Got any questions about how to play Craps at an online casino? We have researched and compiled a list of the top places to play online Craps and the best online casinos that offer lucrative signup bonuses and ongoing player perks.
What Are Craps?
Craps is a casino game played with dice in land-based casinos and online. It is a thrilling, fast-paced, and action-packed dice game. Throughout the game, the players wager on the results of the roll of two dice. The bets can be made between players or between players and a bank.
The rules and bets for virtual Craps at most online casinos are the same as those for real Craps. Instead of having the shooter throw the dice, an RNG determines the outcome.
In land-based casinos, players at the Craps table often use colloquialisms when describing their wagers and behaviour.
Craps Rules
Craps games can appear complicated at first glance due to the convoluted table and abundance of language used by players. If you spend some time familiarising yourself with the Craps table and the bets, you'll be ready to dive into the action of real money Craps games online in no time.
People who have never played Craps before are often scared off by all the numbers, terms, and different bets. But, Craps is one of the easiest games you can play.
Craps betting round starts with a come-out roll. The come-out roll is the first time the dice roll or the first roll after the last betting round. "Shooter" is the player who throws the dice.
Craps is played like this: you, the "shooter," take two dice and throw them on the Craps table, or press the "roll" button if you're playing Craps online.
Once the number is on your screen, you can do one of three things:
- Natural
Now things start to get really good. "Natural" means that the number you rolled was either 7 or 11. If this happens, you win and get another chance to roll the dice.
- Craps
You roll a 2, 3 or 12 (also called "Snake Eyes"). This is how you lose. BUT the round isn't over yet, and you get another roll.
- Point
You get a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 on the die.
In a real casino, your Point (the number you rolled) would be written on the table by a dealer. Once the Point is set in an online Craps game, a small button appears on the screen. It is white and says "On" on it.
Now you have to roll the dice again and hope you get the same number again. It doesn't have to be the same set of dice you were using before. As long as the amounts are the same, you win.
Do you know why there isn't a seven in the above list?
In this game, the number 7 is not very lucky because if you roll a 7, you "seven out," which means you lose, and the betting round is over. Once you know this by heart, you can move on to the ways to bet.
Most Popular Types of Craps Game
Bank Craps
Bank Craps is the most popular type of Craps, and most people call it "Craps." This is because casinos worldwide have agreed that it is the standard version of the dice game, and it was made just for casinos.
People used to think that street con artists rigged the game, so it was seen as a cheap trick. Some rules had to be made, and since this game has been around for a long time, there were no uniform dice back then, so the game was usually rigged again.
The game was unfair for both the casino and the player unless the player brought his own dice. This kept happening until the standard dice for casinos were made and accepted.
After that, the casinos finished the game by adding some unique bets and commissions. Also, it was a player-versus-player game, so when casinos started playing it, it became a player-versus-casino game.
This game version is also called Casino Craps or Vegas Craps because it is played in casinos. The most important things about it are that it uses two dice, has a dealer, a "stickman," rules, and a layout that has become the standard.
Crapless Craps
When you read the name "Crapless Craps," you might think it's a bit strange that you can't lose a "pass" bet on the "come out" roll. But it's true. Isn't this too good to be true? Right. Well, not many people know why that is, so here we'll explain exactly what you get from playing this version of the game and how much you lose.
First, this game doesn't have a "don't pass" bet. Also, the "pass" bet has different rules, and 11 is not always a winner.
Some might not think this is that important, but the odds say otherwise. When you play this variation, you give up one sure winner in exchange for three losers. Not a great deal. But that's not the only problem. The house edge in this game is also about 5 times higher.
Overall, it may seem like you've won a lot while playing this game, but when it's time to cash out, you'll find that the house edge has cost you. There are some better parts of the game, but they all cost something. Also, you don't see this game around all that often.
In Las Vegas, you can only find it in one casino, which should give you an idea. Still, this game has become very popular, and people are trying to find it. It's fun to play, but you should think about the house edge here.
Simplified Craps
Simplified Craps is, as the name suggests, a version of Craps that is much easier to play than the regular game. The rules are completely different, and there are almost no bets, so it's safe to say this is a game for people who have never played before. Even so, it's not very likely that it will help someone understand Bank Craps because the two games are so different.
Here, you can win by rolling a certain number. Well, numbers. The player wins if they roll a 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, or 12. If they roll a 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, they lose. That's easy enough, but if you think about the numbers that come up most often because there are more ways to make them and the numbers that lose, you might want to think twice about playing. Not only that, but the house advantage in this game is also higher, at 2.8%.
All variations have pros and cons, and in the end, your style of play will determine which ones you like more. In the end, the house edge doesn't matter as long as you aren't playing Craps in a dark alley. If you make smart bets, you will still have fun and make some money.
History of Craps
Craps' origins are difficult to trace; however, there is evidence to imply that a similar game was played in the Ancient Roman Empire. Obviously, dice, as we know them today, were not available at the time. Reportedly, soldiers from the Roman Legions gathered pig knuckles, which they carved into small cubes and tossed on their upturned shields. Consequently, the expression "rolling the bones" is still used at Craps tables today.
