Craps Game Rules: How to Play, Bet and Read the Table
Last Updated On – 02-09-2026
Craps may look complicated because the table contains dozens of betting areas, but the central rules are relatively simple.
Two dice are rolled, and most wagers predict whether a particular number or outcome will appear before a seven.
The main game begins with a come-out roll. A result of 7 or 11 immediately wins a Pass Line bet, while 2, 3 or 12 loses it.
Any other total establishes the point. The shooter must then roll that point again before rolling a 7 for the Pass Line to win.
Players do not need to learn every available wager before joining a game. Understanding the Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Come, Don’t Come and Odds bets provides enough knowledge to follow most of the action.
What Are the Basic Craps Game Rules?
Craps is played with two standard six-sided dice. One participant, known as the shooter, rolls the dice while other players place bets on the possible outcomes.
A standard round has two phases:
- The come-out roll starts the round.
- If a point is established, the shooter continues rolling until either the point or a 7 appears.
The point can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. Totals of 2, 3 and 12 are collectively called craps numbers, while a roll of 7 after the point has been established is commonly called a seven-out.
| Craps term | Meaning |
| Shooter | The person currently rolling the dice |
| Come-out roll | The first roll of a new round |
| Natural | A 7 or 11 on the come-out roll |
| Craps | A 2, 3 or 12 on the come-out roll |
| Point | A total of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 established on the come-out roll |
| Seven-out | A 7 rolled after a point has been established |
| Box number | One of the possible point numbers shown on the table |
| Hardway | A total made with matching dice, such as 3–3 for a hard 6 |
| Easy way | A 4, 6, 8 or 10 made with different numbers |
| Proposition bet | A wager on a specific result, usually decided by the next roll |
| House edge | The casino’s mathematical advantage over the player |
What Does a Craps Table Look Like?
A physical craps table has mirrored betting sections at both ends so that several players can participate.
The central section is generally controlled by the stickperson and contains one-roll wagers, hardways and other proposition bets.
The main areas include:
| Table area | Purpose |
| Pass Line | Backs the shooter to win |
| Don’t Pass | Bets against the shooter |
| Come | Starts a separate Pass-style bet after play has begun |
| Don’t Come | Starts a separate Don’t Pass-style bet |
| Field | Covers selected numbers on the next roll |
| Number boxes | Hold Place, Buy, Lay, Come and Don’t Come bets |
| Proposition area | Contains hardways and specific one-roll bets |
On a land-based table, some bets must be placed through a dealer. A player should state the wager and place the chips within the dealer’s reach rather than reaching into the centre of the layout.
Online versions usually allow every bet to be selected directly. Players familiar with other live dealer table games may find live craps easier to follow because the interface highlights active wagers and calculates returns automatically.
How Does a Round of Craps Work?
Step 1: The shooter makes the come-out roll
A new round starts when the shooter rolls both dice.
For a Pass Line bet:
- 7 or 11 wins immediately.
- 2, 3 or 12 loses immediately.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 becomes the point.
For a Don’t Pass bet, the result is broadly reversed. A 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, and 12 normally produces a tie or push. Some tables use a different barred number, so the printed table rules should always be checked.
Step 2: The dealer marks the point
If a point number is rolled, the dealer moves the puck marked “ON” to that number. This signals that the game has entered the point phase.
Step 3: The shooter continues rolling
The shooter can roll any number of times during the point phase. Most individual rolls do not end the round.
The round finishes when:
- The point is rolled again, causing Pass Line bets to win; or
- A 7 is rolled first, causing Pass Line bets to lose.
After either result, the puck is turned to “OFF” and a new come-out roll begins. The dice usually pass to another shooter following a seven-out.
How Does the Pass Line Bet Work?
