As with other casino table games, winning at craps every time may be impossible, but sticking to the right bets can make your gameplay much more profitable. If you’re new to the craps casino game, there’s no need to be put off by the many betting fields, rules and betting combinations available. We’re going to look at how to play craps at an online casino, along with the various bets you can place and the strategies you can use to take your game to the next level.   

What is craps?

Craps is a casino dice game that’s played with two dice, a board or table and casino chips. Up to 20 players can participate and each player takes turns as the “shooter” rolling the dice. The aim is to correctly guess what total dice value the shooter will roll.

The craps table is where all the live-action is on the casino floor. Craps is one of the only casino table games in which players are in charge of the action as they get to roll the dice with their own hands! You can practice craps on your device (smartphone, tablet, PC and laptop) in various online versions of the game, using either your browser or a handy casino games app. 

Online casino games like craps have been around for a long time. If you’re just starting out, it can be fun to read a bit more about some of the lesser-known facts that make up the history of the fascinating game of craps. Heard of the “unspeakable number?” You’ll want to get on top of this and other facts if you’re the least bit superstitious! 

How to play craps

Whether you play online or at a brick-and-mortar casino, craps is one of the most straightforward casino games to play. It’s an easy and fun game to learn and the rules stay the same for both land-based and online versions of the game.

Craps starts with players making a bet on the first roll of the dice – known as the “Come Out” roll. During this round, players must decide whether the dice total will result in a 7 or 11 (Pass bet) or a 2, 3 or 12 (Don’t Pass bet.) The round will end if the total dice value is equal to 7 or 11 (referred to as a “natural”) or 2, 3 or 12 (also called “craps.”) However, if the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, then that number becomes the “point” and will start the next stage of the game. 

The live dealer in an online casino will place a puck marked “ON” over the point number on the craps table and additional bets by the players will be collected. Afterward, the shooter will roll the dice again and continue to roll the dice until they roll a 7 or the point number – which will end the game.

As you can see, craps is easy to understand and follow. However, the variety of bets can be tricky to take in. Let’s discuss the best craps bets to help make the game fun to play. 

Best craps bets

The first and most important thing to know about the game of craps is that there are bets that offer a lower house edge, as well as a few “sucker bets” that could damage your bankroll. Some bets can, for example, have up to a 14% house edge, meaning that if you gamble recklessly, you can lose more money in a short space of time. This is why one of the best craps strategies for beginners is to familiarize yourself with the different types of bets available in the game and have a technique that will help you make each bet work to your advantage.

Pass Line bet

The Pass Line is the most popular bet. It offers the lowest house edge at only 1.41% and just four ways to lose. The Pass Line bet only loses if the shooter (the person throwing the dice at the time) rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the Come Out roll, or 7 after the point number has been made.

Come bet

The Come bet works similarly to the Pass Line bet, except it’s made any time after the point number has been made. You win if a 7 or an 11 is rolled after the Come bet. But if the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12, you lose (like in the Pass Line bet.) Both the Pass Line and Come bets offer more chances to win than to lose, making them the most favorable bets at the casino.

Don’t Pass Line bet

The Don’t Pass Line bet works in the opposite way to a Pass Line bet – when placing a Don’t Pass Line bet, you’ll bet against the dice and when playing a Pass Line bet you’ll bet with the dice. Rolling a 12 in a Don’t Pass Line bet is called a push (tie) and the bet is returned to the bettor. Here, if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, you win; and if a 7 or 11 turns up, you lose. The “point” is made if any other number is rolled. Before the established point, the shooter will continue to roll the dice with the hopes of landing a 7. This type of bet also offers a decent house edge of 1.36%, even less than the Pass Line.

Don’t Come bet

The Don’t Come bet contradicts the Come bet, except that it can be made at any time after the point has been made. If a 2 or 3 is rolled out, you win your bet and tie if the shooter rolls a 12. Your point number becomes any number that’s rolled. However, the shooter needs to have rolled a 7 before the point can be established.

Craps strategy: How to play the worst bets successfully

Bets with a higher house edge are often considered to be the worst types of bets. However, this doesn’t mean these wagers never win. In fact, when they do, players are in for a big win. Although they don’t happen often, they pay out more generously.

It’s worth repeating that every format of craps follows the exact same set of rules, whether you’re playing in an online casino with a live dealer or on the casino floor at a brick-and-mortar establishment. You can join any table and expect the flow of the game to be the same, which is incredibly important when you’re faced with tough betting odds.

On any craps table, one of the first bets you’ll see is the Field bet, which has a house edge of 5.56%. This may be higher than the other bets we’ve mentioned, but it’s lower than proposition bets (which we’ll touch on next.) Punters can choose to wager on the probability of the shooter rolling a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 for the Field bet. Your best result here would be a 12, 2 or 3 at some casinos – they pay different amounts.   

On the other side of the coin, Proposition bets are one-roll bets with a payout of 30 to 1. They have an extremely high house-edge advantage. The most popular is “Snake Eyes” (where the dice lands on a double 1,) which has a 14% house edge that can go as high as 16% at some casinos.

Other poor bets in the game are the Big 6 and Big 8 (bets that a 6 or 8 will be rolled before a 7,) which give the house an advantage of 9.1%, as well as the Hard Way and Big Round.

Winning craps tips

When learning how to play craps at a casino online, you might want to consider the Pass, Come and Odds bets the most. The Odds bet has no house advantage, but it can only be played in conjunction with a Pass Line or Come bet; it’s popular because it pays “true odds” on your bet. But before you can start, it’s a good idea to first learn how to play craps and familiarize yourself with the rules.

Unlike online slots, where a Random Number Generator (RNG) dictates the outcome, there’s an element of control to be found at the craps table. Knowing how you can affect the flow of the game will make your gameplay easier and more fun.

Once you’re ready to start, stick with the Pass Line bet first and one or two Come wagers with odds. The Pass and Don’t Pass bets come with pretty good odds, but you have to remember that anything can happen in a game of chance. Here are some more quick tips on craps:

• Set and manage your bankroll. Never allow yourself to bet with money you can’t afford to lose.
• Stick to low-risk bets unless winning big is your priority (although we don’t recommend this tactic.)
• Learn the dice trends that day and bet according to the pattern. While every roll of the dice is random, there are some handy tips for throwing the dice in craps.
• No doubt you’ll lose sometimes, but the game of craps always delivers the entertainment factor!

Remember to enjoy your gameplay and not focus too much on betting systems. After all, playing casino games is fun if you approach them with the right mindset! You can always try free online casino games and different variations to polish your skills.

Wrapping up

These strategies are intended to help players make sense of the craps table. You’ll find there’s a definite benefit in learning the odds, payouts and the house edge for all craps bets. Don’t worry if it seems like a lot to take in at first. You can always use our craps help section if you need to remind yourself of the rules, odds and various bets.

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