According to historical records, enslaved people in the Roman Empire played games similar to Craps with "dice" made of nutshells, clay, or animal teeth. The dice of more privileged citizens were made of precious materials like gold, ivory, silver, and porcelain.
Many believe that Craps, as we know it today, evolved from the ancient Arabic game azzahr, which loosely translates to "the die." Alternatively, some hypotheses propose that Craps was derived from the simplicity of the Middle Eastern Crusades-era English game "hazard."
Hazard is said to have been invented by an English nobleman named Sir William of Tyre, who played it, with his fellow knights to pass the time as they awaited an opportunity to besiege the fortress of Hazarth.
However, it was not until the 18th century that French mathematician Pierre Remond de Montmort described the formal rules of playing hazard in his treatise on mathematical probabilities.
As the game gained popularity in France, its name gradually changed to "crapeaud," which translates to "toad." However, there are claims that the French took the English term "crabs" but spelt it "crabes." Both parties used the word to allude to the worst conceivable outcomes of a coin flip when the numbers 2, 3, or 12 were rolled.
Some say the first English settlers who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower brought Craps to America. Possibly both the French and the English brought their variants of the dice game to the New World, each establishing their own set of rules.
By the mid-19th century, the term "Craps" had become commonplace. Craps was played on the streets, with players using staircases, stoops, and curbs as dice backstops. As additional words and rules were outlined, the game continued to develop.
The regulations described by de Marigny provided Craps players with a huge advantage over the house. Hence it turned out that this earlier version was "flawed." Additionally, it caused them to cheat.
John H. Winn, an American dice maker, began correcting de Marigny's "errors." Winn expanded the rules of Craps in 1907, allowing participants at the table to wager either for or against the dice shooter. In other words, Winn's introduction of the "Don't Pass" wager earned him the moniker "Father of Modern Craps."
Craps's popularity increased in the 1930s when Nevada made gambling officially legal. In reality, the legalisation of gambling in Nevada contributed significantly to the overall popularity of casino games. Craps became one of the most popular casino games of all time due to the influx of ardent gamblers to the tables at Las Vegas casinos.
Craps is played in casinos worldwide and is immensely popular in gambling meccas such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Typically, contemporary Craps tables may seat up to sixteen people, and two dice are rolled.
Craps aficionados from all over the world are now able to play their favourite dice game from the comfort of their own homes, thanks to the introduction of online casinos throughout the previous two decades. Players can now choose from a broad variety of online Craps varieties created by the industry's major software providers.
How to Play Craps
The objective of Craps is to roll a number (a point) with two dice and then roll that number twice before rolling a seven. The player who rolls the dice at the Craps table is known as "the shooter." When the "pucks" are marked with a number, that number represents the "point" of the game.
Essential takeaways from Craps online play:
- Numerous wagers are available in Craps, but the game is built on the pass line wager.
- Players place chips on the pass line on the Craps layout to wager. Other wagers require the dealer to shift your chips.
- The pass sequence begins with a comeout roll, rolled by the shooter.
- Pass wagers are winners if the dice roll is 7 or 11 and losers if the result is 2, 3 or 12. Every other number becomes the decimal point.
If the shooter rolls a point number on the comeout, they keeps rolling with a new comeout until he rolls the same number again to win an even-money payback or rolls a 7 to lose. If he fails to accomplish so, he "sevens out" and the dice are passed to the next shooter.
Top 5 steps to take to play a Craps game:
- Get to the table
- Choose your stakes
- Bet when the disk is showing off
- Take note of the 'point'
- Bet when the disk is showing on
Craps can be played as simply as betting on a single number and winning or losing on each roll, or as intricately as placing a wager, waiting until the shooter rolls a "point" number, and then hoping they will roll the same number again. This method can be repeated indefinitely.
Online Craps Bets
Most of the bets in Craps are easy to understand. You don't have to know how each one works to enjoy the game, though. It's just that there are so many of them that makes the game a little hard to understand.
The pass line and don't pass bets, the come and don't come bets, and the odds bets are the ones we think you must understand. We explain these in detail below and all the different kinds of bets.
Below, we talk about the following bets:
Passline Bet
The basic wager in Craps is the Pass line wager, which is a wager on the shooter's success. This wager must be between the table minimum and table maximum. If the initial roll is 7 or 11, the wager is successful. If the initial roll is 2, 3, or 12 the wager is lost (known as "crapping out").
Passline Bet and Don't Pass Wager
In Craps, the pass line and don't pass wagers are the most prevalent and easiest to place. Before making their come-out roll, a shooter must often place one of these bets. In some casinos, players must additionally place one of these bets if they wish to place further wagers. When successful, these wagers must be placed prior to the come-out roll and pay even money (1:1).
A pass line wager wins if the come-out roll is 7 or 11 and loses if the come-out roll is 2, 3, or 12. If any other number is rolled, a point is established, and the pass line bet remains on the table until the point is rolled again or 7 is rolled. If the point is rolled, the wager is successful; if a 7, the stake is lost.
