When you fire up a Craps table at Bovada Casino (both Classic Craps and “New” Craps games are available), you’ll see the layout, which contains areas for all the different bets you can make. At the start of the betting round for Craps games online for real money, put your online chips in the Pass Line area, which is near the bottom of your display, and then roll the dice.
Learning how to play craps isn’t as difficult as you might think. People are often steer away from playing the game because they think its too complex, but the only particularly complicated aspect is all the different types of bets that can be placed.
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You don’t actually need to learn all of them to start playing and you can just stick to the simplest ones if you like.
You do, however, need to understand how the game is played.
This article will help as we cover everything you need to know to play craps in a live casino or online.
We explain the main objective of the game, the craps table, the betting layout, and the basic rules. We also introduce the different types of bets.
Game Objective in Craps
The main objective in craps is really quite straightforward. Basically you are just betting on the outcome of the roll of two dice.
Craps is pure chance since you can’t affect the outcome in any way, but you do have the choice of several wagers. The majority of these wagers are ultimately based on what combination of dice will be rolled.
The goal in craps is therefore to try to correctly predict which numbers will come up on the next roll. This is, of course, guesswork, but it doesn’t stop the game being a lot of fun.
Craps is played on a specially-designed table that features a betting layout where players can place their wagers. In a live casino, a table would look something like this.The dice are rolled on the table by one of the participating players, referred to as the shooter. Typically, a new player will become the shooter at the end of each round, although one player may remain as the shooter for several in a row.
Anyone at the table, including the shooter, can make wagers by placing their chips in the appropriate spot on the betting layout.
A craps table requires the attention of several casino employees. You’ll usually find the following people running a table.
- Boxman
- Stickman
- Base Dealers
The boxman is in charge of the chips at the table. He (or she) will exchange cash into chips for players and swap them for different denominations if required. He’s also responsible for supervising the dealers and generally ensuring that the game runs smoothly.
The stickman is in charge of the dice. He moves them around the table with the use of a stick (hence the name), passing them to the shooter at the start of each roll. He will also announce the outcome of each roll.
A craps table usually features two base dealers, one standing on either side. They are responsible for collecting losing bets and paying out winners. When requested to do so, they can also place certain bets on behalf of players.
The rules of craps are the same regardless of whether you are playing in a live setting or online. However, things are a lot simpler online. There’s no allocated shooter, as technically you are the shooter every time you play.
The diced are rolled automatically when you press the relevant button, and you place your bets by clicking in the appropriate place on the betting layout.
The following is an example of what an online craps table looks like:
Basic Rules
Each 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 don’t 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 come-out roll is 7 or 11, the round is also over.
If any other value is rolled on the come-out roll i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, then a point is established, equal to the value rolled, and the round continues into the next stage.
The shooter continues to roll with players betting on the outcome of each, until they roll either a 7 or the point value that has been established.
Following a roll of either 7 or the point value, the round is over and a new come-out roll is required. It’s standard 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 essentially all there is to the basic rules of craps. What makes the game more complex are all the different bets that can be placed.
The following 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
As you can see, there are numerous different bets in craps. Please don’t let this steer you away from playing the game as you really don’t need to learn them all.
They are pretty simple overall; it just takes a little time to familiarize yourself with each one.
You can read about all these bets in more detail here.
If you’re ready to put what you’ve learned here into action, you might want to consider trying out an online casino. You can play craps at most of the top online casinos that we recommend. If you want to play for real money, you’ll get a bonus for signing up and making your first deposit. And if you prefer to just play for fun, that’s an option at most places, too. Here are some of the online casinos we recommend playing at.
| Rank | DE Online Casino | Exclusive Bonus | Get Started | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Betway Casino | 100% Up To€250 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
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| #4 | Spinia | 100% Up To€250 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| #5 | Spin Casino | 100% Up To€400 | Visit Site | Visit Site |
Best NJ online casino sites for craps
Although craps is among the more popular table games in Atlantic City, its reach is somewhat limited in theNew Jersey online casino market. At present, only five of the state’s two dozen licensed sites offer the format.
The game plays using two dice. Online craps uses virtual dice tied to a random number generator that plays just like a live game.
Every craps game in New Jersey has a 1.41 percent house edge for Pass/Come rolls, and a 1.364 percent house edge on Don’t Pass/Don’t Come. The house edge on other bets, as well as the true odds multiplier, varies widely from casino to casino.
New Jersey online craps variants
There are currently four different craps games available in New Jersey. All of them are remarkably similar, with the primary differences being the payouts and the quality of life features.
