Craps: The Most Popular Casino Game

Game Objectives

The main objective in craps is pretty simple. You are just betting on the result of the roll of two dice. Craps is pure luck since you can’t affect the outcome in any way, but you do have the choice of several bets/wagers. The majority of these bets are entirely based on what combination of dice will be rolled. The goal in craps is to correctly predict which numbers will come up on the next game-roll. This is total guesswork, but it doesn’t stop the game from being a lot of fun.

The Table

Craps is played on a table that features a betting layout where players can place their bets/wagers.

The dice is rolled on the table by one of the participating players, referred to as the shooter. A new player will become the shooter at the end of every round, although one player can remain as the shooter for several rounds in a row. Anyone at the table, including the shooter, can make bets by placing their chips in the proper spot on the betting layout. A craps table requires the work of several casino employees. You’ll most likely find the following employees running a table.

• Boxman
• Stickman
• Base Dealers

The boxman is in charge of the chips/bets at the table. The boxman will convert cash into chips for the players and swap them for different amounts/denominations if required. They are also responsible for supervising the dealers and overseeing that the game runs smoothly. The stickman is in charge of the dice. He/She moves them around the table with the use of a stick (thus name), passing them to the shooter at the start of each roll. He/She will also announce the outcome. A craps table usually requires two base dealers, one standing on the opposite sides of each other. They are responsible for collecting losing bets and paying winners. When asked, they can also place certain bets on behalf of players.

Basic Rules

Every round in craps starts with what is known as the come-out roll. Most casinos will require that the shooter place a bet before making this roll on either the pass line or the do not pass line. If the combined value of the two dice on a come-out roll equals 2, 3, or 12, then this is “crapping out” and the round is over. Players will lose pass line bets and win don’t pass bets. If the roll is 7 or 11, the round is over.

If any other value is rolled on the comeout roll like 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, a point is established, equal to the value rolled, and the round continues into the next stage. The shooter is able to roll again with players betting on the outcome of each, until they roll either a 7 or the point value that has been established.

Following a play-roll of either 7 or the point value, the round is over and a new come-out roll is required. It’s a fairly common practice for the shooter to pass the dice to another player if a round ends with a 7, and to stay as shooter if the round ends with the point value being rolled. This is all there is to the basic rules of craps. What makes the game more strategic are all the different bets that can be placed.

Types of Craps Bets

Here is a list of the different wagers you can place when playing Craps.

• Pass Line
• Don’t Pass
• Come
• Don’t Come
• Pass Line Odds
• Don’t Pass Odds
• Come Odds
• Don’t Come Odds
• Place Win
• Place Lose
• Buy
• Lay
• Big 6
• Big 8
• Hardways
• Field
• Any 7
• Any 11
• Any Craps
• Ace Deuce
• Aces
• Boxcar

There are numerous different bets in craps. Don’t let this intimidate you, because you really don’t need to learn them all. They are pretty simple and it just takes a little time to get to know each wager.