Craps is a popular casino game played using dice. Players make wagers on the outcome of the two dice. The result of the dice thrown is random, making craps a game of luck. The game offers thrill and excitement as every roll brings new possibilities.
Craps offers higher odds of winning and payouts, making it a common game among high rollers. The game is easy to play, though the number of bets involved can be confusing, but once you understand there is no go back.
What is Craps?
Table Of Contents
- 1 What is Craps?
- 2 History of Craps
- 3 Understanding the Craps Table
- 4 Crap Rules
- 5 Different Bets in Craps
- 6 How to bet on online craps?
- 7 How to Play Craps?
- 8 Popular Crap Variants
- 9 Sites to Play Craps
- 10 Best Crap Strategies
- 11 House Edge in Craps
- 12 Crap Odds
- 13 How to Calculate a Crap Payout?
- 14 Tips to Win a Crap Game
- 15 Final Thoughts
- 16 Frequently Asked Questions
Craps is a dice game in which players predict the outcome of the two dice thrown. A bet is made on the possible combinations of numbers that appear on the dice. A crap table can hold up to 20 players.
Players aim to roll the same number as the first throw before rolling a seven. The crap game can be played against bankers or other players known as ‘casino craps’ and ‘street craps; respectively.
The odds of winning a crap is 50-50, making it one of the most played games at casinos. Players can make different bets based on the numbers rolled. The RTP of the crap game varies with the bet type chosen with an average of 98.59%.
History of Craps
Crap is a variation of the European game ‘Hazard’, invented by nobleman Sir Williams of Tyre. The game was played among his group of soldiers to get entertained, and once they played the game to pass the time while waiting to attack the Hazarth castle, which led to the name ‘Hazard’ derived from the word ‘Hazarth’.
The game became popular among English and spread all over England in the late 17th century. The popularity of the hazard spread to France as well, and the name hazard changed to crabs.
The popularity of craps exploded during the world war II, where many army men played the game to get themselves entertained. Later many casinos including Las Vegas and the Caribbean introduced craps to their game list, and with online casinos the popularity extended.
Understanding the Craps Table
The crap table has different positions, including pass line, don’t pass bar, big 6 and big 8, field, come and don’t come, place, and center of the table. Each position indicates a unique wager, placing a wager at any of these positions suggests the type and value of the bet placed. The positions have different odds and house edges.
Other than players, the table is rounded by box person, stick person, and dealers. The box person guards the betting chips while the stick person helps in placing number bets and announcing the results of the game. The dealers manage the money and provide the winning amount to players.
Crap Rules
Understanding the crap rules helps a player in making an effective gameplay. The rules of the game seem complex at first, but once understood they are the easiest to play.
Game objective
A player makes bets on the outcome of the two dice thrown. Every player aims to roll a number similar to the first roll before rolling a seven.
Playing rules
- Players make bets before the dice are thrown.
- The bets are made using cash or chips.
- Different bets are made according to the different positions in the craps table.
- Two dice are thrown together.
- The player throwing the dice is known as the shooter.
- On the first roll, 7 and 11 are the winning numbers, and 2,3, and 12 are the losing numbers.
- Numbers like 4, 5, and 6 are not considered winning or losing, but they establish a point that needs to be rolled before rolling a 7.
- The shooter changes when a 7 is rolled.
Different Bets in Craps
Crap is a game with different betting options, making it a complex game to understand. A player has to make a bet before rolling the dice and the bet is made depending on the positions in the craps table.
1. Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bar Bet
A pass line is the bottom position of the table and is one of the important positions. A pass line bet is made if the player believes the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. Payouts are made if the shooter rolls any of the two numbers.
The bet is lost if the numbers rolled are 2, 3, or 12. Any other numbers establish a point, which must be rolled again before rolling a seven.
A don’t pass bar bet is the reverse of the pass line bet, which means a player wagers that the shooter will roll 2, 3, or 12, if the outcome of the roll results in any of these numbers payouts are made. A 7 or 11 is considered a loss.
