Complete Guide to Playing Craps – Tips for Playing Online and In the Casino
Craps is really quite simple when you break it down. Playing online craps is easy, fun, and stress-free. In this guide, you’ll learn all about how to play craps with dice, the rules for craps, as well as our recommendation for the best online craps casino!
Here you can find a list of different topics we cover on this page. Click any of these links to jump to that portion of the page.
How to Play Craps at a Casino
When you’re playing craps at a real money casino, there are two ways that you can play.
- Active – Actively throwing the dice at the table with the other players
- Passive – Betting on other peoples’ dice throws
There’s no right or wrong way with how to play dice craps, it’s all up to your preference. If you want to be the center of the action, play actively and roll your dice. If you just want to watch and share in the excitement, bet passively.
Be aware that you might upset your fellow players at the table if you’re betting against the shooter. Placing don’t pass and don’t come bets is poor etiquette, but not forbidden.
Plus, when it comes to learning how to play casino craps, there’s a lot of slang that you might not understand. Seasoned players might say things like “Big Red,” “Midnight,” or “Little Joe” (slang for 7, 12, and a pair of 2s, respectively). While the slang portion might seem intimidating, as long as you understand the rules of craps and watch the roles, you’ll know what’s going on.
How to Play Craps Online
Many of the little quirks that make in-person craps difficult are absent when playing online craps. Online craps is widely popular for players that like to take part in the action without being the center of attention. Rolling the dice is easy and fast, and betting rounds are equally as quick.
Here’s a little guide to help you start your online craps journey:
The #1 Online Craps Casino to Use – Las Atlantis
There are plenty of online craps casinos out there, but to get the best online gaming experience, you have to choose carefully. When you pick an online casino—for any game, really—it’s important that you make sure the casino is reputable.
You can tell if an online craps casino is reputable by its license, which is usually displayed on the home page. Also, check for game tester seals of approval because not all online casino games are created equal. If the game is credible, it’ll have been tested and approved by a respectable agency.
And most importantly, understand the deposit and withdrawal policies if you’re going to be playing with real money. Some online casinos limit your deposits or withdrawals, so you’ll want to find one that has large limits or none at all.
We recommend Las Atlantis casino because it checks all the boxes to be the best online craps casino out there.
- Large variation of games (craps, roulette, card games, slots, etc.)
- Fast payout options like crypto and e-wallets
- Zero transaction fees
- Healthy deposit bonuses up to $14,000
- 2x and 3x odds settings for craps betting
- Free to play craps option
Basic Rules for Craps
The rules for craps are fairly simple to understand, and the same rudimentary laws of craps are repeated throughout multiple rounds of play. The shooter will place a pass or don’t pass bet and roll their dice for the first time, known as the come-out. Depending on their bet, the shooter can either win or lose on their come-out. (We’ll get to the bets in a moment.) If not, a point is set.
The point is the number that the shooter rolled, and they must roll again before the round is over. Let’s say that the shooter rolls an 8 on the come-out. They then have to roll another 8 to win. However, if they roll a 7 before they make the point, they lose.
Gameplay will then continue, and the dice is passed to the right for another player to roll their come-out. New bets are set, and the game continues like the first round. Craps can certainly be a long-winded game, but most players tend to play for a few rounds before moving to a new table or a new game.
Types of Craps Betting
At its core, craps is a game of patience and luck. But knowing all the types of craps bets can really elevate your game and increase your chances of winning. All you need to do is take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with all the possibilities and blow on your virtual dice for good luck!
There a handful of craps bets to learn:
- Pass
- Don’t Pass
- Come
- Don’t Come
- Odds
- Place
- Buy
- Hardway
- Field
- One-Roll
Pass
The pass bet is the most common of all craps bets. You bet that the dice shooter will succeed. If they do, you win; if they don’t win, well, you get the point.
The pass bet pays out even money, so it’s a fairly low payout bet. Put in $5 and get a $5 profit if you win.
To place a pass bet, you place your chips on the green pass line that stretches around the edge of the craps table. The layout of the craps table has stayed the same for online variations of the game, so finding the pass line is relatively simple.
A pass bet must be made on a come-out roll. Pass rolls cannot be made once the “on” chip has been placed next to a number.
How to Win a Pass Bet
Pass bets win if:
- The shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the starting roll
- The shooter rolls a 5, then another 5, and then a 7
NOTE: Pass bets might be in play for several rolls. If the point is a 5, the pass bet stays in play until a 5 or a 7 is rolled. Any rolls in between the 5 and the next 5 or 7 have no bearing on the outcome of the pass bet.