The Pass Line is the most straightforward starting wager. It supports the shooter and pays even money.
| Stage | Roll | Pass Line result |
| Come-out roll | 7 or 11 | Wins |
| Come-out roll | 2, 3 or 12 | Loses |
| Come-out roll | 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 | Establishes the point |
| Point phase | Point repeats before 7 | Wins |
| Point phase | 7 appears before the point | Loses |
For example, a player places £10 on the Pass Line and the shooter rolls 6. Six becomes the point. If another 6 appears before a 7, the bet wins £10. If 7 appears first, the £10 stake loses.
The Pass Line has a house edge of approximately 1.41%, making it one of the lower-edge wagers on the table.
How Do Don’t Pass, Come and Don’t Come Bets Work?
Don’t Pass
The Don’t Pass bet takes the opposite side of the Pass Line.
On the come-out roll, 2 or 3 wins and 7 or 11 loses. A result of 12 is usually a push, although the precise barred number can vary. Once a point exists, Don’t Pass wins if 7 appears before the point.
Its house edge is approximately 1.36%, slightly lower than the Pass Line. Some players avoid it at a crowded table because it means betting against the shooter, but it is a normal part of the game.
Come
A Come bet operates like a new Pass Line bet using the next throw as its own come-out roll.
A 7 or 11 wins immediately, while 2, 3 or 12 loses. If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 appears, the dealer moves the wager to that number. It then wins if its number repeats before a 7.
A Come bet can have a different point from the main Pass Line bet. Multiple Come bets may therefore be active on different numbers simultaneously.
Don’t Come
A Don’t Come bet is the opposite of a Come bet. On its first roll, 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, and 12 normally pushes. If a box number appears, the bet moves behind that number and wins if 7 is rolled before that number repeats.
How Do Odds Bets Work?
An Odds bet is an additional wager placed behind an established Pass Line or Come bet. It cannot normally be placed by itself.
Odds are paid at the true mathematical probability of the point:
| Point | Pass/Come Odds payout | Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Odds payout |
| 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 1 to 2 |
| 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
| 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 5 to 6 |
The Odds bet itself has no house edge because the payout reflects the true odds. However, the original Pass, Don’t Pass, Come or Don’t Come bet still carries its usual casino advantage.
Suppose a player has £10 on the Pass Line, the point is 8 and another £10 is placed as Odds.
If 8 appears before 7:
- The Pass Line produces £10 profit.
- The Odds bet produces £12 profit at 6 to 5.
- The total returned is £42, including the £20 combined stake.
Casinos can restrict Odds to one, two, three, five, ten or more times the original bet. The maximum should be checked before chips are placed.
What Do the Other Craps Bets Mean?
Place bets
A Place bet predicts that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will appear before 7. It does not require the selected number to become the official point.
| Place number | Standard payout | Approximate house edge |
| 4 or 10 | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| 5 or 9 | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| 6 or 8 | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
Place 6 and Place 8 are popular because they combine frequent winning possibilities with a comparatively low house edge. Stakes are normally made in suitable multiples so that payouts do not need to be rounded.
Field bets
The Field is a one-roll wager. It normally wins when the next total is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12, and loses on 5, 6, 7 or 8.
Totals of 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 usually pay even money. The payout for 2 and 12 varies between tables, with one or both paying double or triple. This difference changes the house edge substantially, so the layout should be checked before betting.
Hardway bets
A hardway requires a number to be made with matching dice:
| Bet | Winning combination | Common payout |
| Hard 4 | 2–2 | 7 to 1 |
| Hard 6 | 3–3 | 9 to 1 |
| Hard 8 | 4–4 | 9 to 1 |
| Hard 10 | 5–5 | 7 to 1 |
The wager loses if a 7 appears or the number is rolled the easy way. For example, a hard 6 loses if the dice show 1–5 or 2–4.
Hardway bets can remain active over several rolls, but their house edges are much higher than those of Pass Line or Place 6 and 8 bets.
Buy bets
A Buy bet also predicts that a selected number will appear before 7. Unlike a Place bet, it pays at true odds, but the casino charges a commission known as the vig.
