Craps rules
Craps probably is one of the most exciting casino games available. Bet with or against the dealer! Will the shooter make a pass or will he fail to make a pass? This all-time casino favorite can get as simple or as complicated as you want it to be.
Although craps Craps offers enough simple bets, we advise anyone to learn the Craps rules before entering the world of Craps. The craps rules are more complicated than those of most other casino games. Learn the Craps rules here!. We explained Craps together with the most common Craps bets, brief Craps history and of course our Craps casino recommendations!
Craps history
Craps was first played as Hazard in the 12th century. Hazard was an English game, played with the well-known two dices. Another story tells us that Hazard was an Arabian game. So it never became clear who actually introduced the sensational Craps game. But who cares? Craps grew out as the most played casino game ever. The English played it during the centuries. Lots of higher class citizens lost their complete fortune playing Craps.
Hazard reached America where its name changed into Craps. Once again the history isn’t without doubts because the French also claimed the modification of the name.
Game rules explained
Craps is about betting with or against the shooter In land based casinos each Craps player that participates the game gets a rounds of throws(shooting) It isn’t an obligation to throw the dices though. The dices can also be thrown by someone else, players can bet on the thrower(shooter)
The total amount of different Craps bets and combinations exceed the 100. The most simplistic bet in a game of Craps is the 'pass line bet' With a house edge as low as 1.41% this bet is one of the best bets a casino offers.
We restrict us in this edition of game rules explained to the most common Craps bets. See below for the most common Craps bets explained.
Pass line
This bet is made before the come out The come out is how we call the first roll. Players win on a 7 or 11. The numbers 2, 3 and 12 are Craps numbers. Craps is rolled with a 2, 3 or 12 on a first roll. The pass line bet is lost on craps. When you’re the shooter, you loose your pass line bet but you can keep rolling.
Any other number rolled becomes the point number (4/5/6/8/9/10) also called the box number. These numbers can be found in the boxes on the Craps table, the right box will be marked with a puck. The box number has to be thrown before number seven in the next throw.
Let’s say the box number was a 5. This means that the shooter needs to roll a 5 before he rolls 7. When the shooter rolls a 7 before the box number (5 in this example) the pass line bet is lost. The dices are passed to a new shooter.
When the shooter rolls the box number before the 7 the pass line bet wins. The pass line bet pays even money.
Don't pass line
A don't pass line is exactly the opposite of a pass line bet. With the don’t pass line bet you bet against the shooter. The following rules occur on the don’t pass line bet:
The don’t pass line bettors aren’t the most favorite players at the Craps table. Most players don’t bet against the shooter which creates some sort of player’s solidarity. It’s not hard to imagine that it irritates the rest of the table when there’s a single person at the table who’s hoping for their loss.
Come bets
Come bets can only be placed when the shooter made a point. The bet is exactly like a pass line bet (see above) For placing a come bet you have to place your chips in the come box of the craps table.
Don't come bets
Exactly the opposite of the come bet. The don’t come bet is the same as the don’t pass line bet. Only difference, the don’t come bet is made after the shooter made a point. The don’t pass line bet is made before the come out.
Odds bets
The odds bet is an additional and limited bet placed after the original bet once a point has been made. The odds bet is the best bet possible in an casino. There is no house edge at all! The odds bet cannot be found on the Craps table lay-out.
The odds bet can be as high as twice the original bet. The odds bet can be played under your (don’t) pass line bet. Place the chip ‘2 fingers’ below your (don’t) pass line bet.
You can make an odds bet after you placed a bet on the pass line, don't pass line, come or don't come. This bet is additional, limited and placed behind the original bet once a point has been made.
Pass line / come pay out: odds bet
Don’t pass line / don’t come pay out: odds bet
- 1:2 on 4 and 10
- 2:3 on 5 and 9
- 5:6 on 6 and 8
Place bets
Place bets are made on the box numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) A place bet can be made at any time during the game. The bet is lost if a 7 is rolled first. The player's bet stays on the table until the shooter rolls a seven. You can remove the Place bet any time you want to.
Place bets pay:
Field bets
One of the easiest bets that Craps offers. Field bets are bets on one roll only. Even money is paid on 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. Pay-out 2-2 on 2, 3-1 on 12. You lose on 5, 6, 7 or 8
Proposition bets
Just like the field bet, the proposition bet is also a ‘one-roll’ bet. There’s also another proposition bet though. This bet is called the hardway.
Hardways are bets on the numbers: 10, 8, 6 and 4. Hardways are only won when these numbers are composed out of two same numbers. Double 5 for 10, double 4 for 8 etc. When an 7comes up the bet is lost. The bet is also lost when the number comes up but is composed out of two different numbers. Example, 10 = 6+4.
Hardways pay-out:
Hardways are known for their big house advantage. Serious Craps players should not consider hardway. The one roll bet pays slightly better. The one roll bet is about predicting which number will be rolled next.
One roll pay-out and possibilities:
Big 6 / big 8 bets
The big 6 bet is won when 6 is rolled before 7 is rolled. The big 8 bet is won when an 8 eight is rolled before 7 is rolled. Craps pays even money on this bet (1:1).
Number bets
Use a number wager to bet on a particular number that will be thrown on the next roll. Place it on 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12. Pay-off: 30-1 on 2 and 12, 15-1 on 3 and 11, 15-1, 4-1 on 7 on the craps numbers there will be a pay-off of 7-1.
The C-E bet
The Craps-Eleven bet is a one role bet on numbers: 11 and Craps (2, 3, 12) All other numbers mean loosing the C-E bet.
Pay-out C-E bet:
The any Craps bet
The any Craps bet is also a one role bet. Players bet on Craps (2, 3, 12) to be rolled. Any other number means loosing the any Craps bet. This bet pays 7:1
Recommendation
As always we end this edition of game rules explained with our Craps casino recommendation. In our eyes the following two online casinos offer the best online Craps experience.
After reading our Craps rules you are ready to play Craps online. We explained the most important and most common Craps bets. We’re constantly adding new Craps game rules information. Revisit our Craps game rules section for more bets explained.
(You can also play for free and learn the craps rules here)

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