Craps Rules for Beginners

If you’ve ever visited a real casino, you’ve probably seen the craps tables, but you might not have any idea how to play the game. If you’re interested in getting started, we’ve put together a full beginner’s craps guide so that you can learn all the basics and rules and be ready to tackle the game whenever you feel like it.

Craps is a dice game that’s entirely based on luck, so there aren’t any complex strategies that you need to learn or master before you can start playing. The aim of craps is simply to predict the outcome when two dice are rolled – you’ll just be betting on what combinations you think will land.

If craps sounds like your idea of fun, you can drive straight into our guide to find out the essential craps rules for beginners.

Understanding the Craps Table Layout

Before you start playing, understanding the craps table is very important. After all, this is where you’ll be placing your bets. 

The craps table layout is relatively easy to get your head around once you know some basic terminology. The shooter is the person rolling the dice (if you’re playing a virtual version online, the computer will take the roll of the shooter).

The most important part of the craps table is the Pass Line. This is the main area where players place their bets if they believe the shooter will win – in other words, roll a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll or make the point (more about that in the next section).

Parallel to the Pass Line, you’ll find the Don’t Pass Line – this area is for bets against the shooter. Players here bet that the shooter will lose – in other words, roll a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll or roll a 7 before making the point.

The craps table also has a Come Area, and a Don’t Come Area, which is used for bets later in the game once the point has been established. 

Whether you’re playing at a real-life table or online, the craps table setup is very much the same, so as long as you’re familiar enough with it, you won’t have any trouble playing.

Basic Rules of Craps

The basic craps rules are pretty simple – you’ll be betting on the outcome of the roll of a pair of dice. In land-based casinos, the dice can be rolled by a human dealer or a machine; online, it’s all done with computer algorithms.

The various areas in the table – described above – are there, so you can easily bet on the outcomes you think will occur. 

A game of craps begins with the come-out roll. Essentially, this is just the first roll of the dice in a game of craps. The Pass Line is an even money bet, which you’ll place on the come-out roll, and you’ll win if 7 or 11 rolls but lose if 2, 3, or 12 lands.

If any other number lands, it’s known as a “point”, and the point has to roll again before a 7 for you to win. The Don’t Pass line is the exact opposite of the Pass Line. In other words, you’ll lose on a 7 or 11. You win on a 2 or 3, a 12 is a tie, and any other numbers become a point, but this time, you’ll lose if they’re rolled before a 7.

Don’t worry if this sounds a little confusing for now; you’ll soon get the hang of the craps betting rules when you start playing. 

The Come-Out Roll

The come-out roll is hugely important, as it marks the beginning of a game of craps and establishes which number will be the “point”. There are several different possible outcomes of the craps come-out roll – the shooter can win, lose, or a point can be established. 

The point is the number the shooter will try to roll before a seven is rolled. The point can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. If the point is rolled before the next seven, that round will end, and the shooter proceeds with another come-out roll. If the seven rolls, the shooter is “out”, and the pair of dice is given to the next shooter. This part doesn’t matter so much if you’re playing online. The critical thing to remember is that when the seven rolls can impact whether or not you win, depending on your bet. 

Rolling the Point

Once a point is established, the shooter aims to roll that number again before a seven is rolled. The dealer will mark the point number on the table; if you’re playing online, you’ll see it displayed on the screen.

The craps game progression continues from there. The shooter will continue to roll the dice until either the point or a seven has been rolled. If the point is rolled, bets on the pass line win, and are paid out even money, while bets on the don’t pass line lose. If the seven is rolled, bets on the don’t pass line win, while bets on the pass line lose. 

Understanding Craps Numbers and Odds

Craps is played with a pair of six-sided dice, which means that there are 36 possible combinations of craps numbers. Before you start to play, understanding craps odds is very important, as it can help inform your bets.

Based on the possible combinations, the odds that each number will be rolled varies:

Number	Odds	Percentage Chance
7	6/36	16.67%
6 and 8	5/36	13.89%
5 and 9	4/36	11.11%
4 and 10	3/36	8.33%
3 and 11	2/36	5.56%
2 and 12	1/36	2.78%

Based on this, we can establish the craps odds for winning each type of bet:

• Pass Line Bet: 8/36
• Don’t Pass Line Bet: 3/36
• Place Bets: Place bets on 6 and 8 are more favorable due to better odds (5/36). Place bets on 4 and 10 have the highest payouts but are riskier (3/36).
• Field Bets: 2 and 12 often pay higher (2:1 or 3:1). Other numbers typically pay even money. We’ll explain field bets in more detail in the next section.

Common Bets in Craps

There are a whole lot of common craps bets which you can place, and that keeps gameplay interesting. These are some of the main craps betting options:

Pass line: This is one of the most popular craps bets, and as we explained earlier, you’ll win if a 7 or 11 rolls, but lose if 2, 3, or 12 rolls. Any other number establishes a point. This is an even money bet; the house edge is 1.41%.

Don’t pass line: Bet against the shooter, with winning conditions favouring rolling a 7 before the point is made. Just like a pass line bet, this one pays out even money. 

Come: Similar to the pass line, but placed after the come-out roll, creating a new point phase for that bet. As come bets are similar to pass line bets, they also pay out 1:1. 

Don’t come: Similar to the don’t pass line, but placed on subsequent rolls after the come-out roll. This bet type pays out even money.

Place bets: Direct bets on specific numbers, with payouts varying based on the likelihood of the number being rolled before a 7. This bet wins if the selected number is rolled before the seven, and the payouts are:

• 4 or 10: Pays 9:5.
• 5 or 9: Pays 7:5.
• 6 or 8: Pays 7:6.

Tips for Beginners

We have lots of craps tips for beginners, but we think the most important thing to do before you play is to simply understand the rules. Make sure you’re comfortable with the table, and learn all of the bet types before you get going. 

If you’re just starting out, it’s also imperative that you learn effective craps bankroll management. Set your stake at a low level, for example, 1% or 2% of your bankroll at the start. This will ensure that you can continue playing for a while, and you don’t lose all your money right at the start if you happen to be unlucky. It’s almost important to remember to gamble responsibility at all times, and always stick to the budget you’ve set for yourself. 

If you’re going to be playing craps online, you might want to play in demo mode first so that you can get used to the game before you commit to playing for real money.

However, if you’re playing in person, it’s imperative that you understand all the rules first, as you wouldn’t want to disrupt the gameplay for more established fans.

Once you’ve read our full guide, you should be comfortable enough with some of the main craps tips for beginners so that you can play with confidence. 

Conclusion

With all sorts of different bet types to keep things interesting, craps is both an exciting game and a simple one. We know that the table might seem a little intimidating at first glance, but overall it’s pretty easy to learn craps, and once you’ve nailed the basics, you’ll be able to start placing more complex bets.

Remember, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just a beginner, you should always set a budget you’re comfortable with and stick to responsible gambling practices. 

Now that you’ve got the basic craps strategies down, you might be interested in learning more about the game and getting more insights as you get better at playing. You might want to subscribe for craps tips here at Betsquare or keep an eye out for helpful blogs over on your favourite online casino site.

Either way, there are plenty of ways to learn craps strategies, and you’ll enjoy hours of fun with this game – plus there’s even a chance that you’ll bag a real money win.