Intermediate
Craps Rules & Best Bets Explained
Craps looks chaotic at the table, but the core game is simple once you know the pass line bet and how the point is set.
House Edge
1.4%
Best For
Social play
Read Time
6 min
How to play
A shooter rolls two dice. The first roll (the come-out roll) either wins, loses, or sets a 'point' number. If a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until they hit that number again (a win) or roll a 7 (a loss).
- A come-out roll of 7 or 11 wins for pass line bets; 2, 3 or 12 loses.
- Any other number becomes the 'point'.
- The shooter rolls repeatedly until the point repeats (pass line wins) or a 7 appears (pass line loses).
- Odds bets can be added behind a pass line bet once the point is set, at true odds with no house edge.
💡 Pro tip
Always take the 'odds' bet behind your pass line wager it's the only bet in the casino with a zero house edge.
Odds & house edge
The pass line bet carries a house edge of about 1.41%, one of the lowest on the floor. Proposition bets in the centre of the table, like 'any 7', carry edges above 11% and should generally be avoided.
Strategy tips
- Stick to pass line and come bets with full odds they offer the best value at the table.
- Avoid the one-roll proposition bets in the middle of the layout.
- Set a session bankroll before you start; craps swings can be large and fast.
Common mistakes
New players often chase proposition bets for their big payouts, not realising the house edge on those bets is many times higher than the pass line.