How to Play Craps at a Casino

Playing Craps in a Casino: What You Need to Know

1. Understanding the Table Layout: Craps has a unique table layout covered in a variety of betting options. Knowing which bets you can make and where to place your chips is the first step in understanding how to play craps at a casino.
2. The Come Out Roll: Each round of craps starts with a “come out roll” by the shooter (the player throwing the dice). If they roll a 7 or 11, bets on the “pass line” win. If they roll a 2, 3, or 12, pass line bets lose.
3. Establishing the Point: If the come out roll is any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10), that number becomes the “point”. The shooter then continues to roll the dice until they either roll the point number again (pass line bets win), or a 7 (pass line bets lose).
4. Betting Options: Apart from the basic pass line bet, Casino Craps offers a variety of other bets, each with their own payout and odds. This includes bets like the “don’t pass” line, “come” and “don’t come” bets, and a wide range of “proposition” bets.
5. Basic Strategy and Etiquette: Before learning how to play craps at a casino, it’s important to understand the rules, odds, and proper etiquette. This includes things like how to handle the dice, where to place your bets on the table, and when to make your bets.

The roll of the dice. The cheering players. Chips getting thrown around. What the heck is going on? For those interested in learning how to play Craps at a casino, the thought of walking up to a table and starting can be intimidating.

We’ve already covered how to play Craps, which is a great way to learn the basic rules. This guide is perfect for the beginner Craps player who wants to start playing with confidence as they step up to the Craps tables in a casino.

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The First Roll of the Dice

While the overall layout of a Craps table seems scattered and confusing, the best way to learn how to play Craps is to start with the Pass Line. The shooter must put a bet on the Pass Line in order to get their chance at rolling the dice.

With dice in hand, the shooter rolls the Come Out Roll. There are three outcomes that can take place depending on the number that comes up.

7 or 11. If the shooter rolls either number, the Pass Line immediately wins and the shooter gets another Come Out Roll

2, 3 or 12. If the shooter rolls any of these numbers, the Pass Line bet loses, also known as “Crapping out.” The shooter can roll another Come Out Roll if they replenish the Pass Line bet they lost.

4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. If the shooter rolls any of these six numbers, they become the Point.

What is the Point in Craps

On the Come Out Roll, if you roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, then that becomes the established point. This is where the game really gets going. If you place money solely on the Pass Line, then you must roll the Point number before rolling a 7:

• If you roll your point, you win
• If you roll a 7, you lose
• If you roll any other number then nothing happens to your Pass Line bet

For example, if your Come Out Roll is an 8, then you must roll another 8 in order to win your Pass Line bet. Even if you roll other numbers, your bet is safe. However, you can bet on any number in a variety of ways to make the most out of the dice.

How to Play Craps at a Casino: Playing the Odds

After the Point is made, many players choose to place money “behind the line.” This is a bet that goes behind the Pass Line and pays odds on the Point.

The odds on behind the line bets are:

• 4 & 10 – 2:1
• 5 & 9 – 3:2
• 6 & 8 – 6:5

For instance, if the Point is 8 and you put $10 behind the line, then if you roll an 8 you’ll win $12, whereas your Pass Line bet of $10 will pay just $10.

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How to Play Craps at a Casino: Place Bets

After the Come Out Roll, players can start Placing Bets on numbers. Place Bets are when you play any of the six numbers on the top of the Craps table (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10).

Here is a break down of the Place Bet paying odds:

• 4 & 10 – 9:5
• 5 & 9 – 7:5
• 6 & 8 – 7:6

You can’t place a bet on the Point though.

Place bets will remain active until one of two scenarios occur:

1. The shooter rolls a 7. In this instance, you lose your Place Bet.
2. The shooter rolls the Point. If the Point is 6 and you have a bet placed on 8, for example, your 8 bet will remain on the table. However, on the Come Out Roll, you can have your bet Off, which most players tend to do.
3. If your Place Bet is Off and the shooter rolls a 7, your bet is safe. It also means if the shooter rolls an 8 you wouldn’t make any money. You do have the option of keeping your Place Bet On, which means if the shooter rolls a 7 you lose and if they roll an 8 you win.

One of the benefits of a Place Bet is the ability to remove it at any time before the shooter rolls a 7. Let’s say you have placed a bet on 9 and the shooter has rolled 10 times (without rolling a 7) and they haven’t rolled a 9. You can tell the dealer to remove that bet.

How to Play Craps at a Casino: Additional Craps Bets

The Craps table in your local casino has lots of options for betting. Some of these bets are for a single roll, meaning that you bet on what the shooter will roll next. Other times, like Placed Bets, they are set unless the shooter rolls a 7.

• Field. A field bet is a one-roll bet that generally pays 1:1 unless otherwise noted. There are some tables that will pay more if the shooter rolls a 2 or 12. All the winning numbers are listed in the Field on the Craps table but they are generally 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

• Big 6 or Big 8. This is similar to a Place Bet but pays 1:1. Why would someone place their bet on a Big 6 for even money rather than place a bet on 6 for better odds? It’s a little less risky as, for instance, on a $10 minimum table you could bet $10 instead of $12.

