A Simple Guide to Craps Rules
Craps is a popular dice game, and many Canadian players might recognize it from action-packed movie scenes where dice are thrown at a table with spectators eagerly following the game.
The rules of craps are quite simple—bet on the outcome of the dice roll. What makes the game interesting are the many different ways to place bets and predict the outcome.
In this guide, we’ll go over the most common betting options in craps, which are the heart of the game. Once you understand the full rules of craps, you can head to the best craps casinos!
What Kind of Game Is Craps?
Craps is a dice game based purely on luck. At physical casinos, the game is particularly social, making it different from many other casino games.
When craps is played at a land-based casino, one of the players at the table is chosen to roll the dice. All the other players place their bets either for or against the shooter.
Online craps differs slightly because the player cannot physically roll the dice. Instead, online versions of craps use a random number generator to determine the outcome of the dice rolls.
Complete Craps Rules
Craps offers many different betting options, which might make it seem complicated at first. However, this appearance is deceptive, and with a little practice, the various bets become easy to understand.
To play the game, you need two dice and a craps table. The game involves rolling these two dice, and all the players around the table bet on the outcome of the roll.
So, craps isn’t limited to just the dealer and one player—there can be dozens of players placing bets. At land-based casinos, the role of shooter usually rotates, and the other players around the table enthusiastically cheer on the person rolling the dice.
In craps, there are several types of bets you can make, and their success depends on the outcome of the dice roll. Typically, the game begins with a bet on whether the shooter will succeed or fail in their roll. From there, the game can proceed in various ways depending on the choices the player makes.
Gameplay
Craps progress the same way whether you’re playing at an online casino or a physical casino. Here’s how a game of craps unfolds:
First Bet: All craps games start with a pass line bet. You’re betting that the total of the dice will be 7 or 11 (pass line bet) or that it will be 2, 3, or 12 (don’t pass line bet).
Rolling the Dice: The shooter starts the game with the first roll, known as the “comeout roll.”
Check the First Bet: The pass line bet wins if the dice total is 7 or 11, and loses if the total is 2, 3, or 12. The don’t pass bet works in reverse, winning with totals of 2 or 3 and losing with 7 or 11. If the total is 12, it’s a push for the don’t pass bet, which means the bet neither wins nor loses. For any other outcome, the pass or don’t pass bets remain active for the next rolls.
Point Establishment: If the comeout roll results in a total of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point. The game continues (as do your pass or don’t pass bets) until either the point or a 7 is rolled.
Place Additional Bets: Once the point is established, you can place different bets. You can bet that the roll will hit the point, a 7, or some other combination.
Continue Rolling: The dice are rolled, and bets can be placed, until the total is either the point or 7.
End of the Round: If the total is the point before 7, all pass line bets win. If the total is 7 before the point, all pass line bets lose, and all don’t pass line bets win.
How to Win at Craps
Winning at craps is straightforward—if you’re lucky. The player places bets on what the outcome of the dice roll will be. If the prediction is correct, the player wins.
Since craps is based on rolling two dice, luck plays the biggest role in determining the outcome. There are many tips online on how to roll the dice effectively, but no strategy can guarantee a win in the game, whether you’re playing at an online casino or a land-based one.
Craps Table and Betting Areas
At first glance, the craps table might seem confusing, but it’s actually quite simple. Each type of bet is marked on the table with text or symbols, and you’ll quickly learn how to place your bets.
Below is an example of a craps table and how the different bets are arranged. We’ll explain more about each bet in the following sections.
1. Pass Line, 2. Don’t Pass Line, 3. Come, 4. Don’t Come, 5. Field, 6. Odds, 7. Buy / Place, 8. 2 Bet, 9. Big 6 / 8, 10. Hardways, 11. 12 Bet, 12. 3 or 11 Bet, 13. Any 7, 14. Any Craps
Betting in Craps
Craps is played on a special table designed for the game. The craps table has different areas where players place their chips to make bets. Bets must be placed before the shooter rolls the dice.
There are many ways to bet, and they are the core of the game. Different bets have different odds, and the less likely an outcome, the higher the payout for that bet.
Single vs. Multi-Roll Bets
In craps, you can make either single-roll or multi-roll bets. The difference is that a single-roll bet is decided on the next roll, while a multi-roll bet requires several rolls to determine the outcome.
