If you’re interested in casino online betting and casino table games that are fun and have great odds, you’ll want to explore the game of craps. Many players consider craps to be one of the best casino games because it combines the suspense of roulette, the fast pace of online slots and blackjack and the social interaction of poker.
Craps also offers great odds, making it one of the most potentially lucrative online casino games for those who want to play at an online casino for real money. On top of that, craps has a great tradition that encourages a sense of camaraderie around the table. The more you know about the tradition, the easier it is to participate. We’ve collected some of the lesser-known facts about craps to get you started. Let’s dive in.
The Four Best Craps Bets
Compared to many of the best live dealer online casino games, craps betting is notoriously complicated. Because there are so many different betting options on the table, beginners often feel totally confused. But don’t worry! There’s a not-so-secret trade secret that only four craps bets are worth paying serious attention to (although the other bets are also a lot of fun.)
These four bets are “pass line,” “don’t pass line,” “come” and “don’t come.” People who regularly play casino dice games consider these the best bets because they’re even-money wagers with the lowest house edge. Here’s how they work:
You make a “pass line” bet on the “come out” roll, which is the first roll of a new round. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the “come out,” you win, whereas, with a 2, 3 or 12, you lose. Any other number establishes a “point.” The shooter must then roll before a 7 for your “pass line” bet to succeed.
“Come” is the same as “pass line,” except you can only place it once a point has been established. The first point roll is then the “come out” roll for your bet.
You make a “don’t pass line” bet on the “come out” roll. You win on a 2 or 3, lose on a 7 or 11 and push (neither win nor lose) on a 12. Another number establishes a point, requiring a 7 to be rolled before the point number for your “don’t pass line” bet to win.
Finally, “don’t come” is the same as “don’t pass line,” except you only make it once a point has been established. The “come out” for a “don’t come” bet is the first roll after a point has been established.
Sounds simple, right? Wait until you get started on bets like “whirl,” “horn,” “yo,” “hi-lo” and “craps!” The more you learn about craps, the more complicated your options become. But if it all gets too much, you can always take a break with real online slots.
When the Right Bets Are Wrong
Sometimes it’s against your best interests to bet in your best interests. That may sound like nonsense, but actually, it’s pure craps!
Seriously, though. You’ve just read about the best four bets in craps and now you’re going to read why it’s a bad idea to bet on some of them.
Now, the bets with the lowest house advantage are “don’t pass” and “don’t come.” So, you’d expect it would make sense to bet on them all the time. But sometimes tradition is stronger than reason and it’s a solid craps tradition to bet with the shooter. Bettors who do so are known as “right bettors” and they get to cheer together when the shooter’s dice are smoking.
“Wrong bettors” are the opposite. They’re betting that the shooter will lose. In craps parlance, this is known as “betting on the wrong side” because the house is also hoping that the shooter will lose. It’s like making a deal with the devil.
Whether you decide to be a wrong bettor or a right bettor is up to you. The fact of the matter is that it’s not much of a sacrifice to be a right bettor and wager with the shooter. The difference in house edge is only about 0.05% and the advantage is being able to celebrate with other players when the shooter rolls “come” and “pass line” wins.
There’s nothing like the camaraderie of a table of craps players who jeer together and cheer together. And it’s not a great feeling to be the lone wolf who sides with the house just to whittle the house edge down a little. (Of course, this doesn’t apply to online casino craps so much because you’re the only one rolling the dice.)
The Unspeakable Number
Craps players can be very superstitious. If you play casino dice games, you may see a player throwing a penny under the table for good fortune in the belief that this will bring good luck.
Then there’s the superstition concerning the number seven. Although it’s widely considered a lucky number in Western culture, that’s not true for craps. Maybe it’s because you lose on the “come out” roll if the shooter rolls a seven (or eleven) or because more combinations add up to seven than any other number in craps. Another possibility is that an “any seven” bet (a single-roll wager on the dice combination being seven) carries possibly the worst house edge in casino table games. In any case, craps etiquette dictates that you should never, ever say the number seven out loud. If you do need to refer to it, then call it “it” or “devil.”
One of the most famous winning bets of all time was a “don’t pass” bet of $777,777. We would have paid to be a fly on the wall on that occasion.
And “devil” is just the beginning. When you see the full list of craps superstitions, you’ll realize that it’s the most superstitious of all casino table games. Perhaps, but we think this just adds to its reputation as one of the best-ever casino games. Next time you’re at the craps table, be sure to play along with the tradition of superstition. Take care not to touch a hot shooter! If the dice fly off the table, the next roll will be unlucky. Too many wrong bettors ruin the table’s luck. Dice can be hot or cold. And don’t let the dice hit your hands on the table — it brings everyone bad luck.
How Did Craps Originate (Care to Hazard a Guess?)
Craps derives from the game of Hazard, played by English soldiers during the 12th-century Crusade. In Hazard, players would bet on the outcome of a roll of two dice and the game was played on a special board with a marked layout. The player who rolled the dice was called the caster and the other players at the table were the punters. The caster would place a bet and then roll. If the result were to be a winning combination, the caster would collect the bets from other players. If the result were to be a losing combination, the caster would have to pay out.
One of the unique features of Hazard was the ability to make side bets, known as “privileges.” These bets would allow punters to bet on specific outcomes of the dice rolls, such as the likelihood of rolling a certain number or a particular combination of numbers. Privileges could be bought and sold among the players and it was not uncommon for players to use their own privileges as collateral for other bets.
Another interesting fact: not only was craps inspired by Hazard, it’s also the game that eventually replaced it.
The World’s Longest Craps Roll
Patricia Demauro, a New Jersey native, grandmother and avid gambler, holds the record for the longest craps roll. On May 23, 2009, Demauro stepped up to a craps table at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. She began playing with a $10 bet and proceeded to roll the dice an astonishing 154 times in a row without “sevening out.” Demauro’s incredible roll lasted four hours and 18 minutes.
The odds of achieving Demauro’s winning streak are estimated to be a mere 1 in 1.56 trillion — which is why her incredible run earned her a place in the record books and a lot of money. She reportedly left the table with winnings totaling $153,000, which she used to pay off her house and take a trip to Italy.
What’s in a Name?
Many experts theorize that the name “craps” originated from a mispronunciation of the French word “crapaud,” which means “toad.” This could have been because early versions of the game were played on the streets and players would crouch down like toads when throwing the dice.
Another theory refers, once again, to Hazard. In this game, the roll of “snake eyes” was referred to as “crabs,” which could have, over time, evolved into “craps.”
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Wondering how to play craps at the table? Or, “Why is it called a craps table?” Be sure to explore our blog further for more facts about gambling and answers to your questions about craps and our many other online casino games.