Craps Guide

Craps is one of the most exciting casino table games, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. The table layout is crowded with boxes, numbers and unusual phrases, so new Canadian players often assume the game is only for experts. In reality, the basic game is simple: two dice are rolled, a point may be established, and the round continues until either the point repeats or a 7 appears. Most of the complexity comes from the number of optional bets-not from the core rules.

This guide explains online craps from the ground up. It covers the come-out roll, point cycle, Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come and Don’t Come bets, odds, place bets, field bets, hardways, proposition bets, live dealer craps and bankroll management. The goal is to give beginners a clean learning path while also giving experienced players a practical reference for comparing payouts, house edge and table rules.

Quick summary: the five things that matter most

• Craps looks complicated because the table contains many bets, but beginners only need to learn a small core: the come-out roll, the point, Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come and odds.
• The best-value bets are generally the basic line bets combined with odds; many colourful one-roll and proposition bets carry a much larger house edge.
• Online RNG craps is faster and easier for practice, while live dealer craps offers more atmosphere and a pace closer to a physical casino.
• A good craps strategy is mainly about choosing lower-edge bets, controlling stake size and avoiding emotional chasing-not predicting dice patterns.
• Canadian players should also check table limits, bonus contribution rules and whether the casino offers standard, live or simplified craps variants.

Why craps is popular with casino players

Craps creates a level of energy that few table games can match. One roll can resolve several wagers, and many players may be supporting the same shooter. In a live casino or live dealer studio, that shared momentum is part of the appeal. Online RNG craps offers the same underlying rules at a faster pace, making it easier to learn privately without the pressure of a crowded table.

For Canadian players, craps is less common than slots, blackjack or roulette, but it remains a major casino game because it combines simple dice outcomes with a deep betting structure. Once the table is reduced to its essential parts, the game becomes much easier to understand.

Easy craps terms

• Shooter: the player rolling the dice, or the simulated roller in online craps.
• Come-out roll: the first roll of a new round.
• Natural: a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll for Pass Line bettors.
• Craps numbers: 2, 3 or 12 on the come-out roll.
• Point: one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 established after the come-out roll.
• Seven out: a 7 rolled after a point is established, ending the round for the shooter.
• Odds bet: an additional wager placed behind a Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come bet.
• Place bet: a bet that a chosen number will appear before a 7.
• Hardway: a bet that a pair such as 4+4 will make 8 before an easy 8 or a 7.
• Proposition bet: a usually high-edge wager on a specific next-roll outcome.

How a craps round works

Every new round begins with a come-out roll. If you are betting the Pass Line, a 7 or 11 wins immediately, while 2, 3 or 12 loses immediately. If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the point. The shooter then keeps rolling until either the point appears again or a 7 is rolled.

If the point repeats first, Pass Line bets win. If a 7 appears first, Pass Line bets lose and the round ends. That is the core of craps. Everything else on the table is an optional way to bet around that sequence.

The main craps bets at a glance

Pass Line explained

The Pass Line is the best place for most beginners to start. Place the bet before the come-out roll. A 7 or 11 wins immediately. A 2, 3 or 12 loses immediately. Any point number establishes the point, and your bet then wins if that point repeats before a 7.

The bet is easy to follow and carries a relatively low house edge compared with many side bets. It also follows the shooter, which is why Pass Line bettors are often described as playing with the table.

Don’t Pass explained

The Don’t Pass bet takes the opposite side. On the come-out roll, 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, and 12 usually pushes. After a point is established, Don’t Pass wins if 7 appears before the point repeats.

Mathematically, Don’t Pass is slightly more favourable than Pass Line, but some players prefer Pass Line because it matches the social rhythm of the table. Online, the choice is simply personal preference.

Come and Don’t Come bets

A Come bet acts like a new Pass Line bet placed after the table already has a point. The next roll becomes the come-out roll for that individual wager. A 7 or 11 wins, 2, 3 or 12 loses, and any point number becomes that bet’s personal number.

Don’t Come works in the opposite direction. These bets allow players to build several lower-edge positions during one shooter’s turn, but beginners should first understand a single Pass Line round before adding them.

Odds bets: the most important add-on

Once a point is established, many tables allow you to place an odds bet behind your line wager. Odds are paid at true mathematical odds, meaning the casino does not add a separate house advantage to that portion of the wager. This is why experienced players often combine a small line bet with odds instead of placing many expensive side bets.

The catch is bankroll size. A table may offer 2x, 3-4-5x, 5x, 10x or even higher odds. Larger odds improve the blended house edge, but they also increase the total amount at risk. Use them only at a level that fits your session budget.

Place bets

A place bet wagers that a selected number-usually 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10-will appear before a 7. Place 6 and Place 8 are especially popular because those numbers occur more often than the other point numbers. They are easy to understand and can be added or removed during a round.

