How to Play Craps: A Beginner’s Guide to the Casino’s Most Exciting Dice Game

Walk past any craps table in a casino and you’ll see a crowd of people screaming, high-fiving, and throwing money at a felt rectangle that looks like a tax form designed by someone having a fever dream. It’s intimidating as hell—until you realize that underneath all that chaos is one of the simplest, fairest games in the entire casino. You’re just betting on dice rolls. That’s it. The secret is that most of those bets on the table? You can completely ignore them.

Key Highlights

• Craps offers some of the best odds in any casino with a house edge as low as 1.41% on Pass Line bets
• The basic concept is simple: bet on whether the shooter will roll winning numbers before rolling a 7
• You only need to understand 2-3 bets to start playing—the rest is optional complexity
• The Odds bet behind your Pass Line bet has absolutely zero house edge—the fairest bet in the casino
• Craps is the most social, communal table game where everyone (usually) wins and loses together
• Minimum bets typically range from $5-$25, with higher limits at premium tables
• The loud, energetic atmosphere is part of the experience—not a sign you’re doing it wrong

Craps Basics: What You Need to Know

Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcome of rolls made by one designated player called the “shooter.” The shooter rolls two six-sided dice, and depending on what numbers come up, certain bets win and others lose. That’s the entire game in one sentence.

The craps table looks like a nightmare at first glance—it’s covered in boxes, numbers, and mysterious words like “Don’t Come Bar” and “Field.” Here’s the liberating truth: you can ignore about 90% of what’s printed on that table. As a beginner, you’ll only interact with a small strip along the edge called the Pass Line. Everything else is optional.

The table is staffed by a crew of dealers: one “stickman” who controls the dice with a long stick, a “boxman” who supervises the game, and two base dealers who handle bets and payouts. Don’t worry about remembering these roles—they’ll tell you what to do if you’re doing something wrong.

Pro Tip: Position yourself near the middle of the table for the best view of the action and easiest access to place your bets. Corner spots can make it harder to reach the Pass Line.

The Come-Out Roll Explained

Every round of craps begins with something called the “come-out roll”—this is just the first roll of a new round. Think of it like the opening kickoff in football. The come-out roll determines what happens next:

Notice how simple this is—you’re not making decisions or playing cards. You placed a bet, dice were rolled, and math happened. That’s the beauty of craps.

Understanding the Point

Once a point is established, the rules change slightly. Now the shooter keeps rolling until one of two things happens:

The Point Number Rolls Again (You Win): If the shooter rolls the point number before rolling a 7, Pass Line bets win even money. For example, if the point is 6, you need another 6 to appear before a 7. When this happens, the table erupts, high-fives fly, and a new come-out roll begins.

A Seven Rolls (You Lose): If a 7 comes up before the point number, Pass Line bets lose. This is called “sevening out” and it ends the shooter’s turn. The dice move to the next player, and the whole cycle starts over with a new come-out roll.

All other numbers (not the point and not 7) don’t matter during this phase. The shooter could roll fifteen 5s in a row—if the point is 8, those 5s are meaningless. You’re only watching for the point number or a 7.

Here’s what makes craps different from most casino games: some point numbers are easier to roll than others. A 7 can be made six different ways (1-6, 2-5, 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 6-1), while a 4 can only be made three ways (1-3, 2-2, 3-1). This is why the odds shift once a point is established, and it’s where the Odds bet—which we’ll cover next—becomes powerful.

Beginner-Friendly Bets: Your Starting Arsenal

Pass Line Bet

This is your bread and butter, the only bet you absolutely need to know. You place chips on the “Pass Line” before the come-out roll. You win if the shooter rolls 7 or 11, lose if they roll 2, 3, or 12, and if a point is established, you win if that point rolls again before a 7.

The house edge on the Pass Line is just 1.41%—meaning statistically, for every $100 you bet, you’ll lose $1.41 over time. Here’s how craps compares to other popular casino games:

Casino Game	House Edge	Verdict
Craps (Pass Line + Full Odds)	0.37%	✅ Best bet in the casino
Craps (Pass Line only)	1.41%	✅ Excellent
Craps (Don’t Pass)	1.36%	✅ Slightly better
Blackjack (basic strategy)	~0.5%	✅ Excellent (requires skill)
Baccarat (Banker)	1.06%	✅ Good
European Roulette	2.70%	⚠️ Fair
American Roulette	5.26%	❌ Poor
Slot Machines	2-15%	❌ Poor to terrible
Keno	25-40%	❌ Awful

Pro Tip: The Pass Line bet is why craps tables are so social and loud. Most players bet the Pass Line, so everyone is rooting for the same outcome. When the table is “hot” (shooter keeps making points), the collective energy is electric.

Don’t Pass Bet

This is the opposite of the Pass Line—you’re betting against the shooter. You win on 2 or 3 (12 is a push), lose on 7 or 11, and after a point is established, you win if a 7 rolls before the point.

