The game of Craps has been around for quite some time and has come a long way to become as popular as it is today. It is a game focused on a pair of dice and unlike some other table games, one cannot win by bluffing. Craps is considered a game where the outcome is based solely on players' luck.

1. No Pass Line Craps
2. Don't Pass Line Bet
3. Craps Pass Line Odds Bet

Although the game seems easy at first, it can be more complicated than one expects as the rules and odds of winning are different from any other game you might have played.

Grab a buddy, and each of you take $5,000 (or more) to the same craps table, standing at opposite ends (so it does not look like you're together). One of you play the pass line for $50 every hand. Pass Line An even money bet, made on the first roll of the dice (known as the “come out roll”). You win if a 7 or 11 roll, or lose if 2, 3, or 12 roll (known as “craps”). 4.2.1 The basic pass line bet When betting the pass line the player puts his bet right on the pass line, say $1. Then, the rst roll is called the come-out roll. This bet is immediately won if a 7 or 11 is rolled (paid even odds) and immediately lost of a craps (2,3,12) is rolled. If any other number is rolled then a point is established. You don't always have to bet on 'red' on roulette, and you don't always have to play the Pass Line in craps. But in reality whichever side you want to play it's practically the same. I personally like to play a line bet + 2 more (either Come or DC) with odds, but craps is a game you can play 100 different negative ways =P.

A “Pass Line” bet is basically a bet on a particular shooter to win the shoot. They could do this by rolling a 7 or 11 on the Come Out shoot, or by hitting their point value on the Point shoot before “sevening out.” This is also called “betting right.” A Pass Line win doubles the money of the bettor.

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The entire process of becoming an expert in playing craps begins with a thorough understanding of all dice combinations as well as the odds. The first important rule to remember is that the combinations determine the odds as well as the payout.

Most casinos use red dice although you can also come across green or blue ones. Even if you have never played Craps before, you should notice that all dice are transparent. This way, it is easier for the casino staff to identify any imperfections and substitute the dice with another one with the aim of ensuring game fairness.

There are five important figures in a game of Craps, the Boxman, the Shooter, the Dealer, the Stickman, the Bettor.

Every Craps table has “on” and “off” stages. When a table in an Off stage, it means that the shooter has not rolled the “come-out point” yet. Players are not allowed to place bets on the “pass” or “don't pass” line when the table is in Off stage. The table is in an Off stage when the shooter repeatedly rolls 7, 11, or craps numbers 2,3, 12.

The table is On when the shooter rolls a number different from the aforementioned ones. Players are allowed to place their bets.

When you sit on the Craps table, you have to put your money in the Come bet area. The dealer will take the money and give you the respective number of chips in exchange.

The dealer is not allowed to take money directly from your hands. If you run out of chips but you would like to continue playing, you can just put more money on the table and the Boxman will give you more chips.

In case someone is rolling when you join the table you are not allowed to place bets until the shooter rolls a 7. When the new shooter is about to take over, you can place your bet.

Dice Combinations

Nowadays, the dice used in casinos have a really fine shape. They resemble a perfect cube and each of the sides is approximately ¾'.

The cube has six equal sides and each of them has a certain number of spots representing numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

No Pass Line Craps

If you take a single dice and drop it onto the table so it falls randomly, the chance of hitting a particular number, for example, 3, is 1 in 6 or 5 to 1. In other words, the probability of hitting another number is five times higher than the probability of rolling out 3.

When you throw two dice, the numbers that can result are 11.

Don't Pass Line Bet

Let's presume each dice has six sides, which makes for 36 possible combinations. These combinations will total one of the aforementioned 11 numbers. For example, if both dice come up with 1 spot, that makes a total of 2. In case one of them comes up showing 3 and the other one 4, that makes 7. In point of fact, the combinations that total 7 are more than any other. You have 6 chances to roll out dice totaling seven (1-6, 6-1, 2-5, 5-2, 3-4, 4-3).

Odds

Odds are defined as the probability of one thing happening although it is not certain as to whether it will happen or not. What determines the odds of the bets, the payouts as well as all bets on the layout are the dice combinations as well as their probability of occurring.

However, you have to be informed that regardless of the bet on the layout, the house always has an advantage over the player except for the bet type known as “free odds”. The latter bet is available on all casino games although it is not likely to appear on the layout. Anyway, the free bet is the only bet where the casino does not have an advantage over the player and it definitely needs to be exploited.

Playing Craps Basics

All Craps tables that are available for players have their betting limits displayed. It is possible for some notes to be displayed on plastic cards inside the table. They are intended to show the minimum and maximum bets applicable to a certain table.

Although players are attracted mainly by the low limit tables, casinos usually raise the betting limits when the tables are fully occupied.

Craps Pass Line Odds Bet

You are advised to carefully select the table that matches your bankroll criteria and feel comfortable during your gameplay.

When the table is open for new bets, the Stickman takes a tray of between 5 and 9 dice and the player who is on his left side rolls them out. Depending on “shooter's” roll, the bets are collected or paid out.

If you are the player sitting immediately on Stickman's left, but you are unwilling to roll the dice, you can politely reject the offer and the Stickman will move to the player next to you. All players on the table will be given a chance to shoot. The dice proceeds clockwise and the shooter is supposed to pick up two of the dice from the tray. The remaining dice are taken back to the tray.

