Craps is a casino dice game built around the roll of two six-sided dice and a betting table that can look overwhelming the first time you see it. Underneath the noise, though, the game follows a simple rhythm, and most players stick to just a handful of bets. This guide explains the rules of craps, how a round flows from the come-out roll to the point, and the main bets you can make — including which ones give you the best odds and which carry the worst house edge.
Key Points
- The game: players bet on the roll of two dice; the shooter throws, everyone can bet.
- Come-out roll: 7 or 11 wins the pass line, 2/3/12 loses it, any other number sets the “point.”
- Point phase: pass line wins if the point rolls again before a 7, and loses if the 7 comes first.
- Lowest edge: pass line 1.41%, don’t pass 1.36%, and odds bets 0% (true odds).
- Worst edge: Any 7 at 16.67%, plus hardways and any craps at 9%–11%.
- Beginner plan: stick to the pass line (or don’t pass) and back it with odds; skip the centre bets.
What is craps?
Craps is a dice game in which players bet on the outcome of a roll, or a series of rolls, of two dice. One player at a time, called the shooter, throws the dice, but everyone standing at the table can bet on the result — and you can bet on the shooter winning or losing.
The whole game comes down to how two dice land. There are 36 possible combinations, and because more of them add up to 7 than to any other number, 7 is the most frequently rolled total. That single fact drives most of the rules and the odds below. Craps is one of several games covered in our overview of casino table games, and it is often the loudest table on the floor because players tend to win and lose together.
The craps table and the crew
A standard craps table is run by a small crew and has a symmetrical layout, with the same betting areas repeated on each end so players on both sides can reach them.
- Boxman: sits in the middle, supervises the game and the chips.
- Two dealers: one on each end, handle bets and pay out winners for the players nearest them.
- Stickman: uses a long stick to push the dice to the shooter and calls out the results and the centre (proposition) bets.
A disc called the puck shows the status of the round: flipped to its black “OFF” side before a point is set, and to its white “ON” side, placed on a number, once a point is established. The shooter is expected to throw the dice hard enough to hit the far wall of the table, which keeps the roll honest and random.
How a round of craps works
Every round has two possible phases: the come-out roll and the point phase. Knowing which phase you are in tells you what each number means.
The come-out roll
The come-out roll is the first roll of a new round, and it has three possible outcomes:
- 7 or 11 (a “natural”): pass line bets win immediately and the round is over.
- 2, 3 or 12 (“craps”): pass line bets lose immediately. This is where the game gets its name.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10: that number becomes the point. The dealer moves the puck to “ON” and places it on the point number, and the round continues.
Establishing and chasing the point
Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling with one goal: roll the point number again before rolling a 7. If the point comes up first, pass line bets win. If a 7 comes up first (“sevening out”), pass line bets lose and the dice pass to the next shooter. Any other number rolled in between does nothing — it simply keeps the round going, with no time limit on how many rolls it takes.
That tension — point versus 7 — is the heart of craps. Because a 7 is the easiest total to roll, it is both the hero of the come-out roll and the villain of the point phase.
The pass line bet: where beginners start
The pass line is the standard starting bet in craps and one of the best bets on the table. You place it before the come-out roll by putting chips in the area marked “Pass Line.”
Pass line
A pass line bet wins if the come-out roll is 7 or 11, and loses on 2, 3 or 12. If a point is set instead, the bet wins when the shooter rolls the point again before a 7, and loses if the 7 comes first. It pays even money (1:1) and carries a house edge of just 1.41%, making it one of the lowest-cost bets in the casino.
Don’t pass (betting the other way)
The don’t pass bet is the near-mirror image: you are betting against the shooter. It wins on a come-out 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and treats 12 as a push (a tie, where your bet is returned) at most tables. After a point is set, a don’t pass bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the point. Because of that 12 push, the don’t pass line has a slightly lower house edge of 1.36%. It is marginally the better mathematical bet, but many players prefer the pass line because they would rather cheer with the table than against it.
Odds bets: the only wager with no house edge
Odds bets are the best value in the entire casino because they carry a 0% house edge — they pay the true mathematical odds of winning. You can only make an odds bet after a point is established, and it must be attached to a pass, don’t pass, come or don’t come bet; you cannot place it on its own.
When you “take odds” behind a pass line bet, the payout matches the real chance of hitting the point:
- Point 4 or 10: pays 2:1
- Point 5 or 9: pays 3:2
- Point 6 or 8: pays 6:5
Because the odds portion is edge-free, adding it lowers the combined house edge of your position. A pass line bet with single (1x) odds drops the blended edge to about 0.85%, and a common “3-4-5x” odds table pulls it down toward roughly 0.37%. The underlying line bet still has its own 1.41% edge — odds dilute it, they do not erase it. For more on why that matters over time, see how the math works in our guide to how casino games work.
Come and don’t come bets
Come and don’t come bets work exactly like pass and don’t pass, but you make them after a point has already been set, rather than on a come-out roll. The moment you place a come bet, the very next roll acts as a fresh come-out roll for that bet alone: 7 or 11 wins it, 2, 3 or 12 loses it, and any other number becomes that bet’s own “come point.”
Come bets share the same low 1.41% house edge as the pass line (and don’t come matches don’t pass at 1.36%), and they can take odds too. They let you have money working on several numbers at once, all at the best available edge.
