Craps Guide
Craps is a dice game decided by the total of two dice. It has a reputation for being hard to learn because the table shows dozens of bets, but the core of the game is one bet, the Pass Line, with a 1.41% house edge, and one free bet behind it, the odds, with no house edge at all. Most of the other bets on the layout cost between 4% and 16.67%. Once you know which is which, craps becomes one of the cheaper games in the casino.
How Craps Works in 60 Seconds
- Come-out roll: 7 or 11 wins for the Pass Line; 2, 3 or 12 loses; any other total becomes the point.
- Point phase: the dice are rolled until the point repeats (Pass wins) or a 7 appears (Pass loses, “seven-out”).
- Odds bet: once a point is set, you can add an odds bet that pays at true odds: 2 to 1 on 4/10, 3 to 2 on 5/9, 6 to 5 on 6/8.
- Everything else (place bets, Field, hardways, props) is optional and settled on its own rules.
The full step-by-step version, with the probabilities of each total, is on our craps rules page.
The Bets That Matter
| Bet | House edge | Use it? |
|---|---|---|
| Odds (behind Pass/Come/Don’t) | 0% | Yes, as much as your budget allows |
| Don’t Pass / Don’t Come | 1.36% | Yes |
| Pass Line / Come | 1.41% | Yes |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% | Yes, in A$6 units |
| Field | 2.78% to 5.56% | Rarely; it is decided every roll |
| Place 5/9, 4/10 | 4.00%, 6.67% | Buy the 4/10 instead if commission is on wins only (1.67%) |
| Hardways | 9.09% to 11.11% | Small stakes only |
| One-roll props (Any 7, Any Craps, Horn, 2, 12) | 11.11% to 16.67% | Avoid |
Every bet with its payout and calculation is in our craps bets and odds table.
Live and Online Craps
Online craps comes in two forms. Live craps streams real dice from a studio, with a timed betting window and no player shooter; Evolution runs the most widely distributed live craps table. RNG craps uses a random number generator and resolves rolls instantly, which means many more rolls per hour and a faster rate of loss at the same stake. Before playing either:
- Check the maximum odds multiple in the help screen (higher is better for you).
- Check whether the Field pays 3 to 1 on 2 or 12, and whether buy commissions are charged on wins only.
- Check whether payouts are written “to 1” or “for 1”; 30 for 1 equals 29 to 1.
- Check bonus terms: craps often counts 0% to 10% towards wagering, and some casinos ban betting Pass and Don’t Pass together.
Craps in an online lobby is offered mainly through Evolution’s live studio. The casinos below list Evolution in their software and accept Australian players; confirm that the Craps table appears in the live lobby before depositing, as operators choose which Evolution tables to carry.
A Simple Low-Edge Plan
- Bet the table minimum on the Pass Line (or Don’t Pass).
- Add odds when the point is set, as large as you can afford.
- For more action, add one or two Come bets with odds, or Place 6 and 8.
- Skip the centre of the table.
With 3-4-5x odds on every point, the combined house edge on your Pass and odds money is 0.37%. The craps strategy page shows the expected cost of this plan and of popular systems per 100 rolls, and how to size a session bankroll.
All Craps Guides
- Craps Rules: the 36 dice combinations, the come-out roll, the point phase, odds bets and Come bets, step by step.
- Craps Bets and Odds: payout, true odds and house edge for every common bet, including per-roll cost comparisons.
- Craps Strategy: lowest-edge betting plans, what systems such as the Iron Cross cost, and session budgeting.
Related Guides
Sic Bo is the other main dice game in casinos, using three dice and fixed payouts; see the Sic Bo guide. For live studio formats, see the live casino guide. Our explanation of house edge and our page on betting systems apply directly to craps. All game families are in the casino game guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
The core is simple: bet the Pass Line, win on 7 or 11 on the come-out, lose on 2, 3 or 12, otherwise the point must repeat before a 7. The many other bets are optional.
It depends on the bet: 0% on odds, 1.36% on Don’t Pass, 1.41% on Pass, and up to 16.67% on Any 7.
Online casino games, including craps, may not be provided to people in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. Australians encounter online craps only at offshore casinos, which have no Australian consumer protection.
The odds bet, which pays true odds with no house edge. It can only be placed behind a Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come bet.
The rules and payouts are usually the same. Live craps uses real dice in a studio with a betting timer; RNG craps resolves rolls instantly, so more rolls are played per hour.
Craps carries a house edge on every bet except the odds. Play only if you are 18 or older; Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) offers free, confidential support.