Craps is a lively dice game with a reputation for being complicated, but the basics are simpler than they look. This beginner's guide explains how to play craps, covering the aim, the main bets, and how a round works, so you can follow the action with confidence. It is general information and not betting advice, so always gamble responsibly and only stake money you can comfortably afford to lose.
The aim of the game
Craps is a game where players bet on the outcome of rolls of two dice. The aim, for the most common bets, is to predict whether certain numbers will be rolled before others. One player, the shooter, rolls the dice, but everyone at the table can bet on the result. Understanding that craps is fundamentally about betting on dice outcomes, and that you can play by making just one or two simple bets, removes much of the intimidation the game's busy table can create for newcomers.
The table and the shooter
A craps table has a large betting layout that can look overwhelming, with many betting areas. One player at a time acts as the shooter, rolling the dice, with the role passing around the table. You do not have to be the shooter to bet, and you do not need to use most of the layout. Understanding that the busy layout simply offers many optional bets, and that you can ignore most of it as a beginner, makes the table far less daunting.
The come-out roll
A round of craps begins with the come-out roll, the shooter's first roll. The most common bet, the pass line, is placed before this roll. On the come-out, a roll of seven or eleven wins for pass line bettors, while two, three or twelve loses. Any other number becomes the point. Understanding the come-out roll, and how seven or eleven wins immediately while certain numbers lose, is the starting point for following the most popular way to bet in craps.
The point
If the come-out roll is a four, five, six, eight, nine or ten, that number becomes the point. The shooter then keeps rolling, aiming to roll the point number again before rolling a seven. If the point comes up first, pass line bets win; if a seven comes first, they lose, and the dice pass to the next shooter. Understanding the point, and the race between rolling it again versus rolling a seven, is the core of the main craps bet.
The pass line bet
The pass line bet is the most popular and beginner-friendly bet in craps. You are essentially betting with the shooter: you win on a come-out seven or eleven, lose on craps numbers, and otherwise win if the point is rolled again before a seven. It has a low house edge, making it good value. Understanding the pass line bet, how it works through the come-out and the point, gives you everything you need to play craps with a single, sensible bet.
The don't pass bet
The don't pass bet is roughly the opposite of the pass line, betting against the shooter. You win when the pass line loses and vice versa, with a couple of small differences. It also has a low house edge. Some players find betting against the table less sociable, but it is perfectly valid. Understanding that the don't pass bet is the mirror image of the pass line, with similarly good value, gives you a second simple option for playing craps.
Odds bets
Once a point is established, craps offers an odds bet, an additional wager behind your pass or don't pass bet that is paid at true odds with no house edge. This is one of the best bets in the casino in terms of value. It is optional and sits behind your original bet. Understanding that the odds bet lets you back the point at fair odds, lowering the overall house edge on your play, is a useful piece of knowledge once you are comfortable with the basics.
Other bets to know
The craps layout offers many other bets, such as come and don't come bets (similar to pass and don't pass but made after the come-out), place bets on specific numbers, and various single-roll proposition bets in the middle of the table. The proposition bets generally have a high house edge and poor value. Understanding that most of the busy layout consists of additional, often worse-value bets means you can safely stick to the pass line and odds as a beginner.
How payouts work
Different craps bets pay differently, reflecting how likely they are to win. The pass line and don't pass pay roughly even money with a low house edge, while many of the central proposition bets pay more but win rarely and carry a high edge. Understanding that the more tempting big payouts usually come with much worse odds, while the simple line bets offer the best value, helps you choose bets sensibly and avoid the parts of the table designed to look exciting but cost more.
The house edge in craps
Craps has some of the best-value bets in the casino, particularly the pass line, don't pass and odds bets, which carry low house edges. However, many other bets on the table have a much higher edge. Our guide on the house edge explains the idea. Understanding that craps rewards sticking to the simple line and odds bets, while the flashy central bets cost you more, helps you play the game in a way that offers reasonable value.
Online and live craps
Craps is available in casinos and online, both as software games using a random number generator and as live dealer games. The rules are the same, though online play is solitary compared with the social buzz of a busy craps table. Our guide on what RNG is explains software fairness. Knowing the different formats, and that licensed online craps is tested for fairness, helps you choose between the convenience of online play and the lively atmosphere of a real table.
Playing responsibly
Craps is fast and exciting, with many tempting bets, so treat it as entertainment with a cost rather than a way to make money. Stick to the low-edge bets, set a budget, only stake what you can afford to lose, and stop at your limit. Our guide on how to gamble responsibly has practical tools. Keeping craps fun by playing within your means, and avoiding the high-edge proposition bets, is the sensible way to enjoy the game.
In short
To play craps, the simplest approach is the pass line bet: you win on a come-out seven or eleven, lose on two, three or twelve, and otherwise win if the point is rolled again before a seven. The don't pass bet is the opposite, and the odds bet behind them offers fair value. Ignore the high-edge central proposition bets, stick to the simple line and odds bets, set a budget before you play, never chase losses, and gamble responsibly, treating craps as entertainment with a cost rather than a way to make money you can rely on.
Learn more in our How to Play guides.