Buy bets are commonly associated with 4 and 10 because their true-odds payout can be more favourable than the standard Place payout. Whether the commission is charged when the bet is placed or only after a win makes a meaningful difference to its value.
Lay bets
A Lay bet takes the opposite side of a Buy bet. The player wagers that 7 will appear before the selected number.
Because 7 is more likely to appear, the player must risk more than the potential profit. A commission is also charged. The exact commission method and minimum stake can vary.
Proposition bets
Proposition bets are usually found in the centre of the table and are commonly decided by a single roll.
| Proposition bet | Winning result | Common payout |
| Any 7 | Any combination totalling 7 | 4 to 1 |
| Any Craps | 2, 3 or 12 | 7 to 1 |
| Ace Deuce | 3 | 15 to 1 |
| Yo or Eleven | 11 | 15 to 1 |
| Snake Eyes | 2 | 30 to 1 |
| Boxcars | 12 | 30 to 1 |
These wagers may look attractive because of their large payouts, but they generally carry some of the highest house edges in craps.
Horn bets
A Horn bet divides the stake equally across 2, 3, 11 and 12. If one number wins, the other three parts lose, and the return is calculated from the successful component.
A £4 Horn bet therefore consists of four separate £1 wagers. Casinos may also offer Horn High bets, where an additional unit is placed on one selected number.
Which Craps Bets Have the Lowest House Edge?
The safest way to compare wagers is through house edge rather than headline payout. A large payout usually reflects a less likely result rather than a better opportunity.
| Craps bet | Approximate house edge |
| Odds | 0%, but requires a base bet |
| Don’t Pass/Don’t Come | 1.36% |
| Pass Line/Come | 1.41% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% |
| Field with one triple payout | 2.78% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 4.00% |
| Field with both 2 and 12 paying double | 5.56% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 6.67% |
| Hard 6 or 8 | 9.09% |
| Any Craps | 11.11% |
| Hard 4 or 10 | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 16.67% |
Buy and Lay bet edges depend on the number selected and when the commission is collected. Side bets can also use casino-specific rules.
As with roulette betting strategies, selecting lower-edge wagers can reduce the expected cost of playing but cannot turn a casino game into a source of guaranteed profit.
How Are Craps Payouts Calculated?
Craps payouts are quoted as a ratio. A payout of 7 to 5 means that every £5 wagered produces £7 in profit. The original £5 stake is also returned, making the total return £12.
Players should distinguish between profit and total return. Casino tables usually state profit-only odds, while online interfaces may display the complete amount returned to the balance.
Several wagers require particular stake multiples:
- Place 6 and 8 work cleanly in multiples of £6.
- Place 5 and 9 work cleanly in multiples of £5.
- Place 4 and 10 work cleanly in multiples of £5.
- Odds stakes should match the payout ratio for the selected point.
A casino may round an unsuitable stake down, reject it or ask the player to adjust the amount.
How Does a Full Craps Round Play Out?
Consider a player who starts with £10 on the Pass Line.
The shooter’s come-out roll is 9, so 9 becomes the point. The player then adds £10 in Odds behind the Pass Line.
The next roll is 5. Nothing happens to the Pass Line wager. The player now places £6 on Place 6.
The shooter rolls 6. The Place 6 bet wins £7, while its original stake remains active unless the player removes it.
The next roll is 8, which again has no effect on the Pass Line. Finally, the shooter rolls 9.
The Pass Line wins £10 at even money. The £10 Odds bet wins £15 because the true-odds payout on 9 is 3 to 2. The point is cleared, and a new come-out roll begins.
If the shooter had rolled 7 before the second 9, the Pass Line, Odds and active Place bet would all have lost.
How Do Online and Live Craps Differ?
The mathematical rules are broadly the same, but the presentation can differ.
Automated online craps uses computer-generated dice outcomes and usually resolves wagers instantly. Live craps streams a real table and dealer, making it closer to a casino-floor experience.
Some platforms use simplified or rapid versions with shorter betting periods and adjusted layouts.
