John Ford | December 20, 2020 | Updated on: January 29th, 2021
You need to know craps rules if you truly want to understand how the game works. Craps seems like a complicated game. However, this is not the case. The dice features continuous action with bets being made in different rounds.
The game is easy to play, but it is 10x more fun when you understand how it works. Craps is played on a craps table that has bets marked off on it. A player rolls the die, and you bet on the outcome of the roll. Find out more below!
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Page Links for Craps Rules and Odds
How to Play Craps – Quick Guide
Each round of craps starts with the come-out roll. The player who rolls the dice is called the shooter. Players take turns taking with the shooter’s role, but you can bet on any roll you like.
Some online casinos require the shooter to bet on the pass line or the don’t pass line before making the roll. The pass and don’t pass bets are the main bets in craps. With a house edge of 1.41%, it is one of the best bets you can make in a casino.
With pass line bets, you win if the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, but lose if it is 2, 3, 12. The inverse is true for don’t pass bets. (An instant loss is known as crapping out.)
If the dice ends on another combination, such as 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, or 4, the round will move on to the next stage. The first dice roll will be known as the point number. The game will then continue until the point number is rolled again.
At this stage, pass or come bets win if the shooter rolls the point number before a seven. Don’t pass or don’t come bets win if seven is rolled before the point number.
This is all you need to know to play craps. However, as stated above, craps is a much better game to play when you know all the rules involved.
Craps Rules: Bets
Craps has 22 bets, and this is what makes the game seem complex. Here are some of the most popular bets in online craps you need to know:
Pass or Don’t Pass Bets
The pass line bet is made on the come-out roll being a natural. The pass line bet wins if the come-out roll is 7 or 11. It automatically loses if the roll is a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number and the point has been established. If the pass line bet did not win or lose on the come-out roll, the point would need to be rolled before a seven for pass line bets to win.
The don’t pass bet is the exact opposite. The don’t pass bet loses if the come-out roll is 7 or 11 but wins if it is 2 or 3. If a 12 is rolled, the bet is a push.
With a push, you do not win or lose your bet. If a point number has been established, the shooter needs to roll a 7 before the point number for the bets to win.
Both bets have a payout ratio of 1:1.
Come and Don’t Come Bets
Both these bets can only be made when the point has been established. The come and don’t come bet work similarly to the pass and don’t pass bets.
The come bet wins if a natural is rolled out. The don’t come bet will win if a 2 or 3 is rolled out. An outcome of 12 is still a push.
The payout for both bets is 1:1.
Hardways
With the hardways bet, players win if a 10,8, 6, or 4 are rolled out with the outcome of the dice being in pairs—for example, 2 and 2 to make a 4. Or, 5 and 5 to make 10, etc.
Odds Bet
A side bet that works similarly to the pass line bet after the point is established. You win if the bet point number is rolled before seven. Payouts are dependent on the point number established:
- Points 4 and 10 – 2:1
- Points 5 and 9 – 3:2
- 6 and 8 – 6:5
Other Craps Bets
Other popular bets with great payouts include:
- Proposition Bets – payout between 30:1 and 5:1
- Place – payout between 2:1 and 6:5
- Field Bets – payout between 3:1 and 1:1
- Big 6 and Big 8 – payout 1:1
- Yo Eleven Bet – payout 16:1
Basic Craps Rules
The best way to put your understanding of craps rules to good use is to play the game online. There are plenty of casino sites that offer free craps games you can use to familiarize yourself with the game.
As mentioned above, the main bet of craps has a house edge of 1.41%, making it one of the highest paying casino games. However, there are a load of terrible bets in this game we suggest you avoid. Especially side bets.