Don’t Pass
If a pass bet roots for the shooter, the don’t pass bet is betting against the shooter. If the shooter loses, you win.
Don’t pass bets are only won if the shooter loses. If the shooter makes a point and rolls a 7 before the point is rolled again, you win! And of course, the losing numbers of the pass bet (2, 3, and 12) are don’t pass’ winning bets.
Don’t pass bets are placed on the don’t pass line, right above the pass line. Just like the pass, you can only place don’t pass bets on the come-out roll. The “off” chip indicates you can make your bet.
While placing a don’t pass bet in a casino is considered in poor taste (betting against the shooter displays undue hostility, even though there are no rules against it), online casinos eliminate this problem. When you’re playing craps online, you can place a don’t pass bet without the fear that someone at the table will take offense. It’s a virtual table, anyway.
How to Win a Don’t Pass Bet
- The shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll
- If a point of 8 is in place, the shooter rolls a 7 before an 8
NOTE: Don’t pass bets operate like pass bets and might be in place for multiple rolls. The don’t pass bet is won or lost once the round of rolling is over.
Come
The come bet is a facsimile of the pass bet, except it can be placed at any time. The pass bet is restricted to the come-out roll, but the come bet can be made on non-come-out rolls.
Once a point is established or the point or 7 has been rolled to start the round over, you can make your come bets. As soon as you do so, you roll for your come-out.
To place a come bet, you place your chips on the “Come” rectangle on the table. Come bets are restricted to non-come-out rolls. A white “on” chip near the point on the table indicates when the come-out is over and a point has been established.
How to Win a Come Bet
- Rolling a 7 or 11 as the first roll after you make the come bet
- Making your point before rolling a 7
NOTE: Pass and don’t pass bets still in play have no bearing on the outcome of the come bet.
Don’t Come
The don’t come bet is the inverse of the come wager. It can only be made on non-come-out rolls, and you’ll be betting that the shooter loses the come bet.
Similar to the don’t pass bet, don’t come is also considered to be offensive at real money casinos. But online craps eliminates that problem.
To make a don’t come wager, place your chips on the “Don’t Come” bar, perpendicular to the come box. You can only make don’t come bets on rolls that aren’t come-out rolls.
How to Win a Don’t Come Bet
- The shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the first roll.
- The shooter rolls a 7 before the point is met.
NOTE: Don’t come bets are one of the more complex bets for craps, but it’s an essential part of the game.
Odds
Odds is a very popular bet in craps because it’s one of the rare bets (for any table game, honestly) that gives the player an equal chance of success as the house.
However, an odds bet can only be made if you have another bet already in place. If you haven’t already made a pass or don’t pass wager, you can’t make an odds bet. That’s how casinos get you. To make the odds bet, you first have to brave a bet that favors the house.
But if you end up winning the first bet, your odds bet will trigger and you’ll be winning even more. So, it’s a risky bet, but it’s worth it if you succeed.
Taking the Odds
If you place your odds bet on a pass bet, it’s known as taking the odds. Odds bets are made on the thin line below the pass box on the board.
Laying the Odds
If you place your odds bet on a don’t pass bet, it’s known as laying the odds. Laying the odds has a statistically higher chance of success, so the payout is smaller than taking the odds.
To place a lay odds bet, your chips go on the small box below the don’t pass box.
How to Win an Odds Bet
Winning an odds bet depends on whether your original wager was pass or don’t pass.
- If you placed a pass bet and have established a point, and shooter must roll the point before a 7 to win both the pass and the odds bet.
- If you placed a don’t pass bet and have established a point, the shooter must roll a 7 before the point to win the don’t pass and odds bet.
It’s worth noting that different points have higher chances of being met than others. For example, an 8 is much easier to meet as a point than a 4. Therefore, betting limits are set for different points when it comes to odds bets.
A typical limit might be the 3, 4, 5x method.
- If the point is 4 or 10, you may bet 3 times your original pass/don’t pass bet
- If the point is 5 or 9, you may bet 4 times your original pass/don’t pass bet
- If the point is 6 or 8, you may bet 5 times your original pass/don’t pass bet
Because computerized dealers are much better at math than live dealers, online limits on bets might differ. The 3, 4, 5x method is popular in brick-and-mortar casinos because it makes math easier for the dealers.
A good rule to follow is if the limit is higher, the house edge is lower.
