Craps Rules & How to Play: Bets, Odds, Payouts, and Strategies for Real-Money Play

The craps game blends speed, table energy, and simple mechanics into one of the most thrilling casino experiences online and on the casino floor. New players often feel overwhelmed by the layout and slang, but once you understand craps rules and the flow of the round, it becomes one of the most approachable table games.

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Craps in One Minute: The Round Flow

• The shooter throws two dice in the come-out roll.
• If the result is 7 or 11, Pass Line wins immediately.
• If the result is 2, 3, or 12, Pass Line loses and Don’t Pass wins on 2 or 3 (12 pushes).
• Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) becomes the Point, and the shooter keeps rolling.
• During the Point phase, Pass Line wins if the Point repeats before a 7, and loses if a 7 appears first (“seven out”).

That’s the backbone of how to play craps—everything else are side bets and add-ons.

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Table Layout, Zones, and What They Mean

• Pass/Don’t Pass area: mainline bets placed before the come-out roll.
• Come/Don’t Come box: mirror of Pass/Don’t Pass but placed after a Point is set.
• Place bet area (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10): wager directly on numbers during the Point phase.
• Field: one-roll bet that wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 with different payouts by game.
• Center (props): one-roll and hardways bets with big payouts and high house edge.

Tip: Beginners should start on the rail (Pass Line / Come) and avoid the center until they know the craps odds.

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Core Bets, Payouts, and House Edge

Bet (base game)	When to Place	Wins On	Typical Payout	House Edge*
Pass Line	Before come-out	7 or 11 on come-out, or Point repeats	1:1	~1.41%
Don’t Pass	Before come-out	2 or 3 on come-out (12 pushes), or 7 before Point repeats	1:1	~1.36%
Come	After Point set	Next roll 7/11 or if new Come Point repeats	1:1	~1.41%
Don’t Come	After Point set	Next roll 2/3 (12 pushes) or 7 before Come Point repeats	1:1	~1.36%
Odds (Pass/Come)	After Point set	If Point repeats	True odds (varies)	0.00%
Place 6 or 8	During Point	6 or 8 appears before 7	7:6	~1.52%
Place 5 or 9	During Point	5 or 9 before 7	7:5	~4.00%
Place 4 or 10	During Point	4 or 10 before 7	9:5	~6.67%
Field (2/12 enhanced)	Any time	One-roll 2,3,4,9,10,11,12 (2/12 often pay double)	1:1; 2/12 2:1	~2–5%
Hardways (4,6,8,10)	During Point	Exact pair (e.g., 3-3 for hard 6) before easy way or 7	9:1 or 7:1	~9–11%

*House edge varies slightly by table rules; values shown are standard for best craps bets comparisons.

Why Odds are king: Odds bets pay at true odds (no house edge) and are the only wager in craps with 0% house advantage, which is why experienced players always add maximum Odds behind Pass/Come or Don’t odds behind Don’t Pass/Don’t Come.

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Glossary: Speak the Table’s Language

• Shooter: the player rolling the dice in live dealer craps or at a table.
• Point: target number (4,5,6,8,9,10) set on the come-out roll.
• Seven out: a 7 is rolled during the Point phase before the Point repeats.
• Hardway: a pair like 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 (wins only if rolled exactly that way).
• Horn: a one-roll combo covering 2,3,11,12.
• Yo: table call for 11 (to avoid mishearing as “seven”).
• Stickman / Boxman: crew roles at a physical table (you’ll see the calls in craps online Australia live streams too).

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Step-by-Step: Your First Real-Money Craps Round

1. Buy-in, pick a base bet: Place a small Pass Line chip before the come-out roll.
2. Come-out resolves: You might win/lose immediately (7/11 or 2/3/12) or set a Point.
3. Take Odds: Once a Point is set, add Odds behind your Pass bet (e.g., 2x, 3x, 5x).
4. Optionally add a Come bet: It functions like a new Pass bet on the next roll.
5. Press or regress: After wins, either increase slightly (press) or drop back (regress) to manage risk.
6. Color up: When you hit your session goal, convert small chips to larger and cash out.

This basic loop is the foundation of responsible craps strategies for beginners.

