How Does Craps Work

How Does Craps Work
Best Way To Throw Dice In Craps
Understanding Craps

Types of Craps Bets

Line Bets:

Shoot to Win Craps is a player-initiated craps game that recreates all the different bets of the traditional live table game. The game’s user display and Help screen are easy to understand and operate. Dice are in a “bubble” in the center of the unit. The bubble’s floor vibrates for a few seconds causing the dice to gently shake and bounce.

Craps is a fast paced game. The dealer won't wait for you to count out your bets if you don't have them already arranged. In other words, have $1, $2, $4, $8, $16 and so forth ready to go at all times. You are betting against the person rolling the dice.
In craps, the player may skip the come out roll on a pass or come bet. Such a late bet on the pass and come is known as a 'put bet.' Much of the value in pass and come bets is in the come out roll, so skipping it carries a high house edge.

Single Roll Bets:
Multi Roll Bets:
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The don't pass bet is another one of the most popular bets in craps. Players who wager on this bet are known as 'wrong' players since they are usually betting against the shooter who is a 'right' player. You are hoping the shooter doesn't pass their dice on the pass line. If you place a bet on the don't pass bar (sometimes known as bar 12), you are essentially betting that the rolled dice will land on 2, 3 or 12, which is when you win. In contrast, you would lose if the dice land on 7 or 11.

Note that some casinos will not let you win on a 12. Instead, if the dice roll on 12, the wager results in a draw or a push and your money is refunded. If you roll one of the other craps numbers such as 2 or 3, then you win an even payout or 1:1 odds. Also, the actual odds of the winning this bet are 976:949, so this is very close to the 1:1 payout. The small difference here is known as the house edge, which is 1.36%.

Note that this is mathematically the best craps bet you can possibly do besides the additional don't pass odds bet, which will reduce the overall house edge to almost nothing. I displayed a screenshot of the bet below to give you an idea of where this is on the craps table layout. Click on the image if you would like to play this same free flash table.

When playing the don't pass bet, players have the opportunity to make a bet on don't pass free odds in addition to your original don't pass bet. The odds bet has no house edge, making this one of the best mathematical bets you can find in any casino game! The casino also does not display the bet on the craps table either so it is sometimes known as a 'secret' bet.

Click on the image above to instantly practice and play free craps in your browser.
(Opens in separate window in full screen.)
* As of 2021, US players are unable to play the craps game listed above. US players please click the banners on the left side (or below for mobile users) to visit free and real-money craps games at US-friendly casinos.

27/02/2020

There are two types of betting strategies: conservative strategies that involve making one or two bets and taking them away before things get dangerous, and all-encompassing strategies with bets all over the board. Craps is the perfect example to demonstrate how these strategies work out. There are many gambling strategies out there, but this is just a look at three simple ones:

Classic Regression, Three Point Molly, and All but Seven.

1. Classic Regression

Wait for the dealer to announce the point.

Place a $6 bet on the 6 and a $6 bet on the 8.

Wait for the dealer to roll.

Ask the dealer to take a chip off of each pile.

Wait for the dealer to roll.

Ask the dealer to take a chip off of each pile.

Keep your bet on the table until the dealer rolls a 7.

So far as betting strategies go, this one is solid. Though individual numbers like 7 are more likely to come up than others like 1 or 12, each combination is just as likely as any other. Two 1’s is just as likely as a 4 and 5, or a 3 and 6. There are 10 combinations that make a 6 or 8, and only 6 combinations that make a 7, so it’s more likely than not that this strategy will win. It still may not be a winner over time. It seems obvious that if a 7 just came up, it may be a while before it comes up again, but that just isn’t true. It’s just as likely the 7 will come late into the strategy when there are only 2 chips on the table as in the beginning when there is a fresh $12 on the line. There’s no delaying the inevitable. The 7 may strike at any moment.

2. Three Point Molly

Place a Pass Line bet with single or double odds.

Place a Come Line wager with single or double odds.

Hang on tight and collect the winnings until a 7 comes up.

Always replace the Come Bet after winning.

With both bets in place, there are no wrong answers. Except for the numbers that don’t count, of course. There are less wrong answers, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, the extra bet security doesn’t pay. The cost of the extra chips does not make up for the probability of getting a win from the other rolls. It is better just to stick with the single most probable bet instead of going for the mix and match.

3. Anything but Seven

Wait for the dealer to announce the point.

Bet $6 each on the 5, 6, and 8. Bet $3 on the Field.

Wait for the dealer to roll 3 times.

Take all your bets away before the fourth roll.

Because there are chips scattered across the board, money is trickling in every turn. Maybe not quite enough money to make up for the expensive $21 invested, but still a lot. Having the board covered with bets may feel safe, but it’s actually the opposite. Money may be coming in almost every time, but this number of bets is expensive to maintain and it’s difficult to realize exactly how quickly it’s slipping away.

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