What Is Crapless Craps? A Variant That’s Anything But Crappy

Crapless Craps makes some fundamental changes to regular craps gameplay. This variant removes the Don’t Pass line, the Don’t Come box, and lay bets.

It treats rolls of 2, 3, 11, and 12 as point numbers (such as 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10). This was done to be able to play tables that were running cold (not paying out much). It is still possible to make Place and Buy wagers.

Crapless Craps Vs Craps

So, what exactly are the differences between Crapless Craps and craps? Well, in standard craps games, there are four dice rolls that can lead to a loss in the Come Out roll. You can make a 2, a 12, and two possible ways to make a 3. What Crapless Craps does is remove the losing numbers on the Come Out roll.

On paper, this means every Come Out roll is a winner, and you cannot lose. However, there are tradeoffs with adjusting the rules of standard craps. For example, in Crapless Craps, 11 is a Point number, alongside 2, 3, and 12. Remember, in standard craps, an 11 roll would be an outright winner on the Come Out roll.

Rules of Crapless Craps

You can learn how to play the crapless variant easily enough, as the game is not harder than standard craps. When the dice rolls the first time – the Come Out – any number but 7 becomes the Point. You will now need to repeat the Point to be able to win a Pass Line wager. In all other aspects, Crapless bets are the same as the standard game:

• Crapless Craps: All numbers aside from 7 are a Point. You get six ways to roll a 7 as winning Come Out rolls and no ways to lose.
• Standard craps: 8 ways to win with six ways to roll 7 and two ways to roll 11, and four ways to lose.

In terms of the table layout, the Crapless table extends from the Point boxes and now includes 2, 3, 11, and 12 as Point numbers. The Don’t Pass section has been taken out completely, but there is still a Pass Line. There are no “dark side” bets in Crapless Craps, so all lay bets are removed from the table.

How To Play Crapless Craps

1. Craps games have one player acting as the Shooter, which is the player who rolls the dice. This may not always be you in land-based games, but it usually will be at an online casino.
2. Make an initial “Come Out” bet. In Crapless Craps, you can only bet on the Pass Line.
3. The Shooter rolls the dice. If you have a Pass Line and the dice show a 7, you win. If the dice shows any other number, it becomes the Point.
4. If you set a Point, you can keep rolling until either you repeat the Point and win or roll a 7 and the game ends in you losing.

Crapless Craps Odds And Payouts

Crapless Craps payouts differ from normal craps because of the slight changes in gameplay. It is important to know the odds before you start playing.

• 2 and 12: 6 to 1
• 3 and 11: 3 to 1
• 4 and 10: 2 to 1
• 5 and 9: 3 to 2
• 6 and 8: 6 to 5

You can make a Place bet on 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 with the following payouts:

• 2 and 12: 11 to 2
• 3 and 11: 11 to 4
• 4 and 10: 9 to 5
• 5 and 9: 3 to 2
• 6 and 8: 7 to 6

Because you can only win on a 7 (and not also an 11) during the Come Out roll, there are downsides to Crapless Craps. Chief among them is that it can be harder to set the point and that you cannot use dark side betting. In craps, most players feel it is bad etiquette to bet against the Shooter, who is a fellow player. Betting against the Shooter is known as dark side betting, and online, it doesn’t matter as much because you play by yourself. In Crapless Craps, dark side betting is not available.

In terms of the house edge, the Pass Line bet on standard craps is 1.414%, while on Crapless Craps it is 5.382%. The reason for the significantly worse house edge is that Crapless Craps offers fewer ways to win on the Come Out by removing 11 as a winning roll.

Crapless Craps Tips

While no Crapless Craps strategy can guarantee wins, the following tips will give you a better understanding of the game:

• Check the betting limits: Different games have varying betting limits. Check to ensure the game you choose is within your budget. You may find Crapless Craps has higher buy-in bets, so you may need to wager more than when you play standard craps.
• Practice for free: Online casinos offer demo modes of their games. While you cannot win real money, playing for free allows you to become familiar with the game, practice, and learn betting systems before risking your own cash.
• Gamble responsibly: As we say with all casino games, always gamble responsibly and within your financial limits. Only you know what you can afford to lose, but set a budget that comes from your disposable income.
• Learn the rules: Use this guide and free demo play to understand how to play Crapless Craps and become clear on the rules. Only once you are confident that you know what you are doing should you start betting for real.

Conclusion

While traditional craps may offer a better house edge, Crapless Craps adds a unique twist to the classic casino game by removing the Don’t Pass and Don’t Come betting options. Plus, since you can’t lose on the Come Out roll, you are guaranteed at least two dice rolls in Crapless Craps.

Despite its many advantages, the game may not appeal to every casino player. Take a closer look at the main pros and cons below.

Lead image credit: Netfalls Remy Musser/Shutterstock