Craps Guide
Craps is the loud, lively dice game where a crowd gathers round the table and everyone tends to win or lose together. Underneath the energy it is a simple game built on the roll of two dice. This guide walks you through how a round works, the bets worth making, the bets to leave alone, and the real house edge on each. Stakes here are in rand, and you can play within South African law at the licensed CasinOnline Casino.
Craps guides
- How to PlayA clear walkthrough of a craps round: the come-out roll, when 7 or 11 wins, when 2, 3 or 12 lose, how the point is set and how the shooter takes a turn.
- Bet TypesA plain guide to craps bets: pass and don't pass, come and don't come, the Odds bet, place bets and the field, plus the high-edge centre bets to avoid.
- OddsThe real numbers behind craps: pass line at 1.41%, don't pass at 1.36%, the zero-edge Odds bet, and why prop bets run 10-16%. Dice probabilities explained.
- StrategyA no-hype craps strategy: stick to pass and don't pass with maximum Odds, skip the centre prop bets, manage your bankroll and know the dice have no memory.
What craps is
Craps is played with two six-sided dice. One player, the shooter, throws the dice, and everyone at the table bets on the outcome. The most common wager is the pass line, and the round opens with the come-out roll. From there the dice decide everything — there is no dealer hand to beat and no decisions that change the cards. It is pure probability with a social atmosphere on top.
If the table chatter sounds like a foreign language at first, that is normal. Once you understand the pass line and the come-out roll, the rest falls into place quickly.
The basics and the best bet
A round starts with the come-out roll. The pass line is the foundation bet, and once a number (the point) is established you can back it with an extra wager called the Odds bet. The Odds bet is the single best value in the entire casino: it is paid at true odds and carries zero house edge. No other bet on the floor does that. Knowing this one fact already puts you ahead of most newcomers.
Start with How to Play Craps, then explore the bet types, the odds and house edge, and a sensible strategy.
Where craps fits
Craps sits alongside the other classics in our casino games guides, and you can browse every game type from the main guides library. When you want to see a live table in action, you can visit the live casino. Craps is fun and the Odds bet is genuinely good value, but the game still favours the house overall — play for entertainment and keep to your limits. 18+.
Frequently asked questions
Is craps hard to learn?
Not really. The table layout looks busy, but the core game is just the pass line and the come-out roll. Learn those two things and you can play comfortably; the other bets are optional extras you can add later.
What is the best bet in craps?
The pass line backed by the free Odds bet. The Odds bet is paid at true odds with zero house edge, which makes it the best value wager anywhere in the casino. The pass line itself carries a low edge of about 1.41%.
Can I beat the house at craps?
No. Good bet selection lowers the house edge but never removes it, and the dice have no memory of past rolls. No betting system guarantees a profit. Treat craps as entertainment, set a budget, and stick to it. 18+.