Online Craps for Real Money Guide

The Rules of the Craps Game

Since there are many variations of Craps, we would recommend beginners to stay away from complicated Craps tables.

Let’s start breaking the rules and the gameplay down one by one. To start, players on the table will take turns and throw dice. The one who is throwing is called the ‘shooter.’ The ‘come-out roll’ would be the shooter’s first roll of the dice.

Before every roll, players can bet on different outcomes (we will discuss the bets in the next section) by placing chips on the appropriate section on the table itself. Depending on what number their roll produces, winners and losers are determined on the spot.

The rolls have the following possible and typical outcomes.

Natural

Rolling 7 or 11 means you’ve achieved a ‘Natural.’ This is the best situation you can have on your hands, as you get to roll the dice again, increasing your chances of winning bigger. A Natural results in the win of pass line bets. You win, and so do the players who wagered their chips for you to win.

Craps

Rolling a two is called ‘Snake Eyes,’ and rolling 2, 3, or 12 is called Craps as you lose the roll. You will lose your bet, along with the players on the pass line bets that wagered for you to win. However, you will get your turn again as the round might not be over.

Point

Rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is called a Point. If you’re playing Craps in a live casino, the dealer will go ahead and mark the Point on the Craps table. If you roll a Point on the come-out, you will have to keep rolling till you roll the same number again (to win a tremendous even-money payoff). However, if you end up rolling 7, you will lose.

Type of Craps Wagers

Craps is such an exciting game because of the number of possibilities you can bet on. As a shooter, you must make a ‘pass line’ or ‘don’t pass line’ bet before your first roll. During the come-out roll, every player can make just one of these two bets. However, for non-shooters, making this bet is optional.

Pass Line Bet (multi-roll)

Don’t pass line bet is the bet for the shooter to win. This bet’s limits can be the table maximum or minimum (which can vary from casino to casino). This example is how it works:

• If the come-out is 7 or 11, you win.
• If the come-out is 2, 3, or 12, you ‘crap out,’ or lose
• If the roll is any other number, the shooter will establish a point. The shooter will roll again till they get the point again(and win) or seven-out (lose by rolling a 7).

Here, you have:

• Odds: 1:1
• House edge: 1.41%

Don’t Pass Line Bet (multi-roll)

Here’ you bet for the shooter to lose. It pays even money, just like the pass line bet.

• If the come-out is 2 or 3, you win
• If the come-out is 7 or 11, you lose
• If the come-out roll is 12, it’s a draw (called a push)
• If the shooter rolls any other value, a point will be established, and the shooter will keep rolling till they make the point or seven-out

Here, you have:

• Odds: 1:1
• House edge: 1.41%

Come Bet (multi-roll)

You can make a come bet after a point has been established on the pass line. Making this bet means you’re now betting on the roll to be a 7 or 11 before the shooter lands the point.

• Odds: 1:1
• House edge: 1.41%

Don’t Come Bet (multi-roll)

The shooter can make this bet after a point has been established on the pass line and reverse the come bet. Now, you bet for the shooter to get a one or a three before they seven-out.

• Odds: 1:1
• House edge: 1.36%

Field Bet (single-roll)

This type is a wager for one roll and can be made at any time. You win if the shooter lands a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11. The payout is doubled on a two and tripled on a 12. You lose on a 5, 6, 7, or 8.

• Odds: 2:1 for 2 and 12 and 1:1 for any other number
• House edge: 5.5%

Free Odds Bet (multi-roll)

You can make this bet after a come bet or a pass. Here, you bet for the shooter to get a 7 (before the determined point number is achieved).

• Odds: 1:2 on 4/10, 2:3 on 5/9, and 5:6 on 6/8
• House edge: 0%

Place Bets (multi-roll)

You can lay this bet at any time. Here, you bet that the shooter will land a certain number before landing 7 (or a seven-out).

• Odds: 9:5 for 4/10, 7:5 for 7/9, 7:6 for 6/8
• House edge: 1.52% on 6/8, 4% on 5/9, and 6.67% on 4/10

Buy Bet (multi-roll)

This one is similar to a place bet. You bet that the shooter will land a specific point number before landing a 7. The Casino will pay true odds if you win this bet. However, the commission might vary.

• Odds: 2:1 on 4/10, 6:5 on 6/8, and 3:2 on 5/9
• House edge: 4.76% (varies depending on the commissions)

Big 6, Big 8 Bet (multi-roll)

At any time, you can bet for a 6 or 8 to be landed before a seven is.

• Odds: 1:1
• House edge: 9%

Hardways Bet (multi-roll)

To win this bet, the shooter must land the same number on both dice. For example, two 3s on the dice make a ‘hard 6.’

• Odds: 9:1 on 6/8, and 7:1 on 4/10
• House edge: 9.09% on 6/8 and 11.11% on 4/10

The 2 or 12 Bet (single roll)

12 and 2 happen to be the toughest to land in this game. Hence, betting on this has a massive payout of 30:1.

• Odds: 30:1
• House edge: 13.89%

The 3 or 11 Bet (single roll)

Like the previous bet, you will wager for the shooter to get a 3 or 11.

• Odds: 15:1
• House edge: 11.11%

Any 7 Bet (single roll)

Seven happens to be the number with the most considerable landing probability as it has the most combinations. You can bet on it, but the payout is just 4:1.

• Odds: 4:1
• House edge: 16.67%

Any Craps Bet (single roll)

2, 3, or 12 numbers are referred to as ‘craps’ numbers. Here, you bet on the shooter’s roll to land one of these three.

• Odds: 7:1
• House edge: 11.11%

Optimal Betting in Craps

Before we move to strategies, we must tell you that in the long run, the house always wins if you’re not careful (this has been proven mathematically as well). However, for a better chance of winning, start by placing wagers on scenarios with the slightest house advantage.

We recommend checking out the metric for house advantage per roll instead of on per bet to create your optimal scenario. With 102 rolls per house being expected in a nearly full table, you can study the average come-out rolls and watch your loss rate per hour to minimize it and pull out once you have the upper hand.

Craps Betting Strategies

Let’s briefly dive into three popular strategies. It is recommended you manage your bankroll wisely and avoid emotional gambling.

1. The ‘pass and come, with odds’ strategy. Did you know the pass-plus-odds combo lowers the house edge to 0.8%? The idea here is to put a significant chunk of your bet in free odds with a low house edge. Start with a minimum wager or pass/come bet and put the rest in odds.
2. You can also lookup the ‘don’t pass and don’t come with laying odds’ strategy for a different take.
3. The ‘6 and 8’ strategy. After 7, 6, and 8 have the most probability of being landed, the house edge is 1.52%. You can also make a hybrid of this strategy by using ‘pass with odds’ it. Just use money management principles while betting this way.
4. Hedging also remains a popular strategy for Craps, along with other tactics like the ‘Iron cross,’ ‘don’t pass with lay odds + laying 4 or 10,’ and put bets. However, success depends on money management in Craps more than anything else.

Where Can You Play Online Craps for Real Money?

So, you’ve done the research and are ready to roll. Here are a few sites you can go to:

• Royal Panda
• 22 Bet
• Betway
• Europa casino
• Jackpot City casino

Happy gambling! Just remember to put emotions aside, manage your money well, and, most importantly, have fun!