Place bets are convenient, but their value differs by number. The payout structure on 6 and 8 is generally more attractive than on 4 and 10. Players should read the displayed payouts instead of assuming all place bets are equal.

Buy and lay bets

Buy bets are similar to place bets, but they are paid at true odds after a commission or vig. They are often most relevant on 4 and 10. Lay bets reverse the idea: you are betting that 7 will appear before the selected number. The commission rules can vary by casino, so always check whether the fee is charged when the bet is made or only when it wins.

Field bets

The Field is a one-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. It wins or loses on the very next roll. Most winning numbers pay even money, while 2 and 12 may pay double or triple depending on the table.

Field bets are visually simple and fast, which makes them popular. However, the exact house edge depends heavily on whether 2 or 12 receives a double or triple payout. Always read the table rule.

Hardways

A hardway bet predicts that 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be rolled as a matching pair before either an easy combination or a 7. For example, hard 8 means 4+4. The bet loses if 8 arrives as 2+6 or 3+5, or if 7 appears first.

Hardways are entertaining and can stay active across several rolls, but they have a noticeably higher house edge than line bets and odds. They are best treated as small entertainment bets rather than the foundation of a strategy.

Proposition bets

The centre of a craps table usually contains colourful proposition bets: any 7, any craps, specific totals such as 2 or 12, and combinations such as horn bets. These wagers resolve quickly and advertise large payouts, but they are usually among the most expensive bets on the table mathematically.

For beginners, the safest approach is to ignore the centre section until the main game is fully understood. High payouts do not necessarily mean high value.

RNG craps vs live dealer craps

RNG craps uses a random number generator to produce dice results. It is fast, private and ideal for learning because the interface often highlights valid bets and explains payouts. Live dealer craps uses real dice, hosts and a streamed table. It creates more atmosphere but may move faster socially and can have higher minimum stakes.

Popular craps variations

Online casinos may offer simplified craps, crapless craps, high-point craps or electronic-style variants. These versions can change which come-out numbers win or lose, remove certain outcomes or alter payouts. A variation that sounds more player-friendly may compensate with different odds elsewhere, so always review the rules before assuming it is better than standard craps.

Craps strategy for beginners

A practical beginner strategy is intentionally simple: place a Pass Line bet, wait for a point, then add a modest odds bet. That approach teaches the core game and avoids the high-edge centre bets. Once comfortable, you can add one or two Come bets or experiment with Place 6 and 8.

No strategy can predict the dice or remove the house edge. The goal is to choose efficient bets, keep the session understandable and prevent stake size from growing faster than your bankroll.

Example beginner session

1. Set a C$100 session budget and use C$5 as one unit.
2. Place C$5 on the Pass Line.
3. If a point is established, add C$5 or C$10 in odds if the table permits.
4. Do not add side bets until the current round ends.
5. Stop when the pre-set budget or time limit is reached.

This structure is not a winning guarantee. It is simply a clear way to learn without turning one round into a confusing spread of unrelated bets.

House edge and bet selection

Craps is unusual because the table contains both some of the better-value bets in the casino and some of the most expensive. Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come and Don’t Come are relatively efficient. Odds carry no separate house edge. By contrast, many proposition bets have double-digit house edges.

This is why bet selection matters more than trying to read patterns. Two players can sit at the same table and face very different long-term costs depending on which boxes they use.

How craps interacts with casino bonuses

Craps often contributes less toward wagering requirements than slots, and some casinos exclude certain bets or live tables entirely. A low-house-edge bet may receive a reduced contribution because it is less profitable for the casino. Always check the bonus terms before using promotional funds at a craps table.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Trying to learn every bet on the table before understanding the basic round.
• Using proposition bets because their large payouts look attractive without checking the house edge.
• Confusing a Come bet with a new Pass Line bet placed at the wrong time.
• Taking odds without first budgeting for the larger total amount at risk.
• Chasing losses by spreading chips across many numbers after a bad roll.
• Assuming a hot shooter or cold table changes the probability of the next independent roll.

Practical tips for Canadian players

• Learn one round using only the Pass Line before adding any other wager.
• When you understand the point cycle, add odds instead of jumping immediately to side bets.
• Keep your unit size small because craps can place several wagers on the table at once.
• Use a simple session limit and decide in advance how many units you can lose comfortably.
• Check the help screen in online craps; it usually explains payouts and legal chip placement.
• Avoid believing that dice are “due.” Every roll is independent in a fair game.

Frequently asked questions

Final verdict

Craps becomes much less intimidating when you ignore most of the table at first. The essential game is a simple race between the point and 7. Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come and odds provide a strong foundation, while place bets and selected side bets can be added later.

For most Canadian players, the best path is to learn in RNG or demo mode, use small units, prefer lower-edge bets and treat high-payout proposition wagers as optional entertainment. Once the point cycle makes sense, craps changes from a confusing wall of boxes into one of the most engaging table games online.