Craps Game

There are no real variations on a craps game. When you play craps it is a roller against the casino or bank.

During a craps game other people at the craps pit can bet on the outcome of the roller without having to be the one rolling the dice. In this section we will mainly be coving the betting options. If you are new to playing craps, we suggest you first have a look at our how to play craps section and then read this.

Betting the Pass Line (betting on the shooter)
When you (the “shooter") rolls a 7 or 11 on your come out roll it is refer to as a "natural" and which is always an automatic win. However if you roll a 2, 3 or 12, it is called, "craps" and you lose your Pass Line bet.

Should you roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), this becomes your “point”. You win if the “point” repeats before 7 rolls, and you lose if you roll a 7 before your “point” is made.

These bets are placed in the area marked "Pass Line" on the layout.

Betting the Don't Pass Line (betting against the shooter)
This is the reverse of betting the "Pass Line." You lose on a "natural" 7 or 11, and win if a 2 or 3 rolls (12 is a "standoff," no one wins). If the dice roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 it becomes your "Point" and you win if 7 rolls before your "Point" is repeated.

You lose if your "Point" is made before 7 rolls. Place these bets in the area marked "Don't Pass Line" on the layout.

Come Bets (Same principle as a Pass Line bet)
The simplest explanation of "Come" bets is that you're betting with the dice, exactly as on the "Pass Line," except that "Come" bets are made any time after the "Come-out" roll.

You win on "naturals" 7 or 11, and you lose on "craps" 2, 3 or 12. Any other number becomes your "come-point" and you win if your "come- point" is made before 7 rolls. You make these bets in the area marked "Come" on the layout.

Don't Come Bets (Same principle as a Don't Pass Line bet)
The reverse of betting the "Come." You lose if the next roll is a 7 or 11, and win on a 2 or 3 (12 is a "stand-off"). Here you will win if 7 rolls before your "Don't Come Point" is repeated, and lose if the "Don't Come Point" is made before a 7 is rolled.

Place Bets
You may make a "Place Bet" bet at any time on any or all of the following numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.

If the number you have "placed" rolls before a 7 you win and are paid as follows:
- Point 4 or 10 you get $9 for every $5 wagered
- Point 5 or 9 you get $7 for every $5 wagered
- Point 6 or 8 you get $7 for every $6 wagered

Buy and Lay Bets
Buy bets are usually made on the 4 and 10. Lay bets are usually made on the 4, 5, 9 or 10. A buy bet wins if the number rolls before a 7.
A Lay bet wins when 7 roll before the number. Five percent (5%) is charged for these types of bets.

The Field Bet
Another extremely simple bet to make within the game of craps is the Field bet. It doesn't have quite as good of odds as the pass line bet with odds behind it but it does have decent odds in comparison to many other bets on the table in craps. Most importantly, the field bet is a very simple "one-time" bet that can apply to any given roll. The field bet is circled in white in the graphic below for your reference.

This bet will be much easier to explain than the pass line bet as its complexity is much less. The field bet is simply a one-time bet that says if the shooter throws a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 then you win. If a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is thrown you lose. It's that simple and that easy. Most casinos also give you a bonus if a 2 or a 12 is thrown. I've noticed that most casinos double pay 2x your bet when a 2 or "snake eyes" is thrown and some even pay 3x your bet if a 12 or "midnight" is thrown. Consider that a bonus if you hit those numbers!

The Hardway Bet
The Hardway bet is a rather simple bet but not one of the smartest bets on the table simply because the advantages go much more to the house than say a pass line bet with odds placed on it. But, remember, craps is supposed to be fun and if you are looking for the best odds then go play Poker because that's the only game anyone has ever made a living at! All jokes aside, the hardways bet is located in the middle of the table which is circled in the graphic below.

There are essentially 4 hardways bets that are on the table.
- The "Hard 4"
- The "Hard 6"
- The "Hard 8"
- The "Hard 10"

What does a hardway mean?
Simply, the dice rolled the same number or "doubles". E.G. A 2 and a 2 was rolled for a hard 4, a 3 and a 3 was rolled for a hard 6, etc. That being said, when you wager on any hardways bet you are betting that the hardway number you wagered will come up before a "soft" version of that number or a 7. What's the "soft" version of each number? It's just a 4, 6, 8, or 10 with no repeating numbers or doubles. So, a 1 and a 3 is labeled a "soft 4".

The payouts for winning a hardways bet depends on the casino but these are the most common odds I've seen:
- "Hard 4" pays 7 to 1 or 8 to 1
- "Hard 6" pays 9 to 1 or 10 to 1
- "Hard 8" pays 9 to 1 or 10 to 1
- "Hard 10" pays 7 to 1 or 8 to 1

Proposition Bets – This is a bet that I would not advocate as the advantage is hugely in on the house’ side. In short... NEVER PLACE A PROPOSITION BET. It is easy money for the house.