Craps is a game with a lot of betting options and rules. But don't worry. It is not as difficult as it might seem. Generally speaking, Craps is just a game where the players bet on the outcome of the number of the two dice rolled. The basic idea behind Craps is to establish a "point" number and roll that number again before rolling a Seven.

The Basics of the Game

When you are the one who roll the dice, you are the "shooter" and your first roll is called the "Come Out Roll". (Other players may place their gambling chips on the table's layout and win or lose according to the numbers thrown by the shooter).

If you roll a 7 or 11 on the Come Out Roll, you have rolled a "Natural". This means that you win and the round is over before it even started.

If you roll a 2, 3, or 12 on the Come Out Roll, you have rolled "Craps". This means that you lose and the round is over before it even started.

If you roll any number other than 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, that number becomes "the Point". The purpose of the Come Out Roll is to set "the Point". When you have rolled "the Point", the dealer places a puck marked "On" on the Point number on the Craps table.

The basic goal of the game is for the shooter to win by rolling "the Point" again before he or she rolls a 7 (to differentiate this 7 from the 7 on the Come Out Roll, this 7 is called a "Seven Out").

If you roll "the Point" before you roll a "Seven Out", you win and the round is over.

If you roll a "Seven Out" before you make "the Point", you lose and the round is over.

If you roll neither a "Seven Out" nor "the Point", the round continues and you keep rolling the dice.

When a "Natural", "Craps", a "Seven", or "the Point" is thrown the round is over and a new one starts with a new Come Out Roll.

If the shooter "Sevens Out", the dice pass to the next player who becomes the new shooter.

Betting Options

Craps provides its players with a bunch of different betting options:

Pass Bets
The simplest bet in a game of Craps is the pass bet. The pass bet is really a bet where players are betting on the shooter to make the point. This bet is placed on the pass line before the Come Out Roll. If we take for granted that the round goes past the Come Out Roll (that the shooter does not roll neither a natural nor Craps) you are betting on the chance that the shooter will roll "the Point" again before he or she rolls a "Seven Out". In other words, if you would place your chips on the Pass Line before the Come Out Roll you win with a 7 or 11 on the Come Out Throw or if the shooter makes his or her point. However, you lose if the shooter gets a 2, 3 or 12 on the Come Out Roll, and if the subsequent roll is a "Seven Out". This bet is also called a "right" bet.

Don't Pass Bets
Players do not have to bet with the shooter, that is, one could bet against the dice passing. A bet placed on the Don't Pass line is the opposite of a Pass bet. If we assume that the round goes past the Come Out roll, you are betting that the shooter will roll an "Seven Out" before making the Point. In other words, you're betting against the shooter, which is why this bet often is called a "wrong" bet. Here, you win if the shooter gets 2, 3, or 12 on the Come Out Roll and on any subsequent roll if it's an "Seven Out. In addition, you lose if the Come Out Roll is 7 or 11, and on any subsequent roll if it is the Point.

Come and Don't Come Bets
Come and Don't Come bets are the same as Pass and Don't Pass bets, with the exception that these bets are placed while a round is in progress. These bets are designed for players who join the round late, when "the Point" has already been established.

Odds Bets
An Odds bet is an additional bet on a Pass/Don't Pass/Come/Don't Come bet already on the table. They are typically limited to two or three times the original bet. Unlike original Pass/Don't Pass/Come/Don't Come bets, unresolved odds bets can be removed from the table during play. In addition, odds bets in Craps are one of the few bets offered at a casino that are completely free of any house advantage.This additional bet pays at the true odds, 2:1 on the numbers 4 and 10, 3:2 on the numbers 5 and 9, and 6:5 on the numbers 6 and 8.

Place Number Bets

A Place Number bet is where you are betting that a particular number will be rolled before a 7 does, or vice versa. The Place Number Bets include:

Place Bets
Place bets are made on the numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. To make this bet, the player places his or her chips in the box under these numbers. Place bets can be made at any time. You win if the shooter rolls the number before a "Seven Out". Winning Place bets are paid: 7:6 on the numbers 6 and 8, 7:5 on the numbers 5 and 9, and 9:5 on the numbers 4 and 10.

Place Bet to Lose
The Place Bet to Lose is a bet that a 7 will be rolled before 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. The bet is placed over the number in the narrow unlabeled bar located over the "4, 5, SIX, 8, NINE, or 10" box. Winning bets payout are as follows: 4:5 on the numbers 6 and 8, 5:8 on the numbers 5 and 9, and 5:11 on the numbers 4 and 10.

Buy Bets
A Buy bet is the same as a Place bet, that is, that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 should be rolled before 7 in order for you to win. However, the payout is different. To differentiate the Buy bet from the Place bet, the Buy bet is labeled with a "BUY" marker. (When winning a Buy bet, a 5% commission is usually charged). Winnings are paid at true odds: 6:5 on the numbers 6 and 8, 3:2 on the numbers 5 and 9, and 2:1 on the numbers 4 and 10.

Lay Bets
A Lay bet is the opposite of a Buy bet. A Lay bet is labeled with a "LAY" marker. If you make a Lay bet, you bet on that a 7 will be rolled before a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. In other words, you win if a 7 is rolled before the number you selected. (When winning the Lay bet, a 5% commission is charged). Lay bet winnings are paid at: 5:6 on the numbers 6 and 8, 2:3 on the numbers 5 and 9, and 1:2 on the numbers 4 and 10.

Big 6 & Big 8 Bets
Big 6 and Big 8 bets are placed in the box marked Big 6 or Big 8. A Big 6 Bet is a bet that 6 will be rolled before 7; a Big 8 Bet is a bet that 8 will be rolled before 7. If the number you select is rolled before a 7, you win even money.

Field Bets
A Field bet is a bet that any one of a group of numbers (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12) will be rolled on the next roll. The player loses if the shooter rolls a 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9. A field bet can be played on any roll and the payoff depends on the number rolled. Note that this bet only applies to the "next roll".

Hardway Bets
A Hardway bet bets that the shooter will roll a 4, 6, 8, or 10 as doubles (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, or 5+5) before rolling a 7. (To roll a "Hard Eight" means to roll an eight with double 4's; to roll a 'hard 6' means to roll a six with double 3's and so forth). The Hardway bet is placed in the box that contains the two dice that correspond to the number of the doubles. A winning Hardway bet pays 7:1 on the numbers 4 and 10, and 9:1 on the numbers 6 and 8.

Proposition Bets

The Proposition bets are bets where you bet that the next roll will be a specific number. The Proposition bets include: Any Seven bets, Any Eleven bets, Any Craps bets, and Horn bets.

• Any Seven Bets
  This bet is placed in the area "Any Seven". You win this bet if a 7 is rolled on the next toss of the dice. This bet pays 4:1.
• Any Eleven Bets
  This bet is placed in the box with the two dice that add up to 11. You win this bet if an 11 is rolled on the next toss. This bets pays 15 times your bet.
• Any Craps Bets
  On any Craps bet, you win if one of the Craps numbers (2, 3, or 12) is rolled in the next toss. This bet pays 7:1.
• Horn Bets
  This is a bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, 11, or 12. The Horn bet is placed on any one roll of the dice in the "HORN" box. A Winning Horn Bet pays 15:1 on the numbers 3 and 11, and 30:1 on the numbers 2 and 12. Placing a Horn Bet divides your wager by four. A quarter of the bet is placed on each number. When you win, the amount won is a quarter of your total bet times the given odds.