• Come. The Come bet is used if a player wants to establish a new Point for themselves. Even if the Point is set, you can place a bet in the Come section and the next roll acts as if it’s a Come Out Roll. In the initial Come Out Roll, let’s say the Point is 6 and then you put money on the Come and it’s a 9, then you need the shooter to roll a 9 to win. If the dealer rolls a 6, the rest of the table is reset but your 9 is still in play (it’s not a Place Bet and will always remain On). Therefore, if the shooter rolls a 7 on the table’s Come Out Roll, you lose that bet whereas everyone else on the Pass Line would win.

• Hard Ways. In the center of the table, you’ll see dice pairs (2 x 2s, 2 x 3s, 2 x 4s, 2 x 5s). These even numbers can be made on a pair of dice in multiple ways but the “Hard Way” is a double on the dice. For example, a Hard 6 is when the dice rolls a 3 and 3, an Easy 6 is a 5 and 1 or 2 and 4. The Hard Way bet stays in place until the shooter rolls the Hard Way (win), an Easy Way (lose) or a 7 (lose).

• 2, 3, 11, 12 and Any Craps. These bets are located in the center of the table and are one roll bets. You can see the odds if this number comes up. Most people bet if they’re feeling lucky, usually tossing a $1 chip on the table and calling out what they want to the dealers.

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• C & E. Near the center are a series of circles with a C or E in the center. These are bets for the Come Out Roll when a player wants to bet the roll will be Craps (2, 3 or 12) or an 11 (E).

• Don’t Come Bar and Don’t Pass Bar. These options are rarely bet on because they go against the table. A Don’t Pass Bar or Don’t Come Bar bet is the opposite of putting money on the Pass Line or Come – a Craps roll (2, 3 or 12) is often an immediate win whereas a 7 or 11 is a loss on the Come Out Roll. Once a Point is established, this bet pays when a shooter rolls a 7. If the Point wins, these bets lose.

Craps Game Simulation – Two ‘What if’ Scenarios

Playing Craps is unpredictable. Players can win or lose money, and lots of it, in a matter of minutes. Here are two examples in how a Craps game in a casino can pan out.

Craps Game #1: A Good Roll

In this simulation, we’ll imagine you’re at a $10 minimum Craps table at a casino. As a beginner, you start out by just placing a $10 bet on the Pass Line.

1^st Roll: 7 – you win $10 on your Pass Line bet

2^nd Roll: 11 – you win $10 on your Pass Line bet

3^rd Roll: 5 – the Point is now 5, which means to win your Pass Line bet you need to roll a 5 before a 7. You can roll any other number and keep playing. At this point, you put $10 behind the Pass Line bet for 3:2 odds.

4^th Roll: 6 – nothing changes for you. Feeling lucky, you decide to bet $10 in the Field.

5^th Roll: 4 – you win $10 off your Field bet. You decide to take that money and Place a $12 bet on 6.

6^th Roll: 6 – you win $14 dollar on your Placed Bet! You decide to keep the money there.

7^th Roll: 5 – you win the Pass Line bet ($10) and the behind the line bet ($15)

The Point is taken down and you turn off your Placed 6 Bet (so you can’t win or lose with the Come Out Roll). The dice remain with you and you roll your Come Out Roll.

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Craps Game #2: A Bad Roll

You’ve been doing well so far so you place $10 on the Pass Line and roll the dice.

1^st Roll: 8 – the Point is established. You decide to put $10 behind the line and even throw $1 for Hard 8 (if you roll a pair of 4s, you’ll win 10:1). Also, 6s tend to come up frequently so you Place a $12 bet on 6.

2^nd Roll: 10 – nothing changes for you.

3^rd Roll: 7 – you lose it all

Craps games can go any number of ways. Sometimes you get on a hot streak and other times the dice are cold. Luck can change either way with the toss of a dice.

Tips for Beginners

If you’re a beginner Craps player and want to see what all the excitement is about, there are several ways you can make your introduction easier and more fun.

• Bet the Pass Line only. This is the simplest way to be a part of the game and watch how players bet. A Pass Line bet is no more than the table minimum.
• Practice with free Craps games: Free online Craps games are an excellent way to get used to the rules of craps and how to play.
• Play for Real Money Online: Once you’ve found your feet with free craps games, try playing for real money at a top rated online casino, like Hello Millions.
• Slowly try new things. Once you’re confident you can understand the game, try some new things like putting money behind the Pass Line for odds or place a bet in the Field.
• Let the dealers know you’re new. Live dealers at the Craps table in a casino are generally quite friendly. They’ll answer questions and even make some suggestions to make it fun.
• Have fun. Craps is a very communal game. You’ll constantly hear other players cheering the shooter on, clapping on rolls that win them money and chatting with one another. Join in and have fun – lots of Craps player like helping new players too.

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