How to Play Craps: A Beginner's Guide to the Rules, Bets and Odds

Few casino games look as intimidating as craps. The table is covered in boxes, numbers and unfamiliar terms, and the action moves quickly. Underneath all of that, though, the game is built around one simple idea: two dice are rolled, and you bet on what they will show.

This guide explains how to play craps step by step, from the Come Out roll to the Point, the bets worth learning first and how the odds work, so you can sit down at a table knowing exactly what is going on.

What Is Craps?

Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcome of a roll, or a series of rolls, of two six-sided dice. In a land-based casino, one player throws the dice while everyone else bets on the result. Online and live casino versions work the same way, with a host or an automated launcher rolling real dice in a studio.

You don't need to be the one rolling to play. Every player at the table is simply betting on the numbers that come up.

The Basics of a Round

Every round of craps follows the same structure, and once you understand it, the rest of the game falls into place.

1. The Come Out Roll

The first roll of a new round is called the Come Out roll. What happens next depends on the total.

If the roll is a 7, 11, 2, 3 or 12, the round is settled straight away and a new Come Out roll begins.

2. The Point

If the Come Out roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the Point. The dice then keep rolling until one of two things happens.

• The Point is rolled again, and Pass Line bets win.
• A 7 is rolled, and Pass Line bets lose. This is known as "seven out".

Any other numbers rolled in between don't affect a Pass Line bet, although they can settle other bets on the table.

3. A New Round Begins

Once the Point is hit or a 7 is rolled, the round ends and the next Come Out roll starts the process again.

Understanding the Odds in Craps

Craps makes much more sense once you know how often each total is likely to come up. With two dice, there are 36 possible combinations, but they aren't spread evenly across the totals.

Seven is the most common total, which is why it plays such a big role in the game. It's good news on the Come Out roll for Pass Line bettors, but once a Point is set, it's the number they don't want to see.

The Craps Bets to Learn First

There are dozens of bets in craps, but you only need a handful to get started.

Pass Line

The Pass Line is the most popular bet in craps and the best place for beginners to start. It wins on a 7 or 11 on the Come Out roll, loses on a 2, 3 or 12, and if a Point is set, wins if the Point is rolled again before a 7. It pays 1:1.

Don't Pass

Don't Pass is the opposite of the Pass Line. It wins on a 2 or 3 on the Come Out roll, loses on a 7 or 11 and pushes on a 12. Once a Point is set, it wins if a 7 is rolled before the Point. It also pays 1:1.

Come and Don't Come

These work exactly like Pass Line and Don't Pass, except they are placed after the Point has been set. The next roll acts as their own Come Out roll, which lets you have several bets working at once.

Odds

Once a Point is set, you can add an Odds bet behind your Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come or Don't Come bet. It pays at true odds, meaning there is no house edge on it, which makes it one of the best-value bets in the casino.

Place Bets

Place bets let you choose a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) and bet that it will be rolled before a 7. Place 6 and Place 8 are the most popular because they come up more often than the other Place numbers.

Other Craps Bets Explained

Once you're comfortable with the basics, you'll notice plenty of other bets on the table.

• Field - A one-roll bet that the next total will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. A 2 or 12 usually pays more than the other numbers.
• Hardways - A bet that a 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be rolled as a pair, such as 4 and 4 for a Hard 8, before a 7 or the same total is rolled another way.
• Any Seven - A one-roll bet that the next total will be a 7.
• Any Craps - A one-roll bet that the next total will be a 2, 3 or 12.
• Single-number bets - One-roll bets on a specific total such as 2, 3, 11 or 12, which pay out at big odds.

These bets can be fun, but they carry a much higher house edge than the core bets, so it pays to know what you're getting into.

Craps Payouts and House Edge

Payouts can vary slightly between tables, so always check the rules of the game you're playing. The pattern is clear, though: the simplest bets usually give the best value, while the biggest payouts come with the biggest house edge.

How to Play Craps Online

Playing craps online follows the same rules as a land-based table, but it's often easier to learn.

1. Choose a table. Head to the Live Casino and pick a craps game.
2. Check the limits. Look at the minimum and maximum bets before you start.
3. Place your bet. Choose a chip value and place it on the layout during betting time. Pass Line is a good first bet.
4. Watch the Come Out roll. The round is either settled straight away or a Point is set.
5. Add bets if you want. Once a Point is set, you can add Odds, Come or Place bets.
6. Wait for the result. The round ends when the Point is hit or a 7 is rolled.

Many live craps games also include helpful features, such as simplified betting layouts and in-game tutorials, which make the table much less daunting for first-timers.

Craps Tips for Beginners

• Start with the Pass Line. It's simple, it pays even money and it has one of the lowest house edges on the table.
• Add Odds when you can. Because Odds bets have no house edge, they lower the overall cost of your play.
• Be careful with one-roll bets. Bets like Any Seven are exciting, but they cost far more in the long run.
• Don't try to learn everything at once. Get comfortable with the flow of a round before branching out into other bets.
• Remember every roll is independent. Previous results don't change what happens next, however hot or cold the dice seem.

Is Craps Hard to Learn?

Craps looks complicated, but you can start playing with just one bet and a basic understanding of the Come Out roll and the Point. The rest of the table is optional.

For players who already enjoy games like roulette or blackjack , craps offers something different: a fast-paced game where several bets can ride on the same throw, and where knowing which bets to pick makes a real difference to how the game plays out.