Players have been curious about how to play craps since the game gained popularity in medieval times (when it was called Hazards). This interest continues today. While it is very popular in physical casinos, online casinos have made it possible for players to enjoy this dice game from their own homes.
In this guide, we take you through the ins and outs of craps, how to play, tips and strategies, and where to play. So, let’s dive in.
Basic Craps Rules
When visiting craps tables at brick-and-mortar casinos, players gather around a long table, roll two dice and place bets on the numbers they predict will come up. Playing craps online works similarly, except the game is virtual.
The craps rules dictate that the player who rolls the dice is called the “shooter.” There are three craps numbers, two, three, and 12. Should the shooter roll one of these three numbers, they will have “crapped out.” The first roll a shooter plays is called the “come out,” and if the first number a shooter rolls is a seven or an 11, it is called a “natural,” and the round is passed. Here, those wagering on the pass line will win back money in what is called “passing,” one of the most straightforward craps bets.
Other numbers a player can roll (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) are called “point numbers.” When one of these figures is rolled, it creates a point, and the objective here is whether the shooter can roll this same point number again before they roll a seven. But if the shooter rolls a seven, they are considered to have “sevened out,” which causes them to lose the bet.
The Best Craps Strategies
If you’re looking for hard and fast strategies that show you how to win craps, you’re out of luck. Because craps is primarily a game of chance more than a game of skill, very few strategies can help you improve your chances of winning. However, there are a few you can try to improve your odds, such as opening your roll with a pass or don’t pass wager, avoiding bets at the center of the table, and also staying clear of the Martingale system, as this could lead to substantial losses on this game more than others. We have a guide on craps strategy for more information on this topic.
Top 5 Tips How to Win at Craps
Those wanting to know how to play craps may find a few additional tips handy. While craps is predominantly a game of chance, there are a few tricks you can use to improve your chances and extend your bankroll. So, take a look below to see our five top craps tips.
1. Study the Craps Rules and Practice
Before spending your bankroll, we recommend fully understanding how to play craps and reading through the craps rules involved. Another added tip is to try a few rounds for free using demo mode on sites where you can get a feel for the game before spending any money.
2. Understand the Craps Table and the Bets You Can Place
Another top tip is to get acquainted with craps tables and how to place your bets. Remember, bets at the center of the table usually come with less favorable odds and a higher house edge. Understanding aspects like this can help you place more lucrative bets in the long run.
3. Start Out Placing the Most Straightforward Bets
Placing the most straightforward bets on a craps game is an excellent way to get a feel for things, and these carry less risk so that you can play for longer. On craps tables, the pass and don’t pass bets are the most basic, and they focus on whether the shooter will succeed in their next roll or not. Usually, these have the best house edge too, which sits around 1.41%.
4. Visit a Reputable Online Craps Casino
There are plenty of online craps casinos to play at. There are also a number of offshore casinos (like those on our list) that offer top craps games, plus a secure platform on which to practice. Additionally, these sites provide fair play, excellent odds, and consistent payouts.
5. Manage Your Bankroll
Once you have learned the ropes and feel confident enough to start placing real money bets, we recommend reviewing your bankroll and putting a plan in action to ensure you don’t over-spend, and that will allow you to play for longer.
Types of Craps Games to Play
When learning how to play craps, players will discover several variations of the game to enjoy. In the passage that follows, we take a look at the five most popular variations that bettors can find and play online.
Bank Craps
Classic or Bank craps is the most common game version and is the worldwide game standard that players can find online and at brick-and-mortar casinos. Here, players stake their bets on a particular section of the classic craps table before the shooter rolls the dice.
Crapless Craps
Also called “ruse” craps, crapless craps see players enjoying a game where they won’t lose funds if a two, three, or 12 is rolled on a Pass line bet.
Simplified Craps
Although the craps tables are the same as bank craps, Simplified craps provide a version of the game exactly as the name suggests. Here, the shooter only rolls once. So, if they land a 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, or 12, it’s considered a win, but shooting any of the remaining numbers sees a loss.
Low Limit Craps
This game version usually follows the rules of bank craps but allows bettors who want to avoid putting down high stakes to make the lowest possible bet. Although rarely found at brick-and-mortar casinos, this style is commonly offered online.
High Limit Craps
While low-limit craps cater to bettors with budgets of all kinds, high-limit craps offer higher starting bets to players considered high rollers. In most cases, minimum bets start at $1 and have a maximum bet value exceeding $1,000.
Craps Payouts
The craps odds and payouts found at online casinos offering the game are fairly straightforward. Here, the house edge determines the payout odds, which vary according to the wager a bettor lays down. The following table sets out the most popular bets, the craps odds offered, and the house edge.
| Bet type | Payout | House Edge |
| Pass Line Odds | 2 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Pass Line Odds (4 or 10) | 2 to 1 | 4.76% |
| Pass Line Odds (5 or 9) | 3 to 2 | 4.76% |
| Pass Line Odds (6 or 8) | 5 to 6 | 4.76% |
| Don’t Pass Odds | 2 to 1 | 1.36% |
| Don’t Pass Odds (4 or 10) | 2 to 1 | 2.44% |
| Don’t Pass Odds (5 or 9) | 3 to 2 | 3.23% |
| Don’t Pass Odds (6 or 8) | 5 to 6 | 4% |
| Place Bets (4 or 10) | 9 to 5 | 6.70% |
| Place Bets (5 or 9) | 7 to 5 | 4% |
| Place Bets (6 or 8) | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Field Bets (3, 4, 9, 10 or 11) | 1 to 1 | 5.50% |
| Field Bets (2 or 12) | 2 to 1 | 5.50% |
| Any 7 | 4 to 1 | 16.90% |
| Any Craps | 7 to 1 | 11.10% |
| 2 Craps or 12 Craps | 30 to 1 | 13.90% |
| 3 Craps or 11 Craps | 15 to 1 | 11.10% |
| Big 6 or 8 | 1 to 1 | 9.09% |
Playing Craps Online
Live casino games see an online casino set up a studio to look like a brick-and-mortar casino and hire a live croupier who then deals out the game. Players can participate in the game by placing wagers with the croupier over live chat.
While this style of gaming is available for most table games like roulette and blackjack, it isn’t offered for craps by many of the casinos on our list.
However, players can enjoy online craps games and learn how to play craps using computer-generated games. Additionally, many of these sites offer free play that makes the game even simpler to learn without using your deposited funds.