Craps can be intimidating to new players. There are lots of places to put your chips and plenty of craps bets you can take. Knowing which craps bets to make and when to make them will have a big impact on your success. Some bets are more complicated than others.
The more complex betting options are best reserved for experienced players with advanced craps strategies. On the other hand, there are plenty of craps bets for new players to choose from when they start playing craps online.
In this beginner look at how to play craps, we’re focusing on what beginners need to know before the next roll of the dice. Check out our craps beginner tips and bets below, then head on over to our recommended online casino.
Craps Tips for Beginners
This isn’t an exhaustive manual for craps, but more of a how to play craps for beginners guide that includes some tips to help you get started at the craps table.
- Understand the Basic Terminology and Bets of Craps
- Low House Edge in Craps Bets
- Basic Craps Strategy For Beginners
- Use the Right Craps Casino
- Practice With Free Craps Games
- Understand Your Odds of Winning on Craps Bets
Tip #1: Understand the Basic Terminology and Bets of Craps
New craps players have a lot of information to learn at once. You need to master everything from the official rules of the game and craps etiquette to the common superstitions held by other craps players. There are different betting options to learn, too.
You will need to master all the betting options on the table eventually. However, new players should focus on learning the easiest bets first.
Simple wagers that do not require a lot of conditions to win are the best for new players. Learning these bets will let you start to play the game and get first-hand experience. Once you are a more experienced player, then you can move on to the more complex bets in craps.
Come Out
- The first die roll that happens on a series of bets. If the roll is a 7 or 11, pass lines win. If the roll is a 2, 3, or 12 all pass line bets lose.
Craps
- Craps are the 2, 3 or 12 rolls. They end the game on any roll and begin a new round of betting, and payout any Don’t Pass Line bets.
Point Number
- The Point, or point number is a number other than 7,11, 2, 3, or 12 on the come out. This number pays out on the pass line when rolled again, and sets up the field bets.
Pass Line
- This is a betting line that pays out double when you roll a seven or eleven on the come out. If the roll is a Point number, the pass line pays when that number is rolled again.
Don’t Pass Line
- Don’t pass lines pay out when craps are rolled, or when 7 or 11 is rolled after the point number is established on the come out. So Don’t Pass Lines pay out on 2, 3 or 12 on the come out, then a 7 once point numbers are in play.
The Field
- These bets are only on the next roll. You’re betting a specific number will come up with 2:1 odds on 2 or 3:1 on 12. Field bets have the highest ‘house edge’ at 2.78%. House edge is your chance of losing as a player.
Sevens Out
- Rolling a 7 after the point number is in play. This means it’s another player’s turn to roll.
Don’t Come Bar
- This bet is placed after the shooter has come out, and the point number is established. You place a don’t come bet to estimate a 2 or 3 on any rolls following the Come out.
Come
- If the point number is rolled again, a come bet is paid out. If the shooter rolls a 7, 2,3 or 12 then the Come bet loses. You can only place a come bet on rolls after a point is established on the come out.
Place Bets
- Wager’s on specific numbers, 4 ,5 ,6 ,8 ,9 , or 10. These bets payout if your number comes up before a craps roll or seven, after the point number is rolled.
Tip #2: Low House Edge in Craps Bets
Another important aspect to consider is the bet’s house edge. Bets with a lower house edge usually have lower payout odds. However, you are also more likely to win these wagers.
Many experienced players choose to stick with low-house edge bets. That is because a lot craps betting strategies are designed to work with these wagers. Wagers with a low house edge are easier to win, too.
The more often you win, the less draining it is on your bankroll. So, you can reinvest the money from your winnings into playing more rounds of craps. This will help you get more experience and improve your skills as a player.
Tip #3: Basic Craps Strategy For Beginners
In addition to picking which bets to place and when, you must decide how much you are comfortable betting on each wager. As a general rule of thumb, you should never wager money you cannot afford to lose. You also choose a stake amount that will not drain your bankroll too quickly.
Many experienced players choose to use progressive craps betting strategies. These methods require you to change your stake amount based on the results of the previous round.
New players should start with a simple beginner craps strategy. One example is to keep your stake amount the same every round, as this will limit the number of variables that you need to worry about. Additionally, you can adopt a few of the craps beginners tips in this guide to form a strategy as well. After you have mastered an easy craps strategy, then you can start using progressive strategies.
Tip #4: Use the Right Craps Casino
Another craps tip for new players is to make sure that you pick the right online casinos to use for craps. The site you choose to use will have a huge influence on your betting experience.
