How to Play Craps: Rules, Bets, and Strategy

Craps is a structured dice game played with two standard six-sided dice, governed by a fixed sequence of betting rounds and resolution mechanics rooted in probability. The game operates in both regulated casino environments under state gaming commission oversight and informal recreational settings. This page provides a comprehensive reference covering the procedural flow of a craps round, the classification of bet types by house edge, the probability drivers behind each wager, and the tensions between strategic optimization and the game's inherent variance.

• Definition and Scope
• Core Mechanics or Structure
• Causal Relationships or Drivers
• Classification Boundaries
• Tradeoffs and Tensions
• Common Misconceptions
• Checklist or Steps (Non-Advisory)
• Reference Table or Matrix
• References

Definition and Scope

Craps is a dice game in which the outcome of each round is determined entirely by the sum of two dice, producing 36 possible combinations across 11 distinct totals (2 through 12). In casino settings, the game is played on a purpose-built felt-covered table marked with designated betting areas. The Nevada Gaming Control Board and analogous state regulatory bodies in jurisdictions such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi establish the rules under which commercial craps tables operate, including minimum payout ratios and procedural requirements for dice handling.

The scope of craps extends beyond the casino floor. Informal "street craps" simplifies the betting structure but retains the core come-out and point resolution mechanic. The game's probability architecture — derived from the combinatorial properties of two six-sided dice — is shared with other dice game types but distinguished by its multi-phase round structure and the breadth of available wagers. A standard casino craps table accommodates up to approximately 20 players simultaneously, with four casino employees (two dealers, a boxperson, and a stickperson) managing the action.

Core Mechanics or Structure

A craps round proceeds in two potential phases: the come-out roll and the point phase.

Come-Out Roll

The shooter (the player rolling the dice) initiates each round with the come-out roll. Three outcomes are possible:

• Natural (7 or 11): Pass Line bets win immediately. The round ends and a new come-out roll begins.
• Craps (2, 3, or 12): Pass Line bets lose immediately. The round ends and a new come-out roll begins.
• Point established (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10): The dealer marks the point number. The round advances to the point phase.

The probability of rolling a 7 on any single throw is 6 out of 36 (16.67%), making it the most likely sum. A natural (7 or 11) occurs on 8 of 36 combinations (22.22%), while craps (2, 3, or 12) occurs on 4 of 36 combinations (11.11%). The remaining 24 of 36 outcomes establish a point, meaning roughly 66.67% of come-out rolls proceed to the second phase.

Point Phase

Once a point is established, the shooter continues rolling until one of two events occurs:

• The point number is rolled again → Pass Line bets win.
• A 7 is rolled (known as a "seven-out") → Pass Line bets lose, and the dice pass to the next shooter.

No other totals resolve the Pass Line bet during the point phase; all other sums are neutral for that wager (though they may resolve other active bets). The probability of making the point before a seven-out varies by point number, forming a core element of the game's probability and odds structure.

Causal Relationships or Drivers

The mathematical framework of craps is driven by the non-uniform distribution of two-dice sums. Each total has a fixed number of combinations: 7 can be made 6 ways, while 2 and 12 can each be made only 1 way. This asymmetry directly determines the house edge on every available wager.

The Pass Line bet carries a house edge of approximately 1.41%, derived from the combined probabilities across both phases. When a free odds bet is placed behind the Pass Line — a supplementary wager paid at true odds with zero house edge — the effective house edge on the combined position decreases. At 3x-4x-5x odds (a common maximum in commercial casinos), the combined house edge drops to approximately 0.374% (Wizard of Odds). This mechanic is the primary driver behind the strategic emphasis on odds bets in the dice game strategy tips literature.

The Don't Pass bet is the mirror-image wager, winning when the shooter sevens out and losing on naturals. Its house edge is approximately 1.36%, slightly lower than the Pass Line due to the push rule on 12 during the come-out (the "bar 12" condition), which prevents it from being a perfectly symmetrical inverse.

Proposition bets — single-roll wagers on specific outcomes — carry substantially higher house edges. The "Any 7" bet, for example, pays 4:1 on a true probability of 5:1, producing a house edge of 16.67%. The causal link is direct: the fewer combinations that produce a winning outcome, the more a casino can distort the payout ratio before the discrepancy becomes apparent to casual participants.

Classification Boundaries

The wagers available at a craps table fall into three structural categories, each with distinct resolution timelines and edge profiles. These boundaries also mark the line between what constitutes a bet in craps versus wagers found in other casino dice games.

Multi-Roll (Contract) Bets

Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, and Don't Come bets span multiple rolls and cannot be removed once the point phase begins (though Don't Pass and Don't Come bets can technically be taken down, doing so is mathematically disadvantageous). These constitute the foundational bet class with the lowest house edges.

Free Odds Bets

Odds bets placed behind Pass/Don't Pass or Come/Don't Come lines are the only wagers in the game paid at true mathematical odds with no house edge. Their availability is bounded by table maximums, typically expressed as a multiple of the flat bet (1x, 2x, 3x-4x-5x, 10x, or 100x at select properties).

Single-Roll (Proposition) Bets

These resolve on the next throw: Any 7, Any Craps, specific hardway parlays, horn bets, and field bets (though field bets can also be categorized as single-roll). House edges range from approximately 2.78% (field bet with triple pay on 12) to 16.67% (Any 7). These bets are structurally similar to the simple wager mechanics found in games like Left Right Center, where a single event determines the outcome.

