Introduction to Craps

What is Craps?

Craps is a fast-paced, high-energy casino dice game where players bet on a dice roll.

If you’re the shooter (the person rolling the dice), the goal is to roll certain numbers before rolling a seven. Alternatively, you can win straight away if you roll either a 7 or 11 right from the start.

While the shooter rolls, other players can bet on their success or failure. There are a range of betting options in Craps, ranging from simple to complex long-shots. As a result, Craps offers something for everyone, from beginners to veterans and cautious to high-risk, high-reward players.

The Craps Table Layout Explained

The Craps table may look intimidating, but it’s simple enough once you’ve got to grips with the layout. It includes areas for pass line, come, field, place bets, proposition bets, and more. What’s more, the table is mirrored on both ends, so everyone at the table can participate.

Who’s Who: Boxman, Stickman, and Dealers

With multiple members of staff at the table, it can be tricky to keep track of who’s who. With that in mind, here are the key people you need to look out for, and what their job is.

• Boxman: Oversees chips and handles disputes
• Stickman: Announces rolls and moves dice
• Dealers: Assist with bets and payouts

Basic Gameplay Flow

Come-Out Roll

The game starts with the come-out roll. A 7 or 11 wins (called a Natural); 2, 3, or 12 loses (called Craps). Any other number becomes the point.

Point Phase

If a Point is established (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), the goal is to roll that number again before hitting a 7.

Rolling Until Win or “Seven Out”

The shooter keeps rolling until either:

• They hit the point again = Win
• They roll a 7 = Seven Out = Loss

How a Typical Round Works

1. Players place bets
2. Shooter makes a come-out roll
3. If Point is established, betting continues
4. Shooter rolls until win or loss
5. Dice pass to the next shooter

Craps Terminology

• Natural: A 7 or 11 on come-out roll
• Craps: A 2, 3, or 12
• Point: The number to hit before a 7
• Seven Out: Losing roll during point phase
• Hardways: Rolling a pair to make 4, 6, 8, or 10

Basic Bets

Pass Line Bet

Bettor win if the come-out roll is 7 or 11, but lose on 2, 3, or 12. If a point is set, the bettor wins if it’s rolled again before a 7.

Don’t Pass Line

Opposite of Pass Line: the bettor wins if the dice lands on 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and draws if the dice lands on 12. After Point is set, the bettor wins if a 7 rolls before the Point.

Come

A Come bet follows the same rules as a Pass Line bet, but is placed after the come-out roll.

Don’t Come

In the same way, a Don’t Come bet is the same as a Don’t Pass Line bet, but is placed after the come-out roll.

Odds (Pass/Don’t Pass Odds)

These are additional bets placed behind your main line bets. They offer true odds with no House edge.

Proposition Bets (High House Edge)

Proposition bets offer higher payouts for those brave enough to try, but they come at the cost of a significantly higher House edge.

The following are Proposition bets.

Any 7

Wins if 7 is rolled next. Payout: 4:1

Any Craps

Wins on 2, 3, or 12. Payout: 7:1

11, 3, and 12

Single-roll bets with higher payouts but bigger risk.

Place Bets

Placing Numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10

After the come-out roll, you can “place” a number. These are simple – you will win if it hits before 7.

However, bear in mind that payouts vary, with longer odds Place bets having higher payouts attached.

The payout for each Place bet is as follows:

• 6 or 8: 7:6
• 5 or 9: 7:5
• 4 or 10: 9:5

Buy Bets and Lay Bets

Buy bets are where you bet that a number will be rolled before a 7. The odds are slightly in your favor here, so the House takes a commission to compensate. Usually, this is around 5%, but this can vary depending on the casino you’re playing at.

Lay bets are the opposite. Here, you’re betting that a number won’t roll before 7. Here, the odds are slightly against you, as you’re trading the chance of bigger prizes for the reduced likelihood of actually winning.

Field Bet and Big 6/Big 8

Field bets offer high payouts, as you are betting on exact numbers. You will win if the dice lands on either 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Of these bets, landing a 2 or a 12 pays double, as they are mathematically the least likely to occur.

On the other hand, Big 6 and Big 8 bets see the bettor predict that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7. The odds are slightly more in your favor than a Field bet, but the chances of this happening are still fairly low.

Hardways (Hard 4, 6, 8, 10)

Hardways bets wins if the number is rolled as a pair (e.g., 2+2 for 4) before a 7 or before the number is rolled easy, such as 3+1, 4+2, and so on.

Payouts of Common Craps Bets

Best and Worst Bets in Craps

• Best: Pass Line + Odds, Come + Odds
• Worst: Any 7, Hardways, Big 6/8

Odds bets on a Craps table are essentially real mathematical odds. As a result there is no House edge, so these bets are much more favorable to players.

On the other hand, Proposition bets and Big 6 and Big 8 bets have a high House edge, as demonstrated above. While you might win more money if this lands, the chances are that you will end up losing considerably more than you win in the long run.

If you’re a newcomer to Craps, it’s best to keep it simple. Go for the bets that are easiest to understand, and give you a realistic chance of winning.

This means you should stick to either Pass Line + Odds or Don’t Pass + Odds bets, and avoid Proposition bets.

Of course, you should only ever play for fun. That’s why it is essential to set a budget and stick to it. If you run out of money, leave the table. It’s not worth getting into financial hardship.

In the same vein, I fully understand how easy it is to get swept up in the thrill of winning, but it’s a very good idea to set yourself a hard and fast win limit, rather than keep on trying your luck.

Licensing and Regulation

Only play at casinos licensed by respected bodies like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, or Gibraltar Regulatory Authority.

If a casino doesn’t have a respectable license, look elsewhere. It’s not worth the risk.

RNGs vs Live Dealer

If you manage to find an online casino that offers Craps, make sure that the games have been independently tested to ensure complete fairness.

Similarly, if you choose to play Live Craps, make sure the casino holds a license beforehand. If a real money casino doesn’t hold a reputable license, chances are they’re not going to play fair.

Red Flags When Choosing an Online Casino

• No visible license. As I mentioned above, if a real money casino isn’t licensed, it’s likely to be a scam.
• Poor reviews. People will inevitably accuse a casino of playing dirty when they lose money, but there’s such a thing as too many bad reviews. If reviews on websites like Trustpilot are waving giant red flags about a particular casino, don’t play there.
• No customer support. Everybody will need customer support at some point, and you need to be able to get in touch with them easily. If the casino makes this a challenge, they are not worth your time and, more importantly, your money.

If you’re new to any casino game, it’s a good idea to practice for free before you start playing with your own money.

Ideally, this would be done in demo mode, but you may also be able to use a casino’s no deposit bonus to practice. Just be aware that your no deposit bonus will inevitably run out at some point, so only use this if you can’t practice in demo mode first.

It’s also a good idea to watch live games where possible. This will give you a much more immersive experience, and it should be easier to learn how everything works when you are faced with real scenarios rather than hypothetical ones.

Craps’ status as one of the most sociable Table Games has played a key role in its popularity. After all, cheering on the underdog against the might of the House is always an enjoyable experience.

Beyond the social element, Craps offers some of the best odds of any casino game, especially if you stick to the basics. It’s always better to play games where you’ve got a better chance of winning, after all.