How to Play Craps in Vegas
How to Play Craps in Vegas: What You Need to Know
- Understanding the Basics: The first step in learning how to play craps in Vegas is to master the fundamental rules of craps, including the different types of bets available and the flow of the game.
- Table Etiquette: Familiarize yourself with proper craps table etiquette, such as handling chips, interacting with the dealer, and following the established protocols.
- Betting Strategies: Explore various betting strategies in craps, from basic pass line bets to more advanced odds bets and proposition bets.
- Dice Control Techniques: Consider practicing dice control techniques to influence the outcome of your rolls and improve your chances of winning.
- Enjoying the Experience: Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of a craps table in Vegas, engage with other players, and savor the excitement of this popular casino game.
Learning how to play craps in Vegas can seem intimidating. The craps table in a casino is filled with numbers, phrases, images of dice and people tossing chips every which way. One moment, a player rolls the dice and the table cheers, the next they roll something else and the table wallows in misery.
Craps looks very complicated but with a few basic concepts, a couple of tips and a willingness to put some money down, you’ll be able to learn the game and join in on the fun.
This guide to how to play craps in Vegas will break down the concept of the game from the moment you’re handed the dice through the possibilities of winning and losing.
How To Play Craps in Vegas: Part 1 – Rolling the Dice
The first roll of the dice is called the Come Out Roll. On this first roll, there are several scenarios that can play out depending on what you roll:
- 7, 11 – This is an automatic win if you put money on the Pass Line
- 2, 3, 12 – Rolling these three numbers is called Craps and it is an automatic loss
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 – This becomes the Point
What Happens Next?
If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, they win their Pass Line bet and get to roll again. For example, if you bet $10 and roll a 7, you win $10.
If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12, they lose the Pass Line bet and have to bet again in order to roll the dice again.
If the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 the number they roll is called the Point. If your only bet is a Pass Line bet, then in order to win that bet you must roll your Point number again before you roll a 7.
For example, if you roll a 6, you then keep rolling the dice until you roll another 6 and win or roll a 7 and lose. Once the point is established, you can roll any other number other than 7 and keep playing.
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Making The Point, or Not
Let’s say the Point is 6 and you roll a 6. You then win your Pass Line bet and the game starts over. Any bets still on the table (we’ll discuss this more later) can remain on the table and the bettor can determine if they want them On (meaning active during the Come Out Roll) or Off them until a new point is established.
Most people keep the bets Off in the Come Out Roll.
If the Point is 6 and you roll a 7, the table loses. All bets are cleared and the dice go to a new shooter.
After a shooter makes the Point or rolls a 7, the next roll of the dice is the Come Out Roll in which a 7 and 11 are automatic wins and 2, 3 and 12 are losses.
How To Play Craps in Vegas: Part 2 – The Craps Table
When you’re learning how to play craps in Vegas, you only need to focus on your side of the table. The table layout on one side is the exact same as the other with the whole table sharing the middle section.
Here is a breakdown of the table and what the terms mean:
Pass Line
This is the main line where you place your bet. If it’s a $10 minimum bet, you need to put at least $10 down on the Pass Line in order to roll the dice. If you’re not rolling the dice, you don’t have to put money on the Pass Line.
Don’t Pass Bar
This is a bet you’ll rarely see someone make because it’s the opposite of the Pass Line. You place your bet before the first roll and, basically, if the table loses, you win.
You’re almost playing on the casino’s side. On the Come Out Roll, if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, you lose. If they roll a 2 or 3, you win (a 12 is a push). And if the Point is 6, for example, Don’t Pass Bar wins if a 7 is rolled before the 6.
Big 6 or Big 8
This is a 1:1 win. If you bet $10 on Big 6 and the 6 rolls before a 7, you’ll win $10.
Field
This is a one-roll bet. You place your chips in the field and if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 comes up on the next roll, you win. If not, you lose.
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4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10
These are the Points. If the shooter rolls one of these numbers in the Come Out Roll, the Craps table dealer will place a button on that number and the Point is established. Once the Point is determined, players can bet on these numbers (more on this later).
Come
This rectangle can be used to establish a new Point for an individual player. If the Point is set but you want to treat the next roll as a Come Out Roll, you bet here. The same rules apply, however, let’s say on the initial Come Out Roll 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. Therefore, if the shooter rolls a 7, you lose that bet whereas everyone else on the Pass Line would win.
Don’t Come Bar
This is the opposite bet of a Come bet (like a Don’t Pass Bar bet). You can play this after a Point is established and the next roll is as if it’s a Come Out Roll, only you win/lose like you would on Don’t Pass Bar.
