BetUS Craps Guide

How to Play Craps

Everything you need to know to win, no matter what your level, is included in our BetUS Craps Guide. Read on to learn more!

History

The universally popular casino dice game of Craps has a history that’s hard to pin down. We know it was introduced to New Orleans around the turn of the 19th century by Louisiana gambler and politician, Bernard Xavier Phillipe. The game most likely is a hybrid, developed from the old English game of Hazard and the French game of Crabes.

What we do know for certain is that the game that has become popularized the world over today, owes its origins to John H. Winn who, in 1907, recognized his vision of the dice game, one that included a don’t pass bet zone, that is still in use today. The version played today has found a new lease of life online where it has been allowed to thrive.

Betting Basics for Craps

Craps is a simple game that involves a pair of dice and players betting on these dice rolls. Money in Craps can be bet on or against the casino or the other players in the game. While the game can involve over 40 potential bets, there are essentially a few basic bets that need to be understood to start playing. These are betting on the pass line and don’t pass line. All other bets might be a little intimidating to new players so might be best avoided until you get the hang of the game.

How to Play Online Craps

To play online craps, launch your chosen craps table, and choose your stake level and start to place your bets. Craps betting begins with the come-out roll. This is the initial roll of the dice, or the first roll to follow the previous betting round. The player doing the rolling is referred to as the shooter and they proceed to roll two dice down the table – there is a roll button for this online – and await three possible outcomes, natural, craps, and point.

Natural

Natural is where you roll a 7 or 11 meaning that you win and also have the opportunity to roll the dice again. Rolling craps means that you have hit a 2, 3, or 12 which is a losing roll referred to as Snake Eyes. Or, you can roll a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 which makes the point.

7 isn’t Lucky in Craps

By the way, the missing 7 is not a typo. 7 is NOT considered to be a lucky number and rolling it means a loss. However, make the point, and you can roll the dice again in order to hit the same number. If you land it, you have rolled a winner.

Pass Line

This brings us to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line betting. The Pass Line bet simply means that you bet that the shooter winning by rolling out a natural or by winning the point, while Don’t Pass Line betting means the exact opposite. Here, you are backing the shooter to lose, or not pass. As we said, these are the simple bets.

So, while there are lots of other betting opportunities in Craps, these can all be learned later when you have a stronger grasp of the game. Focus on the shooter and what they will or will not roll when you are starting to learn Craps.

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Looking at the Basics

It seems like every gambler wants to go from 0 to 60 and learn advanced strategy right away.

This may work for some online casino games, but it’s a pretty bad idea when it comes to craps. After all, craps is filled with dozens of wagers, and there is a lot to learn in terms of strategy.

So if you’re a beginner craps player, you should start with the basic tips and go from there. Here’s a quick look at some strategies that will get you started.

Know the Different Wagers

Every craps player should start with learning the different bets available.

You should begin with the most basic bets like pass line, don’t pass line, come, and don’t come. After you’ve learned these, you can move on to some of the more advanced proposition bets.

A word to the wise though – stay away from most prop bets because they offer poor odds.

Know the Betting Odds

Speaking of odds, you need to familiarize yourself with the odds of every bet you plan on making.

Knowing which bets to make in each situation will help you bring the house edge down below 2%. If you can do this, your chances are good to make lots of money by the end of the night.

Stick with the Best Bets

When you have a great night at the craps tables, there is a tendency to make risky propositions just because you’re up. But it’s important to remember that the odds don’t change just because Lady Luck has kissed you on the cheek. Unless you have money to risk, one is best sticking with the best craps bets, no matter how well you’re doing.

Take Advantage of Casino Promotions

You should always look at online casino craps promotions to get the most out of your money.

In many cases, promotions and bonuses will be the saving grace that helps you make a craps profit. So if you plan on playing a lot of craps, be sure and take advantage of the promotions.

Terminology

As you learn how to play craps, it is important to understand the game terms. You’ll quickly find yourself being exposed to this kind of “shorthand.” Don’t get intimidated or confused with the language used. Otherwise could misinterpret and lose bets as a result. We strongly recommend learning the Craps Guide Glossary at the end of the article to get acquainted with the terms.

Craps Terminology Examples

Anyone who elects to become the shooter must make a pass or don’t pass bet before throwing the dice the first time.

The shooter tosses a 7 on the come-out roll. Everyone who has a bet on the Pass Line will win. When the point has been established, and a 7 rolls before that point is rolled again, all the players who put down a Pass Line bets wind up losing. Then a new shooter is brought into the game. Customarily the dice are handed to the next person at the table in a clockwise direction.

Players Can Pass

As you learn how to play craps, this might make you nervous. If the player, when the dice are offered, makes the choice not to roll them, he or she just has to say “pass” to the dealer. Then, the next person becomes the shooter.

Online Play Great for Beginners

All of this, of course, is being relayed in “brick and mortar” language. But a great deal of it holds true in the online game, as far as the pure lexicon is concerned. It just makes things a lot more convenient for you when you are playing in the virtual world. So when you learn how to play craps, your best place is probably online.

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Glossary

B

Boxcars – A pair of sixes

S

Shooter- The entire game of craps revolves around the player who is known as the Shooter. This is the player at the table who throws the dice and is involved in establishing the point. You must know this as you learn how to play craps. There are also wagers that entail whether a 7 or 11, or Craps is rolled before the point number that is established is “made” again.

Snake Eyes– A pair of one’s

C

Come-Out Roll- Any roll (and take note – there could be more than one of them) that is made before the point is established by the shooter. For the point to be established, the roll has to come out to a combination that equals the totals designated in our definition of a “point”. These are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.

Here’s an example. Let’s say the come-out roll produces a 6. That, then, is the point. Before this, the players at the table bet on whether or not another six is going to be rolled before the shooter once again throws a 7.

Craps – When the player rolls craps, that means he has rolled a combination that is a total of 2, 3 or 12

N

Natural – This refers to a combination that comes out to a total of 7 or 11

P

Pass Line Bet which is critical in how to play craps. If a Natural (the 7 or 11) is rolled before the point is established, those players who have placed Pass Line Bets win. They will lose if the shooter throws a craps combination before the establishment of the point is established. Remember, a craps combination is 2, 3, or 12. Anyone who elects to become the shooter must make a Pass or Don’t Pass bet before throwing the dice the first time.

Point– This is a combination that adds up to a total of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10