A Beginner’s Guide to Craps: Rules and Strategies 2025 

Craps is one of the most interactive and entertaining games you’ll come across in any physical or even virtual online casino. Hilarious, full of action, with the sounds of the people joining around the table, and the expectation that comes with rotating the dice – it is preferred by starters and professional players. If you have ever witnessed the fun and tried to jump into the action but failed; not knowing how to interpret the rules or the terms used, this is your chance to get it right.

This guide is here to make sure that you proceed to get to the craps table (or the online casino game) FEARLESS! In this article, we will list all the rules, describe the game process, and provide you with some tips for novices. Based on first glance, anyone would be entranced by Craps’ complexity, but once you break them down, it’s clear to see why so many love it.

Well, let’s move on and see whether you would like to take your chance and get into the world of craps. Let’s get started!

Understanding the Basics of Craps

Before you go chucking dice and getting defendant in the action-packed craps world, you must understand the craps game. Don’t fret, crap looks complicated at first glance, but after learning how to play, you’ll find the table easy to be at. So, let’s go through it step by step.

Objective of the Game

The thing craps is about, at its core, is predicting where a roll (or series of rolls) of two dice will end up. But players place bets on whether the dice will land on certain numbers — it’s the suspense of waiting to find out whether those numbers have come in before the dice are thrown.

The ultimate goal is simple: You get to win the lot if you make the right predictions. A big part of luck is that you gain proficiency in knowing the rules of the game and how to bet on it.

 The Craps Table Layout

Maybe you think the craps table looks like a maze of numbers and lines, but each part of the table has a reason. Here’s a quick tour:

1. Pass Line: A kind of bet where you place bets that the shooter will roll a winning number.
2. Don’t Pass Line: This bet loses when the shooter rolls a winning combination; opposite of the Pass Line.
3. Come and Don’t Come Sections: Similar to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line, these areas work, but they are placed after the first roll and the House always pays 2 to 1 if you win, as long as nothing else in the field has hit.

Below, you will also see sections for more advanced bets like Place, Field, Proposition bets, etc., but don’t worry beginners, you don’t need to go there just yet. It might look a bit busy in the layout, but it’s not too hard to pick up when actually playing.

 The Dice and the Shooter

The two six-sided dice are the stars of the show in Craps. The game depends on the action of the shooter (or the player rolling the dice). The shooter begins by making a ‘come-out roll’, or roll the shooter has to win to make the rest of the round constructive.

Don’t get caught up if you aren’t the shooter, you surely don’t miss out on betting and cheering the actual one. To be fair, they’re rolled down the table and then, every toss, every roll, is full of anticipation.

Fundamental Rules of Craps

Now that you understand the basics, let’s dive into the heart of the game: the rules. There are a few key phases of playing Craps and once you know how they work you’ll be able to play as good as anyone.

The Come-Out Roll

The come-out roll is the shooter’s first roll of the dice and starts every round of craps. This roll is key because it lays out the way of the game. Depending on the outcome, the game can go one of three ways:

1. Natural Roll (7 or 11): Pass Line bets win right away if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 — a roll of 7 or 11 is called a “natural.” A nice way to start the round of with some joy and cheers!
2. Craps Roll (2, 3, or 12): But the opposite of that is if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, it’s known as ‘craps’ and Pass Line bets lose. Don’t stress, we got more rolls.
3. Point Numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10): If the shooter rolls any of these numbers the ‘Point’ is set, and the game moves into the next phase.

The magic starts with the come-out roll and knowing how they turn out will define how the game will look.

Establishing the Point

The game switches to its main phase when a Point number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) is rolled. The two table numbers now mark the Point on the table, that the shooter’s aim is to roll this number again before a 7.

Say the shooter rolls a 5 as the Point, they will continue rolling the dice try to get another 5. At this phase, Pass Line bets continue to roll in, and they carry over to the next. The same part of gameplay often pulls players into the fun because we all find common cause and rally behind the shooter so they can hit their Point.

Subsequent Rolls

Once the Point is set, the shooter continues rolling the dice until one of two outcomes occurs:

1. The Point is Rolled Again: Now, Pass Line bets win if the shooter rolls the Point number before a 7, and excitement is at a high point.
2. Seven-Out: However, if the shooter rolls a 7 before hitting the Point, the round ends, and Pass Line bets lose, as they lose on all rolls other than seven. Now the dice goes to the next player, and another round with another come out roll begins.

Common Bets in Craps

There’s a lot of action in a game of craps, and a lot of fun in picking your bets. Once you get used to the basics you can get more complex and take on bets that are not only harder to make, but much more fun. We’ll break down these bets and see how they go.

Pass Line Bet

If you’re a beginner, the most popular wager is the Pass Line bet. You bet this before the come-out roll, and you are betting the shooter will roll a 7 or 11.

1. Win: Pass Line bet wins if the shooter rolls a natural (7 or 11) on the come-out roll.
2. Lose: The Pass Line bet loses if the shooter rolls craps (2, 3, or 12).
3. Point Phase: A Point is established, the Pass Line bet wins only if the shooter rolls that Point before rolling a 7.

This bet effectively roots you for the shooter, and it helps add a lot of sociality to the game.

 Don’t Pass Line Bet

The Don’t Pass Line bet is the exact opposite of the Pass Line bet. You’re not betting with the shooter; you’re betting against them.

1. Win: If the shooter rolls craps (2, 3) on the come-out roll, you win.
2. Lose: If the shooter rolls a natural (7 or 11), you lose.
3. Point Phase: With a Point, if you set it and roll the shooter hits a 7 before hitting the Point, you’re a winner.

This bet is less popular than another bet because it goes against the table’s momentum, but it is a strategic bet if people are not looking to play the contrarian.

