From its earliest days at the casino, the game of craps mesmerized gamblers who were fascinated by how the game’s action-packed nature melded with its strategic element to present players with a high-energy casino event of fun, excitement and real money wins.
If you want to learn how to play craps more effectively, check out the comprehensive Grande Vegas Casino guide to learn how to Win at Craps.
Craps History
The history of craps is one of the longest of all casino games, dating back to the dice-based games played by the armies of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Betting on the outcome of rolled dice evolved during the medieval era as complex rules were introduced and stakes would vary.
Crusader knights renamed an Arabic dice-throw game as “Hazard” and brought it back to Europe where it became popular in noble courts before spreading to the middle-class and peasant circles. It was particularly popular in France.
In the 1800s French immigrants introduced Hazard to America, particularly to French settlements. Louisiana land-owner Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny simplified the game so that it could be streamlined and would appeal to a broader audience.
The new version became popular among the working classes in New Orleans and it quickly spread along the Mississippi River and across the United States. Soon craps tables were an ubiquitous feature of most gambling rooms in the burgeoning American West.
In that era, concern about the fairness of the game was an issue. It was understood that players could exploit a mechanic known as "fixed dice," which allowed them to cheat by altering the dice. In the 1930s, when craps became one of the first games to be adopted by the Vegas casinos, gambling innovator John H. Winn developed a modern layout of the craps table which is still used today.
The new table helped eliminate cheating via a “Don’t Pass” betting option that allowed players to wager against the dice. This leveled the playing field between the house and players. It is the version that is the form that’s played today in casinos around the world.
Today’s Craps
Craps is a featured game in Vegas and other casinos around the world. In addition, online craps creates an easy-to-access gaming option for new generation of players who want to compete at this fun-filled game. The digital versions, like our very own Grande Vegas, allow people to play from the comfort of their own homes on their PC or mobile screens where they can experience the excitement of this rolling dice game as budget gamers or high-rolling VIP players.
Regardless of whether you’re playing digitally or in-person, the game is played in the same manner. You start with a “come-out roll” which is the first roll of the dice. The shooter throws two dice onto the craps table. The total value displayed on these two dice reveals the winning wagers. If the roll comes out to seven or eleven, the gamer wins and gets to roll again – this is called a “Natural.”
Each player has seven rolls to try to hit the “point” number – the number marked by the “pucks” – before the number seven is rolled. If a shooter rolls the point, the pick will be turned off and the player can toss the dice again. The following roll is the “come out” roll – the beginning of the game minus an established point.
Each player attempts to roll a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 which means that they can throw again in an effort to roll the point before rolling a seven. If you get a seven, you’ve “sevened out” and the dice are passed to the next player who tries to make a point and then continue rolling.
Players who roll a 2 (“Snake Eyes”), 3 or 12 lose. There are more rolls to come after a loss.
Bets
Every craps bet type comes with its own individual payout and specific house edge. You start with a “pass line bet” where you wager on whether the dice will land on a 7 or 11, or on a 2, 3, or 12. If you bet on a 7 or 11 it’s called “passed the line” and if you bet on 2, 3, or 12, it’s called a “don’t pass bet”. The pass line and don’t pass line are the most common wagers. You have to place them before the come-out roll.
The “come bet” and “don’t come bet” are wagered on the same numbers and outcome as the pass bets. The difference is that they are placed after a point is established. Once you make your point, you can start betting on other numbers. You win your wager if you roll the number before a 7. You can also place a “Big 6” or “Big 8” to bet that you’ll roll a 6 or an 8 before a 7.
“Proposition bets” are one-roll bets where every bet has a different payout. There are 4 proposition bets including:
- Any Craps – 2, 3, or 12
- Ace-Deuce or Eleven – 3 or 11
- Aces or Twelve – 2 or 12
- Sevens
Field bets allow you to win if you roll a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Payouts vary. You lose if you roll a 5, 6, or 7. Another one-roll bet is a “hop bet” where you wager on whatever combination you think will come up in the next roll. These bets offer the best payouts – anywhere from 16:1 to 31:1. Payout amounts are based on the combination wagered.
Tips
It’s important to emphasize that craps is basically a game of chance. The rolls are random. But there are a few tips shared by experts, including:
- Be aware of the odds of each bet and plan accordingly. Avoid bets with a high house edge. The bets with the highest house edge (and thus, the least recommended bets) include any bets on 7s, bets on 2s, bets on 12.
- Try the Iron Cross Strategy where you wait for the point to be set and then bet on 5, 6, or 8 or place a Field Bet. A player can expect to see wins on 30 out of 36 potential game outcomes with this bet. With a Field Bet, you can potentially double your wager.
- Try betting on the Pass line, then on 6 and 8. This allows you to maximize your bets while you reduce the House Edge.