The craps casino that I recommend the most is Bovada Casino. This gambling site has a free and paid version of craps that you can play. There are also plenty of payment options to choose from, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Bovada has awesome bonuses that can help build up your craps bankroll, too. For instance, new members can claim a welcome offer worth up to $3,750 in bonus funds.
Tip #5: Practice With Free Craps Games
New players should also look for ways to practice craps without spending their bankroll. The free craps games at Bovada that I mentioned above are a great example of this.
Free games allow you to test out all of the betting options that I talked about earlier. They will also give you first-hand experience playing craps. This experience will help you decide which bets you like making and should add to your strategy.
Tip #6: Understand Your Odds of Winning on Craps Bets
The odds of each number coming up at any given roll are as follows:
| Roll | Instances | Percentage Odds |
| 2 | 1/36 | 2.7% |
| 3 | 2/36 | 5.5% |
| 4 | 3/36 | 8.3% |
| 5 | 4/36 | 11.1% |
| 6 | 5/36 | 13.8% |
| 7 | 6/36 | 19.4% |
| 8 | 5/36 | 13.8% |
| 9 | 4/36 | 11.1% |
| 10 | 3/36 | 8.3% |
| 11 | 2/36 | 5.5% |
| 12 | 1/36 | 2.7% |
Understanding what you’re up against on any given roll will help you make educated bets. After the come out is rolled, you’ve missed out on the opening 7,11 opportunity, a 24% chance of winning on the come out. When you’re learning how to play craps, you’re really learning dice probability.
Best Craps Bets for Beginners
Craps is one of the most exciting and popular table games at online gambling sites. Along with our craps tips above, knowing the right wagers for your skill level will help you win money more often. Here are the five bets craps bets for new players:
- Pass Line Bets
- Don’t Pass Line Bets
- Come Bets
- Don’t Come Bets
- Craps Lay Bets
Pass Line Bets
Starting off my list of the best bets for new craps players is the pass line bet. This is one of the few wagers you can make on the come out roll each round. It is also one of the most commonly placed bets in craps.
For the pass line bet, you are betting that the shooter is going to roll a 7 or 11 on the come out roll. The shooter has to roll either number before they roll a 2, 3, or 12, Otherwise, your bet loses.
If the shoulder rolls any other number, your bet is still alive. You just need the shooter to roll the point number before they roll a 7 and crap out.
This wager checks all of the boxes of what makes a good bet for new craps players. It is easy to learn, there are multiple rolls for you to win on, and it has a house edge of just 1.41%. The pass line bet has 1:1 payout odds.
Don’t Pass Line Bets
Another great bet for new craps players is the don’t pass line bet. This wager is the opposite of the pass line wager.
To win this bet, you need the shooter to roll a 2 or a 3 on the come out roll. You lose if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, and a roll of a 12 is counted as a push. If the shooter establishes a different point number, then you need them to crap out with a 7 before they roll the point for you to win.
This wager has a better house edge of 1.36%, making it slightly more profitable than the pass line wager. It is also easy to learn, is a multi-roll wager, and has 1:1 payout odds.
Come and Don’t Come Bets
Up next are another set of mirrored wagers, the come and don’t come bets. These wagers are easy to master and are a common part of many player’s betting strategies. You can only make these bets after the shooter has established the point for that round.
For the come bet, you have the same winning numbers as the pass line wager. You win if the shooter lands a 7 or 11 before they hit the point. There is a house edge of 1.41% for this craps bet.
On the other hand, the don’t come bet wins if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3 before they roll a 7 or 11. A 12 is considered a push, and this wager has a house edge of 1.36%.
Check out this guide to come and don’t come bets in craps to learn more about these wagers.
Craps Lay Bet
Rounding out my list of the best craps wager for beginners is the lay bet. This wager is placed after the point has been set for that round. You must have already made a pass or come bet for that round.
To win a lay bet, you need the shooter to roll a 7 before they hit the point number. This bet offers the “true odds” of the shooter crapping out, meaning that there is no house edge.
The payout odds vary depending on the point number, which does add some complexity to this wager. However, this bet is simpler than other craps wafers with variable payout odds.
Check out this guide to lay wagers in craps to learn more about this craps bet.
Put These Craps For Beginner Tips and Bets To Work
Remember that this craps for beginners guide is just scratching the surface on how to play craps. There are bets like the Big 6 8 and Yo (11 field bet) that more advanced players will enjoy taking advantage of. Head over to our trusted craps casino above (Bovada), and try to put some of these beginner tips to work!
