Craps Rules

In Bank Craps, like so many other casino games, the idea behind the game is to win. To do so, the shooter rolls the dice in an effort to receive a favorable outcome. In this case a favorable first roll results in a 7 or 11. An unfavorable roll result would be a 2, 3, or 12, which is ruled a loss on the shooter’s first roll, also referred to as a come out roll. Any other number that results from the come out roll, which includes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, is referred to as the point. This process is referred to as establishing the point. After the point is established, it is the desired outcome for a roll until 7 is rolled, at which point the process begins anew. Here is a breakdown of the progression of a Bank Craps roll.

That’s a broad overview of the game of Craps and a good foundation on which to get started. We’ll go into more betting options and advanced rules in the following section.

Basic Craps Betting Rules

When it comes to player actions and betting options, there is a huge field for you to take advantage of in the game of Craps. Each action has its own odds to consider and you’ll have a lot to contend with if you are trying to calculate the possibilities on-the-fly. However, maintaining a good handle on the most basic betting options will give you a good foundation on which to build. The four most common bets you are likely to make as a shooter or participant in Bank Craps are Pass Line, Don’t Pass Line, Come, and Don’t Come bets.

Let’s start with a Pass Line bet. In this scenario, you are wagering on the shooter’s come out roll to be a winner. That is, to have a resulting total that equals 7 or 11. When this is the case, you receive a 1:1 payout on your bet. In the case that a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, the shooter Craps out and your bet is lost. If neither of these outcomes is the case, then the point is established.

The Don’t Pass Line bet is the opposite of a Pass Line bet. In this case, you are wagering on the shooter’s roll resulting in a 2, 3, or 12 and crapping out on their come out roll.

The third of Bank Craps’ foundational bets is a Come bet. This bet is made after the point has been established by the shooter. In the case the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11, the wager is a winner and you earn a payout for your correct prediction.

The Don’t Come bet, like the Don’t Pass Line bet, has you placing a wager on the 2, 3, or 12 result of a roll, only after the point has been established. If this s the result, you’ll warn a payout based on your prediction.

Whether you are a casual player or a professional, these bets will always be in your wheel house and should take precedence towards securing payouts on your predictions. When it comes to other betting activity on the field, the options are numerous. Her are a few more options to consider as you explore the rules provided to you in the game of Craps.

Taking or Buying/Laying Odds Rules

Odds bets are one additional avenue to take into account. These types of wagers are placed in addition to a Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, or Don’t Come bet. There are two approaches to this betting set. When you have already made a pass or come bet you are considered to ‘take odds’. When you have already made a don’t pass or don’t come bet, you are considered to ‘lay odds’. In both cases, the wager is in relation to whether the point or number 7 will be rolled first by the shooter.

There is no marker or designation on the table for odds bets. Instead, this wager is made by placing your odds bet behind your original bet. Here’s a scenario; If you take odds on a Place bet, you will win the bet if the shooter rolls the point number before a 7. In this case, your first wager wins, as does the odds bet you placed afterward. Keep in mind that you can make that odds bet at any point in time after making one of the original four foundational wagers. The amount can also be increased or decreased at any point in time; it is a very fluid type of wager for a casino game. There is, however, typically a limit to the size this wager can reach. This is most often restricted to two to three times the original wager. Odds will vary depending on the point. We’ll get more into that in the odds section of our Craps resources.

Proposition Rules

Also referred to as Prop bets in more casual conversation, Proposition bets are more traditionally entertained at brick and mortar casinos. However, it is not out of the realm of possibility for an active player to potentially come to an arrangement with their online casino of choice on live Craps games. These types of bets deliver a very exciting prospect for players who think they can create a unique series of actions for custom odds and payouts. Some examples could include a proposition of rolling double 3s 3 times in a row at 15:1 odds. Don’t put too much stake into these types of bets. On the off chance your online casino caters to Prop bets, they pay off big because they are exceedingly difficult to execute.

Single Roll Betting Rules

After you’ve become familiar with how to play Craps and what the more traditional bets are, you can begin to incorporate single roll bets. You can place these bets at any point in time on the designated betting position on the Craps table. These positions display different pictured dice combinations. The idea behind these bets is that you are making the prediction the shooter will roll that exact combination of numbers on the dice during their subsequent rolls. Remove the bets when you no longer want to apply a wager to the roll. Keep in mind, the house has a significant edge on single roll bets, so incorporate them into your game carefully.

Hop Betting Rules

Another type of wager you can make at any point during a Craps game is the Hop bet. These are like Prop bets and can incorporate any dice combination you can comprehend. Make the correct prediction and you’ll earn the corresponding payout according to the house rules. One thing to note is that these bets may or may not be displayed on the table. This is usually a good indicator of whether your chosen style of Craps entertains Hop bets.

Field Betting Rules

A straightforward bet that most intermediate players will incorporate into their game is the Field Bet. In this case, you are wagering that a 2, 3 ,4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 will be rolled on the shooter’s next roll. This betting position is clearly visible on the Craps table. Place your wager in this section. You can find the payouts and odds in our Craps odds resource.

This has been a very broad overview of the rules of Craps. You can begin ramping up your game once you’ve got a handle on the foundational Craps bets. Move on to the intermediate betting after you understand the rules. Then we can get into advanced bets in our betting strategy resource. You can find more information on how to play Craps and the best online casinos where you can play Craps with unique promotions.