Place
By this point, you understand that to lose a come-out roll, you need a 2, 3, or 12. And to win, you need a 7 or 11. That leaves all the other numbers available to be the point
Place bets are when you wager on the point number, or all other possible point numbers. For example, if the shooter rolls a 6, you can make a place bet on any or all of the following numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
To win the place bet, the shooter has to land on the number you bet on before making point or losing to a 7. So, if you the shooter rolls a 6, you place bet on 8, and the shooter rolls an 8 before a 6 or 7, you win. You can also choose the point number as your bet. If you choose to bet on 6, and the shooter rolls the 6, you win your place bet. If the shooter had a pass bet, they would also win.
Place to Lose
This is the inverse of the place bet. You’ll choose one of the available point numbers, but you’ll win if the 7 is rolled before the number you chose. Winning place to lose bets results in lower paybacks because the chances of succeeding are higher.
To make a place bet, your chips will go in the slim box below the point numbers on the board.
To make a place to lose bet, your chips will go in the slim box above the point numbers on the board.
Place/place to lose bets are made on non-come-out rolls and you don’t need to have made a prior pass/don’t pass bet. Place to lose bets can also be made on the come-out roll, but only become active once the roll has been executed.
How to Win Place Bets
- To win a place bet, the number you bet on is rolled before the point is met or a 7 is rolled
- To win a place to lose bet, the 7 is rolled before the number you picked
NOTE: Place bets have different odds and payouts depending on the number you chose.
Buy
The buy bet is the same as the place bet, but it comes with a small caveat: The casino charges a commission on all buy bets.
The buy is placed on a single number, and you’ll pay a small commission on top of your wager in return for fair odds. If commission is 5%, you pay $10.50 for a bet of $10. Some online casinos and gambling sites won’t charge you a commission on the 4 or 10 (unless you win, of course).
If you intend to make a buy bet while playing online, be sure you know how to navigate to this bet. Normally, the buy bet button will be displayed on the left of your screen.
Hardway
Normally, when the two dice are rolled for craps, the only number that matters is the final combination of both dice. However, with hardway bets, certain combinations of numbers are more valuable than others.
Let’s say that you place a bet on the number 8, but you indicated you want a hardway bet. To win this bet, you’d have to roll a 4 and a 4 to get 8. If the combination is 6 and 2 or 5 and 3, you lose the bet. If the shooter rolls a 7, you also lose.
Hardway bets are made on non-come-out rolls and are only in play as long as it’s a non-come-out roll.
To place a hardway bet, place your chips on the double dice symbols on the board. The hardway bets and their payouts will be listed with each corresponding set of dice.
Field
The field is probably the simplest bet in craps because it focuses on a single roll. It’s unaffected by other rolls or bets in the game.
A field bet allows you to bet on a single roll at any time. You’ll be wagering on a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12, and if you win, you get even money. Betting on a 2 or 12 might net you a bit more depending on where you’re playing.
To make a field bet, place your chips on the number you chose within the field box, directly below the come box on the craps board. You can make a field bet on come-out and non-come-out rolls.
How to Win a Field Bet
- The shooter rolls the number your chose
- If the shooter rolls a 5, 6, 7, or 8, you lose the field bet.
One-Roll
There are a few other single-roll bets like the field bet that beginner players like to use. These bets follow a simple pattern and are pretty easy to grasp.
Usually, the middle section of the craps table or board will display the one-roll bets. You can bet on: 7, craps (2, 3, or 12), 2, 3, 11, 12.
The payouts for these single-rolls all vary. For example, rolling a 2 earns you 30:1 payback, while an 11 gets you 15:1 payback.
It’s important to know the riskiness of your single roll before going all in on it. The house edge on single rolls is significantly higher than on other craps bets.
Craps Odds for the Different Bets
When you play craps online for real money, it’s critical that you know the odds of each of your bets, and the payouts that they boast. Understanding the house edge is the first step to taking your craps game to the next level.
The house edge is the advantage the casino or gambling site has over you, the player. The house edge in a game like roulette is pretty easy to figure out, because much of the game is based on the roulette wheel. But with craps, there’s a lot more variables, so the house edge differs based on your bet.
A good rule of thumb is to go with negative bets, like don’t pass or don’t come, because the house edge tends to be lower.
For example:
- Pass/Come bets have a house edge of 1.41%
- Don’t Pass/Don’t Come bets have a house edge of 1.36%
Since betting against the shooter in a brick and mortar casino won’t win your many friends, it’s probably more beneficial to play online craps for money instead.