Players considering independent casino platforms should check the displayed rules, betting limits, payout table and regulatory information before depositing. Variations in Field payouts, Odds limits, commission and side bets can change the effective house edge.
What Etiquette and Table Rules Should Players Know?
At a physical craps table, the dice should generally be handled with one hand and kept above the table. The shooter is normally expected to throw both dice so that they reach the opposite wall.
Late bets may be refused once the stickperson announces that the dice are out. Players should also avoid placing hands or chips in the throwing area while a roll is in progress.
Dealers control many wagers positioned in the number boxes or centre section. Clear instructions such as “£6 Place 6” or “£5 hard 8” help prevent misunderstandings.
Individual casinos can impose additional rules covering minimum stakes, dice handling, Odds limits and when existing bets are working.
What Mistakes Should Beginners Avoid?
The most common mistake is trying to learn every wager at once. A beginner can follow an entire game using only the Pass Line and Odds.
Other errors include confusing the come-out roll with the point phase, assuming all bets are active on every throw and overlooking the difference between payout and total return.
Place bets are normally switched off during a new come-out roll unless a player asks for them to be “working”.
Come bets that have already moved to numbers usually remain active, including on the shooter’s come-out roll. Table policies can vary, so the dealer or displayed rules should be consulted.
Players should also avoid assuming that a recent sequence changes the next outcome. Dice rolls are independent. A string of sevens does not make another seven less likely, and a number that has not appeared for several rolls is not “due”.
Can a Craps Strategy Guarantee a Win?
No craps strategy can guarantee a win. The outcome of each throw is random, and every standard casino wager either carries a house edge or depends on a base bet that does.
A simple lower-risk approach is to make a Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet and add an affordable Odds wager after a point is established. Place 6 and 8 may also be considered by players who want action on additional numbers.
This approach lowers the average house edge compared with frequent proposition bets, but it does not remove short-term volatility or prevent losses. Increasing stakes after a loss can enlarge the next loss and does not alter the probability of the dice.
What Should UK Players Check Before Playing Craps?
Players should review the full paytable rather than relying on the name of a wager.
Particular attention should be given to:
- The maximum Odds multiple
- Field payouts for 2 and 12
- Buy and Lay commissions
- Minimum and maximum table stakes
- Whether Place and proposition bets are working on the come-out roll
- Rules for the barred Don’t Pass number
Gambling should be treated as paid entertainment, not as a way to earn money. A fixed spending limit and a fixed stopping time should be decided before play begins.
Losses should never be chased with money required for bills, borrowing repayments or household expenses.
UK operators may also carry out financial risk checks or request information in certain circumstances. Players should read an operator’s account, payment and safer-gambling terms before depositing.
FAQs
What is the main objective in craps?
For a Pass Line player, the objective is for the shooter to roll 7 or 11 on the come-out roll or repeat an established point before rolling 7.
What numbers lose on the first roll?
A Pass Line bet loses when the come-out roll is 2, 3 or 12. A Don’t Pass bet normally loses on 7 or 11.
What happens when the shooter rolls 7?
A 7 wins Pass Line bets on the come-out roll. After a point has been established, it causes Pass Line, Come and most number bets to lose.
Is 11 called craps?
No. A total of 11 is commonly called “yo” and wins Pass Line and Come bets on their opening roll. Craps numbers are 2, 3 and 12.
Can a player bet without rolling the dice?
Yes. Other participants can wager while the shooter rolls. Only the shooter handles the dice during that turn.
Which craps bet is simplest for a beginner?
The Pass Line is generally the easiest to understand. Once a point is established, an Odds bet can be added according to the table limit.
What is the best number to Place in craps?
Place 6 and Place 8 have the lowest standard house edge among Place bets, at approximately 1.52%. Neither number is guaranteed to win.
Do Place bets stay active after winning?
They normally remain on the table after a win until the player removes them or a 7 causes them to lose. Their status on a come-out roll depends on the table rules.