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Bankroll, Variance, and Session Planning

• Session budget: 50–100 base units works well for learning.
• Unit sizing: Keep Pass/Come at 1 unit and Odds at 2–5 units depending on table max.
• Stop-loss / Stop-win: Pre-commit to exit at −40% or +50% to avoid tilt.
• Table minimums: Online tends to be lower than land-based, which suits mobile craps players.

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Strategy Packages You Can Actually Use

1) Low-Edge Core (Beginner friendly)

• Pass Line + max Odds
• Optional one Come bet + Odds
• Skip props and hardways
• Goal: stick to the bets with best long-run value and simple craps odds

2) 3-Point Molly (Intermediate)

• Maintain up to three working bets (Pass + up to two Come)
• Always take maximum Odds behind each
• Press Odds first, flat bets second

3) Dark Side Discipline (Advanced “Don’t” play)

• Don’t Pass + lay Odds (you’re rooting for the 7 after a Point)
• Add Don’t Come wagers carefully to avoid overexposure
• Lower volatility but psychological headwind at busy tables

Reality check: No system beats the house long-term, but choosing low-edge wagers and capping exposure is the closest thing to an “edge” for recreational players.

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Payout Examples (So You Can Sanity-Check Results)

• You bet $10 Pass Line, Point 6, and take $30 Odds (3x).
  • If 6 hits before 7: Pass pays $10, Odds pay 6:5 → $36, total $46 win.
• You bet $12 Place 6.
  • If 6 hits before 7: pays $14 (7:6), total returned $26.

Use these to verify outcomes in online craps interfaces.

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Online vs. Live: Picking Where to Play

• RNG tables: Fast pace, low minimums, perfect for practicing how to play craps online.
• Live dealer craps: Studio-streamed with a real table, slower rhythm, social vibe.
• Mobile UI: Look for clean bet highlighting, fast re-bet, and easy Odds controls for mobile craps.

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Common Mistakes (and Better Choices)

• Chasing the center props because they look exciting → stick to Pass/Come + Odds.
• Forgetting to take Odds → you’re leaving value on the rail.
• Overspreading Place bets → focus on Place 6/8 first for better returns.
• No exit plan → set a hard stop to protect your roll.

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Advanced Table Nuances That Matter

• Free Odds multiple: Some casinos allow 3x/4x/5x or more; over time higher Odds reduce your blended edge.
• Place to Buy conversion (4/10): On higher stakes, Buy bets on 4 or 10 (with 5% vigorish) can improve return versus Place.
• Field 2/12 pays: Some fields pay triple on 12; prefer those tables if you like the Field occasionally.

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Quick Comparison: Best vs. Risky Bets

Category	Bet	Why It’s Good (or Not)
Best fundamentals	Pass/Come + Odds	Low house edge, simple, scalable
Solid add-ons	Place 6/8	Reasonable edge, frequent hits
Caution	Place 5/9	Higher edge than 6/8, okay as a third number
Risky	Place 4/10 (no Buy)	Weaker payout unless Buying at higher stakes
High risk	Props / Hardways	Big payouts but steep house edge

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Where Craps Came From (And Why It Stuck)

Craps evolved from Hazard in England and Crabes in France before becoming a New Orleans staple, which is why modern tables keep colorful calls and rituals that you’ll also hear in live dealer craps lobbies.

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Frequently Asked Questions (People Also Ask)

Is craps hard to learn?
No—the craps rules are straightforward once you grasp the come-out and Point phases.

What are the best bets for beginners?
Pass Line or Don’t Pass with maximum Odds, and Place 6/8 as add-ons are the best craps bets for new players.

Can I practice for free?
Yes—most casinos offer demo RNG tables to learn how to play craps before staking real money.

What’s the house edge on Pass Line?
About 1.41%, and the Odds you add have 0% house edge.

Are proposition bets ever worth it?
They’re entertainment bets with high house edge, so treat them as occasional fun, not a core plan.

Is live dealer craps fair online?
Licensed studios and RNG vendors are audited, which is why live dealer craps is safe at regulated sites.

What about craps on mobile?
Modern lobbies are optimized for mobile craps with simple chip stacks and quick re-bet buttons.

What is a good session goal?
Many casual players target +50% and stop, while setting a −40% stop-loss to control variance.

Can I win consistently with a system?
No system beats math, but low-edge bets and smart bankroll rules flatten swings.

Where can Australians play online?
Reputable international sites host craps online Australia tables; always check licensing and responsible gaming tools.