Odds Bets
- For a point of 6 or 8, payback is 6 to 5
- For a point of 5 or 9, payback is 3 to 2
- For a point of 4 or 10, payback is 3 to 1
Inverse payback is available for the negative odds plays. (5 to 6 instead of 6 to 5). The more you bet on top of your original wager, more it decreases the house edge.
| Odds Bet Wager | 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% |
While getting the house edge as low as possible is almost always a good thing, be wary of how much money you’re putting up on a single bet. As low as the house edge is, there’s always a chance you’ll lose your money.
Place Bets
Place bets are popular because people like to bet on a lucky number. And the payback isn’t terrible, but as the payback increases, so does the house edge:
| 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 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
Buy Bets
A buy bet will give you fair odds for your wager. But many people don’t feel they are worth it because of the commission you have to pay. Plus, the house edge on commissioned games is 4.67%. That’s not great, but it’s also not terrible compared to some of the hardway or one-roll bets.
The payback for buy bets is as follows:
| 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
People enjoy the hardway bets because they give off a certain excitement; there’s the adrenaline rush of high stacks and high payout. But if you’re an experienced craps player, you know that hardway bets also heavily favor the house.
| Bet | Payback | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| 4 the hard way | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
| 6 the hard way | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
| 8 the hard way | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
| 10 the hardway | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
Single Roll Bets
One-roll wagers have been popularized by the big risk-big reward mentality of inexperienced bettors. Single roll wagers will give you a handsome payout, but the house edge is astronomically large.
| 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 looking for a one-roll bet to keep your adrenaline high, take the field bet. It has the lowest house edge and it doesn’t have a terrible payback.
What Are the Best Bets in Craps?
Here’s the section you’ve all been waiting for.
Truth be told, the best bets in craps are pretty obvious. Yes, the bets with the lowest house edge are great. But when you pair bets together, that’s where you can stand to win big.
At the end of the day, the best bets for craps are the ones you’re familiar with. There are a lot of numbers to remember and a lot of odds to keep track of. Pick a few bets that have good odds and low house edge percentages. Learn them and keep at it!
Learn How to Win at Craps
A lot of players give craps a wide berth at the casino because it can be an intimidating game. It can also be embarrassing if you’re around seasoned gambling veterans.
But all it takes to learn how to win at craps is a little bit of free time and a computer. There are many places online where you can find craps explanation videos as well as free craps games.
Getting a sense for the flow of the game and the kinds of bets will help you become more confident in your playing ability.
And don’t feel like the next step is to hop into a live craps game at a brick and mortar casino! More people than ever are choosing online casinos and gambling sites to play craps, roulette, poker, and other table games.
Regardless of whether your end goal is to impress the craps table at your local casino or chill at home with your tablet and a glass of wine, here are some tips for how to win at craps.
How to Win at Craps With a Small Bankroll
Craps can get expensive pretty quickly, especially if you’re not careful with your bankroll. But that doesn’t mean the game is only meant for high-rollers. No, you can certainly win at craps with a small bankroll, you just need to follow these helpful tips.
- Give Yourself a Reasonable Budget – It’s definitely possible to take $15 to the craps table and walk away with more than you came with. But if you have a bit more to add to your pot, start with $25 to $30. It gives you a bit of wiggle room for the odds.
- Know What Bets to Make – Betting odds with a small bankroll could either be miraculous or disastrous. If you win, you’ve made quite a bit more than you started with. But if you lose, you’re probably out of the game. Know what bets you can use to win without losing all your money. Bet negatively to get a lower house edge.
- Tap Out While You’re Ahead – If you’re turning up with $20, don’t get carried away. Acknowledge your small wins. If you win back even money, pocket $20 and play with your winnings. There’s no worse feeling than going from all smiles to an empty bankroll because you pushed your luck.
Practice Playing Craps Online for Free
Like we mentioned, playing craps online for free is a great way to get your practice in. If your end goal is to go to a live casino and play craps, knowing all the rules is a must.
Casino employees often won’t be able to answer all your questions without slowing down the pace of play or annoying other players.
Know your stuff before you show up. The chances of you winning at craps is always higher when you know all the rules and the best bets.
Study the craps board on the free game above to know where and how to place bets, and check out where to play free casino games online below!
Live Dealer Craps
If you enjoy the atmosphere of the craps table, but aren’t able to play as often as you’d like, there’s a solution! Live dealer craps adds some of that real-table excitement into online craps games.