The house edge on Don’t Pass is even slightly better at 1.36%, making it mathematically the smarter bet. However, you’re now rooting against everyone else at the table, which can feel socially awkward. Some players don’t care. Others value the communal experience. Neither approach is wrong.

Just know that if you’re playing Don’t Pass and celebrating while the rest of the table groans, you might get some dirty looks. It’s not personal—it’s just the culture of the game.

Come Bet

The Come bet works exactly like the Pass Line, except you can place it after a point has been established. Essentially, you’re creating your own personal “come-out roll” on the next throw. If a 7 or 11 rolls, you win. If 2, 3, or 12 rolls, you lose. Any other number becomes your personal point.

Why would you use this? It allows you to have action on multiple numbers simultaneously. But as a beginner, you can completely ignore Come bets until you’re comfortable with the basics. They’re not necessary—they’re just an option for players who want more action.

Odds Bet: The Casino’s Best-Kept Secret

Here’s where craps becomes genuinely special. After a point is established, you can place an additional bet behind your Pass Line wager called the Odds bet. This bet has absolutely zero house edge—the casino pays true mathematical odds, meaning it’s a perfectly fair bet.

Let me repeat that because it bears repeating: the Odds bet is the only bet in the entire casino where the house has no edge whatsoever. It’s a coin flip in a building designed to tilt every coin.

Here’s how it works: After a point is set, place additional chips directly behind your Pass Line bet (not on the line itself). The payouts depend on the point number:

Point Number	Odds Payout	Ways to Roll	Ways to Roll 7	True Odds
4 or 10	2 to 1	3 ways each	6 ways	2:1
5 or 9	3 to 2	4 ways each	6 ways	3:2
6 or 8	6 to 5	5 ways each	6 ways	6:5

Example: If you bet $10 on Pass Line and the point is 4, you can place $30 Odds behind it (3x). If the 4 hits, you win $10 on Pass (1:1) plus $60 on Odds (2:1), totaling $70 profit.

Most casinos allow you to bet 2x, 3x, or even up to 100x your Pass Line bet as Odds. A standard table offers “3-4-5x odds” meaning you can bet 3x on 4/10, 4x on 5/9, and 5x on 6/8.

Taking full Odds drops the combined house edge on your total wager to around 0.37%—making craps with Odds one of the best bets in any casino. Always, always take the Odds if you can afford it.

Pro Tip: The Odds bet isn’t marked on the table layout, which is why many beginners miss it. Just place chips behind your Pass Line bet after the point is established. The dealer will know what you’re doing.

Bets to Avoid as a Beginner

Remember how I said you can ignore 90% of the table layout? Here’s what to avoid while you’re learning:

Proposition Bets (Center of the Table)

Those bets in the middle of the table with the big payouts (30 to 1! 15 to 1!) are sucker bets with house edges ranging from 9% to 16.67%. Yes, they’re exciting. Yes, they occasionally hit. But over time, they’ll drain your bankroll faster than any other bet on the table. The stickman will try to entice you with calls like “Any craps!” or “Yo-leven!”—resist the temptation.

Field Bet

The Field bet looks appealing because it covers seven different numbers (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12). But it has a house edge of 5.56% on most tables. It’s not the worst bet in the casino, but it’s nowhere near as good as the Pass Line with Odds.

Any Seven

This bet pays 4 to 1 if the next roll is a 7. Sounds decent until you realize 7 can be rolled six ways out of 36 possible combinations, giving true odds of 5 to 1. The house edge is a brutal 16.67%. Just don’t.

Hardways

Hardway bets win if the shooter rolls doubles (2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5) before rolling that total the “easy way” or rolling a 7. They have house edges between 9.09% and 11.11%. They’re fun occasionally, but they’re not a smart regular play.

The pattern here is simple: if a bet has a flashy payout and isn’t the Pass Line or Odds, it’s designed to look appealing while quietly taking more of your money over time.

Step-by-Step: Your First Time at the Craps Table

Let’s walk through exactly what happens when you approach a craps table for the first time:

1. Buy In. Find an open spot at the table (not directly behind the dealers). Place your cash on the felt—don’t hand it to the dealer. Say "Change, please" or just wait. The dealer will count your money, call out the amount to the boxman, and give you chips. Take a breath. You’re in.
2. Wait for the Right Moment. Look for the plastic puck on the table. If it says "OFF," a new come-out roll is about to happen—perfect timing. If it says "ON" and is sitting on a number, a point has been established and you’ve joined mid-round. Either is fine, but joining at the come-out roll is simpler.
3. Place Your Pass Line Bet. Put chips on the Pass Line directly in front of you. Start with the table minimum ($5, $10, or $15 typically). Don’t overthink it. Just place the chips down.
4. Watch the Come-Out Roll. The shooter rolls the dice. If it’s 7 or 11, you win. The dealer will place your winnings next to your bet—collect them. If it’s 2, 3, or 12, you lose and the dealer takes your chips. If it’s any other number, that becomes the point and the dealer moves the puck to that number.
5. Add an Odds Bet. Once a point is established, place additional chips directly behind your Pass Line bet (in the empty space between the Pass Line and the rail). You don’t need to say anything—the positioning tells the dealer it’s an Odds bet. Bet at least 1x your Pass Line amount, up to the table’s maximum (usually 3x, 4x, or 5x depending on the point).
6. Watch the Point Phase. The shooter keeps rolling. If the point number hits, you win both your Pass Line bet (paid even money) and your Odds bet (paid at true odds). If a 7 rolls first, you lose both bets. Collect your winnings or shrug it off—this is gambling.
7. Repeat or Cash Out. After each round resolves, you can place a new Pass Line bet for the next come-out roll, or you can take your chips to the cashier and leave. There’s no pressure to keep playing. Set a budget before you start and stick to it—responsible gambling means knowing when to walk away, whether you’re up or down.