Single-roll bets are easier to place because the player only needs to consider the next roll. These bets often have higher payouts but are also riskier.
Multi-roll bets offer better odds of winning but require learning several different types of bets.
The Shooter
One player takes turns as the shooter, the person who rolls the dice. The shooter must place a pass line or don’t pass line bet before rolling the dice.
The shooter keeps rolling until they roll a 7. After that, the next player clockwise becomes the shooter.
When playing online, the computer handles the dice rolls, both in live craps and when playing against a computer. The shooter role does not change in this case.
Different Bets
Craps offers a lot of betting options, which makes the game very interesting and versatile. Let’s look at the most common ones.
Pass Line Bet
Betting on the pass line, or betting for the shooter, is the most popular way to start playing craps.
With this bet, you win immediately on the first roll if the dice total is 7 or 11. If the total is 2, 3, or 12, you lose your bet.
If the total is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, this becomes the point for the player. A chip marked “ON” is placed on the table to indicate the point.
After the point is established, the dice are rolled until the game is decided. The player wins if the shooter rolls the same point total again. If a 7 is rolled before that, the player loses.
Don’t Pass Line Bet
The Don’t Pass Line bet is the opposite of the Pass Line bet, meaning the player is betting against the shooter.
You win this bet if the dice roll totals 2 or 3. If the total is 7 or 11, the Don’t Pass Line bet loses.
If the roll results in a 12, it’s a push, meaning it’s a tie, and the roll continues. If the next roll totals 7, the player wins. If the roll is anything else, the player loses.
Any other roll result sets a point. If the shooter rolls a 7 before hitting the point number again, the bet wins. If the point is rolled again before a 7, the bet loses.
Come Bet
A Come Bet can only be made after a point has been established.
The rules are the same as the Pass Line bet. The player wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. If the total is 2, 3, or 12, the player loses the bet.
If the roll results in any other number, that becomes the player’s personal point. This means the player now has to keep track of both the original point and their own point, giving them two chances to win.
Don’t Come Bet
The Don’t Come bet is the opposite of the Come bet. Like the Come bet, it can only be placed after a point has been established, and it follows the same rules as the Don’t Pass bet.
The player wins if the dice total 2 or 3. If 7 or 11 is rolled first, the player loses the bet. If the total is 12, it’s a push, meaning the next roll must be a 7, or the player loses. Any other roll results in the player getting a personal point alongside the original point.
Field Bet
The Field Bet can be placed on any roll and is a single-roll bet, meaning the outcome is decided in one roll.
In this bet, the player wins if the dice total 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The bet is lost if the roll totals 5, 6, 7, or 8.
The Field Bet has a higher house edge than many other bets, so it’s not very popular among players.
Odds / Laying the Odds Bet
These bets can only be made after a point has been established in a Pass/Don’t Pass or Come/Don’t Come bet.
An Odds bet is placed alongside the active Pass/Don’t Pass or Come/Don’t Come bet.
In an Odds bet, you’re betting that the point will be rolled before a 7. Laying the odds is the opposite, where you’re betting that a 7 will be rolled before the point.
The payout for these bets depends on whether you’ve chosen an Odds or Lay Odds bet, as well as the point number. There may also be casino-specific limits on the size of these bets since they carry no house edge.
Place and Buy Bets
Place and Buy bets are also made after a point has been established. These bets are placed on the likelihood that a specific number will be rolled before a 7. You can bet on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
The difference between these two bets lies in the payout and the house edge. The payout also varies depending on the number you’ve bet on. You can find detailed payouts further in the guide.
A good rule of thumb is to place a Place Bet on numbers 6 and 8 and a Buy Bet on numbers 4 and 10.
Horn Bet
Horn bets are found in the center of the craps table and involve betting on four different dice totals: 2, 3, 11, and 12. The bet is split evenly across all four numbers, and the payout depends on which of these numbers wins.
A Horn bet is a single-roll bet, meaning it has only one chance to succeed. The house edge is higher with Horn bets than with other types of bets, which is why it’s not a very popular way to play. However, if the bet wins, the payout is significant.
Big 6 or Big 8 Bet
Big 6 and Big 8 bets are easy to learn because they simply involve betting that these numbers will come up before a 7. These bets are referred to as Big 6 and Big 8 on the craps table.
