How to play craps: the rules and the bets that matter

Craps is a dice game played at a large table, where players bet on the outcome of rolls made by one shooter at a time. The game moves in two stages, a come-out roll and a point phase, and most of the betting revolves around whether a shooter will hit a number again before rolling a seven.

How a round of craps works

Each round starts with the come-out roll. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, pass line bets win immediately. A roll of 2, 3 or 12 means those bets lose, a result known as craps. Any other number, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, becomes the point.

Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until either that number comes up again, which wins pass line bets, or a 7 appears first, which ends the round and passes the dice to the next shooter. This repeated contest between the point number and the number 7 is the core mechanic of craps.

The pass line and don't pass bets

The pass line is the most common bet in craps. It wins on a come-out 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3 or 12, and otherwise wins if the point is rolled again before a 7. Its house edge, the average percentage of each bet the casino keeps over time, is about 1.41%.

The don't pass bet is the mirror image. It wins on a come-out 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and then wins if a 7 appears before the point is repeated. Because a 12 on the come-out is usually a push rather than a win, the don't pass edge is slightly lower, around 1.36%.

Odds bets: the best wager at the table

After a point is established, players can add an odds bet behind their pass or don't pass wager. This side bet pays at true mathematical odds rather than casino odds, meaning it carries no house edge at all. It is the only bet of its kind in a casino, but it can only be placed as an addition to a pass or don't pass bet, not on its own. Casinos typically cap how much can be wagered in odds relative to the original bet, commonly expressed as 3x, 5x or 10x odds.

Other bets players often make

Beyond the pass line and odds, the craps table offers a wide range of side bets. Most carry a noticeably higher house edge, and some resolve on a single roll rather than over several throws.

• Field bet: wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 on the next roll, with a house edge typically between 2.7% and 5.5% depending on how the casino pays 2 and 12.
• Place bets: wager that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) rolls before a 7, with edges ranging from about 1.5% on 6 and 8 to over 6% on 4 and 10.
• Hardways: bet that a number rolls as a pair (hard 6 as 3-3, for example) before it rolls any other way or a 7 appears. House edges run from about 9% to over 11%.
• Proposition bets: one-roll wagers such as any seven or any craps, usually carrying the highest house edges on the table, often above 11% and in some cases close to 17%.

House edge and what it means for players

No bet in craps favours the player over time. The spread of house edges, from under 1.4% on the pass line to double digits on proposition bets, shows why the choice of bet matters more in craps than in many other casino games. Readers who want to compare these figures against other games can check the house edge table.

Etiquette and getting started at the table

Craps tables can look intimidating because of the number of betting areas and the pace of play, but the core bets, pass line, don't pass and odds, are straightforward once the come-out roll and point phase are understood. New players are often advised to watch a few rounds before betting, to keep dice handling simple when it is their turn to shoot, and to ask the dealer to clarify any bet before placing chips.

As with any casino game, craps involves risk and no betting pattern changes the underlying odds. Anyone concerned about their play can find support through safer gambling resources and help lines.