How to Play Craps: Craps Rules for Beginners
Craps is one of the most exciting – yet misunderstood – casino games in the world, and it’s fast-paced, loud, and full of action! When playing in land-based casinos, it’s especially exciting, as crowds of players gather around the table to watch the dice roll – but underneath all of that energy is a surprisingly simple game that’s actually much easier to learn than you might think.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to play craps, how to win more often, and how to practice at home or online before stepping up to a real table.
What Is Craps?
Craps is, at its core, a dice game where players bet on the outcome of rolls made by one player who’s called the Shooter. The main goal, depending on which bets you’ve placed, is to try and predict what number will appear next – or whether the shooter will “make the point.”
In traditional land-based casinos, craps tables are large and social, with players often shouting encouragement at the Shooter. Online versions, on the other hand, let you enjoy the same gameplay without the pressure or noise, and it’s become increasingly common to see games offered at online casinos, which is great!
If you’re interested in playing Craps online, make sure to check out the best real money online craps sites – our handpicked list of New Zealand’s best craps sites.
The Basic Craps Rules
Unfortunately, most how to play craps for beginners guides make things overly complicated. Sure, the game might look complex at first – but the structure is actually very simple once you understand the flow of the game.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how a typical round plays out:
- The Come-Out Roll
The shooter rolls the dice for the first time. If they roll a 7 or 11, it means that all “Pass Line” bets win instantly. If a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, then it means “craps” – and all Pass Line bets lose.
- Establishing the Point
Any other number rolled – so, a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, becomes what is known as “the point.” From here, the shooter must roll that same number again before rolling a 7.
- Winning or Losing
If the shooter rolls the point again, the Pass Line bets win, and if a 7 is rolled, the Pass Line loses: this is known as “seven out”, and it’s when a new game round begins.
Everything else you see on the table like Come bets, Don’t Pass, and Proposition bets, simply builds upon this core mechanic.
How to Play Craps for Beginners
If you’re new to craps, don’t be intimidated by the crowd or the table layout. Start small, stick to simple bets, and observe a few rounds before joining in. Even if you’re playing at the top online casinos in New Zealand, you can still observe the table before wagering any of your own cash!
As we mentioned, the Pass Line bet is the best starting point – it’s easy to understand, offers one of the lowest house edges in the casino (about 1.41%), and keeps you involved in every roll.
Once you’ve got that down, experiment with the Don’t Pass bet, which is essentially the opposite of Pass Line. As you get more comfortable, you can add odds bets or small side wagers to keep things interesting.
If you’re looking for other informative guides, you may also want to check out our How to Play Poker for Beginners page which explains some similar fundamentals of risk and flow that also apply to craps!
How to Play Craps Online
Learning how to play craps online is the best way to build confidence before stepping up to a live table. Online casinos make it simple with clear interfaces that highlight your betting zones and automate payouts. You can play against an automated dealer or play in a live dealer casino, where real human dealers roll dice via video stream.
Most online casinos in NZ let you practice with free credits or low minimum bets, which is ideal if you’re learning. You can also use a how to play craps simulator as a training tool -letting you test out different bets, track outcomes, and practice bankroll management without losing real money.
Common Craps Bets Explained
Understanding the most common craps bets will help you feel more confident at the table and avoid unnecessary losses. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the most common types of bets you’ll find at the craps table:
| Bet Type | Description | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | Wins on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | Wins if shooter rolls 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11 | 1.36% |
| Come / Don’t Come | Works like Pass/Don’t Pass but after the point | 1.41% |
| Place Bets | Bet on specific numbers (4–10) | Varies |
| Field Bet | Wins if next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 | 5.5%+ |
In our opinion, the best approach when it comes to how to play craps and win, is to combine low-house-edge bets with solid bankroll management. Craps is more about patience than short-term risk-tasking (as is the case with roulette, for example.)
How to Play Craps and Win
While craps is ultimately a game of chance, smart players use probability to their advantage. The secret to doing well at the table isn’t guessing lucky numbers; instead, it’s about understanding the odds, and when they favour you.
As mentioned, we’d recommend starting out by focusing on bets with the lowest house edge: this includes Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, and Don’t Come. These simple bets offer you some of the highest odds in the casino – and when a point is established, you can also consider adding an “Odds Bet” behind your Pass Line wager. This pays true odds and has no house edge whatsoever – which is unheard of, mostly, in the gambling world!
We’d also suggest avoiding the “Proposition” bets you’ll see in the middle of the table. Sure, they may offer the biggest payouts, but they come with very high house edges – often upwards of 10%!
If you’re curious about learning more about the mathematics behind casino games, and want to know how to find the best bets in a casino, check out our games with the best winning odds guide, where we break everything down!
Craps Table Etiquette
Whether you’re playing in Las Vegas or at SkyCity Auckland, craps has its own style, and there’s a certain etiquette that you should try to follow – and respect. Of course, this doesn’t apply when you’re playing at live dealer casinos, but it’s still good to know.
Firstly, you should always wait until the dealer confirms bets are closed before touching your chips. Don’t hand money directly to the dealer. Put it on the table instead. And whatever you do, never say “seven” aloud once the point has been set – it’s considered bad luck!
Being polite and patient also earns respect from other players. You can read up on more essential in-person habits in our mastering casino etiquette in New Zealand guide which covers all the written (and unwritten) rules of Kiwi casino culture.
Final Thoughts
Craps may seem like a pretty complex and chaotic game from the outside, but once you learn the basics, it actually becomes surprisingly simple – and one of the most exciting games in a casino to play.
Now that you have a clear understanding of how to play craps, from the basic rules and table flow to more advanced strategy and etiquette, you can head to start playing for yourself!
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