Craps is a casino game with a very complex betting structure that can take some time to learn all of the betting options. This exciting game can be one of the loudest tables on the casino floor when the dice are rolling true.
The Rules of Craps
The dice are passed to a player, aka the “shooter” in a clockwise motion once the previous player “craps out”. Once all bets are placed, Craps rules dictate that the shooter selects two dice to roll, also called the “come out roll”.
If the shooter rolls a 2,3 or 12 right away, the pass line bets (explained later) lose. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, the pass line bets win. If the shooter on the come out roll rolls a 4-10, the “point” is established. The shooter must hit the point number before rolling a 7, or “craps”.
If the point is hit the shooter keeps the dice and a new come out roll is made and a new point is established. If the player craps out, the dice are passed to the next player.
Craps Betting Tips and Options
There are numerous bets that can be made in Craps. Below is a comprehensive guide to Craps betting.
Pass
The Pass bet is the most basic betting option on a Craps table. Everyone who plays Craps, this is the first bet they learn about. The Pass bet is placed before the come out roll. If a 2,3 or 12 is rolled, the bet loses. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, the bet wins even money. If a point is established, that number must be rolled again before a 7 to win. The bet pays even money.
The Pass line bet is available after the point has been established, but it should never be made. The house edge of the Pass bet is greatly increased once the point has been established.
Players can also place odds on the Pass bet once the point has been established. Odds vary from to casino to casino and can range anywhere from 2X – 100X the Pass bet amount. The odds bet (available in the odds section below) is one of the best bets you can make on a Craps table.
Don’t Pass
The opposite of the Pass bet, the Don’t Pass bet is placed on the come out roll. If a 2,3 or 12 is rolled, the bet wins. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, the bet loses. If a point is established, a 7 must be rolled before the point in order to win, which pays even money.
Players can also lay odds on the Don’t Pass bet. This works exactly the same as the Pass bet odds.
Come and Don’t Come
The Come and Don’t Come bets are the exact same as Pass and Don’t Pass bets except they are made after the come out roll and the point has been established. Odds bets are also available on these bets.
Place
Place bets are odds placed directly on numbers 4-10. These bets win if the number is rolled before a 7. Odds are given on payouts, but carry a house advantage.
Place to Lose bets are also available and are the exact opposite of Place bets. These bets win when a 7 is rolled before the number bet is rolled.
Buy and Lay
Buy bets are similar to Odds and Place bets and Lay bets are similar to Laying Odds and Place to Lose bets, with slightly different odds. Players must also pay an immediate 5% commission on bets, based on the winning bet amount.
Hard Way
Hard way bets are numbers where both dice values are the same. There are 4 Hard Way bets available (4,6,8 and 10). The Hard Way of making the number must be made before the “easy” way.
For example, if you bet a Hard 8, the first 8 rolled must be 4 before an easy 8 is made, or: 6+2 or 5+3
Put
Put bets are placed on the Pass and Come bets after the come out roll. These carry a significant house advantage, so they should be completely avoided.
On and Off Bets
Bets can be turned On and Off at any time of a player’s choosing. The majority of bets are automatically Off when a come out roll is made, unless instructed otherwise by the player.
Prop Bets
Prop Bets are made on the next roll of the dice. These bets are always resolved after just one roll.
| Proposition Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Payout | Win % | House Edge |
| 2, 12 | 33 to 1 | 2.78% | 5.56% |
| 2, 12 | 32 to 1 | 2.78% | 8.33% |
| 2, 12 | 31 to 1 | 2.78% | 11.11% |
| 2, 12 | 30 to 1 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| 2, 12 | 29 to 1 | 2.78% | 16.67% |
| 3, 11 | 16 to 1 | 5.56% | 5.56% |
| 3, 11 | 15 to 1 | 5.56% | 11.11% |
| 3, 11 | 14 to 1 | 5.56% | 16.67% |
| Any craps (2, 3 or 12) | 7 to 1 | 11.11% | 11.11% |
| Any craps (2, 3 or 12) | 7.5 to 1 | 11.11% | 5.56% |
| Any 7 | 4 to 1 | 16.67% | 16.67% |
Field Bet
A Field bet is a wager placed that the next roll will total 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. Field bets are always resolved after just one roll.