Place and Buy Bets

Place bets on 6 or 8 carry a house edge of approximately 1.52%, while place bets on 4 or 10 carry 6.67%. Buy bets on 4 or 10, which pay true odds minus a 5% commission, reduce the edge to approximately 4.76% (or 1.67% if the commission is collected only on wins, as permitted at certain properties). These occupy a middle ground between contract bets and propositions.

Tradeoffs and Tensions

The central tension in craps revolves around the inverse relationship between payout magnitude and mathematical favorability. The bets with the highest potential payouts per dollar wagered (hardways, hop bets, proposition wagers) carry the steepest house edges, while the most mathematically efficient plays (Pass/Don't Pass with maximum free odds) offer comparatively modest payoff ratios.

A second tension exists between Don't Pass (wrong-side) betting and table culture. The Don't Pass bet is marginally more efficient than the Pass Line, yet it places the bettor in opposition to the shooter and the majority of the table. In casino environments, this social friction is well-documented in dice game etiquette references and can affect the recreational experience independent of mathematical optimization.

A third area of contest concerns dice control or dice setting — the claim that a trained shooter can influence the physical outcome of the throw to reduce the frequency of 7s during the point phase. No study published in academic literature or documented in regulatory sources has confirmed a statistically significant edge from dice setting under standard casino conditions (felt surface, rubber pyramid backstop, minimum distance requirements). The Nevada Gaming Commission requires that both dice strike the far wall of the table, a rule specifically designed to introduce randomizing forces. The tension persists because the theoretical physics of controlled throws is not impossible — the practical execution under regulated conditions remains undemonstrated at scale.

Common Misconceptions

"A 7 is 'due' after a long absence."
Each roll of two dice is an independent event. The probability of rolling a 7 remains exactly 6/36 (16.67%) regardless of prior outcomes. The gambler's fallacy — the belief that past results influence future probabilities in independent trials — is the most persistent error in craps play.

"The Don't Pass bet is 'wrong' or prohibited."
The Don't Pass bet is a standard wager offered and encouraged by the casino. Its house edge of approximately 1.36% is lower than the Pass Line's 1.41%. There is no regulatory or procedural restriction against placing it.

"Hardway bets are a form of insurance."
A hardway bet (e.g., hard 8 = two 4s) wins only if the specified pair appears before either a 7 or the easy-way version of that number. The house edge on hard 6 and hard 8 is approximately 9.09%; on hard 4 and hard 10, approximately 11.11%. These are independent proposition wagers, not hedges against other active bets.

"The field bet is a sucker bet."
This characterization depends on the paytable. A field bet paying 2:1 on both 2 and 12 carries a house edge of 5.56%. A field bet paying 3:1 on 12 (common in many Las Vegas properties) reduces the edge to 2.78%, placing it below place bets on 5 or 9 (4.0%) and well below proposition wagers.

For broader context on how craps fits within the landscape of recreational dice activities, the conceptual overview of recreation provides additional structural framing.

Checklist or Steps (Non-Advisory)

The following sequence describes the procedural flow of a standard craps round in a regulated casino environment:

1. Shooter selection — the dice are offered to the next eligible player at the table, proceeding clockwise.
2. Flat bet placement — participants place Pass Line or Don't Pass bets (minimum wager determined by table signage, commonly $5–$25 on the Las Vegas Strip).
3. Come-out roll — the shooter throws both dice so that they travel to the far wall. Outcome is determined by the sum.
4. Natural or craps resolution — if 7 or 11 (natural) or 2, 3, or 12 (craps), the round ends. Return to step 2.
5. Point establishment — the dealer places the puck ("ON") on the point number.
6. Odds and secondary bet placement — participants may place free odds behind flat bets, Come/Don't Come bets, place bets, or proposition wagers.
7. Point-phase rolls — the shooter continues rolling. Each throw resolves any applicable active bets.
8. Point made — if the point number reappears, Pass Line and associated odds bets pay. The puck moves to "OFF." Return to step 2 with the same shooter.
9. Seven-out — if a 7 appears before the point, Pass Line bets lose, Don't Pass bets win, and the dice pass to the next shooter.

This procedural structure is detailed alongside other games in the dice game rules by game reference and can be compared to simpler resolution mechanics in games like Farkle or Shut the Box.

Reference Table or Matrix

The table below summarizes the principal craps wagers, their resolution conditions, and approximate house edges. All edge figures assume standard Las Vegas paytables.

House edge figures sourced from the Wizard of Odds craps appendix (Wizard of Odds — Craps). Additional detail on scoring and resolution systems across dice games is available at the scoring systems in dice games reference, and the full Dice Game Authority index provides navigation to all covered games and topics.

References

• Wizard of Odds — Craps House Edge Calculations — primary source for house edge figures and payout tables cited throughout this page.
• Nevada Gaming Control Board — Regulations — governing body for casino game procedures in Nevada, including dice handling and table operation standards.
• New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement — regulatory authority for Atlantic City casino operations, including craps table rules.
• UNLV Center for Gaming Research — academic repository for gaming industry data, probability analysis, and historical records related to dice games.