Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you visit a casino, whether in person or online, you will often find the game of ‘craps’ there. This is a game that is generally a little underexposed, as it stands in the shadow of the more popular casino games. Of course, we are talking about blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more. Nevertheless, craps is also a game that is offered almost everywhere. If you want to broaden your horizons then the advice is to read on!

In this ‘How to Play’, we explain what craps is, what to expect from it, how to play it and additional details that apply to it. Important to know is that craps is an alternative name for the fairly well-known ‘dice’. This actually also says right away how it is played and that is with dice.

How does craps work?

Now that we have clarified what the game is played with, let’s dive deeper into how it works. Craps is played on a table where up to 20 participants can join at the same time. The objective is pretty simple, as each participant but one places a bet on the outcome of the two dice. Obviously, it is important to guess correctly and on that basis you can win.

One of the players per round is the so-called ‘shooter’ and he or she has to throw the two dice. To ensure the throw is valid, both dice have to hit the back wall of the table. The eyes on which it finally falls will be the result. If this is correctly bet, the player who predicted this wins…. Sounds a little too simple? Yes and no. This is basically the basics of craps, but there are more options in terms of betting.

Betting options

One of the important things in craps is betting on the so-called ‘Pass Line’. Here, you bet that the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 immediately on the first roll. If that is the case, then you grab a profit. If not, then it’s not over right away. After all, if the shooter throws between 4 and 10 (excluding 7) points in that scenario, then a so-called ‘Point’ has been established. It is then a matter of throwing again and getting the same number of points. Does this succeed? Then the bet is won.

However, the exception is that this must happen before a 7 is thrown, otherwise it is a loss by definition. The same applies if 2, 3 or 12 is thrown. This is referred to as ‘craps’ in the game and then all pass line bets are lost and the bank takes profit. Thus, the dice are rolled several times per round, this to complete all bets, so to speak, and as a participant, you can take profit right away, in a later round or lose immediately. This makes it all the more exciting!

Other betting options

The Pass Line is one of the primary betting options, but this can also be reversed. Similarly, there is the ‘Don’t Pass Line’ option and with this, you bet on the shooter throwing a 2, 3 or 12. If that’s the case, you grab an instant win. However, there is a risk of a point being thrown, given that that chance is much higher. In that scenario, the game is not over, but rather you hope that on the second roll a 7 is thrown.

It doesn’t stop there, because there is also the option on ‘Come’ and ‘Don’t Come’. This means that bets can be made after a point is set. The player can bet on come after the first roll resulting in point, and then it is profit in case a 7 or 11 is thrown by the shooter. If 2, 3 or 12 is thrown, then it means loss. It should come as no surprise that “don’t come” works the other way round. You then win on a 2, 3 or 12 and you lose if 7 or 11 falls.

However, if the shooter rolls another number, then that becomes your point number. You subsequently win if that number is rolled before a 7 is rolled. In subsequent articles, we will dive into more specific craps bets and the profit margins that apply to them.