Craps Etiquette & Table Rules

Craps has more unwritten rules than most casino games. Don’t worry—nobody expects perfection from beginners, but knowing a few basics will help you fit in:

Wait for the dice to be in the center before placing or moving bets: Once the stickman pushes the dice to the shooter, hands off the felt. Late bets disrupt the game and can delay or invalidate the roll.

Never say “seven” at the table: It’s superstition, but it’s taken seriously. Players believe mentioning the number seven will cause it to appear and end the shooter’s roll. Instead, say “big red” or just “the devil.” Yes, really.

Keep drinks and phones away from the table: Spilling a drink on the felt can shut down the game for cleaning. Hold your drink in your non-playing hand or set it on the rail’s drink holders.

Tip the dealers: When you’re winning, it’s customary to tip the crew. You can hand them chips directly or place a bet for them by putting chips on the Pass Line and saying “This one’s for the boys.” If it wins, they keep the winnings.

Don’t touch other players’ chips: Each player has their own section of the Pass Line. Stay in your lane. If you accidentally knock someone’s chips, apologize and the dealer will help fix it.

Be a good sport: When you’re betting Pass Line and the shooter sevens out, don’t groan dramatically or blame the shooter. Everyone loses together—it’s part of the game. Save the frustration for your internal monologue.

Pro Tip: If you’re shooting the dice, toss them gently so they hit the far wall. Hard throws that fly off the table or don’t reach the wall may be called “no roll” and you’ll have to throw again. Also, use one hand only—switching hands looks suspicious.

Common Craps Terms (Glossary)

Craps has its own language. Here’s what you need to know:

Shooter: The player currently rolling the dice. Everyone takes turns, rotating clockwise around the table.

Come-Out Roll: The first roll of a new round. This establishes whether you win immediately, lose immediately, or set a point.

Point: The target number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) that must be rolled again before a 7 for Pass Line bets to win.

Pass Line / Don’t Pass: The two main bets. Pass Line bets with the shooter; Don’t Pass bets against them.

Craps: Rolling 2, 3, or 12. On the come-out roll, these numbers lose for Pass Line bets.

Natural: Rolling 7 or 11 on the come-out roll. These numbers win instantly for Pass Line bets.

Seven Out: When a 7 is rolled after a point is established, ending the shooter’s turn and losing Pass Line bets.

Boxman: The casino employee sitting at the table who supervises the game and handles disputes.

Stickman: The dealer who controls the dice with a long curved stick and calls out the results of each roll.

Base Dealers: The two dealers standing on either side of the boxman who handle bets and payouts for players on their side of the table.

Yo / Yo-leven: Slang for 11 (sounds like “yo-eleven”). Used to avoid confusion with “seven.”

Snake Eyes: Rolling two 1s (total of 2).

Boxcars: Rolling two 6s (total of 12).

Hot Table: When the shooter keeps making points and the table is winning. Pure luck, but the energy is contagious.

Cold Table: When shooters keep sevening out quickly and everyone’s losing. Also pure luck, but misery loves company.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Here’s the truth about craps: it’s not nearly as complicated as it looks. Underneath that intimidating table layout with fifty different betting options is a beautifully simple game—bet on dice rolls, hope for the best, repeat. The secret that experienced players know is that you can ignore almost everything except the Pass Line and Odds bets. Those two bets alone give you some of the fairest odds in the entire casino.

What makes craps special isn’t just the math, though. It’s the atmosphere. Craps is the only table game where strangers become temporary teammates, where a hot shooter can turn the whole table into a celebration, where everyone shares the wins and losses together. That communal energy is what keeps people coming back long after they’ve memorized the odds.

Start with small bets on the Pass Line, add Odds when you’re comfortable, and ignore the stickman’s tempting calls about proposition bets. Set a budget, stick to it, and remember that the house always has an edge—your job is to minimize it while maximizing the fun. Whether you walk away up $50 or down $100, you’ll have experienced one of the most thrilling games in any casino. Just don’t say “seven” at the table, and you’ll be fine.

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