The house edge of both these bets is very low, approximately 1.41%, making it the most preferred bet among newbies.
2. Come and Don’t Come Bets
Players can make come and don’t come bets after a point is established. A come bet is made on predicting that the outcome of the next throw will be either 7 or 11.
A do n’t-come bet is made when you expect the throw results in 2, 3, or 12. A roll of numbers other than 2, 3,7, 11, or 12 is considered a personal point, which combined with the original point doubles the chances of winning. Come and don’t come bets are placed in the ‘come’ and ‘don’t come’ line respectively. Both offer a 1:1 payout.
3. Big Six and Big Eight
Big Six and Big Eight are located at the bottom corner of the table and are one of the most popular bet types in craps. A player predicts the shooter will roll 6 or 8 before rolling a 7. With this bet, you can either win big or lose bigger, as the house edge is 9.1%. It offers an even payout.
4. Field Bet
The field position is seen in the center of the craps table, just below the come position. A player wagers on whether the shooter rolls 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 in a single roll. Though a field bet is one of the most preferred bets, the statistical probability of landing 3, 4,9, 10, or 11 is lower than landing 5, 6, 7, or 8.
5. Place Bet
A place bet is made on shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 before rolling a 7 (‘place to win’ bet). These bets are made only after a point is established. A player can also bet on rolling a 7 before rolling 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, which is known as a ‘place to lose’ bet. The house edge of place bets varies depending on the number chosen and ranges from 1.52% to 6.67%.
6. Proposition Bet
A proposition bet is placed in the center of the table. These bets are made on any throw of the dice, like any 7 (wins if the shooter rolls a 7), any crap (shooter lands 2, 3, or 12), ace deuce (shooter rolls a 3), aces (shooter rolls a 2), boxcars (shooter lands a 12), horns (shooter rolls 2, 3, 11, or 12). The house edge of these bets ranges from 10% to 16.7%.
7. Hardway Bet
A player bets on a specific pair to roll, ie a similar number on both the dice, before rolling a 7. A hard four(both dice land with 2) offers an 8:1 payout while a hard eight (both dice display 4) offers a 10:1 payout.
How to bet on online craps?
A player has to sign up for a licensed casino site and deposit funds to make bets. The steps involved are as follows,
- Choose an online casino site.
- Complete the signup process.
- Deposit funds by choosing the payment type and amount.
- Select ‘craps’ from the game list and input the bet value.
- Hit ‘place bets’.
How to Play Craps?
Playing a crap game is easy once you get familiar with the rules and betting types. The playing pattern is similar in both online and offline craps. We offer a stepwise guide to help you to play a crap game.
- Place the wager
- A wager is made before the throwing of the dice.
- A ‘pass line’ or ‘don’t pass line’ wager is made at the beginning.
- A pass line bet is won if the dice roll results in 7 or 11.
- A don’t pass line bet is won if the roll of the dice results in 2, 3, or 12.
- Any other number establishes a point, which must be rolled again before rolling a 7.
- Throw the dice
- The player who throws the dice is known as the shooter.
- A ‘come out’ roll is made (the first roll).
- Analyze the outcome
- If the bets made, either pass line or don’t pass line are won, the game ends.
- If any other number rolls, players remain in the game until a 7 is rolled.
- Point is established
- Numbers other than 2, 3, 12, 7, or 11 are rolled, and a point is established, which has to be rolled again before a 7 gets rolled.
- Make additional bets
- When a point is established, you can make additional wagers including come and don’t come, big six big eight, field, proposition, or hard way bets.
- Shooting continues
- The shooter continues shooting until a 7 is rolled. A roll of 7 gives a chance to the next player to become the shooter.
- One player shoots while the other player wagers, the process continues until a win takes place.
- Winners are determined
- The winners are determined by analyzing the outcomes of the throw and payouts are made depending on the types of bets placed.
Popular Crap Variants
Crap is a dice game where players make wagers on the outcome of the dice thrown. There are different variants of crap games available both offline and online.
