Master the Craps Rules
Craps is a dice game and is classified as a table game along with Roulette and Blackjack. It boasts of a rich history that dates way back to the Romans. Eventually, Craps made it to Canada and has become a rising favourite within the online casino world.
Initially, Craps may seem complex – but once you get a grip on the general rules of craps, it turns out to be a fairly basic game and can be learned in no time. Essentially, the game mainly revolves around the prediction of numbers through the rolling of dice, and landing wins are mainly based on luck and probability.
We have prepared this guide for our Canadian players to understand the game’s basics and main structure – to therefore have an upper hand when playing craps.
The Objective
It’s pretty simple – and it’s all about guessing really. The dice-thrower – known in casino terms as ‘The Shooter’ – throws a pair of dice and predicts the total number outcome. Though the wins, odds and stakes vary with the different Craps game variations, the mentioned objective always stays the same.
The Craps Table
Craps tables are specifically designed to accommodate standing players. The green tabletop displays the variety of bets players can make and maps out the specific areas where chips are placed.
Players place their bets on the ‘PASS LINE’. Dealers on the other hand use the ON marker to place the bets on the block.
The Dice
Craps game is played with two dice and the Shooter can choose any two dice from a bowl of five kept at the table.
If a die accidentally rolls off the table and lands on the floor, the Stickman will examine it for damage and optionally offer the Shooter a replacement die from the bowl of spares.
The Puck
Pucks in Craps game refers to the two discs with the words “ON” and “OFF” prominently displayed on them. The OFF button shows that the game is as yet to start, while the ON puck shows that a game is ongoing.
The Stick
The Craps’ Stick is a tool used by the Stickman to recover thrown dice from the end of the Craps table and return them to the Shooter. The stick features a shallow hook on one end, and it’s vaguely similar in shape to a shepherd’s staff.
The Shooter
The Shooter is whoever rolls the dice on the table – so every player gets to be The Shooter during the game. Each player’s turn moves in a clockwise direction – each taking their turn to place a bet on the Pass or Don’t Pass Line.
The Box Person
The Box Person is kind of a referee – watching the game to ensure fairness and solve any potential disputes between players and dealers.
The box person also supervises and sits midway behind the table – dispensing chips to players.
The Stick Person
Usually situated across the table from the Box Person, the Stick Person is responsible for loudly calling out the dice rolls, retrieving the dice and returning them to the Shooter. The Stick Person also places and pays out any proposition bets.
The Dealers
Dealers generally work in groups of 2, 3 or 4 and are responsible for the overall operation of the table game. They generally move in rotations, taking it in turns to serve the needs of the players and manage the table.
10 Best Crap Bets
Craps range in complexity – the more complex is the bet, the higher the stake and payout. We generally advise our new gamers to stick to the more low-risk bet types.
Below we have outlined all the bets you can play with:
1. Pass Line
This refers to the first roll of dice. If the resulting dice features a 7 or an 11, the player who bet on the Pass Line wins.
2. Don’t Pass Line
Don’t Pass Line is the opposite of Pass line – where players win on a 2 or 3 roll but they lose at a 7 or 11 roll.
3. Come Bet
This type of bet works similar to the Pass Bet – with the only difference that the bet is placed after a Point has been established.
4. Don’t come bet
Again – this is similar to the Don’t Pass Bet and exactly the opposite of a Come bet – if a number 7 or 11 is rolled, the bet is lost.
5. Field Bets
This type of bet can be played at any time during the game. You win a field bet if the roll of the dice results in numbers 2 to 4 and 9 to 12.
6. Place Bets
You can play a Place Bet once there is a come-out roll. You can bet numbers from 4 to 10. The bet results in a win if the dice are rolled before a seven.
This kind of bet wins if any of the numbers is rolled before a seven.
7. Hardway Bets
Hardway bets simply refer to numbers rolled as a double – for example, a ‘2’ and a ‘2’ are referred to as a ‘Hard 4‘.
The player has to roll an exact pair before a 7 in order to win.
8. One Roll Bets
Also known as a proposition bet, One Roll bets are settled with a single dice throw. These types of bets can offer big rewards.
1. Any 7
You land a win if both the dice amount to a total of 7. The House Edge here is 16.67%
2. Any craps
You land a win if a total of 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. The House Edge is 11.11%
3. 2 or 12 Bets
These two numbers are the hardest to throw because they contain so few dice combinations. Therefore the bet is high-risk but potentially rewarding at a 30:1 payout. The House Edge is 13.89%.
