To play craps, you bet on the roll of two dice. Each round starts with a come-out roll: a 7 or 11 wins the pass line, a 2, 3 or 12 loses, and any other number becomes the point. The shooter then keeps rolling until the point comes up again, which wins, or a 7 appears, which loses.
Craps looks like the most intimidating game on the casino floor, but it is one of the simplest to start playing. The crowded table and the crew calling out bets hide a game built on a single, easy loop, and you only need one bet, the pass line, to join in. This guide walks through that loop step by step, shows you the smartest bets, and lets you play a round yourself before you ever reach a real table.
- The pass line is the main bet. Backing the pass line and adding a free odds bet behind it is the simplest and cheapest way to play.
- The come-out roll sets the round. A 7 or 11 wins, a 2, 3 or 12 loses, and anything else becomes the point you then chase.
- Not all bets are equal. The pass, come and odds bets have the lowest house edge, while the flashy center bets are the worst value.
- No system beats the dice. Each roll is independent, so bankroll discipline matters far more than any betting pattern.
What is craps?
Craps is a casino dice game where you bet on the outcome of two dice thrown by a player called the shooter. It looks chaotic, with a busy table and a crew calling out bets, but the heart of the game is simple, and you only need one bet to start. It is the best known of several casino dice games, and the quickest to pick up once the core round makes sense.
Everyone at the table takes turns being the shooter, rolling the dice, while players bet on what those dice will do. The most popular bet, and the one this guide is built around, is the pass line, which follows the shooter and wins when they win. Get the pass line and the come-out roll clear in your head and the rest of the table stops looking intimidating.
How to play craps, step by step
To play a round of craps, you place a pass line bet, then the shooter makes the come-out roll. If that first roll is a 7 or 11, you win even money right away. If it is a 2, 3 or 12, called craps, you lose. Any other number, one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, becomes the point, and the round moves into its second phase.
Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling. If the point number comes up again before a 7, the pass line wins. If a 7 comes first, that is a seven out, the pass line loses, and the dice pass to the next shooter. That single loop, come out and then chase the point, is the whole spine of the game. For the full menu of other bets you can add on top of it, see our guide to craps bets.
The pass line and free odds
The pass line is the bet to learn first, because it is simple and carries one of the lowest house edges on the table at about 1.4 percent. You place it before the come-out roll, and from there it follows the rules above. Almost every craps session, for a beginner or a veteran, is built around this one wager.
Once a point is set, you can add an odds bet behind your pass line. This is the single best bet in the casino: it is paid at true odds with no house edge at all, so it lowers your average cost the more of it you take. We break down every payout and edge in the craps odds guide, but the short version is simple: bet the pass line, then back it with as much odds as you can.
The craps table and the crew
A craps table is run by a crew of up to four: two dealers who handle the bets on each end, a stickman who pushes the dice and calls the rolls, and a boxman who supervises. The layout is mirrored on both sides so a full table can play at once, which is why it looks more complicated than it is. You do not need to know every box to place a pass line bet.
As a new player, you can simply put your own chips on the pass line and let the crew handle the rest. If you want to make a bet you cannot reach across the table, you hand your chips to a dealer and tell them the bet. Watching a few rounds before you join is the easiest way to get comfortable with the flow and the etiquette.
Try a craps round
The quickest way to understand the come-out roll and the point is to step through a round yourself. Pick a come-out roll to see what happens to the pass line, and if a point is set, choose the next roll to see how the round resolves.
Other bets, odds and strategy
Once the pass line feels natural, the rest of the table opens up. The come bet works just like the pass line but starts on any roll, place bets let you back a specific number, the field is a one-roll bet on a group of numbers, and the center proposition bets are flashy long shots. They vary widely in cost, from the low-edge come bet to the expensive props, which is why knowing the house edge on each one matters so much.
As for winning, no strategy changes the house edge, because the dice have no memory. The smart approach is bet selection and discipline: stick to the low-edge bets, back them with odds, set a budget, and treat any session as entertainment with a price. Our craps strategy guide goes deeper on which systems to ignore and why.
Live tables, bubble craps and online
You can play craps in three main formats. A live casino table is the classic loud, social version. Bubble craps, also called electronic craps, uses a domed set of dice or a random number generator inside a machine, so you bet on a screen with no crew. Online craps brings the game to your phone or computer, either as a software version or a live dealer stream.
For Canadian players, the online route is usually the easiest place to start, and you can practise the come-out and point flow at your own pace before betting real money. Our guide to online craps in Canada covers which licensed sites offer it, the table limits to expect, and how live dealer craps works.
Playing craps for real
The best way to lock in the rules is to play. Start with just the pass line and a free odds bet, keep your stakes small, and add the other bets only as you get comfortable. Choose a licensed site that takes Canadian dollars so you can begin at low stakes.
