Craps is a fast and furious casino classic with a few different betting twists and turns that make it one of the most popular table games both at LeoVegas and in land casinos.

However, getting started isn’t always simple. There’s more to craps than just rolling dice and keeping your fingers crossed! In this guide, we’ll explore how to play craps, what the table layout means, and what tips you might use to get started.

What is craps?

Craps is a classic casino table game where you roll a pair of dice to make a ‘point’, and then roll again to make the same number combination before you make a combination that invalidates your bet (e.g., a seven).

As the dice roller, you’re known as the ‘shooter’ – and, ultimately, you’re betting on whether or not you’ll make the point again before a barred combination appears. There are also other players in the game who place bets.

Craps is one of several games with a history stretching back long before the advent of land and live casino tables. In fact, it’s thought that many players in the Roman era used to shave down pigs’ knuckles to use as dice!

Craps table layout

On a craps table, you’ll see spaces for the most popular bets in the game: the pass, the don’t pass, the come, and the don’t come. You’ll place chips on these wings of the table to make these bets. We’ll explore them all below.

There are also numbered spaces where you can place number-specific bets, and a space for the field bet, Big 6 and Big 8. In the centre of the table, you can also place proposition bets, assisted by the dealer, where you can bet on single dice throws.

Alongside these prop bets, you can also place bets on hard way markets, which means that you’re betting on a certain combination appearing in your throws.

You’ll also find that the combinations to bet on have odds listed, meaning that you’ll know the rough probability of winning and your return.

Shooters and players can place some bets, while dealers place others. Dealer-assisted bets are those where you can pick specific numbers or a combination, usually to the right of the table. The dealer moves and places these bets, while a stickman manages proposition bets and moves dice with a stick. There’s also a boxman, who handles chips, watches dice and settles disputes.

Basic rules of craps

Let’s get into the basic craps rules. To start, the shooter rolls two dice to establish the point in that game. They then roll again – the come-out roll.

In between rolls, the dealer will call out dice combinations and collect and pay out any bets that have already converted. Players can also change bets they’ve made via the self-service area if they are yet to roll a seven.

Depending on the bet you place, you keep rolling dice until either the win or lose condition is met. For example, on a pass bet, you’ll need to make a seven or 11, and avoid a two, three or 12. Once your condition is met, play passes to the next person at the table.

Common bets in craps

Here are the most common craps betting strategies to keep in mind:

• Pass bets: You can win on a seven or 11, and lose on a two, three or 12 on the come-out roll. With this bet, you set the point if you make any other combination. Then, keep playing until you make it again, or a seven.
• Don’t pass bets: As above, but seven and 11 lose on the come-out roll, and two and three win (while 12 ties the game). Again, any other combination is the point.
• Come bets: Essentially, the same rules apply as pass bets, only these are placed after the come-out roll.
• Don’t come bets: Again, the same combination rules apply as don’t pass, but you place these bets after the come-out roll.
• Place bets: Wagers placed on numbers four through 10 – if the shooter rolls them before seven, you win the bet.
• Field bets: These single roll wagers pay out on all number combinations barring five, six, seven and eight.
• Proposition bets: These bets wager that a specific combination will appear on the next roll of the dice.

Craps odds will naturally vary depending on the wagers you make, so be sure to take risk into account before you buy and place your chips!

Tips for beginners

Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind when playing craps for the first time:

• Try pass line and don’t pass line bets first: These bets are the easiest in the game to learn, they have a relatively low craps house edge, and there’s low risk – however, the payout is 1:1, meaning that as you progress, you may wish to choose bets with higher potential wins.
• Manage your bankroll carefully: Try not to get swept up in the action by chasing wins or losses. Keep a close eye on your bankroll with bet and time limits, and ask the LeoVegas team for help if you need it.
• Avoid rookie mistakes: One of the biggest mistakes you can make in craps is simply misunderstanding the rules of the game. The table can make things look complex, but with careful practice, you’ll learn which bets go where, and where the highest risks lie. Playing craps at land casinos, always make sure to avoid touching dice to your body or shouting ‘seven’ – you might get turned away!

Conclusion

Craps is a game of fast-paced strategy and frantic betting – which is all the more reason to really take your time learning how the table and bets work, and to try the game for free where possible first.

Once you’ve got the hang of craps, be sure to check out live and digital table games here at LeoVegas!