Online craps: What are the rules of craps?

At first glance, online craps seems like something of a Wild West scenario, with very few rules to be bothered about. While there’s some truth to this impression, craps – like all table games – does have its own set of rules. If you want to ensure you get the most from your craps betting experience, then you’re going to want to take note of these rules to ensure you always know exactly what’s going on, and why, when playing online craps.

How do you play online craps?

Craps is a relatively straightforward game. There are a number of bets you can place; each number has its own house edge, and thus its own potential for a return. A shooter rolls the dice and, all being well, you will have selected the number that is rolled, and you win. What could be easier?

While not comparable with, say, entry-level rocket science, there is a little more you need to know about craps beyond “try to bet on the number that is rolled on the dice”. Let’s start with a quick overview of the types of bets you can place during a game of craps:

Pass Line bet – a bet that is placed prior to the dice being rolled (or, as the first roll is more commonly known, the Come Out roll). This bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. The payout for this type of bet is 1:1.

The Don’t Pass Line bet – a bet that is placed after the Come Out roll. This bet wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, no-one wins if they roll a 12. The bet loses if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. The payout for this type of bet is 1:1

Place win bet – a bet placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The bet wins if this number is rolled before a seven.

Place lose bet – a bet placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The bet wins if the chosen number is rolled after a seven.

Come bet / odds bet – a bet that is placed after the Come Out roll. The bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. The payout of this bet is 1:1.

Don’t come bet / don’t come odds bet – a bet that is placed after the Come Out roll. The bet wins if the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12. The bet loses if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11.

Field – a bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The payoff for most field bets is 1:1, though 2 and 12 do pay more.

As you may have noticed above, there are a lot of bets and bet type reversals in craps. This may seem confusing when you’re browsing new casinos and sampling craps for the first time, but it should become second nature relatively quickly.

Now that you have an idea of the types of bets you can place on a game of craps, let’s look at the rules that govern these bets when playing craps at the best online casinos.

What rules apply to bets in the game of online craps?

A game of craps starts with the shooter; the person who rolls the dice.

• The shooter makes the first bet of the game, which will be either a pass line or a don’t pass line bet.
• The shooter then rolls the dice.

So far, so simple, but it’s about to get a bit more complex. Deep breaths…

• If the shooter rolls a “natural” – a 7 or 11 – then the round ends.
• If the shooter rolls “craps” – 2, 3, or 12 – then the round ends.

However, in the event that the roll isn’t a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, then a point is made – a strange piece of terminology that basically means the round is in suspended animation pending another roll from the shooter. The shooter will then roll again, and again if necessary, until either…

• A roll produces a number that is the total value of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10.
• The roll results in a “seven-out”; a total dice value of 7

In many ways, this process is simplified when you are playing at the best online casinos, as the onscreen instructions will usually advise you on your next available move. However, if you’re confused at any point, then take a moment and familiarise yourself with what’s happening on the table in front of you. Online craps is a fantastic game that can be a lot of fun, but there’s little point in engaging with it until you’re completely satisfied you’re comfortable with the rules.

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