Craps is a casino dice game where players bet on the outcome of one or two dice rolls. The basic bets are the Pass Line (bet the shooter wins) and Don't Pass (bet the shooter loses). The Pass Line with maximum odds has a combined house edge of 1.41% on the flat bet — falling to approximately 0.02% with full 3–4–5× odds — making craps one of the best-value games in any casino.
How to Play Craps Online
Craps is played in rounds. Each round has two phases: the come-out roll and the point phase. Understanding these two phases covers 90% of what you need to know to start playing.
Phase 1: The Come-Out Roll
The shooter (the player rolling the dice, or in online RNG craps, the simulated roll) makes the first roll of the round. Three outcomes are possible:
- 7 or 11: Pass Line bets win immediately — the round ends
- 2, 3, or 12 (craps): Pass Line bets lose — the round ends
- Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10): This number becomes the "Point" and the game moves to Phase 2
Don't Pass bets are the opposite: win on 2 or 3, lose on 7 or 11, and push (tie) on 12 for the come-out roll.
Phase 2: The Point Phase
Once a Point is established, the shooter keeps rolling until one of two things happen:
- The Point number is rolled again — Pass Line wins, Don't Pass loses
- A 7 is rolled ("sevening out") — Pass Line loses, Don't Pass wins
Between the come-out and the resolution, you can add an Odds bet behind your Pass Line — this bet pays at true odds with zero house edge. It is the best individual bet in the casino.
Step-by-Step: Online RNG Craps
- Open the craps game and select your chip value
- Place your bet on the Pass Line or Don't Pass before the come-out
- Click "Roll" — if a Point is established, the Point marker appears
- Optionally add an Odds bet behind your Pass Line bet (zero house edge)
- Continue clicking Roll until the round resolves (Point again = win, 7 = lose)
- Collect winnings or place a new bet for the next round
Craps Bet Types: Odds and House Edge
The craps table looks complicated because it has many bet types. In practice, you only need two or three. The rest exist to generate house revenue — avoid them.
| Bet Type | Pays | House Edge | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1:1 | 1.41% | Use this — best starting bet |
| Don't Pass | 1:1 | 1.36% | Use this — marginally better odds |
| Pass Line Odds (1×) | True odds | 0% | Always add — zero house edge |
| Pass Line Odds (3–4–5×) | True odds | ~0.37% combined | Best overall bet in the casino |
| Come Bet | 1:1 | 1.41% | Good — like a Pass Line mid-roll |
| Don't Come | 1:1 | 1.36% | Good — mirror of Don't Pass |
| Place Bet (6 or 8) | 7:6 | 1.52% | Acceptable if you want more action |
| Place Bet (5 or 9) | 7:5 | 4.00% | Poor — use Come bets instead |
| Place Bet (4 or 10) | 9:5 | 6.67% | Avoid |
| Field Bet | 1:1 or 2:1 | 5.56% | Avoid — looks attractive, isn't |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 1:1 | 9.09% | Never — same as Place 6/8 but worse payout |
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% | Never — worst bet on the table |
| Any Craps | 7:1 | 11.11% | Avoid |
| Hardways (6 or 8) | 9:1 | 9.09% | Avoid — high edge, high variance |
| Hardways (4 or 10) | 7:1 | 11.11% | Avoid |
Pass Line vs Don't Pass
The difference between Pass Line (1.41%) and Don't Pass (1.36%) is negligible over a normal session. Pass Line is the standard choice — you're betting with the shooter, which is the social convention at live tables. Don't Pass is a perfectly valid choice and carries a fractionally lower house edge.
The key decision is not which of these two you choose — it is whether you add the maximum Odds bet behind either one. The Odds bet has zero house edge and is the primary tool for reducing your overall exposure.
The Odds Bet: Zero House Edge
The Odds bet is placed after a Point is established, behind your Pass Line or Don't Pass bet. It pays at true mathematical odds — there is no casino advantage on this bet. Most online casinos allow Odds bets of 1× to 5× your flat bet; some offer 10× or more.
Odds pay by Point number:
- Point 4 or 10: Odds pay 2:1 on Pass, 1:2 on Don't Pass
- Point 5 or 9: Odds pay 3:2 on Pass, 2:3 on Don't Pass
- Point 6 or 8: Odds pay 6:5 on Pass, 5:6 on Don't Pass
Online Craps Variants
RNG Online Craps
Software-generated craps uses a certified Random Number Generator to simulate dice rolls. Available at virtually all online casinos. You play at your own pace with no other players, lower minimum bets (typically $0.50–$1), and the full range of bet types from the standard table layout. The ideal format for learning the game.
Live Dealer Craps
A real dealer operates physical dice at a purpose-built camera-equipped table. Available at select casinos (Evolution Gaming produces the most widely available live craps product). Minimum bets are typically higher ($5+). The bet range is often slightly reduced compared to RNG craps — some exotic proposition bets may not be available at all tables.