These bets have a significant house edge, so it’s generally better to place a Place or Buy bet on these numbers instead.
Hardway Bet
A Hardway bet involves betting that a specific even number will be rolled as a pair, meaning both dice show the same number. This applies to the totals 4 (2+2), 6 (3+3), 8 (4+4), and 10 (5+5).
The Hardway bet and the possible dice combinations are visible on the craps table, and the roll must exactly match the pair shown for the bet to win.
If the chosen number comes up in any other combination, the player loses. The same happens if a 7 is rolled before the chosen pair.
The payout, probability, and house edge for Hardway bets vary depending on the number chosen.
2 or 12 Bet
In craps, the hardest numbers to roll are 2 and 12, as there is only one possible combination for each with two dice. This makes these bets very unlikely to succeed. However, because the payouts are high if they do hit, these bets can be tempting.
This is a single-roll bet, meaning the number must come up on the next roll. If it doesn’t, the player loses the bet.
3 or 11 Bet
This bet is similar to the previous one, where the player bets that the next roll will result in a total of 3 or 11. These numbers are more likely to be rolled than 2 or 12, which is why the payout is lower.
This is also a single-roll bet, so any other number rolled means the player loses the bet.
Any 7 Bet
In this bet, the player wagers that the next roll will total 7. Since 7 is the most common combination with two dice, the Any 7 bet is an attractive option.
However, it’s important to note that the Any 7 bet comes with a high house edge, as much as 16.67%!
Any Craps Bet
Numbers 2, 3, and 12 are known as craps numbers, and this bet wagers that the next roll will be any of these.
Like the Any 7 bet, the Any Craps bet also has a high house edge.
Craps Odds and Payouts
In craps, payouts depend on the type of bet made. Below, you can find more details on the odds, probabilities, and potential combinations for different bets.
The first image shows how many different dice combinations there are for a specific total and how likely that total is to be rolled.
The next table outlines the probabilities, payouts, and house edges for different single-roll bets:
| Betting | Win Probability | Payout | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any craps | 11.12% | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 16.66% | 4:1 | 16.67% |
| 2 | 2.78% | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| 12 | 2.78% | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| Horn | 16.68% | 15:1 (3 & 11), 30:1 (2 & 12) | 12.50% |
| 3 | 2.78% | 15:1 | 11.11% |
| 11 | 2.78% | 15:1 | 11.11% |
| Field | 44.44% | 1:1–2:1 | 5.56% |
The final table provides information on the probabilities, payouts, and house edges associated with multi-roll bets:
| Betting | Win Probability | Payout | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place (4 or 10) | 33.34% | 9:5 | 6.67% |
| Place (5 or 9) | 40.00% | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| Place (6 or 8) | 45.45% | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Hard way (2+2 / 5+5) | 11.11% | 7:1 | 11.10% |
| Hard way (3+3 / 4+4) | 9.09% | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Iso 6 / 8 | 27.88% | 1:1 | 9.09% |
| Buy (4 or 10) | 33.34% | 2:1 | 4.76% |
| Buy (5 or 9) | 40.00% | 3:2 | 4.76% |
| Buy (6 or 8) | 45.45% | 5:6 | 4.76% |
| Lay (4 or 10) | 66.66% | 1:2 | 2.44% |
| Lay (5 or 9) | 60.00% | 2:3 | 3.23% |
| Lay (6 or 8) | 54.55% | 5:6 | 4.00% |
Craps at Online Casinos
Playing craps online differs from playing at a land-based casino, mainly in terms of atmosphere. At a physical casino, craps is known for its social aspect, with players often betting in support of the shooter’s success. This etiquette means that betting against the shooter is less common.
One of the advantages of playing online is that you can practice the game for free at many sites. This allows you to get familiar with the fast-paced rules without risking your own money. There are plenty of places online where you can play craps for free.
At online casinos, you can play craps against either a computer or a live dealer. It might be a good idea to start by playing against the computer, where you can take your time learning the rules without any time pressure. Once you’re comfortable, you can move on to a live dealer table and fully enjoy the live casino atmosphere!
In a craps game, the outcome of the dice roll is always completely random. Online, the dice roll is determined by a random number generator, making the result just as unpredictable as it would be at a land-based casino.
Once you’ve mastered the rules of craps, you can find the best craps casinos right here!
