Craps is that game in Las Vegas movies where casino-goers gather around a felt table while one player tosses a pair of dice. Originally known as Krabs, the game originated in the late 1780s after being adapted from an English dice game known as Hazard, which dates back to the Crusades.

Visually, the craps table looks like a more complicated version of roulette. However, what beginners need to bear in mind is that the names and numbers on the craps table are used to signify different types of bets. Like roulette, it’s possible to deploy a simpler strategy when placing bets on craps.

Pass & Come

In the standard version of craps, the game begins with players betting on “pass” or “don’t pass”. Anyone backing “pass” will win if the main player “shooter” rolls 7 or 11, while 2, 3, or 12 is an automatic loss. If any other number is rolled, this becomes the “point”.

If a shooter rolls a point, they keep rolling on the “come out” until they roll 7 and lose or else make the point for an even-money payout. After losing on the come out, the dice will be given to a new shooter and the game reverts to pass or don’t pass.

House Edge & Bets

When betting on pass or come, the house edge is calculated as 1.41%. Alternatively, don’t pass and don’t come will actually see a lower house edge of 1.36%. While betting don’t pass or don’t come might be criticised in a casino, whereas this isn’t a concern online.

Place bets can be made on 6 or 8 for 7/6 odds, 5 or 9 for 7/5, and 4 or 10 for 9/5. Hardways offer the chance to bet on double 2s (7/1), double 3s (10/1), double 4s (9/1), or double 5s (7/1). Other options include the field (2, 3, 4, 9, 19, 11, 12), 2 or 12, 3 or 11, any 7, hop bets, and any craps.