Craps may seem complicated, but it's as easy as rolling the dice. This page teaches gamblers everything they need to learn how to play craps, including the rules and the best craps bets to place . So read on to learn everything about this popular casino game.

How Do You Play Craps?

Craps online is a casino table game played with two dice, a board, and chips to place bets. A game of craps is conducted in rounds, with up to 20 players taking turns being the shooter and then rolling the dice. The object of craps is to guess what dice value the shooter will roll.

The game begins with players betting on the first roll of the dice, known as the 'come-out roll'. In this round, the players must decide whether the dice will fall on a 7 or 11 (Pass Bet) or 2, 3, or 12 (Don't Pass Bet). The round ends when the total die value is 7 or 11 (known as a "natural") or 2, 3, or 12 (also known as "craps").

If the total value of the dice is a four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or 10, then that number becomes the 'Point' and the next phase of the game begins. The base dealer will place a puck on the point number on the table to help players follow the game and will then collect additional bets. The shooter rolls the dice again. This repeats until the shooter rolls a seven or point number, ending the game.

Learn To Play Craps Online

Craps is a popular casino game for novice players because the rules are easy to learn and fun to play. Whether you play craps online or at a casino in Vegas, the rules of this dice table game remain the same:

  1. All games start with a pass line bet. A player must choose whether they think the dice will land on a combined 7 or 11 to win ('pass the line') or lose by landing on a 2, 3 or 12.
  2. The casino dealers take all pass bets and add them to the table.
  3. The shooter begins the game of craps with the first roll of the dice, known as the comeout roll.
  4. If the dice land on 7 or 11, the pass line gamblers win their bet. If the dice land on a combination of 2, 3 or 12, the don't pass gamblers win. All other numbers that the dice land on form a 'dot' on the table, and the game continues.
  5. Once a point (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) is set on the table, players can bet on the dice to land on the point, land on different numbers, or lose completely by landing on 7.
  6. The shooter rolls the dice until he lands on a 7 or on point.
  7. If the shooter rolls the point, he remains the shooter in the next game of craps. If he rolls a 7, the shooter is sevens out and a new player becomes the shooter.

Basic Craps Rules

Craps is a fast-paced game, so it can be difficult to learn the rules just by watching. Fortunately, most of the rules in craps are shooter- and betting-focused, so they're easy to learn and execute. Just remember to follow the following rules when you re-enter a craps game at an online casino :

  • Wait for a seat at a craps gaming table : Up to 20 players can participate in a game of craps and there is a chip shelf for each of them. The dealers use these shelves to keep track of the bets, so wait until one becomes free to join a game.
  • Follow Shooter Etiquette : In craps, if the shooter lands the point to end the game, he remains shooter in the next game. Only when the shooter rolls a seven does the position pass to a new player.
  • Do not bet on separate dice : Bets are based on the combined value of the two dice. The dealers will not accept bets on individual dice in a game.
  • Be aware that you can win and lose when you are not the shooter : Some players think that their bets only count when they roll the dice. In craps, players are in play when their chips are on the table.
  • Only place bets when the dealers are taking them : For each round of craps, the dealers will announce when the bets are being taken. No one likes a player who takes the tension off the table, so place your bets when the dealers go around the table.

Craps Betting

Most of the action on a table revolves around the bets. Players don't need to memorize every side bet to enter a game, but knowing the most important basic bets in craps will make the game more enjoyable for you. Below are the most common bets that players will find in a casino:

  • Pass Line Bet : Players can join a game with just this bet. When making a pass line bet, players bet that the shooter is more likely to roll a die value of seven or 11 before rolling a two, three, or 12. Seven is statistically the most common number in craps, which is why so many players bet on the pass line.
  • Don't Pass Bet : The Don't Pass Bet is simply a reversal of the Pass Line Bet. Players bet on a two or three landing before a seven or 11. If a 12 is rolled the bet is a push and the dealer returns the player's money.
  • Come Bet : This bet can only be wagered after a point number has been rolled. Essentially, a player places a Come bet if they think the shooter will roll a dice value of seven or 11 before the point number is rolled.
  • Don't Come Bet : Like the Don't Pass Bet, the Don't Come Bet is just the reverse of the Come Bet. When a player makes a Don't Come Bet, they are betting on the shooter obtaining the point number on the dice value before landing a 7 or 11.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are craps rules hard to learn?

No, they are very easy to learn.

Do all online casinos have the same rules?

No, but the essence is always the same.

What's the best bet?

The Pass Bet, because it has the lowest house edge at 1.4%.

Do you have to have a skill for craps?

It does help if you understand the odds.

Can you win consistently?

It is a game that revolves around randomness, so this can only be done with a lot of luck.

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Written by: Jason Vink | hurolinan.com

Jason is an online casino expert. He obtained a BA in Communications in Brussels before starting to work at internet gambling portals in Malta (EU) in 2012. He later joined hurolinan.com and has since started sharing his expertise with our readers. Jason is able to assess and test an online casino on many different functionalities in order to guarantee the enjoyment and safety. If you have questions for Jason, you can always send him an email: jason [at] hurolinan.com.