Guide to Craps: Rules for Craps play online and on land
When most people think of Craps play, they naturally wonder, “Just how hard could it be to learn Craps rules?” It’s just a simple game of dice, right? But, while the act of playing a Craps game (i.e. rolling the dice) is indeed simple, the rules of Craps are a little more complex. This is due to the game’s many betting options and their varying Craps odds and payouts, as well as the game’s elaborate code of conduct and etiquette.
Fortunately, playing Craps online makes it hard to display improper etiquette and even simplifies the playing and betting processes. What isn’t covered by automated playing features, we cover here in the Casino Bonus’ guide to Craps rules.
WHERE TO PLAY ONLINE CRAPS
Online & Casino Craps Rules -Overview
Both casino Craps and Craps online are centered on a table surrounded by players. The player at the head of the table (called “the shooter”) controls the dice. Before each round, players predict how the shooter will roll the dice by placing wagers on the table.
The table is divided into squares that represent each possible outcome. After each round, dealers clear the table, pay out winning bets, and collect new bets for the next round. In Craps online, the dealer functions may be performed by an animation, or they may be automated.
Online & Casino Craps Rules-Types of Bets
When looking at the table, it is clear there are many possible bets. Some bets depend on the outcome of a single roll while others depend on multiple rolls. The rules of Craps play dictate that the shooter has only two betting options; the other players can bet as they please.
Pass & Don’t Pass Bets
- The shooter has the option of betting Pass or Don’t Pass. Other players can use these bets too.
- There are two ways that you can win either of these bets. The easiest way to win a Pass or Don’t Pass bet is on the “come out” roll (the first roll of the round). To win with a Pass bet, the shooter must roll a 7 or 11. To win with a Don’t Pass, the shooter must roll a 2 or 3.
- When a Pass bet wins, Don’t Pass bets lose. Alternately, when a Don’t Pass bet wins, Pass bets lose. The one difference is a roll of 12; this is an instant loss for Pass bets and a push for Don’t Pass bets.
- If a 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12 is not rolled in the come out roll, then the total that is rolled (a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) establishes “the point.” For Pass bets to win now, the shooter must roll the point again before rolling a 7. The opposite is true for Don’t Pass bettors, who will win if a 7 is rolled before the point.
- If the shooter wins a round, he may continue shooting. If he loses a round, the dice are passed clockwise to the next player.
Come & Don’t Come Bets
- After Pass/Don’t Pass bets, the most common Craps game bets are Come/Don’t Come. Come and Don’t Come bets follow the same formula as Pass/Don’t Pass bets, except that they occur after the come out roll and establish their own unique point.
Multi-Roll Bets
- The most complex bets are multi-roll bets. Most multi-roll bets predict that a shooter will throw a specific dice total before he throws a 7.
- It often takes more than a single Craps game to win or lose these bets. When an unrelated point is rolled the round ends before the bet is settled.
- If this happens, Craps rules dictate that the unsettled bets roll over to the next round. According to Craps rules, these bets are considered “not working” until a new point is established.
Online & Casino Craps Rules-Playing the Odds
Pass and Don’t Pass bettors have an advantage over Come/Don’t Come bettors because they have the option of “playing the odds.”
To “play the odds”, Pass and Don’t Pass bettors place an additional wager equal to or greater than their original bet behind either the Pass or Don’t Pass line. If the original bet wins, the odds bet also wins. In terms of Craps odds and payouts, Odds bets pay real odds as opposed to the even money offered on just a Pass/Don’t Pass bet. More on this subject is offered in our Craps odds and payouts section.
Regular players may place bets on any possible outcome of a single roll, or they may place bets on the outcome of multiple rolls throughout a round.