A don't pass wager wins if the come-out roll's value is 2 or 3 and loses if it is 7 or 11. If the total is 12, the wager is a push; neither wins nor loses. Similar to the pass line wager, it remains on the table if a point is made. The don't pass wager is a loser if the point is rolled twice and a winner if a 7 is rolled.
Field Bet 50 explanation:
A field bet is permanently settled on the next roll. A winner is if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 is rolled, but a loser if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is rolled. It pays 1:1 unless a 2 or 12 is rolled when it pays twice as much (2:1).
Hardways
A number is considered rolled the hard way if it comes up as a double. This is the origin of the name for this kind of wager. They depend on specific doubles being rolled before a 7 and are rather straightforward. For instance, a double 4 is a hard 8, etc.
A hard 4, hard 6, hard 8, or hard 10 are all options for wagers. You win the bet if the pertinent hard number is rolled before a 7. The payments depend on the number wagered on, just like with various other bets.
Big 6 and Big 8
Both of these simple wagers pay off at even money (1:1) if they are successful. If any six is thrown before a seven, the large six wins; if any eight is thrown before a seven, the huge eight wins.
Fun Craps Fact
The Craps world is divided by people who believe in controlled shooting (dice control) and those who don't believe in it. However, there have been some amazing feats in the world of Craps. The player with the most consecutive rolls in the world is Patricia Demauro with stunning 154 rolls in a row.
Top Tips to Win at Online Craps
You will soon learn how to play Craps online if you have ever played it offline. Both variants of the game have the same house advantage.
The largest odds bet for this game is set at 3x, so keep that in mind if you choose to play it online. In contrast, land-based casinos provide odds bets that can reach up to 10x or 100x. Additionally, you won't be able to experience the boisterous environment for which Craps is known when playing the game online. You may take use of all the choices without leaving the comfort of your home because all other parts of the gameplay are same.
Here are some tips for playing Craps online.
#1 Always go for the Pass Line bet
With a house advantage of only 1.41 percent, a pass line bet is the optimal wager in Craps. This is especially true on the come out roll, where a 7 or 11 will result in a winning pass line wager.
#2 Play Come Bet
Again, you are considering a wager with a house margin of only 1.41%. Take advantage of it. After establishing your argument, you can make a come wager. If a 7 or 11 is rolled on the come out roll, you win.
#3 Don't Pass and Don't Come Bets Are Profitable options
Don't Pass and don't come bets also have a low house advantage of 1.40 percent. They operate oppositely as the pass line and come wagers. Typically, players avoid these two wagers, which is incorrect because they offer great possibilities of winning. Learn more about these wagers in our post on the top Craps wagers.
#4 Mix Low House Edge Bets
For instance, you can mix two come wagers with a pass line wager. Begin with a pass line wager followed by two come wagers to cover three numbers.
#5 Make Use of Odds Bets
Odds bets have no house advantage, making them one of the greatest wagers in Craps. Again, you play them following a predetermined point. Each of the above wagers can be paired with Odds wagers, reducing the house advantage further.
#6 Don't Play Big 6 or Big 8
This wager, considered one of the worst even-money wagers, has been banned from numerous Craps tables. However, you should avoid it if you encounter it because the house advantage is 9.09%.
#7 Steer clear of any 7
If you were curious about the Craps wager with the largest house edge, the answer is any seven. Its house advantage is 16.67%, and even though it is a high-risk wager, any bet on 7 pays only 4:1.
#8 Play Craps for Free
One of the best ways to score at Craps is first to practice playing it for free. Plenty of online casinos offer free Craps, so don't shy away from those options. Online free Craps are perfect for beginners as they give you a chance to practice first and invest later.
Online Craps Terms
To be a good gambler, you need to know all the different terms used at the Craps tables. Here are some of the most common terms used in Craps, whether you're in a real-life casino or playing online. By calling them by their proper names, this Craps terminology will help you place your bets more quickly.
Some of the most common terms and Craps terminology to know are: ace, bones, boys, centerfield, crapping out, crap numbers, field bet, hard number, insurance, natural, seven out, snake eyes, and working bets.
Have Fun Playing Online Craps: Find an Online Craps Casino
At first, Craps could be a lot to take in. But in all honesty, that could be said of anything that isn't thoroughly researched. With enough study and exploring different betting strategies, from hedge bets to Iron Cross craps, you'll be able to rub shoulders with the best players in no time!
If you are looking for an online casino where you can play a game of Craps, look no further than the list at the top of this page, where you can find online casinos that offer Craps in their online casino games portfolio.
Explore More Dice Games
Apart from Craps, online casinos offer other popular casino dice games. If you enjoy playing this type of casino games, you are welcome to check out our casino dice games page and learn more about each of them.
Whether your choice is Craps, Sic Bo, Klondike, Chuck-A-Luck, or something else, you can read more about these games and potentially find your new favourite dice game.