When the shooter throws the dice, it needs to be thrown to the opposite end of the table. In order to ensure the fairness and randomness of the roll, at least one of the dice must bounce off the angular-shaped wall. The shooter is supposed to roll the dice with one hand only. The shooter must throw the dice in the air rather than sliding it across the table. According to statistics, if one of the dice is thrown to the end of the table, the outcome cannot be controlled or predicted.

In case your shot is short, the Boxman might still allow it to count, but the player, supposed to be a shooter after you, will be reminded that the dice must reach the opposite end of the table.

In case the shooter after you also registers a “weak” shot, the Boxman will remind the rules once again and if the short shot practice continues, the Boxman has the right to disallow rolls.

You are supposed to make the so-called “line” bet and its amount must be at least the minimum bet set for that table. The “line bet” is required for shooting the dice. It is made on the pass or don't pass line.

Many players who do not have enough experience in playing craps, ask why is the line bet necessary?

If the player does not make a line bet and has only one ”standard” bet on the table, they might lose that bet and leave the game. However, the other players might be in the middle of their gameplay and their profits may depend on the rolls of that shooter.

If the player has a line bet at risk he/she is more likely to complete the game. The shooter throws the dice until he rolls a seven after an established point.

If you intend to play craps at a land-based casino, you can visit it at any time. The best casinos have at least one Craps table open round the clock. The more players come to the casino, the more craps table become available.

Learning how to play craps isn’t as difficult as you might think. People are often steer away from playing the game because they think its too complex, but the only particularly complicated aspect is all the different types of bets that can be placed.

You don’t actually need to learn all of them to start playing and you can just stick to the simplest ones if you like.

You do, however, need to understand how the game is played.

This article will help as we cover everything you need to know to play craps in a live casino or online.

We explain the main objective of the game, the craps table, the betting layout, and the basic rules. We also introduce the different types of bets.

Game Objective in Craps

The main objective in craps is really quite straightforward. Basically you are just betting on the outcome of the roll of two dice.

Craps is pure chance since you can’t affect the outcome in any way, but you do have the choice of several wagers. The majority of these wagers are ultimately based on what combination of dice will be rolled.

The goal in craps is therefore to try to correctly predict which numbers will come up on the next roll. This is, of course, guesswork, but it doesn’t stop the game being a lot of fun.

Craps is played on a specially-designed table that features a betting layout where players can place their wagers. In a live casino, a table would look something like this.

The dice are rolled on the table by one of the participating players, referred to as the shooter. Typically, a new player will become the shooter at the end of each round, although one player may remain as the shooter for several in a row.

Anyone at the table, including the shooter, can make wagers by placing their chips in the appropriate spot on the betting layout.

A craps table requires the attention of several casino employees. You’ll usually find the following people running a table.

The boxman is in charge of the chips at the table. He (or she) will exchange cash into chips for players and swap them for different denominations if required. He’s also responsible for supervising the dealers and generally ensuring that the game runs smoothly.

The stickman is in charge of the dice. He moves them around the table with the use of a stick (hence the name), passing them to the shooter at the start of each roll. He will also announce the outcome of each roll.

A craps table usually features two base dealers, one standing on either side. They are responsible for collecting losing bets and paying out winners. When requested to do so, they can also place certain bets on behalf of players.

The Craps Table (Online Casino)

The rules of craps are the same regardless of whether you are playing in a live setting or online. However, things are a lot simpler online. There’s no allocated shooter, as technically you are the shooter every time you play.

The diced are rolled automatically when you press the relevant button, and you place your bets by clicking in the appropriate place on the betting layout.

The following is an example of what an online craps table looks like:

Basic Rules

Each round in craps starts with what is known as the come-out roll. Most casinos will require that the shooter place a bet before making this roll on either the pass line or the don’t pass line.

If the combined value of the two dice on a come-out roll equals 2, 3, or 12, then this is “crapping out” and the round is over. Players will lose pass line bets and win don’t pass bets. If the come-out roll is 7 or 11, the round is also over.

If any other value is rolled on the come-out roll i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, then a point is established, equal to the value rolled, and the round continues into the next stage.

The shooter continues to roll with players betting on the outcome of each, until they roll either a 7 or the point value that has been established.

Following a roll of either 7 or the point value, the round is over and a new come-out roll is required. It’s standard practice for the shooter to pass the dice to another player if a round ends with a 7, and to stay as shooter if the round ends with the point value being rolled.

This is essentially all there is to the basic rules of craps. What makes the game more complex are all the different bets that can be placed.

The following is a list of the different wagers you can place when playing craps.

• Pass Line
• Don’t Pass
• Come
• Don’t Come
• Pass Line Odds
• Don’t Pass Odds
• Come Odds
• Don’t Come Odds
• Place Win
• Place Lose
• Buy
• Lay
• Big 6
• Big 8
• Hardways
• Field
• Any 7
• Any 11
• Any Craps
• Ace Deuce
• Aces
• Boxcar

As you can see, there are numerous different bets in craps. Please don’t let this steer you away from playing the game as you really don’t need to learn them all.

They are pretty simple overall; it just takes a little time to familiarize yourself with each one.

You can read about all these bets in more detail here.

If you’re ready to put what you’ve learned here into action, you might want to consider trying out an online casino. You can play craps at most of the top online casinos that we recommend. If you want to play for real money, you’ll get a bonus for signing up and making your first deposit. And if you prefer to just play for fun, that’s an option at most places, too. Here are some of the online casinos we recommend playing at.