Many people who play craps online from the comfort of their home enjoy live dealer games because it fits their style. Plus, when you bring in a live dealer, you can do away with random number generators (RNG). There isn’t a change to your chances to win, but you do have the luxury of that distinctive human touch.
Playing with a live dealer is easier than ever with today’s technology, and what better game to play than craps?
Brief History of Craps
Unlike other table games, like roulette, modern craps is actually a product of American innovation. The game of craps is a variation of the English game of hazard, both of which are dice games.
A young aristocrat named Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville brought the game of hazard to New Orleans in 1805, and eventually simplified the game. While the game didn’t garner much support in de Mandeville’s aristocrat friend group, it was widely popular with the working class.
The game traveled up the Mississippi River and quickly spread throughout the United States. Craps was an easy game to play. All you needed was a flat surface and a set of dice, so it became the game of choice for many poor gamblers.
Since it’s widespread notoriety in the early 1800s, craps has grown and become more friendly to the players. Most casinos up to this point were offering craps plaid with loaded dice, giving the house an advantage over the players.
John H. Winn, a dicemaker, proposed a new version of craps that offers bet on Pass and Don’t Pass. This method gives the players a choice of bets, which prompted casinos and gambling riverboats to use fair dice.
Online casinos have brought the game of craps to many new audiences, and the game is now appreciated globally!
Why Is It Called “Craps?”
Craps might seem like an odd name for such an old and popular casino game, but its name has roots in British aristocracy.
The term “crabs” was used by Londoners to refer to the numbers two and three. When playing hazard, two and three are always losing numbers.
“Craps” is a dialectic variation on crabs by the Louisiana underclass. Since the game was so popular with working-class people in the 19th century, the name “craps” eventually stuck.
Important Craps Terms
- Come-Out Roll – This is the very first roll of the betting round. Certain bets can only be placed on the come-out round. The come-out roll can be identified by a black chip on the table labeled “off.”
- Craps – Yes, craps is the name of the game, but it also refers to the numbers 2, 3, and 12. The word craps comes from the old British term crabs, which also meant the numbers 2 and 3.
- Point – A point is established if, the player rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 on the first roll. That number is then referred to as the point, and the shooter must hit that number again before they roll a 7.
- Shooter – The person who is rolling the dice. You place bets on the shooter’s roll.
- Easy Way – Forming a number without a pair of same numbers. For example, rolling an 8 the easy way would be a 6 and a 2 (or a 5 and a 3); opposite of hardway.
- Even Money – Bet that pays out 1 to 1. (Put in $5, win $5)
- Inside Numbers – These are the place number bets, 5, 6, 8, 9.
- Outside Numbers – When the numbers are 4, 5, 9, and 10 as place number bets.
- Natural – When the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll.
Online Craps FAQ
Is It Legal to Play Craps Online?
The legality of online casino games depends on your location. Sometimes, gambling sites will block IP addresses from visitors in countries where the casino is not licensed to operate.
But if you’re worried about the legality of online craps, make sure you follow our recommendations. All of the sites we recommend are licensed in their jurisdictions and accept US players, unless otherwise stated.
Can I Play Craps on My Phone?
Las Atlantis is mobile compatible, so you can definitely play craps on their app! But if you’re wondering about other sites, most reputable online craps sites are mobile-optimized. It could either have an app or you can simply play on your mobile browser.
It might take a while to get used to the small screen, but playing craps on the go or in bed is 100% possible.
Why Are Table Limits Lower in Online Craps?
Because the online casino doesn’t have as much overhead as an in-person casino, the online casino can offer lower table limits.
What Is a No Deposit Craps Bonus?
Sometimes, online casinos will offer new players a no deposit bonus. It’s a way to get new players interested in playing without having to make the decision to deposit funds. This bonus can be used for craps, slots, blackjack, and other table games.
Is Online Craps Different Than Live Casino Craps?
The odds and payback for the two versions of craps are essentially the same. And the rules for how the rolls take place and what constitutes winning and losing bets also remain unchanged. In that respect, playing online won’t be that much different from playing in a casino.
But online craps is different in that you are in charge of how fast or how slow you play. That can be a big advantage, especially when you compare it to a game in a crowded casino where you might have a hard time getting your bets in before a roll. In addition, online craps might be a better choice for new players who don’t want to deal with the pressure of knowing all the right etiquette and protocol.
Can I Play Online Craps With Bitcoin?
Yes, many online casinos now offer Bitcoin only deposits, which lets you get to playing online games quicker. Make sure to check what the online casinos’ rules are before you turn your cash into Bitcoin.
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