Craps Complete Guide
Craps looks intimidating but has some of the best odds in the casino. Learn the only bets worth making.
How Craps Works
Come-Out Roll: The shooter rolls first. 7 or 11 = Pass Line wins (natural). 2, 3, or 12 = Pass Line loses (craps). Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) becomes the "point."
Point Phase: Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling. If the point is rolled again → Pass Line wins. If a 7 is rolled → Pass Line loses (seven out). Cycle repeats.
The Odds Bet: After a point is established, you can place an additional "free odds" bet behind your Pass Line bet. This bet pays at exact true odds — zero house edge. Always take maximum odds.
Dice Roll Probability
Every Bet Explained
Pass Line
The fundamental craps bet. Win on 7/11 come-out, lose on 2/3/12. Point established → win if point repeats before 7.
Pass Line + Odds
The odds bet behind Pass Line is the only zero-house-edge bet in the casino. Take maximum odds every time.
Don't Pass
Slight edge over Pass Line. Win on 2/3, lose on 7/11, push on 12. You're "against" most players — socially unusual but statistically optimal.
Come Bet
Works like Pass Line but placed after the point is established. Win on 7/11, lose on 2/3/12, travels to your own point number.
Come + Odds
Add odds to Come bets exactly as with Pass Line. Dramatically reduces overall house edge for your stake.
Place 6 or 8
6 and 8 are the most rolled point numbers after 7. Place bet at 1.52% house edge is reasonable for active play.
Place 5 or 9
Acceptable in a pinch, but the house edge is 4× the Pass Line. Not recommended for strategic play.
Place 4 or 10
House edge over 6%. If you want 4 or 10, buy them instead (3.33% for the buy bet with commission).
Field Bet
One-roll bet paying on 2,3,4,9,10,11,12. Looks wide but 5,6,7,8 still cover more rolls than the field numbers.
Any 7
One of the worst bets in the casino. Despite 7 being the most common number, the payout is dramatically unfair.
Hardways
Bet that a pair number (4,6,8,10) is rolled as doubles before 7 or as an "easy" total. Very high house edge.
Proposition Bets (Any Craps, Horn)
One-roll bets on 2,3,12 or combinations. Maximum house edge on the table. For entertainment only.
Optimal Craps Strategy
Craps FAQ
What is the best bet in craps for beginners?
Start with the Pass Line bet — it has a 1.41% house edge, is one of the simplest bets to understand, and lets you participate in the full excitement of a craps round. Once the point is established, add an Odds bet behind your Pass Line bet. The Odds bet has zero house edge — it is the only bet in any casino game where the casino has no mathematical advantage. Casinos allow typically 2× to 100× odds bets depending on the table. The more odds you take, the lower your effective house edge across your total craps wagering.
What bets should I avoid in craps?
Avoid the Proposition bets in the centre of the table — Any 7 (16.67% house edge), Any Craps (11.11%), Hardways (9.09–11.11%), and Horn bets (12.5%+). These bets look exciting and pay large amounts, but their house edges are among the worst at any table game. The Field bet (2.78% if 12 pays 3:1, or 5.56% if 12 pays 2:1) is also often avoided by knowledgeable players. Stick to Pass Line + Odds, Don't Pass + Odds, Come, and Don't Come bets for the best mathematical value in craps.
How does taking odds work in craps?
After a Come-Out roll establishes a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), you can place an additional 'Odds' bet behind your original Pass Line bet. This Odds bet pays true mathematical odds with no house edge. Payouts depend on 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 bet has 0% house edge, taking maximum odds reduces your overall edge on the combined Pass + Odds wager. At a table offering 10× odds, a £10 Pass Line bet with £100 odds bet has an effective combined house edge of under 0.2%.
Can you play craps online in the UK?
Yes, many UK online casinos offer RNG (computer-generated) craps, and some live dealer studios (particularly Evolution and Pragmatic Play Live) offer live dealer craps with real dice and a live presenter. RNG craps lets you play at any pace and bet size from a few pence per roll. Live dealer craps replicates the social atmosphere of a land-based table. Both versions use identical rules and house edges to physical craps. Online craps is particularly useful for beginners to practise the game at their own pace without the social pressure of a busy land casino table.
Why is 7 both the best and worst number in craps?
In craps, 7 is the most common dice outcome (six combinations out of 36), which creates a structural duality in the rules. On the Come-Out roll, rolling 7 (or 11) wins the Pass Line bet immediately — this is a 'natural' and is highly desirable. However, once a point is established, rolling 7 before the point repeats means 'sevening out' — Pass Line bets lose and the shooter passes the dice to the next player. The same number that wins you the game in phase one ends your turn in phase two. This duality is by design, keeping the Come-Out roll and the Point phase in tension throughout.
What is the Big 6 and Big 8 bet in craps, and why should I avoid it?
The Big 6 and Big 8 are bets that a 6 (or 8) will be rolled before a 7. This sounds identical to a Place 6 or Place 8 bet — and mathematically it is — but with a crucially different payout. The Big 6/8 pays even money (1:1), while the Place 6 or Place 8 pays 7:6 on the same bet. The result: the Big 6/8 has a house edge of 9.09%, while Place 6/8 has a house edge of only 1.52%. Never bet the Big 6 or Big 8 — always buy the Place 6 or Place 8 instead. Many casinos have removed Big 6/8 from their craps layouts entirely in recent years because the bet is so unfavourable by comparison.
What does "seven out" mean in craps?
When the shooter rolls a 7 after a point has been established, it is called 'sevening out' or 'crapping out.' All Pass Line bets lose, all Come bets lose, and any Place bets are typically taken down. The dice are then passed clockwise to the next player, who becomes the new shooter for the next come-out roll. Don't Pass and Don't Come bettors win when a seven out occurs. The term is important to understand because shouting 'seven out' on a craps table is considered very bad etiquette — many experienced players prefer the more neutral phrase 'the seven' instead.