By far the best craps game is at Virgin Casino. Simply titled Craps, this variant offers very favorable rules to the player, including:
- 5x max odds on 6 & 8 Pass/Come bets, as well as 4x on 5 & 9 and 3x on 4 & 10
- 6x max odds on all Don’t Pass/Don’t Come bets
- Triple payouts on Field bets when the shooter rolls a 12
- 16-to-1 payouts on 3’s and 11’s and 33-to-1 on 2’s and 12’s
By contrast some of the lesser craps games might only offer true odds of 2x or 3x on 6 & 8 Pass/Come bets, and just 30-to-1 on 2’s and 12’s.
What craps games can I play at NJ online casinos?
| Online Brand | Game Name | Payback % | Max Odds (Pass Line) | Min. Bet | Max. Bet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Casino | Craps (Gamesys) | 83.33 - 98.64 | 6x | $1.00 | $50 |
| Tropicana Casino | Craps (Gamesys) | 83.33 - 98.64 | 6x | $1.00 | $50 |
| Pala Casino | Craps (NYX Gaming) | 83.33 - 98.64 | 2x | $1.00 | $500 |
| Borgata Casino | Craps Pro | 83.33 - 98.64 | 3x | $1.00 | $500 |
| Party Casino | Craps Pro | 83.33 - 98.64 | 3x | $1.00 | $500 |
New Jersey mobile craps
Unfortunately, New Jersey online casino operators do not support craps on their mobile applications. This could very easily change in the near future, as operators have been aggressively expanding their game libraries, both on desktop and mobile.
Playing craps online
Walk into any casino across the United States and it’s going to appear like the players at the craps table are having the most fun. Craps is the loudest, most social, and easily one the most popular games in any casino.
Unfortunately, online casinos in New Jersey have yet to figure out a way to capture the social aspects of a live craps game and put them online. However, the same fun and exciting game is available at online gambling sites in New Jersey.
In fact, online craps can be played at a player’s own pace, allowing them to learn the game and removing the intimidation factor new players often experience trying to play craps in a brick and mortar casino.
Best Craps Strategy for Beginners
Check our exclusive video below on the best (and simplest) craps strategy approach for beginners. Look for more tips explained at the bottom of the page here.
How to play craps online
Bets are placed on the pass line or don’t pass line. The shooter rolls what is called the come-out roll. Any seven or 11 and all pass line bets are paid.
Any two, three, or 12 and the shooter craps out. All pass line bets lose and don’t pass bets are paid. Any other number rolled is established as the point. The shooter continues rolling until they hit that point or crap out by rolling a seven.
Once a point is set, players can make odds bets up to the game’s maximum allowed. The maximum odds is different for different versions of online craps.
These bets are considered to have the lowest house edge of any bet in the casino. Plus, the difference in the maximum bet allowed has a huge impact on how good the game is for players. Rolling the point before rolling a seven pays out all pass line bets and odds bets.
Before each roll, players can also place bets on various propositions, numbers, and groups of numbers they find on the table. The payouts for each are usually listed on the table as well.
The search for the best place to play craps online in New Jersey is made easy by the fact only a handful of online casinos in the state even offer the game.
Differences between online craps and live craps
Online craps is much faster than live games. This is because there is no need to slow down to deal the dice out or pay out chips to winners. Players can turn off animation and use the re-bet button to help make the game even faster.
For the player that truly relishes speed, most online craps games offer a turbo option. Selecting this eliminates the simulated roll of the dice. Instead, the end result is instantly revealed.
Another advantage to playing craps online is that the minimum bet is smaller. Atlantic City casinos usually have $5 or $10 minimums. Conversely, you can play online craps for just $1.
The online game computes payouts down to the penny, so players never have to worry about betting in exact units or getting cheated by rounding on small bets.
Players intimidated by playing craps in a live environment may feel right at home online, where they can take their time, look up different bets on the fly, and don’t have to worry about rolling physical dice.
Size Of Craps Table
If there is one drawback to playing craps online is that the social component is decidedly absent. This could prove a big turnoff for some gamblers, as craps is perhaps the most social of all casino games.
How to play craps
Players click the virtual craps felt to make a wager. There are two ways to bet a craps game. One is with the dice, while the other is against.
There are also many exciting side bets to make during a craps roll, although generally speaking, the house edge on these bets tends toward the high side.
Some (like “Any Seven”), have house edges of over 15 percent. Players are significantly better off betting just the Pass or Don’t Pass, and then taking maximum odds, as the latter bet is the only casino bet where the house has no edge.
The beginning of a craps roll is the “come out.” It starts with a player choosing to bet either the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line. A player must bet one or the other to be able to roll.
The come out roll determines the number players are cheering for or against. This number is the “point.” A point is established if the roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. If a 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12 is rolled then the Pass and Don’t Pass bets are graded and the come out roll happens again.
Players may also choose to wager on several other single rolls bets on the come out roll.
Here is a full listing of all the bets available to the player:
Pass Line
This bet wins immediately if the come out roll is a 7 or 11. It loses immediately if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. If the roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 then the bet wins if that roll repeats before a 7 is rolled.
