Craps games feature a lot of bets compared to other casino games. They are split over two betting rounds – and include many side bets on top. For the basic bets, craps has a low casino house edge. This can be as low as 1.36% with points betting having no edge at all, plus the opportunity to ‘press’ your bets to multiples of your initial (come out) bet.
Understanding the game and various bets is only part what is required to win at craps. Once you nail the basics, your betting strategy can be developed. Online craps games are an ideal way to do this for small stakes. Reducing the house edge and natural volatility of the games is easier if you take advantage of the bonuses and promotions offered by casinos.
This guide to winning at craps covers the bets, strategies, and the practical aspects of getting the best online casino bonuses. Before we ‘seven out’ at the end of this page, you will find an FAQ on beating craps games. (Our other guides include how to win at slots and how to win at sports betting.)
There are two betting rounds in a craps game;
Playing the ‘don’t pass’ bar for the come out round has a slightly lower house edge than the more popular pass line. Here you win with a 2 or 3, tie with a 12 and lose with a 7 or 11. Points are set in the same way.
There are social pressures to play the pass line in live casino craps games. Since almost all players choose this (despite the higher casino house edge), anyone choosing ‘don’t pass’ is effectively betting in the opposite way to the other players. That small mathematical difference is balanced by cheering with the other players when everyone wins at the same time.
If you are playing craps online against a computer program – then it makes no difference which ‘side’ you choose for the come out round.
You can make these same bets after the point has been set. These are called the ‘Come Bet’ and ‘Don’t Come Bar’. They work in the same way as the come-out roll. There are bets that cover single rolls and multiple rolls that can be placed at any point.
When a point has been set, the house edge for many bets disappears. This applies to bets on points 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Bets on these numbers are that they will be hit before the shooter rolls a 7. If the point set in the come-out roll is hit again, then pass line bets pay and don’t pass bets lose.
As well as the main bets, there are side bets, props and a mix of multi-roll and single roll wagers you can place.
There are variations and more advanced prop bets available in some live casinos. Examples include the ‘Fire Bet’ which pays based on multiple points being hit on a point round. There are also bets like all tall and all small, the horn bet and 2 / 12 hi-lo.
Nobody can beat the casino house edge. This is a mathematical certainty with any game given enough time. What you can do with betting strategy is to reduce the volatility / swings – and to push hard when you have a win to give yourself a shot at a giant payday.
Online craps games are the perfect place to perfect your betting strategies. You can play for real money at small stakes, or even use demo games to try out different betting systems with no risk.
A good strategy whether you play live or online is to make sure you are clearing bonuses and / or receiving rewards for your play. While this will not cover all of the house edge, it can reduce it and get you free play / comps along the way.
Casino loyalty rewards and bonuses make a big difference to your casino bankroll. This applies to live casinos, where you will accumulate points for resort credits and free play via card schemes. It is even more important at real money casinos. Fortunately, the competition between the brands for craps players is fierce. This gives you a lot of bonuses to choose from.
As with all offers and deals online, the devil is in the details. It can pay to check the terms and conditions of any casino bonus before you jump in.
Here are the types of offer that online casinos feature:
With some money management and regular checks – there is no need to roll the dice in any online craps game without taking advantage of one casino offer or another.
No, games are controlled by random number generator software. Legitimate casinos such as those licensed by state governments require that RNG software has regular audits. Games are played millions of times to ensure that the outcomes are completely random.
This depends on your state. A growing list of states have regulated / licensed online casinos. They include Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia. More states are at different stages of legislation.
In live casinos, you can choose from craps, crapless craps and electronic options such as bubble craps. In terms of craps odds, the best game is the traditional table. ‘Crapless’ tables use 2, 3 and 11 as points, which boosts their house edge to over 5% (from 1.41% for pass line bets on a regular game).
The don’t pass bar / line has a smaller house edge than the pass line. This is 1.36% compared to 1.41%. The reason most people choose the pass line is so that the entire craps table in a live casino can win / lose together. If you play don’t pass, you will win when most other players lose. If you are playing online, then there is no social pressure – you can bet on whichever ‘side’ you prefer.
No. The house edge is baked into the game. Unlike card counting in blackjack, there is no way to change the odds to your favor. You can avoid betting on the high-edge wagers like hard ways and use systems to reduce your variance. Bonuses and comps will also help. Over the long run, it is impossible to beat this game.
Craps betting is complex, with each bet having a different house edge. If you stick to the main bets, then the edge is small compared to other casino games. Pass line bets have an edge of 1.41%, with bets on numbers during the point round having no edge at all. By contrast, hard ways (single roll bets on doubles) can have an edge over 11%.