Craps is the most popular dice game in the world, and it is one of the most exciting games at offline and online casinos.
If you’ve ever had the chance to visit a land-based casino, you have probably noticed the craps table, as it is the loudest and biggest of all. It has more staff supervising it than any others, and players are encouraged to socialize and enjoy the fun atmosphere of the game.
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To play at a casino site should be fun and entertaining where several online casinos have as objectives to make you smile. One of the casino sites that really have succeeded in this is Playojo.
Online, the game is still an exciting option and has a lot of big advantages that the bricks and mortar casinos lack. Craps players who play online love that they can always get on a table and not have to deal with a bunch of rowdy strangers.
So how much do you know about this game with the strange name?
Craps has a reputation as being a confusing and complex game, but that’s not true at all; it’s actually straightforward to play. The basic gameplay is easy. All you are doing is betting on what the outcome will be on the roll of a pair of dice.
OK, when it comes to the number of different types of bets you can play, then it gets a little more complicated. The thing is, all these bets are easy to understand, and you don’t actually need to learn them all. We’ll let you in on a secret here: craps is a game that can be played and won just knowing one single bet!
Craps is a game of chance so anyone can win if luck is on their side.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about playing craps. A complete novice can gain a basic understanding of the game and be playing at an online casino in just minutes after signing up and winning real money.
For the more advanced players, we will discuss all the different bets available to play. We will discuss the best strategies and tips for new and experienced players and much more.
This guide is mainly dedicated to the game of online craps, which, in our opinion, has a lot of superior qualities to the land-based craps tables. With mobile devices, you have the option to play on the go, and the online casinos offer hundreds and sometimes thousands of different exciting games in addition to craps.
The game of craps is all about the different bets you can place, and they have the same wagers available to play live or online. They share the same rules, and the table layout is the same.
Craps tables are always available to play at – At a busy real-life casino, you’ll often find the craps table jam-packed with gamblers all jostling to place their bets. You might have to wait before you get your turn to play. When you play craps online, you will be guaranteed a game, and it doesn’t matter at what time of the day or night you join the casino.
A much faster game – When you play online, it’s just you against the computer, so there aren’t other players involved or all the different people staffing the table. This makes for a speedier craps game, so you can get more bets in and potentially win more in less time.
Play for low stakes – Many land-based casinos have a minimum limit you can bet, but when you play online craps, you can wager for much smaller amounts.
Bonuses – This is a big advantage! You’ll see all the online casinos that we recommend have generous welcome bonuses to make your bankroll go further once you sign up. They also offer ongoing promotions all the time, so there are plenty of opportunities to bolster your bankroll with extra cash after you have signed up.
Less intimidating for newbies – With all the craziness going on at the table when playing real-life craps, the best place for a more relaxing game is online. You can take your time getting to grips with the different bets, and even play free craps games for a while before playing real money craps.
Mix and match casinos – When you sign up to a casino, they don’t hold exclusive rights to your patronage! You can sign up to as many online casinos you like, and try out the different craps games they offer.
With up to 16 people playing at the table at any one time, as well as 4 staff keeping it all running smoothly, a real-life craps table is a bustling, lively experience. It’s usually a friendly and sociable game, and even though you can cut the tension and excitement with a knife as the shooter rolls the dice, the table has a laid back atmosphere with joking and laughing.
There are four staff members at the table:
The Boxman – This is the boss of the craps table; he or she is the person who makes sure all the rules are followed, and that the dealer is making the correct payouts. The boxman is responsible for exchanging cash for chips at the table.
The Dealers – Two dealers are posted at either end of the craps table and are responsible for giving chips to the players, moving bets to the correct area of the layout, and paying out your winnings.
The Stickman – It’s the person who controls the dice and moves them around the table with a long L shaped stick; he’s the fun guy at the craps table, and he’ll also try to talk you into making some bets you might not want to play, so if you ever find yourself at a real-life casino, don’t get swayed by the stickman’s charm!
So as you can see, playing craps at a live casino can be fun, but with all the noise and different bets to master, if you are new to craps, it can be overwhelming. Online craps game converts much prefer the simpler gameplay and the ability to bet at our own tempo.
When playing craps at an online casino, the actions are simulated by computer software. This software is known as a Random Number Generator and is used for many online casino games. In a craps game, the RNG will randomly and fairly generate two numbers for the pair of dice that are rolled. This software is tamper-proof and is tested and audited regularly by outside authorities to ensure that it hasn’t been manipulated in any way.
As the online game is played solo, it makes the game a lot simpler, as we mentioned earlier in our guide. Try a few free games first, so you can get acquainted with the table gameplay and the different bets.
When you have found a craps game at the online casino, you have chosen to play at. You will be taken to a screen that shows the layout of the craps table, as well as the buttons you need to press for various action taking options.
