Craps Rules, How To Play

Craps might sound and seem complex and difficult to an uneducated casino player. But, in reality, playing craps can be easy, and winning at the game is even more exciting and hassle-free. You have probably seen those films that feature craps gambling scenes.

While casino-based movies like Ocean 13 might portray craps in a certain way, playing craps without proper knowledge and basic strategy is a losing battle. That’s why our gambling experts here at NewCasinos.org have put together this handy article to introduce you into the fascinating world of online casino craps. We’ll cover the gameplay (how to play), general Craps rules, and much more in between.

Important Tip: If you have no clue what’s going on in the casino game of craps, you might want to take a peek at our craps dedicated blog section. You’ll find all nuggets of information, tips, expert advice, and all-round news on all-things craps.

What is Casino Craps?

Craps is a widely popular casino game that is currently available in both land-based and online casinos. It is actually a dual-dice game that is played at an especially built table. Two dice are often rolled by one player (shooter) while other players wager their bets. Both dice used in play are manufactured according to strict standards. In fact, they are routinely checked for damage and foul-play by gaming authorities.

How to Play Craps – The Basics

As soon as a new round of craps starts, expect the following to happen:

1. One player called the shooter will avail him or herself and will have to select 2 dice to roll.
2. The shooter must wager. In fact, he or she has to make a Pass Line bet, meaning that they have to bet on either a Don’t Pass or Pass line (more on this ahead). Other players will also have to place their bets.
3. The shooter will make a come-out roll (the 1st roll of dice) from the opposite wall of the craps table as other players watch and cheer.

The first round ends when the shooter makes a come-out roll. If the 1st roll delivers an 11 or 7, the Pass Bet wins while the Don’t Pass bets lose. It is known as craps when the shooting player rolls 12, 3 or 2 which means that the Don’t Pass bets win while the Pass bets lose. In some casinos, especially online gaming sites, a roll of 12 is often considered a tie, and the bet amount is often returned to the player.

Point Number: If the 1st roll delivers a 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, or 4, the rolled number becomes the shooter’s point. What happens next is that the dealer will put a puck on top of that particular number that was rolled. The rolling continues. Here’s the interesting part: if the shooter rolls the specific point number again, the Pass Line bets win again, while the Don’t Pass bets lose. When the shooter rolls a 7, however, the round ends with Pass line bets losing and Don’t Pass bets winning.

How to Play Craps – Common Craps Rules & Bets

There are plenty of bets you can wager at craps, but as a newbie, you might want to stick to the following popular bets:

Pass Line Bet

We have already touched on this. It’s indeed the simplest craps bet to wager. If you wager on Pass Line, you are betting that the shooter will roll either an 11 or 7. If he or she does roll this numbers, you will double your bet. If he or she rolls 12, 3 or 2, you will not win. However, if the shooter lands 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, or 4 on the first turn, the above-mentioned scenario happens.

Don’t Pass Line Bet

It is simply the opposite bet to Pass Line wager. If the shooter lands on 2, 3 or 12 on the come-out roll, you win while a 7 or 11 delivers a loss to you. If the player rolls 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, or 4, Don’t Pass bets win if a 7 comes up.

Come Bet

Come bet is much akin to a Pass Line bet; however, it can be wagered any time after the come-out roll has delivered a point. A Come bet wins if an 11 or 7 comes up in subsequent rolls after the first turn. Similarly, if 12, 3 or 2 is rolled, the Come bet will not win.

Don’t Come Bet

Don’t Come bet is much the same as the Don’t Pass bet except that you can make it even after the point has been identified. If 12, 3 or 2 is rolled in subsequent rolls, the Don’t Come bet wins. If 7 or 11 is rolled, however, a Don’t Come bet loses on any roll after the first roll.

Odds Bet

This is yet another popular craps bet. You can make an Odd bet only after you have wagered on a Pass, Come, Don’t Come or Don’t Pass bet. You will place your betting chips behind your original Come/Pass/Don’t Pass/Don’t-Come bet. Technically, you are betting a 7, or point number will be rolled first.

Other Bets – Proposition Craps Bets

Proposition bets are single-roll bets that you can make as come/don’t come or pass/don’t pass are still being rolled. They usually come with a high house edge, so you should wager on them once in a while to get more excitement and action from the game. If you are interested in making proposition wagers, here are a few things you need to know:

• Ace Deuce (Three) Bet – This pay 15-1 if 3 is rolled
• Big Red (Any 7) – This pay 4-1 if a 7 is rolled.
• Three-Way (Any Craps) – Pays 7-1 if 12, 3 or 2 is rolled.
• Snake Eyes (Two Craps) – Pays a whopping 30-1 if 2 is rolled
• Midnight (12 Craps) – Also pays 30-1 if 12 is rolled
• Yo (Eleven) – Pays 15-1 if 11 is rolled.