A Simple Guide to Get Started With Craps

While the passage of laws banning certain types of gambling activity has reduced opportunities to gamble overall in society, there remain many popular forms of gambling including casino games such as craps. Craps may have complex betting rules at first but if you take the time to understand them, it can be a very rewarding game.

In this guide, we will teach you the basics of how to play craps, so that you can go out and enjoy this exciting game in a casino setting!

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💡Getting Started with Craps

To get started playing craps in a casino, first, you will need to purchase chips. Chips are bought at the table and are used to place bets. You can also buy chips from the cashier’s cage or one of the many kiosks on the casino floor.

Real Casino precision red craps dice

Once you have your chips, it’s time to start betting. Before each roll of the dice, you will need to decide which bet or combination of bets you want to make. In craps, there is a wide variety of bets available ranging from single rolls to multi-roll combinations. Some common bets include the pass line, don’t pass, come, and don’t come bets.

💡Learning Craps Rules

To place a bet on the craps table, simply put your chips on the area of the table that corresponds with what you are wagering. You can also ask the dealer for help if you are unsure of how to make a certain bet.

Once all players have placed their bets, the shooter will roll the dice. Depending on the outcome of the roll, you may win or lose your bet. If you are unfamiliar with any of the craps rules, you can always ask the dealer for help.

Take note that you can’t just place bets, there is a specific betting time limit in craps so you need to be quick in placing your bets.

craps table from above all layout

💡Types of Bets

Before going through the bets, let us first understand what is a point.  A point is a number that the shooter needs to roll before a 7 to win the bet. The common points are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. This term will be encountered several times as we discuss the bets involved.

1. Pass Line Bet

The Pass Line Bet is the most basic bet in craps, and it is also the most popular bet. A player who makes a Pass Line Bet is betting that the shooter will roll a 7 or an 11 on the come-out roll, or that the shooter will roll a point number and then roll a 7 before rolling that same point number again.

If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, you win even money. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. Any other number becomes the point. If the point is rolled, you win if the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7. You lose if the shooter rolls a 7 first. 

2. Don’t Pass Line Bet

The Don’t Pass Line Bet is essentially the opposite of the Pass Line Bet. Instead of betting that the shooter will make their point, you are betting that they will roll a 2, 3, or 12 on their first roll (this is called “crapping out”), or that they will roll a point number and then roll a 7 before rolling that same number again.

If the shooter craps out on their first roll, the bet wins. If they shoot a point number, they must then continue rolling until they either crap out by rolling a 7, or make their point by rolling the same number again. 

3. Come and Don’t Come Bets

A “Come” bet is a wager that the next roll of the dice will result in a 7 or 11. If the next roll is a 2, 3, or 12, the bet loses. A “Don’t Come” bet is the opposite of a “Come” bet, and it wins if the next roll is a 2 or 3. If the next roll is a 7 or 11, the bet loses.

4. Field Bets

Another popular choice was a Field bet where a player will wager that the next roll will result in either a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. This bet is typically made on the first roll of the dice, and it pays even money if the selected number is rolled except for 2 and 12 where the winnings are doubled.

5. Place Bets

When playing craps, players have the option to make a Place bet on any of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. To do so, they place their chips on the corresponding number on the layout. If the shooter rolls that number before rolling a 7, the bet wins and is paid out at odds of 1 to 1.

For example, if a player bets $5 on the number 5 and the shooter rolls a 5 on the next roll, the player will receive $5 in winnings. If the shooter instead rolls a 7, the player will lose their bet. 

6. Other Craps Bets

In addition to these more common bets, there are a variety of other wagers that can be made on the craps table. These include Proposition Bets, Hard Way Bets, Big 6 and 8 Bets, Lay Bets, Buy Bets, and more. Each of these bets has its unique payout odds and set of rules.

💡Practicing Craps Strategy

Once you become more familiar with the rules and how to place bets, you can start forming your strategy for playing craps. This is something that takes practice and experience to perfect, but learning some of the basics should get you off on the right foot. Some common strategies for craps include:

– Managing Your Bankroll

When playing craps, it is important to manage your bankroll carefully. Try to set a limit on the amount that you are willing to bet, as well as a time frame for when you will stop playing. Taking regular breaks can also help make sure that you don’t get too invested in the game.

– Understanding Odds

One of the most important aspects of craps strategy is understanding the odds of particular bets. Different bets have different house edges, which means that you should be aware of how much you are likely to win or lose when placing each bet.

– Playing Multiple Bets

Another common craps strategy is to play multiple bets at once. This can be a great way to maximize your winnings, as well as help you better manage your bankroll. Make sure that you understand how different bets can play off each other before taking this approach.

Hopefully, this explanation of don’t pass line bets in craps has provided some insights into this particular wager type so that individuals can make informed choices about their participation in gambling activities.