10 Strategies for How to Play Craps

TIPS FOR NEW, INTERMEDIATE AND EXPERIENCED PLAYERS

There are not many casino games that can rival the casino craps table with regard to cheering excitement and noise. Step into a Las Vegas casino and you’ll hear the cheers around the craps table well before you’ll see the crowd around it. Chips fly, dice bounce, and players cluster together, riding the highs and lows of each roll. Craps is more of an experience than a game.

But here’s the catch: craps is the most intimidating game in the casino, and you really do have to make complicated bets, where everything is stacked against you, to win. With a couple of smart strategies, you can cast aside the ho-hum bets like pass line and come and enjoy the best possible odds by putting our advice into action.

In this guide, we’ll run through ten must-know tips for playing better craps. From the safe bets, to the bets to avoid, to bankroll management and enjoying the atmosphere, you’ll learn to play smarter, and love every exciting roll of the dice.

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A craps table with dice being thrown across the middle and poker chips flying around the dice

Get to know the layout & fLOW, BEGIN WITH THE PASS LINE BET, TAKE THE ODDS BET & STEER CLEAR OF PROPOSITION BETS

Tip 1: Get to Know the Layout and Flow

On initial appearance, the craps table is quite overwhelming. It is big, noisy, and covered in cryptic marks. But when you grasp the fundamentals, it becomes a lot less scary.

· The Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line are the game's backbone.

· The table is mirrored so players on both sides can place bets comfortably.

· The dice pass clockwise, and all players have an opportunity to be the shooter.

The key, however, is to watch the rhythm: the come-out roll, setting a point and the subsequent rolls. After you watch a couple of rounds, it makes perfect sense.

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Tip 2: Begin with the Pass Line Bet.

This is one of the most reasonable casino bets, which is why craps is such a great way to practice strategy. It is the simplest and most popular bet on thetable.

· On a come-out roll, a 7 or 11 is an instant win for you.

· Roll a 2, 3 or 12, you lose.

· Any other number is the “point,” and you win if that number is rolled again before a 7.

· The house advantage on Pass Line bets is only 1.41%, one of the best bets on the casino floor.

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Tip 3: Take the Odds Bet

The odds bet is a little-known way for the casino to make serious money. After establishing a point, you may make an additional bet behind the Pass Line. This is what it means to “take the odds.”

· The point bet pays true odds with no house advantage.

· Payouts by point number: 2:1 on 4 and 10, 3:2 on5 and 9, 6:5 on 6 and 8.

There is no other casino game that offers such a fair bet. As long as your bankroll is sufficient, you should generally back up your Pass Line bet with odds.

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Tip 4: Steer Clear of the Proposition Bets

Decide the centre of the craps table is brimming with exotic bets. They seem sexy and exciting, with bold payout numbers like 30:1 or 15:1. However, they have some of the heaviest house edges in the casino.

· “Any 7” with a house edge of 16.7.

· Hardway bets (rolling double 4s, say) seem fun, but they bleed chips.

If you are working to play much better craps, don’t bother with these“sucker bets.”

MAKE USE OF COME AND DON'T COME BETS, MANAGE YOUR BANKROLL & KNOW YOUR SHOOTER

Tip 5: Make Use of Come and Don’t Come Bets

After you’ve learned Pass Line, learn Come and Don’t Come bets.

· A Come bet acts as a mini Pass Line bet in that it is made following the come-out roll.

· A Don’t Come bet acts like a Don’t Pass bet after come-out.

· These let you get action on multiple numbers while still keeping the house edge low (around 1.36%).

Tip 6: Manage Your Bankroll

Craps is fast. All those bets add up, so if one is not careful, one can bleed chips for a while. That's why bankroll management is so important.

· Establish a limit before you begin.

· Bet the same amount instead of wildly varying the sizes.

· Exploit that money to back odds bets, not to chase big risks.

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Tip 7: Know Your Shooter

At the centre of craps is the shooter. Each player rolls the dice in turn, and the stakes of the entire table rest on the result.

· Both dice must hit the back wall.

· Dice etiquette: dice must be handled with one hand; you must always keep them in sight.

· The shooter’s roll is what brings the collective vibe that makes craps such a great game.

A hand throwing red dice across a craps table dynamically

DON'T BE INTIMIDATED, PRACTICE ONLINE & HAVE FUN WITH THE ENERGY!

Tip 8: Don’t Be Intimidated

Craps tables can be wild and loud, especially in Vegas. But don’t be discouraged by that. Stick with straight forward wagers like Pass Line + Odds, and you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.

Tip 9: Practice Online

Unlike a generation ago, online casinos have made it simple to learn craps at your own pace.

· Free-Play games allow you to practice the rules without risk.

· Low-stakes tables can help new players gain authentic experience without spending too much.

· Live dealer craps broadcasts provide the adrenaline rush of the brick-and-mortar gaming floor.

Tip number 10: Have fun with the energy!

At its heart, numbers are but one facet of craps. It’s all ambiance, camaraderie, and drama.

· Share wins with the table.

· Don’t lament losses, the next roll is mere seconds away.

· Bring on the noise, the laughter, the fun.

Craps offers the perfect blend of strategy, exhilaration and fun. With a concentration on smart bets such as the Pass Line and Odds, player bankroll management, and enjoying a night out on the town, you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.

Now, the internet has delivered craps to your screen, offering every bit as much action and thrills as you would ever find on a Vegas floor.

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There is a green felt craps table with 2 red dice rolling in the air above it

Overview

Craps can be pretty intimidating at first glance, and the table can look like a massive mess of a game, but this is not the case, and it is actually one of the most beginner-friendly and luxurious-looking games out there once you get the hang of the basics. Without further ado, here are the 10 tips you can now use to win bets and/or look like an expert in front of your friends.

Even more importantly, you'll learn to channel the energy that typifies craps. With its cheering crowds in Las Vegas and sleek online tables, craps is an exhilarating experience — a heady combination of skill, luck and glamour that has long drawn people to the game, roll after roll.

Play smart, play sexy, and be one of the first to play this fantastic game that’s been a casino goer’s favourite for over a century.

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September 2025

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