You will also see the number of chips you have to play, and by clicking on the bet you want to make, it will add the chips to that area on the layout.
At land-based casinos, the person rolling the dice is known as the shooter, and they will take it in turns to perform this role with other players at the table. Online craps are played using a random number generator, and the dice are rolled automatically when you press the roll button.
The game begins with a pass line bet; you will see this at the bottom of the virtual layout. You will place your bet on this area and press the roll button for what is known as the ‘come out roll.’
Two dice are used in craps, and the score of the dice will determine what happens next:
If the shooter [you] roll the dice and get a 7 or an 11, then you win the game and get paid your winnings before starting a fresh round, once again betting on the pass line.
If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or a 12, this is what is called craps, and you’ve lost the game. Once again, a new round of craps will be played, starting with the pass line bet.
If the shooter rolls any of the remaining numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10), this becomes the point. On your virtual online craps layout, you will see these point numbers at the top of the screen.
So if the shooter didn’t get a winning or losing dice roll, then we enter the second stage of the game.
Depending on which point number was rolled, a white circular disc that reads ‘ON’ will appear above that point. So, for instance, if the shooter rolled the two dice and scored a 6, the white disc would appear above this number to show it was the point to play.
The shooter then keeps on rolling the dice until either they get the point and they win the round, or a 7 is thrown, and the round ends with a loss.
So that’s how to play craps; a beginner only needs to understand just one bet – ‘the pass line’ – and can still win!
So some of you are thinking: great, I’ll head over to an online casino and start betting now; I know how to play the basic game. But I’m sure that many of you are still intrigued enough to want to know about the other bets that you can make.
Well, we did say that this would be the complete guide to craps, so we’re going to discuss all the other bets you can place at the craps table.
There are dozens of different bets you can wager on in craps. We suggest trying out a few at a time, rather than trying to learn them all. They aren’t necessarily complex bets, but to grasp them all would require an exceptional memory. We can break the two types of wager down to multi-roll and one roll bets in craps. The single roll bets will be the riskiest wagers you can make and give a considerable house edge advantage for the casino.
Multi-roll bets are wagers that take more than one roll of the dice to settle.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass – We discussed the pass line bet earlier, as the first and only bet you need to play craps and is the most popular bet with a house edge of 1.41%. You also have the don’t pass bet option, which is the mirror opposite; playing this bet at a real casino, you would be betting against the shooter. With the Don’t pass bet, if the shooter rolls a 2 3 or 12 on the come out bet, they win, but if a 7 or 11 is rolled, they lose; any other number becomes the point this gives a house edge of 1.36%.
Come and Don’t Come – These are the next most popular wagers after the pass/don’t pass bets and are fairly similar. They are played after the come out roll and once the point has been established. With the come bet just the same as the pass line, if a 7 or 11 is rolled, the bet is won; if 2, 3 or 12 is rolled, it’s lost, and all others become the point. If the come bet point is rolled, you win; if a 7 is rolled, you lose this particular bet. The Don’t Come bet is the exact opposite with a win on the 2, 3 or 12, and the bet is lost for a 7 or 11.
Odds Bets – There are four different odds bets you can make: You can ‘Take Odds,’ if you are betting on the Pass line or come bet, or ‘Lay Odds’ if you have made a bet on Don’t Pass or Don’t Come. Essentially, this is a side bet, and with a house edge of an amazing 0%, it’s not a bet to be ignored. These bets can be made any time after the come out roll. Also, you can remove or change the amount at any time. Usually, you are allowed to stake x 3 of your original bet, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Place Bets – If you have a lucky number and want to choose it before the come out, then here’s your chance. You can wager on any of the point numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. You can place a bet on as many of the point numbers as you like. If any of the numbers you have bet on are rolled before the 7, you win. The winning payouts will vary depending on which number was rolled.
Buy and Lay Bets – Similar to the place bet but paid at true odds; you can bet on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 at any point during the game; if the number you have wagered on is rolled by the shooter, you win, but have to pay a 5% commission to the casino. The lay bet is the same true odds with a 5% commission to be paid out, but on the opposite outcome, a 7 being thrown for any of the point numbers.
Hardways – Rolling the hard way is when the dice are rolled, and they both share the same number, for instance, a hard 6 would be a double 3 rolled. To win this bet, you need to roll a Hardway bet before a 7 is rolled, or any other combination of your number is rolled, excluding two dice with the same number; this is known as the ‘easy way.’ So if you bet on a hard 10, and a 6 and a 4 were rolled, you would lose. As with other bets in craps, the payout will depend on which number was bet on.
Big 6 and Big 8 – These are simple bets; if a 6 is rolled before the dreaded 7 or an 8 before a 7, then the Big 6 or Big 8 win. The payout on this is 1:,1 even money.
