How to Play Craps: Complete Beginner's Guide

TL;DR: Craps

Players bet on the outcome of dice rolls — two dice, many betting options
The Pass Line bet is the foundation: 1.41% house edge, the best place to start
The Odds bet (behind Pass Line) has zero house edge — the only bet in the casino with no edge
The table looks complicated but most bets in the middle are sucker bets
Ignore the noise and the complex bets — stick to Pass Line and Odds

What Is Craps?

Craps is the loudest, most social game on the casino floor. When a table is hot, the energy is electric. Players cheer together as a shooter goes on a run. It looks chaotic from the outside.

It isn't. Once you understand the basic bets, craps is straightforward. And hidden inside the complicated layout is something remarkable: the only bet in any casino game with zero house edge — the Odds bet.

Craps evolved from an English dice game called Hazard. It arrived in American casinos in the early 1800s and became especially popular during World War II when soldiers played in alleys and on blankets. Today it remains a casino staple.

Basic Rules & How to Play

The Setup

One player is designated the shooter — the person rolling the dice. Other players bet on the outcome of the shooter's rolls. Players take turns shooting.

The Come-Out Roll

Every new game begins with a come-out roll.

Roll 7 or 11: Pass Line wins immediately (natural)
Roll 2, 3, or 12: Pass Line loses immediately (craps)
Roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10: That number becomes the Point

The Point Phase

If a Point is established, the shooter keeps rolling until:

They roll the Point again → Pass Line wins
They roll a 7 → Pass Line loses (seven out), new shooter

That's the entire structure of the game. Everything else is additional betting options layered on top.

The Table Layout

Craps tables look intimidating because they offer dozens of bets. Most of them are bad. The good bets are along the edges. The bets in the center of the table — the proposition bets — are almost all sucker bets with house edges of 10% or more.

Betting Options & Payouts

The Good Bets

BetDescriptionHouse EdgePass LineWin on 7/11, lose on 2/3/12, then win if Point rolled before 71.41%Don't PassOpposite of Pass Line (you're betting with the house)1.36%ComeLike Pass Line but placed after Point is established1.41%Don't ComeOpposite of Come1.36%Odds (Pass/Come)Additional bet behind Pass Line with zero house edge0%

The Odds Bet — The Best Bet in the Casino

After a Point is established, Pass Line bettors can make an Odds bet — an additional wager that pays at true odds with no house advantage whatsoever.

True odds payouts:

Point is 4 or 10: Odds pay 2:1
Point is 5 or 9: Odds pay 3:2
Point is 6 or 8: Odds pay 6:5

Casinos limit Odds bets to 2x, 3x, or sometimes 10x your Pass Line bet. Take the maximum Odds allowed. It's the only bet in the building with no house edge.

The Bad Bets (Proposition Bets)

BetHouse EdgeAny 716.67%Any Craps11.11%Hardways (4, 6, 8, 10)9.09–11.11%Horn Bet12.5%Field Bet2.78–5.56%

These bets fill the center of the table. They pay big. They have massive house edges. Avoid them.

Understanding the Odds

Why Pass Line Has a 1.41% House Edge

On the come-out roll:

8 ways to win (four 7s + four 11s)
4 ways to lose (one 2 + two 3s + one 12)
24 ways to establish a Point

The slight imbalance in the Point phase (7 appears more often than most Points) creates the house edge. It's small but it compounds over time.

The Power of Odds Bets

Here's how Odds bets reduce your effective house edge:

Pass Line bet: $10 (1.41% house edge) Plus 3x Odds bet: $30 (0% house edge) Total wagered: $40 Effective house edge on total: ~0.37%

The more you load into the zero-edge Odds bet relative to your Pass Line bet, the lower your overall effective house edge.

Strategy & Tips for Beginners

Start Simple

Make a Pass Line bet. When a Point is established, make the maximum Odds bet the table allows. That's it. You're now playing craps with one of the lowest house edges in the casino.

Table Etiquette

Wait for the puck to be on "OFF" (no Point established) before placing a Pass Line bet
Don't pick up the dice with two hands
Keep drinks off the rail
Don't say "seven" at the table — it's considered bad luck

What to Ignore

The stickman will call out proposition bets loudly and constantly. They sound exciting. They all have terrible house edges. Stick to Pass Line and Odds.

Betting systems don't work in craps for the same reason they don't work anywhere: the house edge applies to every roll regardless of what happened before.

Responsible Gaming Reminder

Craps is social and exciting, which makes it easy to lose track of time and money. The fast pace of a hot table can lead to much larger wagers than planned. Decide your session budget before you approach the table. The Pass Line and Odds strategy is the most mathematically sound approach, but even the best strategy still means expected losses over time.

Need Help? If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available 24/7: National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700

Sources:

Wizard of Odds — Craps: https://wizardofodds.com/games/craps/
American Gaming Association: https://www.americangaming.org

Last Updated: March 2026