Craps

Craps is one of the most exciting casino table games. Craps can also be intimidating to learn because of all of the betting options. This article aims to familiarize you with the flow of the game so that you can enjoy this fun option at any live or online casino.

A Game Of Rounds

The first roll in a round is called the Come out roll. If a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 on the Come out roll the round is immediately over. If any other total is rolled (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) that number is called a Point.

A white marker is then placed on an area of the table to designate which number the point is on. The marker usually says "on" or "working" when its on a point, then when the round starts over it is placed to the side and says "off" until another point is made.

If a Point is rolled then the dice will be rolled round after round until the same Point is rolled again or a 7 is rolled.

The Craps Bets
Basic Craps Bets

Pass Line: The Pass Line is the most basic bet in Craps, almost every player at the table bets on it. The Pass Line is an even money bet. You start by placing your bet on the Pass Line area on the table on a Come out roll. If the Come out roll ends up being a 7 or 11 you win, which is also called a "natural". You also win if a point is made and then rolled again before a 7 is rolled. If the Come out roll is a 2, 3, or 12 (these values are craps) then you lose.

Buying Odds: After a Point has been thrown you may bet up to 2 times your Pass Line bet on the "odds." The odds are simply an additional bet that the Point number will be rolled again before a 7.

  • If the Point value is a 4 or 10 the odds pay 2:1.
  • If the Point value is a 5 or 9 the odds pay 3:2.
  • If the Point value is a 6 or 8 the odds pay 6:5.

Dont Pass: The Don't Pass is the opposite of the Pass Line bet. If the Come out roll is a 2 or 3 then you win, a 7 or 11 you lose. A 12 is a push. Otherwise the dice are rolled over and over until either the Point or a 7 is rolled. If the 7 comes before the Point you actually win. If you make this bet you are coined the "wrong better" because generally you're winning when other players are losing. (in a live game)

Laying Odds: This is the basically opposite of buying odds. You're betting that a 7 will be rolled before the Point number.

  • If the Point value is a 4 or 10 the don't odds pay 1:2.
  • If the Point value is a 5 or 9 the don't odds pay 2:3.
  • If the Point value is a 6 or 8 the don't odds pay 5:6.

Come Bet: The Come bet is like the Pass Line bet but can be made at any time. Like the Pass Line bet you can also put money on the odds if a point is thrown on the first roll after the "come bet" is placed.

Don't Come Bet: You probably guessed already, this is the opposite of the Come Bet. If the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, you win. A 12 results in a tie. You lose on 7 or 11. Any other number is the "Come Point". You win if a 7 is rolled before the Come Point and lose if the Come Point is rolled before a 7.

Get a practice game going and familiarize yourself with the Basic Craps Bets and then once you've got them down, you should learn some of the other bets.
Other Craps Bets

Place Number Bets: This is almost like laying odds. You may bet on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. If the number you bet on is rolled before a 7 then you win according to payoff schedule below. Place number bets are "on" during a come out roll. These bets can be removed at any time.

  • A Place Number Bet Placed on 4 or 10 pays 9:5 you bet $10, win $18
  • A Place Number Bet Placed on 5 or 9 pays 7:5 you bet $10, win $14
  • A Place Number Bet Placed on 6 or 8 pays 7:6 you bet $12, win $14

Buy Bets: This is almost the same as the Place Bet, only with a different payoff. The Player can "buy" any of the Points (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10), which means he's betting that the number will be rolled before a 7. When making a buy bet, you must pay a 4% commission and your bet will pay fair odds if it wins.

  • A Buy Bet Placed on 4 or 10 pays about 2:1 or 48:25
  • A Buy Bet Placed on 5 or 9 pays about 3:2 or 36:25
  • A Buy Bet Bet Placed on 6 or 8 pays about 6:5 or 144:125

Lay Bets: The lay bet is the opposite of the buy bet. The lay bets may be placed on the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. With a lay bet you're betting that a 7 will be rolled before the number you choose. Because the 7 is the most likely number to be rolled you will wager more than you can win. The Player pays a 4% commission on the possible winnings and the fair odds are paid on the bet itself.

  • A Lay Bet Placed on 4 or 10 pays about 1:2 or 12:25
  • A Lay Bet Placed on 5 or 9 pays about 2:3 or 16:25
  • A Lay Bet Placed on 6 or 8 pays about 5:6 or 12:15

Hard Way Bets: If a four is rolled with a 2 and a 2 then it came the hard way. There are four possible hard way bets. For example a hard 4 bet is betting that a pair of twos will be rolled before a 7 or any other way to roll a total of 4.

  • Casino's pay 7:1 on a hard 4 or 10
  • Casino's pay 9:1 on a hard 6 or 8

Place Lose Bet: The Place Lose bet is a bet that a 7 will be rolled before a roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Similar to Don't Pass bets and Lay bets, Place Lose wins if a 7 is rolled before the selected number. A Place Lose bet loses if your chosen number is rolled before a 7.

  • Place Lose odds are 9:5 on the 4 and 10.
  • Place Lose odds are 7:5 on the 5 and 9.
  • Place Lose odds are 7:6 on the 6 and 8.

Big 6 Bet: You bet that a 6 will be rolled before a 7. The Big 6 bet Pays even money 1:1.

Big 8 Bet: You bet that a 8 will be rolled before a 7. The Big 8 bet Pays even money 1:1.

The Proposition Bets
Proposition bets either win or lose with the next throw and some of them are basically like playing the lottery.

Field Bet: This is a one time bet that the next roll will be a 2,3,4,9,10,11, or 12.

  • The 3,4,9,10, and 11 pays 1:1
  • 2 pays 2:1.
  • 12 pays 3:1.

Any Craps: You bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, or 12. - Any Craps Pays 7:1

Craps 12: You bet that a 12 will be tossed on the next roll. - Craps 12 Pays 30:1

11 (Yo): You bet that an 11 will be tossed on the next roll. - 11(Yo) Pays 15:1

Seven: You bet that a 7 will be tossed on the next roll. - Seven Pays 4:1.

Craps 3: You bet that a 3 will be tossed on the next roll. - Craps 3 Pays 15:1.

Craps 2: You bet that a 2 will be tossed on the next roll. - Craps 2 Pays 30:1.

Best Online Craps

Since Craps is one of the most popular table games in the world, you can play it at any online casino. Because of the amount of available bets in the game, playing craps online is a great way to familiarize yourself with the bets before playing at a live casino.

Craps can be played at any of our trusted online casinos. To narrow it down according to your preferences, you can check out the top online casino reviews, a list of USA online casinos, or a list of the best online casino bonuses.