Craps - Game Rules & Guide

A Brief History

Modern looking cubical dice have been found in Egypt which date back to 600 BC. However the origins of the modern game of Craps are thought to be attributable to an Englishman namely Sir William of Tyre and his knights, who, during the crusades played a game which was then known as Hazard.

The game was a pastime for the crusaders who played it while they laid siege to castles. Hazard is claimed to be the predecessor to Craps as we know it today. It is also possible that the first English settlers on the "Mayflower" brought it to America.

The game became very popular in New Orleans in the 1800's at which time it was renamed Craps by the French. Some changes to the betting and table layout were made over the years and in 1931 casino gambling was legalized in the State of Nevada and Casino Craps (Las Vegas style) became popular all over the world.

A Description of Craps

In the game of craps you'll find more betting options than just about any other casino game you can play. That doesn't make it more difficult to play, it just gives you more ways to try to win.

Essentially, however, you are simply betting on the result of a given roll of the virtual dice in order to win at this online casino game.

A typical online Craps table.

The Game Rules & Bets
You are betting on the number the next roll of the dice will display or won't display. There are numerous betting options available but you only need to understand a few of them to play the game, have fun and win.

Pass Line Bet
The wager is placed on the PASS LINE field. A wager on the PASS LINE wins if the COME OUT ROLL is a 7 or 11 and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled first.

If the COME OUT roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 the POINT is established. To win the bet, you must repeat the POINT before a 7 is rolled. If you roll a 7 before the POINT is repeated, the PASS LINE bet loses.

Once the POINT is established, the bet may not be removed or changed.

Don't Pass Bets
The wager is placed on the DON'T PASS BAR field. A wager on the DON'T PASS BAR wins if the COME OUT ROLL of the dice is a 2 or 3 and loses if a 7 or 11 is rolled first. If you roll a 12, it is considered a tie and play continues.

If the COME OUT roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 the POINT is established. To win the bet, you must roll a 7 before the POINT is repeated. If you repeat the POINT before a 7 is rolled the DON'T PASS LINE bet loses.

Once the POINT is established, the bet may not be removed or changed.

Come Bets
COME bets are made after the POINT has been established. The rules for this bet are the same as the PASS LINE bet.

The wager is placed on the COME field. A wager on the COME field wins if the dice throw – immediately following the placement of the bet - is a 7 or 11 and loses if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled.

If the roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 the COME POINT is established. To win the bet, you must repeat the COME POINT before a 7 is rolled. If you roll a 7 before the COME POINT is repeated, the COME bet loses.

Once the COME POINT is established, the bet may not be removed or changed.

Don't Come Bets
DON'T COME bets are made after the POINT has been established. The rules for this bet are the same as the DON'T PASS LINE bet.

The wager is placed on the DON'T COME BAR field. A wager on the DON'T COME BAR field wins if the dice throw – immediately following the placement of the bet – is a 2 or 3 and loses if a 7 or 11 is rolled. If you roll a 12, it is considered a tie and play continues.

If the roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 the COME POINT is established. To win the bet, you must roll a 7 before the COME POINT is repeated. If you repeat the COME POINT before a 7 is rolled the DON'T COME bet loses

Once the COME POINT is established, the bet may not be removed or changed.

Place Bets
Place bets are made on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 only.

Place Bet to Win
The wager is placed on the WIN field below the number. To win the bet, you must roll the place number before a 7 is rolled; otherwise the bet loses.

The bet may be placed or removed at any time.

Place Bet to Lose
The wager is placed on the LOSE field above the number. To win the bet, you must roll a 7 before the place number is rolled; otherwise the bet loses.

The bet may be placed or removed at any time.

Free Odds Bets
Free Odds bets are placed on the point or come point only.

Free Odds after Pass Line Bet
The FREE ODDS stake is equal to your original PASS LINE stake and can only be made after the POINT has been established. The rules for this bet are the same as the PASS LINE bet.

