Online Craps Rules »

Craps is probably amongst the most exciting casino games. In a land based casino, you will often see a real buzz, or a crowd of people, around the craps table.

Premise

This is basically a casino game that involves betting on the outcome of the dice on a specially marked table. The game is played in rounds.

Actions

- The Puck: This is seen on top of the table. White is an indication that the game is on. Black is an indication that the game is off, or that it has not started yet.
- The Player: Actually, there is really just one person playing the game and he or she is called the ‘shooter.’ The others around the table are all betting on the result of the dice roll. Online the game is not multi-player, so the role of shooter will not change hands.
- Start of game: The dice is rolled out for the first time during the start of the game, which is called the ‘come out roll.’

Basic Rules

- Before the come-out roll, players must place Pass Line or Don't Pass bets. Pass Line bets win if the come-out roll is either 7 or 11, and lose if it's 2, 3 or 12.

- Don't Pass bets are the exact opposite. 7 or 11 loses, and 2 or 3 wins. However, if a 12 is rolled, it's a push, and the bet is returned.

- Should any of these numbers be rolled on the come-out roll, the round is over and there will be a new come-out roll.

- Getting a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll is called 'craps,' and getting a 7 or 11 is called getting a 'win' or a 'natural'.

- If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 comes out on the come-out roll, it becomes the 'point.’ When this happens the shooter will keep rolling the dice until the number designated as 'point' is rolled again or until a 7 is rolled.

- If the shooter makes the point before a 7 is rolled, Pass Line bets win. If a 7 comes up before point (called a 7 out), Pass Line bets lose. With Don't Pass bets, you are betting the opposite, that the 7 will be rolled before the point.

There are more than 35 bet types available in a craps game, some of which can be quite advantageous, because they tend to reduce the house edge considerably.

Free Odds Bets, for example, reduce the house edge to very near zero. These include Double Odds, Triple Odds, Five-Time Odds, and Ten Time Odds bets. They are all placed behind the pass line/don’t pass line in support of pass line bets.

Place Bets means betting on the exact number the shooter will roll. They are placed on the specific number boxes, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 at the top of the table.

Buy Bets and Lay Bets can offer decent odds, but they are not recommended because they cost an extra commission.

Field Bets are placed on the next roll of the dice the shooter will throw 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. These are higher risk bets with a greater house edge, over 5%.

Proposition Bets or Center Bets are again single roll bets. They are without question the most risky, offering the highest rewards, but almost any craps guru will tell you to avoid these like the plague!

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it gives you an insight into the complex and entertaining world of Online Craps. It should whet your appetite, and arm you with the basics to begin life at the Craps table.