How to play craps
Craps is a fun casino game for people who like to throw things. You probably already know this, but it’s the one where you’re betting on the roll of the dice—if you’re lucky you may get to toss them yourself.
Getting started
The craps table may look a bit confusing at first, but that’s just because there are so many ways to bet and play. It’s actually pretty straightforward: you win or lose based on where you put your chips, and the sum of the two dice after they’re rolled.
Craps tables all look pretty similar, so if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Generally they have two ends that are mirror images of each other. The two ends have the same betting options—they simply provide more space for players to play. Get familiar with the names of few common bets and you’ll be comfortable at the craps table in no time.
One thing to note before you get started is, if you see a disk on the table that says “OFF,” it means a new round is starting soon, and it’s safe to put your chips on the table. Always put your chips on the table right in front of where you’re standing. The first roll of the dice is called the come-out roll.
Bet types
Here are the bet types you need to know about:
| Bet Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Pass line | One way to start is by placing a bet on the Pass Line. If the dice total 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, anyone who put money on the Pass Line wins, and the round is over. If 2, 3 or 12 come up, Pass Line bets lose, and the round is over. If any other number comes up, the number is known as the “point,” and the round continues. Any time the point comes up again before the round is over, you win even money. If a 7 comes up, the round is over, and you lose. If any other number comes up, you continue the round, but you don’t win or lose. |
| Don't pass line | Another good option is the Don’t Pass Line. If you bet on it before the come-out roll, you win if the dice total 2 or 3, and you lose on 7 or 11. If 12 comes up, it’s a push (a tie)—you don’t win or lose, but the round is over. Any other number that comes up establishes the point. On subsequent rolls, you win even money. |
| Field | A one-roll bet you can make anytime. If 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 are rolled, you win even money. If 2 or 12 are rolled, you’re paid 2 to 1. |
| Horn | A one-roll bet you can make anytime. You’re betting that 2, 3, 11 or 12 will come up on the next roll. If one of them does, you win. 3 and 11 pay 15 to 1; 2 and 12 pay 30 to 1. If none of those numbers comes up, you lose. |
| Come | You can make a Come bet after a point has been established. It’s an even-money bet with the same rules as a Pass Line bet. |
| Don't come | You can make a Don’t Come bet after a point has been established. It’s an even-money bet with the same rules as a Don’t Pass Line bet. |
| Any 7 | A one-roll bet that can be made anytime. If a 7 comes up on that roll, it’s called Lucky 7s, and you’re paid 4 to 1. |
| Any craps | A one-roll bet that can be made anytime. You win on 2, 3 or 12, and you’re paid 7 to 1. |
Odds of winning
Casinos in B.C. offer 3, 4, 5 odds, which means you’re allowed to take odds of 3, 4 or 5 times your Pass Line bet, depending on what the point is.
| Point | Odds |
|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3 times odds |
| 5 or 9 | 4 times odds |
| 8 or 8 | 5 times odds |
If you’re finding this confusing, talk to someone at the casino for assistance.