Craps is a popular casino dice game, but it’s one of the most challenging games to learn how to play. For that reason, many people avoid playing this game, even online variants.
But, with a few simple tricks, you can learn how to play craps and win, whether you’re playing in the casino or from the comfort of your home.
Our craps beginners’ guide will set you on the path to success with tips, strategies, and more.
Craps rules can be intimidating at first as it is one of the more complex casino games out there. It is important to understand the basic of craps. We’ll break a game of craps into two parts:
The come out roll is when a new shooter rolls the dice. If the roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point and we begin the second part. In the first part, craps allows for pass line and don’t pass bets to be made.
On the point, the shooter’s goal is to hit the point before rolling a 7. If a 7 is rolled, all pass line bets lose. If the roller hits a point, pass line bets are paid. If the shooter rolls a number other than the point or a 7, the shooter continues to roll until they hit the point or a 7.
To sum it up if a point is set, we want that specific number to roll before a 7. If no point is set, we want a 7 or 11 to roll for a pass line bet while 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 sets the point and a 2, 3, and 12 loses.
The objective of craps is to predict the outcome of the dice and bet on it. Both online craps and offline craps are games of chance, so knowing the rules of the game and when to make which wager is essential. The return to player (RTP) of online craps is 98.64% which adds to its popularity.
Here is how an online craps game plays out step by step:
Players bet on if the dice will pass the line (rolling 7 or 11) or if it won’t pass the line (rolling 2, 3, or 12).
The shooter rolls the dice, also called the come out roll.
If the dice lands on a 7 or 11, the pass bets win. If the dice lands on 2, 3, or 12, don’t pass bets win. If the dice lands on any other number, the pass/don’t pass bets remain.
A point is established if the dice lands on any other number and the game continues until the dice lands on either the point or a 7.
Players can now bet on if the dice will land on a point or other numbers.
The shooter keeps rolling the dice until it lands on either the point or a 7. New bets can be placed with each roll.
If the dice lands on the point, all pass bets win. If the dice lands on a 7 before the point, don’t pass bets win. Once the dice hits on either a point or a 7, the round ends.
So now you know generally how the flow of a craps game works. The next step is to understand each of the wagers. Here are the most common bets for online craps:
Betting on the shooter rolling a 7 or 11 in the come out roll if no point is set. If a point is set, pass line bet wins if the point is hit before a 7. The RTP for a Pass Line wager is 98.59%.
Betting on the shooter rolling a 2, 3, or 12 in the come out roll. If a point is set, don’t pass bet wins if a 7 hits before the point. The RTP for a Don’t Pass bet is 98.64%.
These bets are the same as the Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets but can only be placed after the come out roll. The RTP is also the same, at 98.59% and 98.64%, respectively.
Betting on 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 to roll individually even if they aren’t the point. This bet loses if a 7 is rolled before the point. The RTP varies: 98.48% (Place 6 or 8), 96.49% (Place 5 or 9), and 96.30% (Place 4 or 10)
Betting on 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 to roll individually even if they aren’t the point. This bet loses if a 7 is rolled before the point. The RTP varies: 98.48% (Place 6 or 8), 96.49% (Place 5 or 9), and 96.30% (Place 4 or 10)
Buy bets follow the structure and rules of the place but with the addition of 5% casino commission
Odds bets can only be made if the player has already made a pass/don’t pass bet. If a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is rolled, you can now place an Odds bet behind your original wager. The Odds bet wins if the point is rolled before a 7 (on Pass Line) or loses if a 7 comes first.
On a Don’t Pass Odds bet, you win if a 7 comes before the point is rolled again. The RTP for the Odds bet is 100%.
Hardway bets are only made on non-come out rolls and are only in play as long as it’s a non-come out roll. You can wager a Hard 6 or 8 for 90.74% RTP, or Hard 4 or 10 for 83.33% RTP.
A bet that is made on individual numbers on the roll. Here are the possible wagers:
The Field is a one roll bet that wins if the shooter’s next roll hits 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. This bet loses if the shooter rolls a 5, 6, 7, or 8. The RTP depends on the payout structure, some games offer 2:1 on a 2 and 12 (94.44%) while other games offer 3:1 on 12 (97.78%).
The craps table is one of the most complex tables you’ll see at a casino. There are so many wagers and dice combinations, that the table is often very difficult to understand for first-time players. But, once you get a hand of the craps wagers, you can start to understand the table layout.
