How to Play Craps | Casino Craps Rules for Beginners

Craps is an exciting and fast-paced casino game. However, it is often perceived as one of the most complex table games. Once you try it a few times, you’ll find craps relatively easy to play.

First, it is essential to learn how to play craps and understand the basic rules involved. Once this is done, craps unfolds as a thrilling game of chance and strategy.

Are you new to the game and looking for a guide on how do you play craps for dummies? This comprehensive guide is for you. Buckle up as we break down the essential elements of online craps, from understanding the table layout and basic bets to a step-by-step guide to the gameplay.

First, let’s start with a quick summary of how craps games work.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Discover the basic craps casino rules.
Learn the gameplay phrases and the terms involved.
Find out the popular craps variants to try out and their key features.

Craps Explained

Craps is a dice game played on a table. The game’s objective is to roll specific numbers and bet on the outcome of a roll. If you’re watching people play, the game looks like it has many layers, making it appear intimidating.

However, once you understand how to play craps dice and the meaning of each number, the experience turns out pretty exciting. The game uses two six-sided dice, which the shooter rolls. You’re to bet on the roll’s outcome or series of rolls. It begins with the come-out roll, and you can place various bets predicting the result of these rolls.

Visit our in-depth guide to discover more about online craps.

6 Basic Craps Rules

What are the basic rules of craps? You’re about to find out. The first thing to note is that craps is a game of chance and strategy. And to create a winning craps strategy, you’d need to fully understand how the game works. So to get you started, here are the six basic craps rules you need to know as a beginner.

Craps Rules #1: The Dice

Craps is played using two six-sided dice. Basic craps game rules require that the dice are rolled at the same time, and the result obtained is combined.

Example: If you roll the dice and one lands on 3 and the other on 4, the result for that roll is 7. The result of each die combined influences the outcome of the game.

Craps Rules #2: The Table

The next step in learning how to play craps for beginners is getting familiar with the table. A standard craps table has a central section for proposition bets and two identical wings for popular bets.

Here’s a breakdown of how the table works:

Main Betting Area

The main betting area is the first place to take note of when learning how to play casino craps, as this is the hub of activities. An essential feature of this area is the primary bets: Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line. These are straight win-or-loss bets, perfect for beginners.

The Pass Line bet is staked on the shooter winning, while the Don’t Pass Line bet is on the shooter losing. Other bets in the main table area are the Come, Don’t Come, and Field bets.

Point Betting Areas

This area of the craps table is designated for placing bets on specific point numbers. Here, you’ll find the likes of the Big 6 and Big 8 bets (however, not always available on every craps table).

The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 are marked as points on the table. So when a shooter lands a point on the come-out roll, you can bet on the point being rolled again before a 7.

Proposition Bets (center of the table)

If you’ve read through guides on how to play craps before, you’ll be familiar with the craps table center area. This area is designated for proposition bets offering high-risk and high-reward options. These bets offer higher payouts but also come with higher house edges. So, we don’t recommend proposition bets for beginners due to the high risk.

Fun Fact: The house edge in craps game varies, ranging from less than 1% to over 16%.

Craps Rules #3: The Puck

Craps rules explained are incomplete without mentioning the puck. The puck is a round disc used to indicate the current point status of the game.

This disc has two sides: ON and OFF:

The puck is usually placed on the OFF side at the start of a game.
However, if the shooter lands a point during the come-out roll, the puck is flipped to the “ON” side.

Once activated, the puck is moved to the corresponding number on the table. This act signifies that a point has been made, and the shooter must roll the number again before a 7 to win. You’ll find a puck in both land-based and online craps table games, as this disc serves an important purpose.

Craps Rules #4: The Table Crew

Next on the craps rules for dummies is identifying the table crew. It takes a crew to man a land-based craps table game. This table crew is made up of four members:

The Stickman: This crew member stands over the center and uses a 30-inch rattan L-shaped stick to control the dice and chips across the table. The stickman also manages proposition bets and points out the player’s owed payouts.
The Dealers: Each wing of the craps table is handled by dealers. These dealers move and place all number-specific bets. They also collect losing bets and calculate winnings.
The Boxman: Sitting opposite the stickman, the boxman supervises the crew.

The roles of these crew members are automated in the online craps game version. So you don’t get to see crew members except in a live dealer craps game.

Craps Rules #5: The Bets

There are casino craps rules concerning the minimum and maximum bet amounts. This amount is the basic requirement to join a table. Placing bets, on the other hand, is grouped into two categories:

Self-service bet: These are bets you place yourself, such as the pass, don’t pass, come, don’t come, big 6/8, and field bet.
Dealer-assisted bets: As the name implies, dealers place these bets. They include point-specific bets, place and buy bets, and proposition bets.

The above features differ in an online craps table game. However, with the live dealer craps games, you get to experience the two types of bets.

Craps Rules #6: The Shooter

The next step to learning how to play craps at casino is the role of the shooter. The player rolling the dice is known as “the shooter.” To become the shooter, you need to place a bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.

In a land-based casino, all players are shooters as they get to roll the dice. However, when playing online craps, you are the shooter for every round except in a live dealer crap game.

The shooter’s role rotates clockwise around the table, allowing each player to roll. Each shooter continues rolling until a 7 or a point is established, at which point the dice are passed to the next player.

