How to Play Craps: Rules, Bets and a Round Step by Step
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Maya Sterling is the Bonus and Payments Specialist at PeakyCasino. She owns the publication's coverage of casino bonuses, wagering requirements, payment methods, and the regulatory frameworks governing player funds. Maya…
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To play craps, you bet on the outcome of two six-sided dice. The most common bet, the Pass Line, wins on a 7 or 11 on the first roll, loses on 2, 3 or 12, and otherwise wins if the shooter repeats the number before rolling a 7.
That one rule drives the whole game. Everything else on the table is an optional bet on the same dice. This guide walks through the table, the two phases of a round, the main bets and a full example, in the order you need them at a real or online table.
What Is Craps?
Craps is a casino dice game in which every player bets on the result of rolls made by one player, the shooter. All bets are made against the casino, not against other players.
The game uses two standard dice, so each roll produces a total from 2 to 12. Those totals are not equally likely. There are 36 possible combinations, and 7 can be made six ways, more than any other total. That fact explains most of the rules and payouts.
| Total | Combinations | Ways (of 36) | Chance per roll |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1-1 | 1 | 2.78% |
| 3 | 1-2, 2-1 | 2 | 5.56% |
| 4 | 1-3, 2-2, 3-1 | 3 | 8.33% |
| 5 | 1-4, 2-3, 3-2, 4-1 | 4 | 11.11% |
| 6 | 1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, 5-1 | 5 | 13.89% |
| 7 | 1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1 | 6 | 16.67% |
| 8 | 2-6, 3-5, 4-4, 5-3, 6-2 | 5 | 13.89% |
| 9 | 3-6, 4-5, 5-4, 6-3 | 4 | 11.11% |
| 10 | 4-6, 5-5, 6-4 | 3 | 8.33% |
| 11 | 5-6, 6-5 | 2 | 5.56% |
| 12 | 6-6 | 1 | 2.78% |
What Does the Craps Table Look Like?
A craps table has two identical halves, one on each side, and a center area for one-roll proposition bets. Each half holds the Pass Line, Don’t Pass bar, Come and Don’t Come boxes, the Field, and the Place numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.
Online, the layout is the same but you click to place chips. Here is where each area sits and what it is for:
- Pass Line: the long strip around the edge; the basic bet with the shooter.
- Don’t Pass bar: a narrow strip just inside the Pass Line; the basic bet against the shooter.
- Come box: a large area above the Field; works like a new Pass Line bet after a point is set.
- Don’t Come box: a smaller box near the Place numbers; works like a new Don’t Pass bet.
- Place numbers: the row of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 boxes; bets that a number rolls before a 7.
- Field: a one-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
- Center (proposition) bets: Any Seven, Any Craps, Hardways and single-number bets, most with high house edges.
At a live table, a boxperson supervises, a stickman moves the dice and calls the rolls, and dealers pay and take bets on each side. Online RNG games replace them with software.
How Does a Round of Craps Work?
Each round has two phases: the come-out roll and, if needed, the point phase. A round ends when the shooter either makes the point or rolls a 7.
The Come-Out Roll
The come-out roll is the first roll of a new round. Its result either settles Pass and Don’t Pass bets at once or sets a point.
| Come-out result | Name | Pass Line | Don’t Pass | Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 or 11 | Natural | Wins 1:1 | Loses | 8 of 36 (22.2%) |
| 2 or 3 | Craps | Loses | Wins 1:1 | 3 of 36 (8.3%) |
| 12 | Craps | Loses | Push (bet returned) | 1 of 36 (2.8%) |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 | Point | Waits for point or 7 | Waits for 7 or point | 24 of 36 (66.7%) |
At some tables the Don’t Pass push is on 2 instead of 12. The effect on the house edge is the same.
The Point Phase
Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until the point repeats or a 7 appears. Point first means Pass wins; 7 first (a seven-out) means Pass loses and Don’t Pass wins.
At a live table, the dealer marks the point by turning a round marker called the puck to ON and placing it on the number. All other totals during this phase have no effect on line bets, though they can settle Place, Field or proposition bets.
After a seven-out, the dice pass to the next shooter. If the shooter makes the point, the same shooter rolls a new come-out.
What Are the Main Craps Bets?
New players need only four bets: Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come, and Odds. These have the lowest house edges on the table, from 0% to 1.41%.
Pass Line
The Pass Line bets with the shooter and pays even money (1:1). It wins on a come-out 7 or 11, or when the point repeats before a 7, and carries a house edge of 1.41%.
You place it before the come-out roll. Once a point is set, it cannot be taken down.
