Craps is the most exciting game on the casino floor — players cheering, dice flying, energy everywhere. It looks complicated with all those betting options, but the core game is simple. And some bets have the lowest house edge in the casino.
Online craps captures the action without the intimidation. No crowd judging your bets, no pressure at the table. Just you, the dice, and the math.
How Craps Works
The basic flow:
- 🎲 Come-Out Roll — first roll of a new round
- 🎯 Pass Line Bet — the main bet (most players make this)
- 7️⃣ Win on 7 or 11 — come-out roll natural, Pass wins
- 2️⃣3️⃣🔢 Lose on 2, 3, or 12 — come-out craps, Pass loses
- 📍 Point Established — any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
- 🔄 Roll Again — try to hit the point before 7
- ✅ Point Hits — Pass wins, new round
- 7️⃣ Seven Out — Pass loses, new shooter
Essential Craps Bets
Pass Line
The fundamental bet. Bet before come-out, win on 7/11, lose on 2/3/12, otherwise point established. House edge: 1.41%. This is what you should bet.
Don’t Pass
Opposite of Pass Line. Win on 2/3 (12 is push), lose on 7/11, then win if 7 rolls before point. House edge: 1.36%. Slightly better odds but you’re betting against other players.
Come Bet
Same as Pass Line but made after point is established. Creates your own personal point. House edge: 1.41%.
Don’t Come
Opposite of Come. Same rules as Don’t Pass but made after point. House edge: 1.36%.
Odds Bet
The secret weapon. After point established, bet behind Pass/Come. Pays true odds — ZERO house edge. Best bet in the casino. Take maximum odds whenever possible.
- 📊 4 or 10 — pays 2:1
- 📊 5 or 9 — pays 3:2
- 📊 6 or 8 — pays 6:5
Bets to Avoid
The table is covered with sucker bets:
- ❌ Big 6/Big 8 — house edge 9.09%. Place 6/8 pays better.
- ❌ Any 7 — house edge 16.67%. Terrible.
- ❌ Any Craps — house edge 11.11%. No.
- ❌ Hardways — house edge 9-11%. For suckers.
- ❌ Field Bet — house edge 2.78-5.56% depending on payouts.
- ❌ Proposition Bets — center of table, all terrible odds.
Stick to Pass/Don’t Pass with odds. Everything else is entertainment tax.
Place Bets
Bet on specific numbers to roll before 7:
- ✅ Place 6 or 8 — house edge 1.52%. Acceptable.
- ⚠️ Place 5 or 9 — house edge 4.0%. Marginal.
- ❌ Place 4 or 10 — house edge 6.67%. Bad.
If you want action beyond Pass + Odds, Place 6 and 8 are the only reasonable options.
Craps Strategy
Optimal approach:
- 🎯 Bet Pass Line — or Don’t Pass if you prefer
- 💰 Take maximum Odds — zero house edge, the whole point
- 🔄 Optional: Come bet with Odds — more action, same low edge
- ❌ Ignore everything else — proposition bets are for suckers
That’s it. Pass + max Odds reduces combined house edge to under 1%. Keep it simple.
Understanding Odds Bets
Why Odds bets are special:
- 📊 True odds payout — no house edge whatsoever
- 💰 Multiply your action — 3x, 5x, 10x, 100x Odds available
- 📉 Reduces overall edge — more Odds = lower total house edge
Example: $10 Pass with 5x Odds ($50)
- Pass portion: 1.41% edge on $10
- Odds portion: 0% edge on $50
- Combined: ~0.33% overall house edge
This is why smart craps players bet minimum Pass and maximum Odds.
Online Craps vs Live
Online RNG Craps
- ⚡ Fast pace — no waiting for other players
- 💰 Lower minimums — $1 or less available
- 📊 Same odds — math is identical
- 🔇 No pressure — learn at your own pace
Live Dealer Craps
- 🎲 Real dice — physical roll you can watch
- 💬 Social experience — chat with dealer and players
- 📺 Authentic feel — closest to casino experience
- ⏱️ Slower pace — realistic timing between rolls
Craps Bankroll Management
- 💰 Session bankroll — 20-30x your Pass + Odds bet
- 📊 Odds multiplier — adjust based on what you can afford
- ⚡ Win goal — quit up 30-50%
- 🛑 Loss limit — stop at 50% of session bankroll
With Odds bets, variance is higher. Make sure bankroll can handle swings.
Dice Setting and Control
Some players claim they can influence dice. Reality:
- ❌ Online — impossible, it’s RNG
- ⚠️ Live Casino — casinos have regulations (dice must hit back wall)
- 🔬 Scientific evidence — none that it works consistently
Don’t pay for dice control courses. Bet the math, not superstition.
FAQ: Online Craps
Is online craps fair?
At licensed casinos, yes. RNG is tested for randomness. Live dealer uses real dice. The math is transparent.
What’s the best craps bet?
Pass/Don’t Pass with maximum Odds. Odds bets have zero house edge. Combined with the main bet, you’re looking at well under 1% total edge.
Why do people yell at craps tables?
Craps is social. Everyone (mostly) bets Pass together, so wins and losses are shared. The energy is part of the experience. Online, you miss this.
Should I bet Don’t Pass?
Mathematically slightly better (1.36% vs 1.41%). Socially awkward in live casinos — you’re betting against other players. Online? Doesn’t matter, go for it.
Roll the Dice
Craps looks complicated but plays simple. Pass Line + Odds = best odds in the casino. Ignore the proposition bets, take your Odds, let the dice fly.
Check out the casinos below for quality craps action. RNG for practice and speed, live dealer for the real experience. The dice are waiting.