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 are even numbers you can make the Hard Way, for example a Hard 8 is when the dice rolls a 4 and 4, an Easy 8 is a 5 and 3 or 2 and 6. Once the bet is made, you win if a Hard Way comes up before an Easy Way version of the number or a 7.
Additional Bets
In the center, under the Hard Ways are dice indicating 2, 3, 11 and 12. These are one-roll bets that pay if the next roll of the dice lands on these numbers. This includes the Any Craps bet. You can see the winning odds if the number comes up – these are generally fun bets when you’re feeling lucky.
Finally, there are circles with the letters C and E. These are one-roll bets as well that are placed here for the Come Out Roll. C stands for Craps (2, 3 and 12) and E is 11.
How To Play Craps in Vegas: Part 3 – After the Roll
We’ve discussed the dice, the table and have touched on some aspects of Craps, or Online Craps at one of our top reviewed casinos, now let’s talk about what happens after the Come Out Roll. This is after the Point has been established.
For the following example, we’ll use 9 as the Point (remember, now that 9 is the Point, you must roll a 9 again before a 7 or you lose).
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Behind The Line
Most players will put additional money behind the Pass Line. This is playing for odds and for 9, the odds are 3:2 (every $2 you put down, you win $3 if the Point lands). The odds vary behind the Pass Line:
- 4 & 10 – 2:1
- 5 & 9 – 3:2
- 6 & 8 – 6:5
Placing a Bet
If the shooter rolled a 9 for the Point, players cannot place a bet at 9 (the number on the top of the table) but they can bet on the other numbers.
The odds for placing a bet are different than behind the line bets. One luxury to betting this way is you can move your placed bets at anytime (until the shooter rolls a 7) and you can add money at any time.
As an example, if you place a bet on 8 and that number comes up, you can “press your bet.” That means you take your winnings and add on the current bet. Placing a bet on 8 pays 7:6 so if you put $6 on 8 and it comes up, you win $7. If you press your bet, the dealer will give you $1 back and you now have $12 on 8.
You can place bets on any of the numbers you want at any time.
Let’s say you placed a bet on 8 and that number is not coming up. You can tell the dealer to remove your bet and they will remove it and give you back your chips.
An Example Run #1:
The following is an example of how a real money Craps game might go if you’re the shooter at a $10 minimum table in Las Vegas.
Place $10 on the Pass Line.
- Come Out Roll 7 – win $10
- Come Out Roll 11 – win $10
- Come Out Roll 3 – lose your Pass Line bet.
- Come Out Roll 5 – The Point is 5
- Place $10 behind the Pass Line
- Place $10 in the Field
- Place a $12 bet on 6
- Roll 10 – Win $10 in the Field (choose to keep playing in the Field)
- Roll 8 – You lose your Field bet
- Now you only have money on the Pass Line, behind the line and a placed bet on 6
- Roll 6 – You win $14 from your placed bet on 6
- Roll 9 – Nothing
- Roll 2 – Nothing
- Roll 5 – Win $10 from your Pass Line bet and $15 from your behind the line bet.
Now the Point is removed and you start over with a new Come Out Roll. Your bet on 6 is Off, unless you tell the dealer you want your bet On.
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An Example Run #2:
Here is another, less fortunate run at Craps.
Place $10 on the Pass Line.
- Come Out Roll 8 – the Point is established
- Place $10 behind the line
- Place bet $12 on 6
- Roll 7 – You lose it all.
How To Play Craps in Vegas: Part 4 – Tips for Starting
Craps looks like a complicated game but the best way to to learn how to play craps in Vegas is to start playing. Las Vegas offers many tables and dealers willing to help a newcomer learn the game – there are often live tutorials as well.
Start off modestly. Try playing only the Pass Line and nothing else. That makes it easier to follow and to observe the ways that others play and bet and how the game moves, when people win/lose.
Other than the giant Craps table in Vegas, there are also computer machines that offer a variety of ways to try your luck.
Finally, if you’ve ever wondered why one Craps table would be full of people when one right next to it is empty with three dealers waiting for a player, that’s because the full table is hot. You’ll hear people screaming and cheering – it’s an exhilarating experience if you can find yourself rolling dice at a hot Craps table.
Best Craps Tables in Vegas for Beginners
Beginner Craps players should check out older spots like the Stratosphere where table minimums are lower than the higher ends casinos.
Many Vegas casinos, like have bubble craps machines which are individual machines where you can play at your leisure or computerized table versions that still have multiple players sitting around a digital table.
Pro Tip: Never say “7” at a table, EVER. It’s bad luck unless it’s the Come Out Roll, then say, “Come 7, come 11.”
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