Crapless Craps
Crapless craps are very much similar to standard crap games, but any number rolled other than 7 establishes a point which means the shooter either wins or establishes a point, with no chance of loss.
High Point Craps
In this variation, rolling an 11 or 12 generates a win. A number lower than 11 and higher than 3 becomes a point that has to be beaten to win the next roll.
Simplified Craps
It is the simpler variation of the standard crap game in which rolling a 2, 3, 4, 10, or 11 is considered a win whereas 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 results in a loss.
Sites to Play Craps
Crap games can be played in offline, online, and live dealer casinos. Some of the best sites to play craps are,
- Draft King Casino
The Draft King Casino offers 4 crap games with an average RTP of 92%. The minimum and maximum betting limits are $50 and $5000 respectively. Draft King Casino exclusives include DraftKings Andrew Dice Clay Craps and DraftKing Craps. Live dealer craps are also available.
- BetMGM Casino
BetMGM casino offers four crap games including Standard Craps, Live Dealer Craps, First Person Craps, and Craps The Matrix. The betting limit ranges from $0.10 to $5000. It offers an RTP percentage between 88% and 99%.
- Caesars Palace Casino
The number of crap variants offered in Caesars Palace Casino is two, including First Person Craps and Live Dealer Craps. The betting limit ranges from $0.50 to $5000. No exclusive offers are available for craps.
- Fanatics Casino
Fanatics Casino offers two variants of craps including First Person and Live Dealer Craps. One can make a bet between $0.50 and $5000.
- Play Star Casino
Two crap variants are available including First Person Craps and Live Dealer Craps. The minimum betting limit is $0.50 whereas the maximum betting limit is $5000.
Best Crap Strategies
Though crap is a luck game, strategic gameplay is important for players aiming to boost their profit. A number of strategies are available to increase the winning chances at a crap table. Before opting for a strategy, a player has to analyze the budget required and the risks associated.
1. Pass Line Crap Strategy
Pass line crap strategy is one of the most simple strategies in which players make a bet on 7 or 11 as the outcome of the dice throw. Landing a 7 or 11 generates a win and a 2, 3, or 12 results in a loss. The house edge of the pass line bet is low resulting in increased payouts.
2. Don’t Pass or Don’t Come Crap Strategy
Don’t pass or Don’t come crap strategy works best in online craps. According to this strategy, a player has to make a dont pass or don’t come bet against the shooter. A roll of 2 or 3 results in a win whereas a 7 or 11 generates a loss. The house edge of the bet is 1.36%, making it one of the most effective bets.
3. Iron Cross Crap Strategy
According to the iron cross strategy, a player has to make wagers on a combination of two sets of numbers, place bets on the field, ie on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12, and keep money on a place bet where a 5, 6, or 8 will roll before a 7. In this method, each number is covered resulting in a win on any number rolled.
4. Craps Odds Strategy
A player has to make a wager on a roll of 7 before rolling 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 after a point is established. The chance of occurrence is even thus no impact on the house edge.
House Edge in Craps
The house edge of a crap game varies according to the types of bets placed. The house edge can reach up to 16.9% which may result in a huge loss.
| Bet type | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Pass Line Odds | 1.41% |
| Pass Line Odds / Come Bet Odds / Buy Bets (4 or 10) | 4.76% |
| Pass Line Odds / Come Bet Odds / Buy Bets (5 or 9) | 4.76% |
| Pass Line Odds / Come Bet Odds / Buy Bets (6 or 8) | 4.76% |
| Don’t Pass Odds | 1.36% |
| Don’t Pass Odds / Don’t Come Odds / Lay Bets (4 or 10) | 2.44% |
| Don’t Pass Odds / Don’t Come Odds / Lay Bets (5 or 9) | 3.23% |
| Don’t Pass Odds / Don’t Come Odds / Lay Bets (6 or 8) | 4% |
| Place Bets (4 or 10) | 6.70% |
| Place Bets (5 or 9) | 4% |
| Place Bets (6 or 8) | 1.52% |
| Field Bets (3, 4, 9, 10 or 11) | 5.50% |
| Field Bets (2 or 12) | 5.50% |
| Hardways (6 or 8) | 9.09% |
| Hardways (4 or 10) | 11.10% |
| Any 7 | 16.90% |
| Any Craps | 11.10% |
| 2 Craps or 12 Craps | 13.90% |
| 3 Craps or 11 Craps | 11.10% |
| Big 6 or 8 | 9.09% |
Crap Odds
The odds are the chances of winning a game. The odds of a crap game vary with different bets.
