Craps is one of the most thrilling gambling games. It attracts a large number of customers in establishments across the US and Europe, and emotions run high. Craps is also popular on online gaming platforms, featuring both virtual dealer machines and tables with live dealers. Before you begin, beginners are advised to learn how to play craps in a casino and familiarize themselves with basic strategies.

General Rules of Craps

Craps is sometimes simply referred to as a dice game, although this definition isn’t entirely accurate as dice are used in many gambling games. The game involves two dice (cubes) with six sides each, numbered from one to six. The game is played on a table with special markings and high walls to prevent the dice from rolling off.

Many players (usually up to twenty) can participate simultaneously, with one player rolling the dice while others place bets on the outcome of the roll. The goal of the craps game is to predict the combination that will be formed after the shooter’s dice roll and place the corresponding bet. Different combinations of bets are allowed, but some can only be made at specific stages of the game.

Dice and the Roll in Craps

Dice are made from cellulose and are thoroughly inspected after a certain number of gameplay rounds. After eight hours of use, the dice are replaced with new ones. Additionally, there are rules for how the dice should be rolled:

• They must be rolled with one hand only;
• The dice must hit the wall on the opposite end of the table;
• If the dice go beyond the table’s boundaries, a casino staff member must check them, and they might introduce a new set of dice into the game;
• Only one shooter is allowed in each gameplay round. When the shooter loses, the dice are passed to the next player to the left.

How to Win at Craps?

This is one of the most advantageous casino gambling games for the player. However, it’s important to remember that different bets come with varying mathematical advantages for the casino. This range is incredibly broad, from zero to several tens of percentage points.

Therefore, to play craps successfully, it’s necessary to make bets with the highest theoretical return. You can also experiment with different betting systems, but it’s best not to place too much hope in them.

Read also about Bingo.

Bets in Craps

Now let’s examine the process of playing craps from the perspective of other players, using possible bets as examples:

• Pass Line: This bet is placed during the Come Out Roll phase. It wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled, loses on a 2, 3, or 12, and continues if a Point is established. In this case, it wins if the Point is rolled before a 7 (meaning the shooter wins). Pays 1:1;
• Don’t Pass Line: This bet is the opposite of the Pass Line bet. It’s also made during the Come Out Roll. This bet wins on a 2 and 3, pushes on a 12, loses on a 7 or 11, and remains in play if a Point is established. Afterward, it wins if a 7 is rolled before the Point (meaning the shooter loses). Pays 1:1;
• Come: This bet is made at any stage for the next Point number that the shooter rolls. It wins on a 7 or 11 in the next roll, loses on a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number becomes the Come Point, and the bet moves to the corresponding field. It then wins if the Come Point is rolled before a 7. It plays to the end and can’t be removed or changed. Pays 1:1;
• Don’t Come: This bet is made after a Point has been established. It wins on a 2 or 3, loses on a 7 or 11, pushes on a 12. If any other number is rolled, it becomes the Don’t Come Point, and the bet moves to the corresponding field. It then wins if a 7 is rolled before the Don’t Come Point. Pays 1:1;
• Pass Line Odds: This is an additional bet that can be made to enhance the existing Pass Line bet after the Point is established. It wins in the same scenarios as the Pass Line bet. Pays as follows: on 4 or 10 – 2:1; on 5 or 9 – 3:2; on 6 or 8 – 6:5;
• Don’t Pass Line Odds: This is an additional bet that can be made to enhance the existing Don’t Pass Line bet after the Point is established. It wins in the same scenarios as the Don’t Pass Line bet. Pays as follows: on 4 or 10 – 1:2; on 5 or 9 – 2:3; on 6 or 8 – 5:6.