These single roll wagers are easy to learn, and playing them from time to time can add a lot of excitement to the game. But there is risk involved, and the house edge for most of these bets is firmly in the casino’s favor. Most gamblers will tell you to avoid them, as you are risking your money on one roll of a dice. We advise you to play them sparingly when you are feeling extra lucky and certainly don’t make them part of your everyday craps strategy.
Field Bet – If you bet on the field bet, you are banking that 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 will be the next number rolled.
Any Craps – If you wager the craps bet, you are hoping that one of the craps numbers is rolled: 2, 3 or 12; if they aren’t, you lose the bet.
Any Seven – This is pretty self-explanatory; you’re hoping the shooter rolls any combination of dice that make a total of seven; 4 and 3, 6 and 1, 5 and 2, for example.
Ace Deuce – With an Ace scoring as 1 and a Deuce being a 2, you win this bet if the shooter rolls a 3.
Twelve Craps – Also known as boxcars, the odds are 1 in 36 for winning this bet. If the shooter rolls two sixes, it’s your lucky day if you’ve wagered on this bet.
Snake Eyes – I’m sure you’ll guess why it’s called this when we tell you that, if the shooter rolls a 2, this bet will win. Still not sure? Well, when the shooter rolls a 2, it has to be a 1 and a 1, and if you think of the 2 dots on the dice looking like a pair of beady black eyes, there you have it, snake eyes!
Yo Bet – The terms ‘yo’ or ‘yo-leven’ are used at land-based craps casinos so that the numbers 7 and 11 aren’t confused. It won’t matter to you what it’s called online, but basically, you are betting on if the shooter rolls a 5 and a 6.
So now you have a comprehensive guide to most of the bets you can play. As we’ve mentioned before, you don’t need to know or play all these rules to enjoy the game. Many craps players just stick with the pass line and come bets, and have great fun playing the game.
Next up, we are going to discuss how to use some tips and strategies to hopefully help you win more cash when you play craps online.
No craps guide would be complete without some pointers to help you get the best from your game, now that you have learned how to play.
Inexperienced players play free mode craps – If you are new to the game, don’t rush in and start playing for real money until you have experienced the game and understand the basics of how to play.
Collect your bonuses – If you sign up with an online casino to play craps, you’ll be offered a welcome bonus; usually, this is a matched deposit, so if you deposit $100, the casino will match you with the same amount. This is basically free money that you can use to play and win at craps with! We suggest you make sure that you check the terms and conditions and wagering requirements first.
Play the best bet on the craps table – Without a doubt, the best bets to play are the pass line, don’t pass, come and don’t come bets – they all have a low house edge. The best possible bet you can play is the don’t pass bet backed up with the odds bet after the come out roll. The free odds bet will vary, but it is usually 2 to 3 times a multiple of your don’t pass bet, but sometimes much more. The higher the multiple you bet ,the lower the house edge is. The free odds payout true odds, which means there is no house edge. If you average the odds for the don’t pass bet with the free odds bet, you have dramatically increased the overall odds in your favor.
Don’t play the Big Six or Big Eight Craps Bets – These one roll bets are terrible bets to wager on. If you play one of these bets, you win if a 6 or 8 are rolled; the payout is even. As the probability is that the 7 is much more likely to be rolled, it makes the house edge 9.1%. So as you can see this is one of the craps bets you should avoid at all times.
Don’t play the Snake Eyes or Boxcar Craps Bets – These are two more craps bets to avoid, and they have even worse odds. Snake eyes are when you roll a 2, and boxcar is the 12 bet. With a house edge that is close to 15%, this is an awful bet to play.
As craps is a game of chance and is all about the wagers you place, then money management has a key role to play in any player’s craps strategy. If you play with a clear head and a healthy respect for the money you are playing with, it’s going to pay off.
Winning streaks – This is a good time to take stock. You started with $100 and you have won an additional $70 on your lucky winning streak. You have a clear head and know it won’t last forever, so you put aside $120 and play with the $50 left; this means you are guaranteed coming away with 20% of your winnings and, in our books, that is a good day.
Losing streaks – Go into the game with a clear amount you can afford to lose; stick to that amount no matter how tempting it is to have ‘one more roll of the dice’
You don’t need to learn the lingo to play craps online, as it’s just you against the computer, though why not impress your friends with your craps vocabulary. Even so, it’s fun to learn some of the terms used at the table in a land-based game of craps; you never know, you might find yourself at one in the future.
Here are a few of the common terms:
Yes, most online casinos are safe to play craps at. To be safe, we recommend playing at the trusted casinos that we have listed on this site. Our team of professional online casino experts makes sure that any site we endorse is regulated and licensed, and that it has strict privacy and security measures in place to protect its users.
Real-life casinos have many more overheads to payout for than their online cousins, and craps games even more so, as they require a large crew to run the table. With lower costs, online casinos can afford to offer low limit tables.