| Different Bets | Odds | Payout Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line Bet | 251 to 244 | 1 to1 |
| Dont Pass Line Bet | 976 to 949 | 1 to1 |
| Any Seven Bet | 5 to 1 | 4 to1 |
| Craps Bet | 8 to 1 | 7 to 1 |
| Odds Bet | 4 and 10, 2 to 1.5 and 9, 3 to 2.6 and 8, 6 to 5. | 4 and 10, 2 to 1.5 and 9, 3 to 2.6 and 8, 6 to 5. |
| Lay Bet | 4 and 10, 2 to 1.5 and 9, 3 to 2.6 and 8, 6 to 5. | 4 and 10, 2 to 1.5 and 9, 3 to 2.6 and 8, 6 to 5. |
| Place Bet | 4 and 10, 9 to 5.5 and 9, 7 to 5.6 and 8, 7 to 6. | 4 and 10,2 to 1.5 and 9, 3 to 2.6 and 8, 6 to 5. |
| Big Six Big Eight Bet | 6 to 5 | 1 to 1 |
| Field Bet | 5 to 4 | 1 to 1 (3-12), 2 to 1 on 2, 3 to 1 on 12. |
| Hardway Bet | 35 to 1 on 2, 8 to 1 on 4 or 10, 10 to 1 on 6 or 8 | 30 to 1 on 2, 7 to 1 on 4 or 10, 9 to 1 on 6 or 8 |
How to Calculate a Crap Payout?
A payout is calculated using the payout odds. For example, the payout odds for landing a 4 is 9:5, which means for every 5 dollars won the dealer pays out 9 dollars.
To determine the payout, a player has to convert the betting amount to equal units. Say, a 10-dollar bet is divided into two equal units of 5 dollars. Multiply the total number of units with the payout odd offered.
The payout odds for rolling a 4 is 9:5, multiply 2 units by 9, which results in 18. This means if a 4 is landed, you receive a payout of 18 dollars with an investment of only 10 dollars.
Tips to Win a Crap Game
Different casinos offer different betting limits, so checking the minimum and maximum bet limits is essential before playing the game. Some casinos have higher betting limits which can’t be afforded by all players. Choose casinos with lower betting limits to reduce the risk of losing.
Instead of relying on a single strategy, try different strategies and analyze the winning odds for each.
Playing free games not only eliminates the risk of money loss but also increases skills. It helps a player to get practice before entering the real money game.
Effective bankroll management helps a player make the utmost profit from the game by staying within the budget limit. A proper bankroll management system prevents addiction and encourages responsible gambling.
Instead of trying to win back the lost amount leave the game table, the longer you stay the higher the chances of losing.
Final Thoughts
Crap is a game of luck, players make wagers on the outcome of the dice thrown. It is important to understand the layout of the craps table and the different betting options included to make the gameplay effective. Crap offers one of the highest payout odds and a 50-50 chance of winning. The house edge of the game is relatively high, which restricts players from playing craps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pass line and Don’t pass line bets are the most profitable bets in craps, with lower house edge and higher winning odds.
Crap involves determining the outcome of the dice thrown, which are random, and requires no skills, making it a game of luck. But remember one has to learn the different bets possible to make maximum profit out of the game.
We can’t say accurately, but there are chances of a rig at the craps table.
It depends on the preferences of players, though analyzing the paying odds, playing blackjack is much better than playing a crap game. The payout odds of a blackjack is 99% whereas it is 50% in craps.
Crap is a game of chance in which players predicts the outcome of the dice thrown. California prohibits all banking games that pit players against the house and crap is one among them.