Don’t Pass
Don’t Pass bets against the shooter and pays even money. It wins on a come-out 2 or 3, or when a 7 comes before the point, with a house edge of 1.36%.
The 12 push is what gives the casino its edge on this bet. Players who bet this way are called “wrong” or “dark side” bettors. The label is tradition, not a judgment on the bet.
Come and Don’t Come
Come and Don’t Come are line bets made after the point is set. The next roll acts as their own come-out roll, and they carry the same 1.41% and 1.36% edges.
If a Come bet’s first roll is 5, for example, the bet moves to the 5 box and wins if a 5 rolls before a 7. Players use Come bets to have several numbers working at once.
Odds
The Odds bet is an extra wager placed behind a Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come bet after its point is set. It pays true odds, so it has no house edge.
| Point | Pass/Come Odds pays | Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Odds pays |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | 1:2 |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | 2:3 |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | 5:6 |
The table sets how large the Odds bet can be, as a multiple of your line bet. Online, check the game’s help screen for the limit. Our craps strategy and odds guide shows how the multiple lowers your total cost.
Which Other Craps Bets Should You Know?
Place, Field, Hardway and proposition bets can be made at almost any time, but most carry higher house edges than line bets. Know what they do before you click them.
| Bet | Wins when | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place 6 or 8 | 6 (or 8) rolls before 7 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 5 (or 9) rolls before 7 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 4 (or 10) rolls before 7 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
| Field | Next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 | 1:1, 2:1 on 2 and 12 | 5.56% |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 6 (or 8) rolls before 7 | 1:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 3-3 (or 4-4) before 7 or the easy way | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 2-2 (or 5-5) before 7 or the easy way | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any Craps | Next roll is 2, 3 or 12 | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any Seven | Next roll is 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% |
Payouts can differ by casino. A Field that pays 3:1 on 12 lowers that bet’s edge to 2.78%. Big 6 and Big 8 cover the same numbers as Place 6 and 8 but pay less, so the Place bet is the better version of the same wager.
What Does a Full Craps Round Look Like?
Here is a sample round at a hypothetical $10 table, with a $10 Pass Line bet, $20 in Odds and one $10 Come bet. It shows when each bet is at risk and how it is paid.
- Come-out roll: 6. The point is 6. You add $20 Odds behind your Pass Line bet.
- Roll 2: 11. Line bets are unaffected. You place $10 in the Come box.
- Roll 3: 9. Your Come bet moves to the 9. You add $20 Odds to it.
- Roll 4: 9. Your Come bet wins $10, and its Odds win $30 at 3:2. That bet is settled.
- Roll 5: 6. The point is made. The Pass Line wins $10, and the Odds win $24 at 6:5.
- Roll 6 (new come-out): 7. A natural. A new Pass Line bet wins even money.
If a 7 had come on roll 3 instead, the Pass Line, its Odds and the Come bet would all have lost together. This is why many players limit how many bets they keep working at once.
How Is Online Craps Different From a Casino Table?
The rules and payouts are the same, but online craps removes the shooter role, the dealers and table etiquette. RNG games let you roll at your own pace; live dealer games use real dice on a fixed timer.
- RNG craps: software decides each roll; usually the lowest minimums.
- Live dealer craps: real dice streamed from a studio; betting closes before each roll.
- First-person craps: RNG results shown as a 3D table.
- Bubble craps: a land-based machine with real dice in a sealed dome; see our bubble craps guide.
To compare casinos that offer these games, table limits and craps-friendly bonus terms, see our list of online craps casinos.
What Mistakes Do New Craps Players Make?
The most costly mistakes are betting the center of the table, skipping the Odds bet and betting more after losses. Each one raises the amount you lose per hour without improving your chances.
- Betting propositions: Any Seven costs 16.67% per bet, more than ten times the Pass Line.
- Skipping Odds: the only 0% bet on the table goes unused.
- Choosing Big 6/8: the same numbers pay more as Place bets.
- Chasing losses: a betting system cannot change the house edge on any bet.
- Reading streaks: each roll is independent; the dice have no memory.
Set a budget before you start and keep your bet size steady. Our bankroll management guide shows how to size a session.
Related Craps Guides
Use these next, depending on where you are:
- Craps strategy and odds: full odds table and the systems players use, with their risks.
- Bubble craps rules and strategy: how the dome machine differs from a live table.
- Online craps casinos: casinos we have reviewed that offer craps.
- Bankroll management: session budgets and bet sizing.
Craps has a built-in house edge, so every session has an expected cost. Set a deposit and time limit before you play, never chase losses, and use the tools in our responsible gambling guide. In the US, call 1-800-MY-RESET for free, confidential help.