Come Bet

The Come bet is a lot like the Pass Line bet, however it’s placed whether the Point has been established. Imagine it creating your own mini game on top of that round.

1. Win: The Come win on a 7 or 11 is the next roll.
2. Lose: On the Come bet, the Come bet loses on the next roll 2, 3, or 12.
3. Point Phase: If you roll a different number the number is your ‘Come Point’ and you want that number to show again before a 7.

This bet is flexible and exciting because you can jump into the action whenever you want.

Don’t Come Bet

Don’t Come bet is the same as Don’t Pass Line bet, but like Come bet, placed after the Point is set.

1. Win: The Don’t Come bet loses if the next roll is a 7 or 11; it wins if it is 2 or 3.
2. Lose: If the next roll is 7 or 11, you lose; if you roll 2, 3, 12, you lose; if you roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, you continue rolling.
3. Point Phase: You win if another number becomes Come Point and a 7 is rolled before that number comes up again.

Players who like a systematic, ‘Bet against the odds’ approach love this bet.

Odds Bets

Some of the best options in craps are odds bets, because they carry no house edge (ZERO). As soon as a Point has been established, however, you can still correspond with a Pass Line or Come bet with the addition of a corresponding Odds bet (betting “Odds”) on either a Don’t Pass or Don’t Come bet.

1. Taking Odds (Pass Line/Come): You’re betting that the point will be rolled before a 7.
2. Laying Odds (Don’t Pass/Don’t Come): You’re putting your money on your roll a 7 before the Point.

Odds bets pay true odds, which means that they offer fair payouts for the real probability for this event to occur. Indeed, they are an excellent way to raise your potential winnings while having a lower house advantage.

Basic Strategies for Beginners

Craps can be a lot of fun, but with so many betting options you can get overwhelmed. However, playing successfully — as a beginner for example — is all about making things simple and sticking to strategies that will comfortably give you the opportunity to win. Now we have some basic tips to help you get started and get the most out of your experience.

For a beginner, the best way to start is with the basics. When you’re starting out, the best friends you have would be the Pass Line and Come bet. Why? The house edge on these bets is much lower and therefore they have better odds of you winning.

The Come bet works the same way, but after a Point set, the Pass Line bet wins if the shooter rolls 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, otherwise a loss. If you keep it simple with these bets, you can focus on having fun with the game, rather than having more to think about.

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, it’s time to take advantage of Odds bets—and here’s why: All these bets have no house edge. That’s right! One of the best ways to play is odds bets which are played based on the true odds to be rolled on the dice.

Once you’re on a Pass Line or Come, add an Odds bet to help back it up and hopefully make more money without adding any more risk. Don’t be shy about adding those Odds once you’re comfortable, it’s a smart move to take full advantage of these!

One-roll bets, commonly called proposition bets, might be tempting because of the big payouts, however, the house edge is very substantial on them. Such bets are based on the result of only one roll; for example, betting on which number or combination will appear.

Unfortunately, the odds of these bets hitting are incredibly low, and the house edge is much higher than the house edge on the Pass Line or Come bets. As a beginner, you’re better off avoiding these and concentrating on bets where you have a better opportunity of winning. When you are more experienced, you will have plenty of time for riskier bets.

When it comes to any casino game, knowing how to manage your bankroll is one of the most important strategies. Before you sit down and start playing, set limits for how much you’re willing to lose as you play and stick to them, whether it’s how many dollars you are willing to spend playing or how much you want to win before you quit.

Finding a way to ensure you’ve been gambling responsibly is essential to enjoy the game without putting too much money at risk. If you manage your money wisely you will play longer, with less stress.

Tips for Playing Craps Online

Playing craps online has a different level of excitement especially integrating with the physical casino is quite thrilling. Since you aren’t sitting at a table with other players, though, you’ll want to approach online craps with a few tips in mind, so you have a fun and successful time. Here’s how to get the most out of your online craps sessions.

Your number one priority should always be safety when you talk of online gaming. Choose always an authorized and reliable online casino. When you look for casinos, take a look at the ones that have a genuine gambling license from a well-known authority, for instance, the UK Gambling Commission, or the Malta Gaming Authority.

These casinos assure the equity of the play and usage of encryption for the safety of your personal and financial information. Don’t trust the so-called ‘unlicensed’ sites, as you could lose your money. Instead, try to stick to reliable and generally known in the industry platforms.

If you are looking to get used to playing online craps without taking any risk, then the good news is that this can be done without any risk involved. Most craps casinos online feature demo versions for this game, so you don’t need to stake real cash.

It’s a good time to learn the game mechanics – how do you roll the dice, where do you bet, and where does the game go? The more you practice the more confidence you’ll get, and the more you’ll understand the rules although it’s very important to be able to play real money games, you can start playing with them just as you are.

Different things happen online craps can and just like with any new game take a bit to get comfortable with the online layout and betting options. Most casinos have an easy-to-use online interface; however, you still need to know where everything is located.

Learn how you place your bets, how to change the amount you bet and how the dice is rolled on screen. In fact, they may have even tutorial videos or guides to help you use their software. Being able to understand how to play with the game interface will help you become calmer when playing and just have fun with the game.

Conclusion

Craps is not a game of chance; it is an experience that brings people around the table. The joy of rolling the dice, of course, is still the same, whether that’s in person or online. If you are a beginner, use the practice as an excuse to learn more rules, test other strategies, and most of all, enjoy yourself. As you get better at playing, you’ll get better at the game, and soon you’ll be playing the game with confidence! That’s why keep those dice rolling and enjoy the ride.

Are you ready to hit the table? Share this on your social media, and get your friends excited to play too! 🎲 #CrapsGuide #CasinoTips #BeginnerCraps

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