How to play craps: rules, bets and odds for beginners
Craps is the dice game at the noisiest table in any casino. The busy layout and the jargon make it look complicated, but the core game is simple: you bet on the total of two dice. This guide explains how to play craps step by step, which bets have a low house edge and which ones to avoid, using the standard maths behind the game. 18+.
How a round of craps works
One player, called the shooter, rolls two dice. Everyone at the table bets on the same rolls, so you do not have to roll the dice yourself to play. Online, the game rolls for you. Live dealer versions use a real table with a dealer or a dice machine.
Two dice can land in 36 equally likely ways. Seven is the most common total because six combinations make it: 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2 and 6-1. Two and twelve are the rarest, with one combination each. Almost every bet in craps comes back to this table.
| Total | Ways to roll it | Chance on any roll |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2.78% |
| 3 | 2 | 5.56% |
| 4 | 3 | 8.33% |
| 5 | 4 | 11.11% |
| 6 | 5 | 13.89% |
| 7 | 6 | 16.67% |
| 8 | 5 | 13.89% |
| 9 | 4 | 11.11% |
| 10 | 3 | 8.33% |
| 11 | 2 | 5.56% |
| 12 | 1 | 2.78% |
The come-out roll and the point
Each round starts with the come-out roll. If you have bet on the Pass Line, the most popular bet:
- A 7 or 11 wins straight away (8 ways out of 36).
- A 2, 3 or 12, known as craps, loses straight away (4 ways out of 36).
- Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the point.
Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling. If the point comes up again before a 7, Pass Line bets win at even money. If a 7 comes first, known as a seven-out, Pass Line bets lose and the dice pass to a new shooter. Any other total in between has no effect on the Pass Line.
Put together, a Pass Line bet wins about 49.3% of the time and loses about 50.7%. That small gap is where its 1.41% house edge comes from.
The main bets
Pass Line. The bet described above. It pays even money and has a house edge of 1.41%.
Don’t Pass. The opposite bet. On the come-out roll it wins on 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and a 12 is a push, so your stake is returned. After a point is set, it wins if a 7 arrives before the point. The house edge is 1.36%, slightly lower than the Pass Line.
Come and Don’t Come. These work exactly like Pass and Don’t Pass, but you place them after a point is set. The next roll then acts as the come-out roll for your bet. The house edges are the same.
Place bets. You bet that a chosen number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) will be rolled before a 7. Place 6 and 8 pay 7 to 6, with a 1.52% edge. Place 5 and 9 pay 7 to 5 (4.00%), while 4 and 10 pay 9 to 5 (6.67%).
The odds bet: no house edge
After a point is set, you can back a Pass Line or Come bet with an extra odds bet. It is paid at true odds, so it is the only bet in the casino with no house edge at all.
| Point | Odds bet pays | Pass Line odds bet edge |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 0% |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 0% |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 0% |
There is a catch. You can only place it on top of a line bet that already carries a house edge, and each table caps how much odds you can take, so check the table rules. Adding odds lowers the edge on your total stake, but it also puts more money on the table each round. Only add it if it still fits your budget.
House edge on every common bet
These are the figures for standard rules. Payouts on some bets vary between games, so always check the help screen.
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line or Come | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass or Don’t Come | 1 to 1 (12 is a push) | 1.36% |
| Odds bet | true odds | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| Field (2 pays 2 to 1, 12 pays 3 to 1) | 1 to 1 on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 2.78% |
| Field (2 and 12 pay 2 to 1) | 1 to 1 on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 5.56% |
| Big 6 or Big 8 | 1 to 1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 6 or Hard 8 | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 or Hard 10 | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Any Craps (2, 3 or 12) | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Any Seven | 4 to 1 | 16.67% |
The best craps bets sit alongside baccarat’s Banker bet (1.06%) and below European roulette (2.70%). Our casino house edge guide compares every game we cover and shows what each edge costs in pounds.
Bets to treat with care
The centre of the layout holds the proposition bets: Any Seven, Any Craps, the hardways and one-roll bets on single numbers. Their big payouts look tempting. However, their house edges run from about 9% to almost 17%. For every £100 staked, that is an average loss of about £9 to £17, compared with about £1.41 on the Pass Line.
No staking system changes this. Each roll is independent, so a hot or cold shooter tells you nothing about the next roll. If a term on the layout is new to you, our gambling glossary explains it.
Playing craps online in the UK
Craps is less common at UK online casinos than roulette or blackjack. Where it is offered, it is usually an RNG game or a live dealer table. The rules above apply to both, but check the game’s help screen for its payouts before you play. Only play at sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. They must verify your age before you play, including on demo games.
We do not have a free craps demo yet. In the meantime, you can see how bet choice affects your odds with our free European roulette, free blackjack and free baccarat games, or browse every game on our free casino games page.
If you decide to play for real, here are two current welcome offers from casinos we have reviewed. Both are free spins on slots, so they cannot be used at a craps table:
- bet365 Casino: Deposit £10 – Get Free Spins (x10 days). See our review for the full terms.
- Betfair Casino: 50 Free Spins + Wager £10 Get 50 More. See our review for the full terms.
Before you start, set a budget and a deposit limit, and stop when it is no longer fun. You can also block all UK-licensed gambling sites at once with GAMSTOP.
Craps FAQs
Is craps hard to learn?
No. If you stick to the Pass Line and the odds bet, you only need to understand the come-out roll and the point. The rest of the layout is optional.
What is the best bet in craps?
The odds bet, which has no house edge, but you can only place it alongside a Pass Line or Come bet (1.41% edge). Of the line bets, Don’t Pass is lowest at 1.36%.
Why is 7 so important in craps?
Seven is the most likely total with two dice, made by 6 of the 36 combinations. It wins for the Pass Line on the come-out roll and ends the round once a point is set.
Can you win at craps in the long run?
No. Every bet except the odds bet has a house edge, so over time the casino keeps a share of what you stake. Treat craps as paid entertainment, not a way to make money.
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