Trying out Craps

Craps can be an intimidating game for new casino players but once you understand the different bets and basic rules, you will have no problem fitting in with others at this table game.

In craps, you are either the shooter or a bystander. The shooter rolls the dice. A 7 or 11 is an automatic win. A 2, 3 or 12 is called a “crap out,” where you lose automatically. If you roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10), you keep rolling until you hit that number again. The first number rolled is known as the “pass-line point.” Once you establish a pass-line point, you want to avoid rolling a 7. If you roll a 7, you lose and pass the dice to the next player. If you match the pass-line point before rolling a 7, you win.

If you are not the shooter, you bet that the shooter will match the pass-line point or won’t. It’s not considered appropriate to bet against a shooter on a hot streak. If you don’t want to roll, you can pass to the next player, even after a pass-line point has been established. The first roll is called the “come-out roll” where other players win even money if you roll a 7 or 11 and they bet with you.

Craps can have up to four staff people: the boxman, two dealers and the stickman. The boxman oversees the game and resolves problems. The dealers are at both ends of the table and take wagers. The stickman dishes out the dice and calls out betting options. A plastic disk called the “puck” keeps track of the roll with a black side labeled “off” for a come-out roll or white side labeled “on” for a point. If a point has been established, the puck is placed on the corresponding numbered box on the table.

Craps has a house edge of only 1.5%. The odds of any number coming up are 1 in 36. A 7 or 11 hitting has 22% odds and a crap out has 11% odds.