Online Craps basics

Introduction to Craps Games

Craps is an incredibly popular Table Game in land-based casinos around the world. The game has received much exposure on TV and film throughout the decades. One movie that springs to mind immediately, is the “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation”. These tables are always the life of the casino party and are generally accompanied by a noisy crowd calling numbers and cheering on the dice rolls.

Traditionally there are two types of Craps Games, the one being “Street Craps”, and the other being “Casino Craps”. In the context of this guide, we will be dealing with the “Casino Craps” variant, as this is the only version playable online. What sets this version of the game apart from its counterpart is that it is played against the house or casino.

Craps is very popular because of the super low house odds involved, which rarely exceed 1.5%. This means that this game offers twice the amount of wins that roulette does. The game outcomes and results are driven purely by luck, as the win is determined quite literally by the roll of the dice.

Brief history

It is not known when the base game for Craps truly originated, though some have made educated guesses that it evolved during the era of ancient Rome, where soldiers would carve dice out of pigs knuckle and throw them across their shields. This was also known as casting “lots”. Other theories date the game back to the Middle Ages, where Arabs played a game very similar to that of Craps, called azzahr.

The game form became set in the 1700s when it made its way from Europe across to the French colony of Acadia, whereafter it was brought to Louisiana, USA. That game was called “Creps”, but by 1842 the name had evolved to “Craps”, which is the term that we are familiar with today.

Online Craps gameplay

Several players can play at the Craps table. However only one can roll the two dice, at a time. This player is commonly known as the “Shooter”. The throw of his/her dice will determine the outcome for those betting. In order to be a Shooter, you must be an active betting player at the table. The Shooter will roll the dice until he loses. In online casinos, there is a good chance that you are the only player, therefore you remain the Shooter, even though you never really get to physically handle the dice.

Prior to the roll of the dice, various wagers will be placed on a demarcated table with various grids containing betting options. Of these betting options, some are available to wager on at will, and others require permission from the table boss, stickman, or dealers, before making them. Different bet classifications hold different odds, so it is best that you learn the basic bets initially, before graduating to more risky options.

For the sake of this Quick Guide, we will focus on the more common line wagers such as the “Pass Line” and “Do Not Pass Line” wagers.

Pass line wager

• The first roll is named the “come out” roll. If this is a 7 or an 11, the Shooter will win if he has bet on a “Pass Line” wager. If the dice lands a value of 2, 3, or 12, the Shooter loses;
• If the dice lands on any other outcome (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) the value will be called “Point”. In the case of this happening, the Shooter will have to roll the dice again;
• The Shooter must now try and land the “Point” value before rolling a 7 in order to win. If he rolls a 7 first, he/she loses;
• The chance of winning on this bet is 970 out of 1980, which is the odds of 241:244. This means that the house edge is 1.414%;
• The payout is even at 1:1.
  
  

Do not pass line wager

• This is the opposite of the “Pass Line” wager. On the “come out” roll, you win on 2, 3, and 12 and lose on a 7 or 11;
• The win odds here are 976:949, which equals a house edge of 1.404%;
• This wager will also pay out 1:1.

Popular Craps games

Considering how many American movies have featured players playing this Craps game in Las Vegas, it is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable table games ever. Nowadays, you have the chance to enjoy a variety of popular Crap games from the comfort of your home. Let's check out some of the most popular among them:

Play'n GO Craps

Play'n GO Craps gives a modern twist by offering to change the table design. You can choose between a vintage, regular, or futuristic table design.

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First Person Craps

If you’re looking for a unique Live Craps experience, First Person Craps is your game! It is complex, dynamic, and perfect to play on all devices.

See Game Review

Playtech Craps

The world of Playtech Craps offers high-definition graphics that give you a true-to-life feel. The software is of the finest ilk, guaranteeing smooth gameplay.

See Game Review

Odds and payouts

Below is the full paytable, the odds on each win, and the house edge involved. This will give you a good indication of what bets are safer, and which bets must be avoided completely.

Pass line bets

• 4 or 10 pays 2:1, with equivalent odds, with house edge of 4.76%;
• 5 or 9 pays 3:2, with equivalent odds, with house edge of 4.76%;
• 6 or 8 pays 6:5, with equivalent odds, with house edge of 4.76%.
  
  

Do not pass line bets

• 4 or 10 pays 1:2, with equivalent odds, with house edge of 2.44%;
• 5 or 9 pays 2:3, with equivalent odds, with house edge of 3.23%;
• 6 or 8 pays 5:6, with equivalent odds, with house edge of 4%.
  
  

Fields bets

• 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 pays 1:1 with odds of 5:4 and a house edge of 2.78%;
• 2 or 12 pays 2:1 with odds of 5:4 and a house edge of 2.478%.
  
  

One-roll bets

• Any 7 pays 4:1 with odds of 5:1 and a house edge of 16.9%;
• Any Craps has odds of 8:1 and pays 7:1, with a house edge of 11.1%;
• 2 Craps and 12 Craps have odds of 35:1, paying 30:1, with a house edge of 13.9%;
• 3 Craps and 11 Craps have odds of 17:1, paying 15:1, with a house edge of 11.1%.
  
  

Tips and tricks for success with online Craps

The outcome of the game relies purely on the luck of the dice roll. There are no hints or tactics that can be employed to change this in any way whatsoever. Your guess is as good as mine when placing your bets. The following hints are therefore only aids to ensure that you do not lose too much at the table.

• Stick to the “Pass Line Bets” or “Do Not Pass Line Bets”, if you are a novice, as the odds of winning here are good. All other Craps bets offer worse odds. Once you have gained some experience you can try your hand at bets that will pay you out better dividends.
• Stay away from propositional bets. These are the types of bets that are settled by one throw. Bet on the more “general” and less direct variations.
• It is a good idea to play a free version of the game before betting your hard-earned cash on bet lines that will chew away at your bankroll. The free online Craps versions will build up your experience and confidence. A confident player is a good player.
  
  

Last thoughts

We trust that this guide provides you with enough information to get you started on your Craps journey. There is certainly a lot of fun to be had and a lot of money to be won. Should you want to grow your skills in this game, we suggest that you do a little more research online when it comes to betting strategies and the like.

Craps is popular for a reason. Learning to play is safe and reaps rich rewards for your troubles. That's why we made this CasinoWow guide - in your help to become a better player.