The other bets — and which ones to avoid
The centre and side sections of the table offer dozens of extra bets. They are tempting because some pay big, but most cost far more in house edge than the line bets. Here is how the main ones compare.
Place bets
A place bet lets you bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) will be rolled before a 7. They are convenient but pay less than true odds: place 6 or 8 carries a 1.52% edge, place 5 or 9 a 4.00% edge, and place 4 or 10 a 6.67% edge. Place 6 and 8 are the only ones that stay competitive with the line bets.
Field bet
The field is a one-roll bet that the next number is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. It looks generous because it covers seven numbers, but the house edge is 5.56% on a typical table (falling to 2.78% where the 12 pays 3:1), because the common totals of 5, 6, 7 and 8 all lose.
Big 6 and Big 8
These bet that a 6 or 8 rolls before a 7 and pay even money, giving a steep 9.09% edge. They are simply a worse-paying version of the place 6 and place 8 bets, which is why many tables no longer offer them.
Hardway bets
A “hard” number must be rolled as a pair — hard 6 is 3-3, hard 8 is 4-4, and so on — before either a 7 or the same number rolled any other way. Hard 6 and hard 8 carry a 9.09% edge; hard 4 and hard 10 carry 11.11%.
Proposition (centre) bets: the worst value
The one-roll proposition bets in the middle of the table are the most expensive wagers in craps. Any craps (2, 3 or 12 on the next roll) has an 11.11% edge, and Any 7 is the single worst bet on the layout at 16.67%. They pay well on the rare occasions they hit, but over time they drain a bankroll faster than anything else on the table.
Craps Bets Compared
| Bet | Typical payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass line | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t pass | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Come | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t come | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Odds (point 4 or 10) | 2:1 | 0% |
| Odds (point 5 or 9) | 3:2 | 0% |
| Odds (point 6 or 8) | 6:5 | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
| Field | 1:1 (2:1 or 3:1 on 2/12) | 2.78%–5.56% |
| Big 6 or Big 8 | 1:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 6 or Hard 8 | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 or Hard 10 | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any craps | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% |
House-edge figures are per bet resolved, the convention used in most beginner guides; exact payouts vary slightly by casino, so check the table’s posted rules.
Common mistakes beginners make
Most early craps losses come from a few avoidable habits rather than bad luck:
- Chasing the flashy centre bets. Any 7, hardways and hop bets have the worst edges on the table. Their big payouts are rare by design.
- Skipping the odds bet. The free odds wager is the only 0% bet in the house, yet beginners often leave it unused because no one explains it.
- Confusing place bets with odds. They look similar but place bets pay less than true odds and carry a real house edge.
- Thinking a number is “due.” Dice have no memory. Each roll is independent, so a 7 is exactly as likely after ten rolls without one as it was on the first.
- Touching the dice or reaching across the table. Only the shooter handles the dice, and bets are placed through the dealer for many areas. When in doubt, ask — dealers are used to new players.
Is craps a good game for beginners?
Craps suits beginners who want a social, fast game and are happy to stick to a couple of low-edge bets. If you only ever play the pass line (or don’t pass) and back it with odds, you are playing at one of the lowest house edges in the casino — comparable to the roughly 0.5% a skilled player faces in blackjack and better than most bets in roulette.
The catch is the table’s atmosphere and jargon, which can push newcomers toward the exciting-looking proposition bets where the edge is highest. Learn the pass line, the point and the odds bet first, ignore the centre of the table, and craps becomes one of the most approachable games on the floor. No bet, betting pattern or “system” changes the built-in house edge over the long run.
Responsible gambling and Canadian play
This article is educational and explains how craps works; it is not betting advice and is not a guarantee of any result. Craps, like every casino game, is designed so the house wins over time, and no strategy or odds bet removes that long-term edge. You must be of legal gambling age to play — 19+ in most Canadian provinces and 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.
Set a budget before you play, treat any losses as the cost of entertainment, and never bet money you cannot afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, free, confidential help is available in Canada: ConnexOntario operates 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600 (text CONNEX to 247247), and the Responsible Gambling Council offers national resources. For tools, limits and provincial help lines, see our page on responsible gambling in Canada.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is craps hard to learn?
No. The table looks complicated, but the core game is simple: bet the pass line, hope for a 7 or 11 on the come-out, and after a point is set hope the point rolls again before a 7. You can play a full session knowing only the pass line and the odds bet.
What is the best bet in craps?
The don’t pass bet has the lowest standalone house edge at 1.36%, with the pass line just behind at 1.41%. The best overall value is backing either one with an odds bet, which has a 0% edge and lowers your combined cost to play.
Which craps bets should beginners avoid?
Avoid the one-roll proposition bets in the centre of the table. Any 7 has a 16.67% house edge — the worst on the layout — and any craps and the hardways run from about 9% to 11%. The big payouts do not make up for how rarely they land.
What does “seven out” mean?
Sevening out means the shooter rolled a 7 during the point phase before hitting the point. It ends the round, loses pass line bets, and passes the dice to the next shooter.
Can you win at craps consistently?
Not over the long run. Every craps bet carries a built-in house edge (except the odds bet, which still rides on a line bet that has one), so the casino is mathematically favoured over time. Short winning sessions happen through normal variance, but no system overcomes the edge.