Bubble Craps
Bubble craps is an electronic self-contained craps unit found at land-based casinos — typically a dome-shaped or bubble-shaped enclosure where computer-animated dice roll inside the sealed unit. Players bet via individual touchscreen terminals; no live dealer is involved. Outcomes are determined by a certified RNG, not physical dice.
Bubble craps is common in Las Vegas, tribal casinos, and regional gaming properties across the US. It was designed to offer craps without the perceived intimidation of the live table — no dealer, no other players shouting, and a slower pace. The house edges mirror standard craps: Pass Line is still 1.41%, and Odds bets are still zero.
Some online casino software providers have released virtual versions of bubble-style craps with animated dice in a sealed environment — effectively RNG craps with a different visual presentation.
Crapless Craps
A variant where the numbers 2, 3, and 12 do not cause an immediate loss on the come-out — instead they become Points (as do 11). This sounds like a player advantage but the actual house edge on the Pass Line increases to approximately 5.38%. Do not play Crapless Craps for value.
Online Craps Strategy
Craps strategy is primarily about bet selection — choosing the bets with the lowest house edge and ignoring the rest of the table.
Pass Line + Maximum Odds
The simplest and most effective craps strategy. Place a Pass Line bet before the come-out roll, then add the maximum Odds bet allowed once a Point is established. The Odds portion has zero house edge, so the larger your Odds bet relative to your flat bet, the lower your overall expected loss per dollar wagered.
At 3–4–5× Odds (3× on Points 4/10, 4× on 5/9, 5× on 6/8), the combined house edge drops to approximately 0.37%.
3-Point Molly
An extension of Pass + Odds: after the Point is established, place a Come bet on the next roll, and another Come bet after that — adding Odds to each when their Points are established. This gives you three active bets simultaneously, each with the low Pass/Come house edge and zero-edge Odds. If the shooter sevens out, all three lose — which is the inherent risk of this strategy.
What to Avoid
Avoid all proposition bets (Any 7, Any Craps, Horn bets, Hardways). Avoid Field bets. Avoid Big 6 and Big 8. These bets have house edges between 5.56% and 16.67% — they exist to generate revenue and should be ignored regardless of what the dealer or other players suggest.
Craps Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Come-out roll | The first dice roll of a new round |
| Point | The number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) established on the come-out |
| Seven out | Rolling a 7 after a Point is established — Pass Line loses |
| Natural | Rolling 7 or 11 on the come-out — Pass Line wins immediately |
| Craps | Rolling 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out — Pass Line loses immediately |
| Shooter | The player (or RNG) rolling the dice |
| Odds bet | Zero-house-edge bet placed behind Pass or Come after a Point |
| Come bet | A bet placed after a Point is established; works like a new Pass Line |
| Field bet | Single-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 |
| Hardway | Rolling a number as doubles (e.g., 4+4 for a hard 8) |
| Pass Line | Bet that the shooter wins — wins on 7/11 come-out, loses on 2/3/12 |
| Don't Pass | Bet against the shooter — opposite of Pass Line, pushes on 12 |
FAQ
- What is craps?
- Craps is a casino dice game where players bet on the outcome of dice rolls. The primary bets are Pass Line (bet with the shooter) and Don't Pass (bet against). The Pass Line combined with a maximum Odds bet is one of the best bets available in any casino, with a combined house edge approaching zero.
- Is online craps fair?
- At licensed casinos, RNG craps is certified by independent testing laboratories (eCOGRA, iTech Labs, BMM) and produces statistically fair outcomes. Live dealer craps uses physical dice rolled by real dealers. Only play at operators holding licences from the UKGC, MGA, New Jersey DGE, or equivalent regulated bodies.
- What is bubble craps?
- Bubble craps is an electronic self-contained craps unit found at land-based casinos. Players bet via touchscreen; computer-animated dice (or dice in a sealed dome) determine outcomes. No dealer is required. House edges are identical to standard craps — Pass Line at 1.41%, Odds at 0%.
- What is the best bet in craps?
- The Pass Line or Don't Pass bet combined with maximum Odds gives the lowest house edge in craps — the Odds portion has zero edge. At 3–4–5× Odds, the combined house edge on Pass + Odds drops to approximately 0.37%, making it one of the best bets in any casino.
- Can I play craps online for real money in the US?
- Yes — online craps is available at licensed operators in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Connecticut. Live dealer craps is available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Players in states without legal online casinos can access offshore operators, though these are outside US regulatory oversight.
- What is crapless craps?
- Crapless craps is a variant where 2, 3, and 12 on the come-out become Points rather than automatic losses. The trade-off is a much higher house edge on the Pass Line — approximately 5.38% versus 1.41% in standard craps. Avoid it.