In the world of brick-and-mortar casinos, craps is one of the most lively and exciting of table games. Crowds of people gather around a complex table and place all manner of bets. Then the dice start rolling and the crowd hangs on every throw. Winners are determined, chips change hands and the action keeps going!
So much of the focus of the casino is on the craps table that it can be really intimidating to get started. This is one of the great things about online gaming – players can play an equally exciting game as novices, and not be self conscious about it.
Craps is Easy
There are a number of different bets that players can make in Craps. When players stick to the two simplest bets, the odds are the best in the casino for the player, and the payouts are steady. As players become more familiar with the game, they can start risking the longer odds bets where the really big winnings can happen. Players should bear in mind, however, that the basic bets discussed here offer them some of the best odds in the casino.
In order to play Craps, the only bets the player needs to know are the Pass Line Bet and the Don’t Pass Bet.
Pass Line Bet
The most basic bet in Craps is the Pass Line bet. This is the bet is the fundamental bet for all serious Craps players, and though the winnings are modest, the odds are so good for the players that the winnings really add up.
To make a Pass Line bet the player places his or her chips on the Pass Line on the table. The Pass Line bet is considered a series bet, meaning that multiple rolls of the dice are probably necessary to determine the final outcome.
After the bet is placed on the Pass Line, the dice are rolled with the following results:
- A roll of 2, 3 or 12 is a “Craps” roll, resulting in a loss for the Pass Line
- A roll of 7 or 11 is a “Natural” roll, resulting in an immediate win for the Pass Line
- A roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 results in the number rolled becoming the point
If a point number is rolled, then dice rolls continue until either a natural or the point number is rolled a second time. If a natural comes up at that point, the house wins and play starts over. If the point is rolled, then the player wins, payments are made, and a new game begins.
Don’t Pass Bet
The Don’t Pass Box is normally located immediately above the Pass Line. Bets played in the Don’t Pass Box work the opposite of the Pass Line.
After the bet is placed in the Don’t Pass Box, the dice are rolled.
- A roll of 2 or 3 is an immediate win
- A roll of 12 is a “Push” and the bet is returned to the player
- A roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 results in the number rolled becoming the point
BUT, if the point number comes up a second time, the Don’t Pass Bet is lost. If a 7 is rolled before the point, then the Don’t Pass Bet wins.
Other Bets
The Craps table has an alluring selection of options available to players. In addition to your Pass Line Bet or your Don’t Pass Bet, or independently of those bets, you can bet on individual rolls of the dice, but these bets are very long odds, as players are betting that specific numbers will turn up on specific rolls. If a player feels particularly lucky they might try these bets periodically, but they are really to be considered side bets to the main game play.
Roll the Bones!
All the top casinos have craps tables, and this is one of the most exciting and fun games around. It is an old-school game, and for good reason: casino games do not get better than Craps. Why don’t you get yourself an icy cold beverage and some snacks, log into your favorite top-rated casino and give Craps a try tonight? For an evening of fun and adrenaline pumping excitement, it cannot be beat!