4. 3 or 11 Bets
The payout for this bet stands at 15:1, this potentially lucrative bet needs the Shooter to roll a 3 or 11 before a 7 is thrown. The House Edge is 11.11%
5. Horn Bets
The Horn bet is split over the numbers 2, 3, 11, or 12. The 2 and 12 payout at 30:1 and the 3 and 11 payout at 15:1. It’s a single roll bet with a House Edge ranging above 12%.
6. Big Six, Big Eight
A bet that can be placed any time during the game, this wager pays out even money (1:1) if the Shooter throws a 6 or 8 before rolling a 7. The House Edge on this bet is 9%
9. Free Odds / Laying the Odds bets
Far less complicated than they sound, this group of bets sees players ‘Laying the Odds’ after a Pass or Come bet. Bet winnings go like this: betting a 4 or 10 pays 1:2; betting on a 5 or 9 will pay 2:3, and betting a 6 or 8 will pay 5:6.
Because these bets are statistically fair, the House Edge is 0%, making them some of the most popular Craps bets.
10. Buy Bets
Buy Bets are slightly more complex where the Shooter rolls a specific Point number before landing a 7. With a win, the casino pays out at true odds but takes a 5% commission on the winnings.
While some casinos calculate the commission on the bet, either way, others only apply it to winnings. This prevents a standardized House Edge from being calculated for this bet.
Craps odds and payouts
Understanding different odds and payout for the Crap game is challenging – simply because there is a wide variety. We have however provided the below list to serve you as a simple reference when choosing your whats and hows.
| Types of Bets | Odds | Payouts | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line/Come Bet | 251 to 244 | 1:1 | 1.414% |
| Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Bet | 976 to 949 | 1:1 | 1.402% |
| Pass Line Odds/ Come Bet Odds. Buy Bets (Have 5% Commission) | Odds | Payouts | House Edge |
| Numbers 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 4.7600% |
| Numbers 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 3 to 2 | 4.7600% |
| Numbers 6 or 8 | 5 to 6 | 5 to 6 | 4.7600% |
| Don’t Pass Odds/ Don’t Come bet Odds / Lay Bets (5% Commission) | Odds | Payouts | House Edge |
| Numbers 4 or 10 | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 | 2.4400% |
| Numbers 5 or 9 | 2 to 3 | 2 to 3 | 2.4400% |
| Numbers 6 or 8 | 5 to 6 | 5 to 6 | 2.4400% |
| Field Bets | Odds | Payouts | House Edge |
| 3,4,9,10, or 11 | N/A | 1 to 1 | 5.5000 |
| 2,12 | N/A | 2 to 1 | 5.5000 |
Craps House Edge
The Craps House Edge is the advantage the casino maintains over players on bets placed at the Craps table.
Typically expressed as a percentage, the House Edge is the statistical amount a player can expect to lose to the House calculated on thousands of bets, hands, or hours of a game played.
How to play Craps – Breakdown of a Round
The same rules apply to play craps in both land and online casinos. Craps games accept up to twenty players, and the social engagement around the table is well-replicated online when players join a Live Craps casino game.
We have created the 5 below easy go-to steps for our players to understand how to play craps
1. Place the pass / Don’t pass bet
To start the game players bet on whether the Shooter will throw a 7 or 11 to win (pass the line) or lose by rolling a 2, 3, or 12. The dealers will then take the bets and distribute them on a designated area of the Craps table.
2. The ‘Come Out’ roll
The Shooter’s first throw is the Come Out roll. A 7 or 11 is a win for Pass Line bets, while a 2, 3, or 12 is a win for Don’t Pass bets.
Any other number combination sets a ‘Point’ on the Craps table. If this is the case, a Dealer will place a puck on the Point number.
3. After the Point
Once a point has been established by the shooter, the puck is switched ON to show that a game is ongoing.
4. Hitting the point / ‘Sevening’ Out
If the Shooter throws and lands the point number before rolling a 7, they remain the Shooter for the next round of Craps. If the Shooter rolls a 7 (sevens out), the dice are transferred to another player who becomes the new Shooter. Finally, a new round begins.
Conclusion
Craps did develop a number of strategies with time and when it comes to online casinos, it is definitely the most popular dice game available. Still, we would like to see this game and its variants more available in online casinos. The ease of play and rules make it a top gameplay for both newbies and seasoned players.
Frequently Asked Questions