The wager is placed beside your PASS LINE stake. If the PASS LINE bet wins, the original PASS LINE bet and the FREE ODDS bet are paid.

The wager may be placed any time after the POINT has been established and can be removed at any time.

Free Odds after the Don't Pass Line Bet
The FREE ODDS stake is equal to your original DON'T PASS stake and can only be made after the POINT has been established. The rules for this bet are the same as the DON'T PASS bet.

The wager is placed beside your DON'T PASS stake. If the DON'T PASS bet wins, the original DON'T PASS bet and the FREE ODDS bet are paid.

The wager may be placed any time after the POINT has been established and can be removed at any time.

Free Odds after a Come Bet
The FREE ODDS stake is equal to your original COME stake and can only be made after the POINT has been established. The rules for this bet are the same as the COME bet.

The wager is placed beside your COME stake. If the COME bet wins, the original COME bet and the FREE ODDS bet are paid.

The wager may be placed any time after the COME POINT has been established and can be removed at any time.

Free Odds after a Don't Come Bet
The FREE ODDS stake can be up to your original DON'T COME stake. The rules for this bet are the same as the DON'T COME bet.

The wager is placed beside your DON'T COME stake. If the COME bet wins, the original COME bet and the FREE ODDS bet are paid.

The wager may be placed any time after the COME POINT has been established and can be removed at any time.

Hard Way Bets
This bet can be made on a 4, 6, 8 or 10.

The wager is placed on the dice image fields just below the Any Seven field. To win the bet, you must roll the specified number as a double - the hard way - before rolling a 7 or rolling the number as a non-double - the easy way; otherwise the bet loses.

The wager may be placed or removed at any time.

Big 6 Bet
The wager is placed on the Big 6 field. To win the bet, you must roll a 6 before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled before a 6 is rolled the bet loses.

The wager may be placed or removed at any time.

Big 8 Bet
The wager is placed on the Big 8 field. To win the bet you must roll an 8 before a 7 is rolled. If a 7 is rolled before an 8 is rolled the bet loses.

The wager may be placed or removed at any time.

One Roll Bets
All one roll bets participate only in the roll immediately following the placement of the bet.

These are the types of one-roll bets:

1. Field Bet: is placed on the FIELD field. The bet wins if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 is rolled and loses if a 5, 6, 8 or 7 is rolled.

2. Any Craps: is placed on the ANY CRAPS field. The bet wins if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled and loses if 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 7 is rolled.

3. Any 7: is placed on the ANY 7 field. The bet wins if a 7 is rolled and loses if 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 is rolled.

4. Craps 3 Bet: is placed on the DICE IMAGE field totaling 3. The bet wins if a 3 is rolled and loses if 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 7 is rolled.

5. Eleven Bet: is placed on the DICE IMAGE field totaling 11. The bet wins if an 11 is rolled and loses if 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 or 7 is rolled.

6. Craps 2 Bet: is placed on the DICE IMAGE field totaling 2. The bet wins if a 2 is rolled and loses if 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 7 is rolled.

7. Craps 12 Bet: is placed on the DICE IMAGE field totaling 12. The bet wins if a 12 is rolled and loses if 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 7 is rolled.

8. Horn Bet: is placed on the EC IMAGE field. The game will move your bet to the double sixes and the eleven DICE IMAGE field. The bet wins if a 12 or 11 is rolled and loses if 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 or 7 is rolled.

Now Put it Into Practice

If you've managed to stick with us to here, then you have a definite interest in playing Craps. Sure it looks like a lot to take in and get to grips with, but you don't have to spend money to do it.

If you want to learn to play the game properly, or even just to try it to see if you like it, then we recommend you download the free software from one of our approved online casinos, play as a guest for fun and sample the game. It won't cost you a penny and you'll get online help to keep you on the right track.

Read our Craps Betting Strategy & Tips article too and before long, who knows, you could be calling yourself a Craps player.

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