| Field Bets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Payout | Probability | ROI |
| 2 | 2 | 2.778% | 0.055556 |
| 12 | 3 | 2.778% | 0.083333 |
| 3,4,9,10,11 | 1 | 38.889% | 0.388889 |
| 5,6,7,8 | -1 | 55.556% | -0.555556 |
| Total | 1 | -0.027778 | |
Craps Payouts, Probabilities and House Edge
| Multi-Roll Bets in Craps | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet | Payout | Win % | Push % | Loss % | House Edge |
| Pass | 1 to 1 | 49.29% | 0.00% | 50.71% | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | 1 to 1 | 47.93% | 2.78% | 49.29% | 1.4% |
| Taking Odds 6 and 8 | 6 to 5 | 13.89% | 69.44% | 16.67% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 5 and 9 | 3 to 2 | 11.11% | 72.22% | 16.67% | 0.00% |
| Taking Odds 4 and 10 | 2 to 1 | 8.33% | 75.00% | 16.67% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 6 and 8 | 5 to 6 | 16.67% | 69.44% | 13.89% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 5 and 9 | 2 to 3 | 16.67% | 72.22% | 11.11% | 0.00% |
| Laying Odds 4 and 10 | 1 to 2 | 16.67% | 75.00% | 8.33% | 0.00% |
| Place 6 and 8 | 7 to 6 | 13.89% | 69.44% | 16.67% | 1.52% |
| Place 5 and 9 | 7 to 5 | 11.11% | 72.22% | 16.67%% | 4.00% |
| Place 4 and 10 | 9 to 5 | 8.33% | 75.00% | 16.67% | 6.67% |
| Don’t Place 6 and 8 | 4 to 5 | 16.67% | 69.44% | 13.89% | 1.82% |
| Don’t Place 5 and 9 | 5 to 8 | 16.67% | 72.22% | 11.11% | 2.50% |
| Don’t Place 4 and 10 | 5 to 11 | 16.67% | 75.00% | 8.33% | 3.03% |
| Buy 6 and 8 | 23 to 21 | 13.89% | 69.44% | 16.67% | 4.76% |
| Buy 5 and 9 | 29 to 21 | 11.11% | 72.22% | 16.67% | 4.76% |
| Buy 4 and 10 | 39 to 21 | 8.33% | 75.00% | 16.67% | 4.76% |
| Buy 6 and 8 | 23 to 20 | 13.89% | 69.44% | 16.67% | 2.27% |
| Buy 5 and 9 | 29 to 20 | 11.11% | 72.22% | 16.67% | 2.00% |
| Buy 4 and 10 | 39 to 20 | 8.33% | 72.22% | 16.67% | 2.00% |
| Lay 6 and 8 | 19 to 25 | 16.67% | 69.44% | 13.89% | 4.00% |
| Lay 5 and 9 | 19 to 31 | 16.67% | 72.22% | 11.11% | 3.23% |
| Lay 4 and 10 | 19 to 41 | 16.67% | 75.00% | 8.33% | 2.44% |
| Lay 6 and 8 | 19 to 24 | 16.67% | 69.44% | 13.89% | 2.27% |
| Lay 5 and 9 | 19 to 30 | 16.67% | 72.22% | 11.11% | 2.00% |
| Lay 4 and 10 | 19 to 40 | 16.67% | 75.00% | 8.33% | 1.67% |
| Hard 6 and 8 | 9 to 1 | 2.78% | 69.44% | 27.78% | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 and 10 | 7 to 1 | 2.78% | 75.00% | 22.22% | 11.11% |
| Combined House Edge Taking Full Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pass/Come Bets House Edge | Odds | Don’t Pass/Come Bets House Edge |
| 0.848% | 1x | 0.701% |
| 0.606% | 2x | 0.468% |
| 0.471% | 3x | 0.351% |
| 0.326% | 5x | 0.234% |
| 0.184% | 10x | 0.128% |
| 0.021% | 100x | 0.014% |
Craps Strategy
The best Craps strategy bet to make is to play either the Pass or Don’t Pass bets with the full odds available. The higher the odds offered, the lesser the house edge.
#1 Craps Tip
Look for the casinos offering the highest odds.
#2 Craps Tip
Stay away from all of the bets offered in the middle of the table. These bets have a significant house edge.
Craps Tutorial Video
Craps Variations
There are a couple different versions of Craps available, varying in table size and betting options.
- Mini Craps – The game is played with a smaller table, approximately half the size of a normal Craps table. All of the action and betting is the same.
- Crapless Craps – In this version there is no Craps on the come out roll. If you roll a 2,3 or 12 you don’t automatically lose. Instead, this is the point you need to make before rolling a 7.
Craps History
Craps is the simplified version of the old English game Hazard. Although the exact origin of the game is unknown, it is thought to have been played as far back as the 10th Century. The modern version of the game was first introduced by the French in Louisiana back in the 18th Century.
Craps in Pop Culture
Craps has been featured in numerous movies. One of the more famous ones was the dark movie The Cooler. Many of Hollywood’s elite actors including William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, Maria Bello, Ron Livingston, Paul Sorvino and Estella Warren are in the movie. Even former N’SYNC boy-band member Joey Fatone made an appearance playing Craps.
