How to Play Craps Online?

If you want to familiarize yourself with the game of dice but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, you will learn the basics and even some advanced concepts. 

What is Craps

Craps is a dice-based game with a rich history, believed to have roots in an Old English game known as Hazard. The French then modified Hazard into a more simplified version, calling it Craps, named after the lowest value roll in the game. The French introduced the game to settlers in New Orleans, and it spread across the United States, becoming a favorite in casinos.

The digital revolution in the late 20th century brought about a significant change in how we play casino games. Craps, just like other traditional games, found a new life online. Online Craps offers the same fun, as the land-based variant, with the added advantage of being accessible from anywhere. 

Learning the Rules

If you’re excited to start your journey with Craps Online, understanding the rules is your first step. The game might seem complicated at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it quite engaging. Here are the basics:

• In Craps, players bet on the outcome of one or more rolls of a pair of dice. The game is played on a specially designed table with special areas for different types of bets;
• There can be multiple players in Craps, each taking turns to roll the dice. The player who rolls the dice is called the Shooter;
• The game starts with the shooter making what’s called a Come-Out roll. If the roll results in a 7 or 11, anyone who bets on the Pass Line wins. If the roll results in a 2, 3, or 12, it’s called Crapping Out, and anyone who stakes on the Pass Line loses;
• If the Shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 on the Come-Out roll, that number becomes the Point. The Shooter continues to roll until they either roll the Point number again, in which case pass line bets win, or a 7, in which case pass line bets lose;
• There are multiple betting options in Craps, the main ones being Pass Line, Don’t Pass Line, Come, Don’t Come, Odds, and Proposition bets.

Types of Bets

As we’ve established, Craps is a game rich with betting options. Here’s a breakdown of some key bets:

• Pass Line is the fundamental bet, placed before the Come-out roll. Winning occurs when the dice roll 7 or 11. Losses occur when they show 2, 3, or 12. Any other number becomes the Point, which the shooter aims to roll again before rolling a 7.
• Don’t Pass is essentially the opposite of the Pass Line. Here, 2 or 3 on the come-out roll leads to victory, while 7 or 11 results in loss. 12 results in a Push – a stand-off;
• A Come bet made after a point has been established wins if a 7 or 11 comes up on the next roll, and loses if a 2, 3, or 12 comes up. Any other number becomes the Come Point and must fall before the seven for the bet to win.
• Don’t Come is the inverse of the Come. It wins when a 2 or 3 is rolled next, loses on 7 or 11, and pushes on 12. For any other number, a 7 must roll before that number for the bet to win.
• You can make a Place Bet on any of the Point numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) being rolled before a 7. The payout depends on the number you bet on.
• Proposition bets are bets on a single turn with a certain outcome, offering high payouts but also a high house edge. Examples include betting that the next roll will have a certain total or a certain pair of numbers.

How to Play

Now that you’re familiar with the rules, let’s dive into how to play. The process is quite simple. Here are the steps:

1. Your first step is to find a reliable online casino that offers Craps. It should be licensed and provide secure payment options;
2. Once you’ve chosen a casino, you’ll need to register and deposit funds into your account. Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new players, so take advantage of those;
3. After your account is set up, navigate to the casino’s game library and select Craps;
4. The game screen usually shows a virtual table. Here, you can select the type of bet you want to place. Once you’ve decided, click on the area of the table corresponding to your chosen bet, and select the amount you wish to stake;
5. After placing your bet, click on the Roll button to start. The dice will be rolled, and the result will determine if your bet is a winning one;
6. Depending on the result, you can continue playing or stop and withdraw your winnings.

Strategies for Playing

While Craps is largely a game of luck, a few strategies can increase your chances of winning:

• Odds bets, made in addition to Pass/Don’t Pass or Come/Don’t Come, have no house edge. The casino pays out these stakes at true odds;
• Betting on Don’t Pass/Don’t Come gives a slightly lower house edge than Pass/Come. It might not be the most popular strategy, but it can be profitable;
• Avoid stake on Proposition. These are tempting because of their high payouts, but with house edges up to 16.67%, they’re not profitable in the long run.