The Craps Gameplay

What is the easiest way to play craps? Here’s a step-by-step guide to follow.

Step 1: Place Your Bet

As a beginner, one of the easiest and safest bets to place is the self-service bet, such as the Pass Line bet.

How to play the Pass Line in craps? Simple: bet on the outcome of the first roll. If the dice produce a 7 or 11, you’ve won. However, a 2, 3, or 12 roll means a loss.

The pass-line bet offers the best odds, making it perfect for beginning your craps gameplay. To place the bet, you move your chips to the pass-line betting area of the table. However, with an online casino, you click on the Pass Line area to place your chips.

Fun Fact: The Pass Line is the most common bet in a craps game, both online and land-based versions.

Step 2: Shooter Rolls the Dice

After placing a bet, the shooter throws the first roll of the dice for the first round, called the come-out roll. This roll determines whether you lose or win your bet based on the dice result. There are also specific shooting craps rules you should consider; as a beginner, one such is handling the dice with one hand.

Step 3: Review Your First Bet

After the first roll, you need to review the outcome of your bet.

If you place a Pass Line bet and the come-out roll lands on a 7 or an 11, you win your bet.
For the “Don’t Pass Line” bet, if the shooter lands a 2, 3, or 12, that’s equally a win.
However, if the dice land on any other number, your bet remains in play for the next roll.

On the other hand, whether you win or lose your bet, you need to place another before the dice are rolled to remain in the game.

Step 4: Rolling the Point

Learning craps rules for beginners isn’t complete without understanding how points work. In craps table games, a point is established when the number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is landed. The puck is then switched to the “ON” side and moved to the point number on the table.

Once established, the shooter must get the point before a 7 to win. If a seven is rolled before the point, that’s a “seven out,” meaning you lose and end your round.

Example: Here’s an example of craps how to play.

For illustration, you start with a Pass Line bet. From the come-out roll, the shooter lands on a 10, establishing a point, so the puck is moved to the number 10 on the table.

If, in the next set of rolls, the shooter lands on the point (10) before a 7, you win the Pass Line bet.
If the shooter rolls a 7, you lose the bet.

Step 5: Place Additional Bets

Interestingly, when the point is established, you can place additional bets to increase your potential winnings. There is a long list of bets valid for this category. This includes popular options such as the Come and Don’t Come bets, which function similarly to the Pass and Don’t Pass bets.

There’s also the Place bet, which is staked on specific numbers, and Field bets on the next roll, being 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. These several bet options add excitement to the game and involve different strategies.

To learn more about the different bets available after a point, visit our guide on craps bets.

Step 6: Keep Shooting and Finish the Round

A craps game round continues until the shooter rolls a point or 7. If a shooter starts with the Pass Line bet, establishes a point, and once again rolls the point, that’s a win. The shooter retains the dice and starts a new round with a come-out roll.

If a 7 is rolled before the point, the shooter’s turn ends, and the dice are passed to the next player clockwise around the table. The new shooter starts a fresh round by betting either the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line. However, if the initial bet was a Don’t Pass Line bet, the shooter’s round ends with a win when the shooter rolls a 7 before the point.

Different Variants of Online Craps

Craps, like other casino table games, come in different variants. This means that you have several options to try out. Some of the most popular types include:

Street Craps

This craps variant made its debut in 2014 and is one of the player’s favorites. How to play Street Craps? This crap variant is quite similar to the typical craps game; however, this version comes with much easier gameplay. According to Street Craps rules, there are only two bets, and the roll options reach a maximum of four.

The shooter and other players wager on the possibility of the shooter rolling a particular number before 7. Unlike the other craps, the Street Craps require a more straightforward setting with dice and a suitable surface to get started.

Crapless Craps

The appeal of Crapless Craps is that there are no wrong betting options. This variant considers 2, 3, and 12 as points, so rolling these numbers doesn’t result in a loss as in the typical craps game. This version is more player-friendly but features higher house edges.

High Point Craps

As one of the exciting craps variants, High Point Craps ignore the initial rolls of 2 and 3. Getting these numbers results in another dice throw. With this variant, you need a high number to win. So rolling 11 or 12 does it. Every other number is considered a point.

New York Craps

The New York Craps variants have different table designs and layouts. However, one thing is common: you stake on the box numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 on the table. If you bet on any of these numbers and it is rolled, that’s a win.

Die Rich Craps

Unlike the other variants, Die Rich Craps uses a die for its gameplay. The shooter rolls the die in a cup. If 6 is gotten, that’s a win. One, on the other hand, means a loss, and any other number in between (2, 3, 4, and 5) is a point.

Open Craps

In traditional craps, players place their bets before the come-out roll and after a point has been established. No further bets are allowed during this period. However, this is different from the Open Craps variant, as it will enable you to place bets at any point during the game. This version is informal and more flexible.

So, Ready to Apply Your Newfound Knowledge of Craps Rules in a Game?

Craps is an exhilarating game to try out once you are familiar with the basic rules and bets. Fortunately, all the information you need as a new player to confidently join a craps game is covered extensively in this guide on how to play craps for dummies.

This table game offers a blend of strategy and chance, so every roll is exciting. We’ve recommended top online casino games for beginner-friendly craps games. So get started today on a thrilling journey by visiting our recommendations.

Would you like to learn more about craps? Check out our guide to discover our best craps tips.