Overview of Craps

Updated: September 27, 2026

Craps is known for the number of betting options and the crowd participation factor. It can trace its origins back to the days of the Crusades, although the modern version of the game did not become popular until the 20th century.

Most people think of Craps as the game where you roll two dice and try to get a 7 or 11. While that much is true, the game is actually more nuanced than most casual players give it credit for. In fact, while some Craps bets provide the casino with a large house edge, there are others that consistently rank among the best bets in the world of gambling.

This article is designed to familiarize you with the basics of Craps, from the rules of the game to the myriad betting options available. We will also provide some tips to help improve your overall experience at the table, as well as touch on the controversial art of dice control.

Rules of Craps

The person who rolls the dice is known as the shooter, and when the shooter rolls the first die, a new round of play begins.

The shooter's first roll is called the Come-Out Roll. Just before the Come-Out Roll begins, the shooter must place a wager on the Pass or Don-t Pass line. Players often enjoy the anticipation of the come-out roll.

The shooter then hurls the dice down the length of the table, and land-based casinos require them to bounce off the back wall. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, it is considered a "craps" roll and the round ends. Anyone who bet on the pass line loses their money.

If a 7 or 11 (natural) is rolled, anyone betting on the pass line wins immediately. The shooter can then choose to make a new come-out roll, or pass the dice to another player. Some players prefer to pass.

If the come-out roll shows any other number, that total becomes the Point. The shooter now faces a new challenge: roll the Point again before a 7 appears. If he does, all bets on the Pass Line are paid. If a 7 appears first, then the round is finished and everyone who bet on the Pass Line loses their money.

After a Shooter's turn is complete, he may pass the dice to the next player to his left. In online Craps, however, the player can remain as the Shooter and roll the dice as many times as he or she wishes.

Types of Craps Bets

The game of Craps has a number of betting options available to players, which is part of the appeal of this casino classic. In this section, we will take a look at all of the possible bets.

• Pass - This bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll. If a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled, the bet loses. If any other number comes up, the point is established. The bettor can still win if the point is rolled again before a 7. This bet pays even money and offers a house edge of 1.41%. Don-t Pass - In this case, the bettor is betting that the shooter will lose. On the come-out roll, the bet wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 and loses on a 7 or 11. A come-out roll of 12 is considered a push. If any other number comes up on the come-out roll, it is considered a point. The bettor wins if a 7 is rolled before the point. If the shooter rolls his point before a 7, the bettor loses. This wager pays even money and has a house edge of 1.36%. Pass Odds - If a point is established on the come-out roll, the bettor has the option to place a wager that is a multiple of the pass line bet (usually from 1x to 100x). The bet wins if the point is rolled before a 7, and pays at the following odds: 2-1 on a 4 or 10, 3-2 on a 5 or 9, and 6-5 on a 6 or 8. Since the payout is better than even money, the house edge on this bet is reduced to 0%.
• Don-t Pass Odds - The bettor is betting that the shooter will roll a 7 before his point. If the bet wins, it pays at the following true odds 1-to-2 on a 4 or 10, 2-to-3 on a 5 or 9, and 5-to-6 on a 6 or 8. As with Pass Odds, the house edge is reduced to 0% (making this one of the best bets in any casino)
• Come - This bet can only be placed after the point has been established by the shooter. Once the bet is placed, the bettor wins if the next roll is a 7 or 11. If the next roll is a 2, 3, or 12, the player loses. Otherwise, the number rolled becomes the come-out point, and the bettor can take odds on it as in the previous two examples. If the next roll is a 7, the player loses. However, if the shooter rolls the come-out point before a 7, the bettor wins and is paid even money
• Don-t Come - This bet can only be made after the point has been established by the shooter. Once the bet has been placed, the bettor wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 and loses on a 7 or 11. A 12 is considered a push. If any other number is rolled, it is called the don-t come-bet point, and a 7 must be rolled before that number in order to receive an even money payout
• Yo - The bettor wins if the shooter manages to roll an 11. Pays 15-1 with a house edge of 11.11%
• Ace Deuce (or 3) - A bet wins if the shooter rolls a three. Pays 15-1 with a house edge of 11.11%
• Aces (or 2) - The player wins if the shooter rolls a 2 on the next roll. Pays 30-1 with a house edge of 13.89%
• Boxcars (or 12) - The shooter must roll a 12 for the bettor to win. Carries a 13.89% house edge
• Hi-Lo - pays 15-1 if the next roll is a 2 or 12. The house edge is 11.11%.

Craps Payouts & House Edge

This table shows the standard payouts and house edge for six common craps bets.

Bet	Payout	House Edge
Pass	1:1	1.41%
Come	1:1	1.41%
Don't Pass	1:1	1.36%
Don't Come	1:1	1.36%
Hard 6 or 8	9:1	9.09%
Hard 4 or 10	7:1	11.11%

Craps Tips and Strategies

The next time you play Craps, keep the following tips in mind to improve your odds. At the very least, you can fool everyone into thinking you know what you are doing.

Know the Lingo - Online players do not need to know this information, but anyone planning to take a trip to a land-based casino should brush up on the various Craps terms. Some bets are known by two or three different names, and this can be confusing for new players. Fortunately, most people around the table are friendly and helpful, so there is almost always someone willing to help.

Don-t be superstitious - Don-t fall prey to the various myths and superstitions surrounding the game of Craps. For example, throwing a penny under the table before rolling the dice will not increase your odds of winning, and shouting the word "seven" will not decrease your odds (although you may still want to avoid the latter out of respect for any superstitious players who may be present).

Know the Table Layout - The Craps table can be confusing to new players, so it is wise to study the layout before playing for real money. There are plenty of free Craps programs available online, and these provide an excellent opportunity to learn your way around the layout.

Avoid Systems -€“ Some people swear by betting systems, but these are to be avoided at all costs.

Dice Control in Craps

Respected gambling authors such as Stanford Wong have written books praising the ability of dice control to work in favor of the advantage player. Others, however, remain unconvinced, and the subject remains a matter of ongoing debate.

By holding the dice in a certain position in your hand and throwing them with the right amount of force, proponents of this method claim that you can influence the outcome of each roll. While some scoff at the idea, there are those who claim to have rolled dozens of consecutive winners using this technique.

Unfortunately, online players cannot use this to their advantage because they do not physically interact with dice. In the world of virtual gaming, players must rely on their knowledge of betting options and a lot of old-fashioned luck to make a profit.

While online Craps can still be a lot of fun, this is a game that definitely works best in a live setting. The players around the table often form a tight-knit community over the course of the evening, and you will always have plenty of support when it is your turn to roll the dice. If you can stay away from the high house edge bets and stick to the more advantageous ones, you can walk away with a lot of money. For those who can master dice control (if there are such people), the profit potential is even greater.