Don’t Pass
This is the opposite of the Pass Line. The bet immediately wins if a 2 or 3 is rolled. It loses on a 7 or 11. The 12 roll creates a push. This is the house roll. A 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 becomes the point. A Don’t Pass bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the number and loses if the roll is the point.
Come
This bet is available only after establishing the point. It is a side bet with the same rules as the Pass Line.
Don’t Come
This bet is only available after establishing the point. It is a side bet with the same rules as the Don’t Pass.
Hard 4
This wager wins if a 4 is rolled by throwing a 2 on both dice. It loses on any other 4 or any 7. The bet pays 7-1.
Hard 6
This wager wins if a 6 is rolled by throwing a 3 on both dice. It loses on any other 6 or any 7. The bet pays 9-1.
Hard 8
Buy Craps Table
This wager wins if an 8 is rolled by throwing a 4 on both dice. It loses on any other 8 or any 7. It pays 9-1.
Hard 10
This wager wins if a 10 is rolled by throwing a 5 on both dice. It loses on any other 10 or any 7. It pays 7-1.
Place Bets
A player may bet on any of the six numbers that can become points. The bet wins if that number is rolled before a 7. The payouts are:
• 4 and 10: 9-5
• 5 and 9: 7-5
• 6 and 8: 7-6
Lay Bets
Players can bet a number to lose. This is a lay bet. The bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the number. The payouts are:
• 4 and 10: 5-11
• 5 and 9: 8-5
• 6 and 8: 7-5
Field
This single roll bet wins if a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 is rolled. A 2 pays double, while a 12 pays either double or triple, depending on the site.
Any Craps
Any Craps wins if a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled. It pays 8-1.
Aces
Roll two 1s to pay between 30-1 to 33-1.
Ace-Deuce
This is a roll of 3 and pays 15-1 or 16-1, online casino dependent.
Yo/Eleven
Roll a 6 and a 5 and it pays 15-1 or 16-1.
Midnight/Boxcars
A total of 12 pays 30-1 to 33-1 when it hits.
Big Red
Casino Craps Table Layout
Any seven pays 4-1.
Basic strategy for playing online craps
Do your homework
Before you sit down to play online craps, it’s a good idea to learn everything you can about the game. The short primer above has the basics covered, but there are several online resources you can find that will help you learn the intricacies of the game.
The basics are simple and easy to learn, but you’re going to want to know all the rules and basic strategies as well. Arming yourself with a complete understanding of all the bets available and the different house edge for each is the first and most important step in winning at craps online in NJ.
Stick to the basics
The best bets in craps are on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line. When you hear someone say craps has a return to player rate of 98.64 percent are a house edge of less than 1.4 percent, they are talking about Pass Line bets.
Since the Pass Line bets offer the best odds of any in the game, a basic strategy of simply betting on the Pass Line can help you become a winner at online craps in New Jersey.
It’s a hard bet to lose, since your bet is only taken away if a 2,3, or 12 appears on the come out roll, or a seven is rolled after the point is set.
The house edge on Don’t Pass Line is just about as good. Religiously betting Don’t Pass can be a simple winning strategy for online craps in New Jersey. In live craps games, betting against a shooter might make you a bit of an outcast, but you can make these bets with impunity online, since you’re on your own.
Those looking to follow a basic strategy and take advantage of the low house edge on Pass Line best might also look to the Come bet. Comes bets are essentially the same as the Pass line bet. These bets are available after the initial point is established. Betting the Come basically makes the next roll a come out roll to establish a new point.
Don’t Come bets may be equally as appealing for those looking to wager a little more on a basic craps strategy.
Take the odds
Once a point is established on a come out roll, players can take the Odds bet up to the maximum allowed in the game. This is the best bet you’ll find anywhere, anytime. There’s no house edge. As a result, the best strategy to follow when playing craps is to take the Odds up to the maximum available.
Winning at craps online in NJ is about taking advantage of the best odds available and this is where you’ll find them.
Avoid the hard ways
While the bets described above offer some of the best odds for players in the entire casino, craps also features bets that offer some of the worst.
The Hardways 4,6,8, and 10 bets are among them. In fact, they have a house edge of around 10 percent. A good craps strategy is to avoid these bets altogether. You’re going to want to stay particularly clear of the Hard 4 and Hard 10 bets, which have a house edge closer to 11 percent.
The 7 to 1 payout might be enticing, but the chance of rolling a pair of deuces or fives is so low, you’re definitely getting the worst of it here.
Steer clear of the props
Proposition bets in craps seem fun. The payouts are big too. However, the house edge is huge on things like Big 6 and Big 8 and even payouts of 30 to 1 aren’t giving you the right price.
A solid craps strategy is to steer clear of most proposition bets altogether. Particularly the ones where your money is swept off the table after just a single roll.