Craps is simply having one main bet and numerous side bets. 

Types of Bets in Craps

When playing Craps, players can expect to come across various different betting types. To help you understand what each of them are and involve, we have examined these below.

Pass Line & Don’t Pass Line - Betting on the pass line means the shooter will pass (win) by rolling a 7 or an 11. Don’t Pass means betting on the opposite, that the shooter will not pass (lose) if the player shoots to get a 2 or 3 or fails to roll the point against before getting a 7.

Come & Don't Come Bets - Another outcome of a shooter's roll, the ‘come’ bet wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled and loses if the 2, 3 or 12 are rolled. If the point is rolled out, it becomes the come-bet point. A ‘don’t come’ bet works just like the Don’t Pass, if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, you are in luck! If they roll a 7 or an 11, well, you know the drill. Once the point is made, you should hope for a 7 before the point is rolled out again.

Odds Bets - A Craps side bet that allows players to wager additional money on the point number, an Odds Bet is considered one of the best bets in the game because it offers true odds and no house advantage. Once your ‘Come’ bet moves to a number, you can then make an Odds bet. This wins when your Come bet wins - when the number your Come bet is on rolls before a 7. 

Place Bets - This is where players wager on a number of their choice to be rolled before a 7. You can place bets on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. However, if a 7 is rolled first before your number, your Place bet will lose. You can take off a place bet at any time before the next roll.

Proposition Bets - These are single bets made on any roll of the dice. They can also be known as ‘Center’ bets and can be found in the centre of the craps table. The dealer will place all proposition bets in the middle of the table and will pay out or take all of the bets on the next roll of the dice.  

Tips and Tricks for Playing Craps

Start with Pass Line Bets

When playing Craps, the best strategy, especially for beginners, is to focus on Pass Line Bets when you first start. This is because these types of wagers offer the lowest house edge. There is also the ability to add Odds bets to your Pass Line Bets for the chance of a better payout! 

Avoid Proposition Bets

A higher risk and essentially a giant guess, we recommend avoiding proposition bets when playing Craps, especially if you are a beginner to the game. These are placed on specific combinations of numbers and will have one of the most significant potential payouts, but they are some of the least likely to occur - as likely as hitting a bullseye!

Use the Free Odds Bet

Something not all players are familiar with, especially new players, are free odds bets. These are not marked on the table but help to reduce the house edge. If the come-out roll is placed, you can bet the ‘true odds’ by placing a bet behind your pass bet, so you are betting on the shooter rolling a place number with zero house edge.

Manage Your Bankroll

Before getting started playing online Craps, sit down and work out a budget for yourself that you can afford and that you will stick to. This will ensure that you manage your money effectively. Players can also set themselves limits to avoid any losses and spending any more than they can afford. 

Observe the Table Before Betting

Before you get started playing for the first time, we suggest observing the Craps table in action. Watch and pay attention to the shooter’s rolls and previous rolls, and allow yourself to get a feel for the game before joining and a feel for the overall table energy. This can help to inform your betting decisions once you do start playing.

Understand the Etiquette

For those looking to get started playing Craps, there is some basic etiquette to get to know beforehand. This includes how to handle chips properly, handling the dice with one hand, avoiding delays, and not showing or participating in any disruptive behaviour. 

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

When starting out playing Craps, there can be some common mistakes players should look to avoid. Particularly prevalent amongst beginners, we have looked at what to try and avoid doing during your time getting used to and understanding the game.

Ignoring the Odds Bet - this is a key thing to be aware of as a beginner as not many players are aware of this when first starting out. An odds bet is one of the best bets in a game of Craps. 

Betting on High-Risk Wagers Too Soon - ensure that before you place any slightly more risky wagers you understand the basics and are comfortable with placing safe bets. Avoid placing high-risk wagers too soon and potentially losing out.

Not Understanding the Rules - it is important that you familiarise yourself with how the game of Craps works, runs, player etiquette, and what is required from you before throwing yourself in. This can prevent you from being in a position where you are unsure of the rules during play.

Chasing Losses - one of the most important mistakes can be retaliating with more bets when you have lost. You want to avoid chasing any losses and betting more than you can afford in order to monitor your spending. 

Not Managing Your Bankroll Effectively - another common error we come across a lot for those just starting out playing this popular table game is the effects of not managing your bankroll effectively. Ensure you set budgets or limits for yourself to prevent you from spending more than you can afford.

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Responsible Gambling

It is important during your time playing at an online casino that you are practising responsible gambling wherever possible. This involves setting yourself a budget that you can afford and stick to throughout your time betting or playing games. Take advantage of the various responsible gambling tools that are available at sites to help support you further, including setting deposit limits and time limits and applying self-exclusions to your account to prevent access for larger periods of time. For further support or advice regarding responsible gambling or if you are growing concerned regarding your gambling habits, you can reach out to the likes of GamCare and GambleAware, which are recognised organisations offering assistance and guidance for online gambling.