Like with roulette, you’re placing your chips on the desired wager. The Pass Line and Don’t Pass sections are pretty self-explanatory, and the Come wager is similar. Then, as you get into more specific bets, the boxes get smaller. Place bets are at the top of the table, while the One Roll wagers are in the center.
The House Edge in CrapsHouse edge is the advantage the casino has over the player. With craps, the house edge changes depending on the bet you make.
A good rule of thumb is to go with the negative bets since the house edge tends to be lower. Pass/don’t come bets have a house edge of 1.41% while don’t pass/don’t come bets have a house edge of 1.36%.
Odds bets are unique in the way they affect the house edge. The more you bet, the more the house edge decreases. It is essential to be aware of how much you are betting on a single bet. Odds bets pay as follows:
For negative odds, inverse payback (5 to 6 instead of 6 to 5) is available. The house edge decreases as more bets are made on the original wager. Here is how the house edge is affected with each wager:
Odds Bet | House Edge |
---|---|
1x | 0.8% |
2x | 0.6% |
3x | 0.55% |
3x, 4x, 5x | 0.4% |
5x | 0.3% |
10x | 0.2% |
20x | 0.1% |
100x | 0.02% |
Place bets tend to be popular with not so terrible paybacks. However, the house edge increases as the payback increases. Here is a chart showing how the house edge changes:
Bet | Payback | House Edge |
---|---|---|
Betting on 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
Betting on 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.0% |
Betting on 4 or 19 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
Buy bets are not as popular but a buy bet will give you fair odds. Buy bets are not preferred because of the commission. The house edge on commissioned games is 4.67%. Here is a chart showing the payback of buy bets:
Buy Bet | Payback |
---|---|
Betting on 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 |
Betting on 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 |
Betting on 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 |
Hardway bets are enticing thanks to the high payout chance. The house edge of hardway bets are significantly higher than other craps betting options. Here is how the house edge varies on hardway bets:
Bet | Payback | House Edge |
---|---|---|
4 the hardway | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
6 the hardway | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
8 the hardway | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
10 the hardway | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
Sing roll bets are popular amongst beginner online craps players for the high-risk, high-reward mentality. The house edge of singe roll bets is the highest across all the craps bets. Here is how you can expect the house edge to change with each single roll bet:
Bet | Payback | House Edge |
---|---|---|
Betting on 2 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
Betting on 3 | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
Betting on 11 | 15 to 1 | 11.11% |
Betting on 12 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
Betting on 7 | 4 to 1 | 16.67% |
Betting on Craps (2, 3, 12) | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
Field | Even money, 2 to 1 for 2, 3 to 1 for 3 | 2.78% |
If you’re trying to improve your craps game, here are a few tips you should follow:
Stick to Low House Edge Bets – The Pass Line, Come, and Odds bets have low house edge, making them good for new players. If you like action, the Place bets on 6 and 8 are reasonable options with a slightly higher house edge.
Use the Come Bet + Odds – If you understand Pass Line with odds, the Come Bet with odds is a natural progression. A Come Bet acts like a new Pass Line bet on the next roll. Once it moves to a number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10), you can take odds behind it just like your Pass Line bet. This approach allows you to cover multiple numbers with odds, which can pay off during long hot rolls.
Set Win/Loss Limits – Craps can be fast-paced and emotional, leading players to chase losses or give back big wins. Before you play, set a limit:
Most online craps games are powered by Random Number Generators (RNG). These programs produce huge sequences of large string numbers each second, on a continual basis. The precise number at the time you click the play button will dictate the result. However, a few online casinos (mainly in Canada), offer games with live dealers. Here are the pros and cons of playing RNG vs live craps.
Online casino craps is meant to be an enjoyable hobby, but it can easily become an addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling with gambling addiction, be sure to use the resources below to get help:
Now that you understand the basic rules, wagers, table layout, and general strategy for craps, it’s time to put your skills to the test.
We’d recommend starting out with a free or demo version of craps at one of our recommended online casinos. These games give you around $1,000 in bankroll to use playing craps, and it’s a great way to test out bets, strategies, and get acquainted with the game.
When you’re ready, you can always switch into real money mode to start playing craps for cash.
Isaac E. Payne is an experienced technical blogger, creative writer, and lead content manager at GamblingNerd.com. As a published author, he enjoys finding interesting and exciting ways to cover any topic. In his four years on the team, he has covered online gambling and sports betting and excelled at reviewing casino sites. In his free time, he enjoys playing blackjack and reading science fiction.