Players can learn how to play online craps for free or at a real money casino with the advice on this page. Our online craps guide provides basic terminology, plus information on the betting layout, odds, and payouts for each wager. Our guide to online craps provides strategy tips while pointing the way to craps at a mobile casino and live craps sites.
History Of Craps
Because dice are one of the oldest gambling interests known to mankind, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how far back the game of craps goes. Nevertheless, historians can trace craps to an earlier game called hazard that was popular in Europe at least as far back as the medieval period. Fun fact, dice used to be made from the bones of dead animals, especially pig knuckles.
In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer referred to dice as “bones” in his writing. The phrase “roll the bones” first appeared in print in 1897 specifically in reference to the game of hazard (the precursor to craps).
Where Did The Name Craps Come From?
In the antebellum south, Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville introduced a simplified version of hazard to gamblers in New Orleans. He called the game craps, a shortened version of the word crapaud, which is French for “toad.” When de Marigny saw boys playing the game on a street corner, they looked like toads because they were hunched over the dice.
The Origins Of The Modern Game
American dice manufacturer John H. Winn introduced the next major innovation -- the Pass/Don’t Pass rule -- in the 1860s. Along with a handful of other tweaks, Winn's version of craps is the one we play today.
How To Play Online Craps
Craps might look complicated because of the betting layout, but craps rules are easy to learn. Here’s an overview of the rules in online craps.
- Craps is played with a set of two six-sided dice. Players roll the dice to determine results, which can range between 2 and 12.
- One bettor, called the shooter, rolls the dice. If the shooter wins his or her bet, the dice remain with the shooter. If he or she loses, they pass clockwise around the table.
- All bettors at the table make bets before the shooter rolls. Gamblers can make multiple bets on the betting layout. Payouts range from less than 1:1 to 35:1. The house edge varies wildly.
- Once bets are made, the roll happens. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, then he or she wins. If he rolls a 2, 3, or 12, then the shooter loses.
- If any other number is rolled, the point is established and the game continues. The shooter now must roll the point before rolling a 7 again.
- Once a Sportsbook is determined, bets are settled and a new round of gaming continues. When playing craps online, the software settles bets automatically.
- Four dealers man the table: the stickman, the boxman, and two dealers. The boxman handles the money and provides chips for cash. The stickman handles the dice. The two other dealers, at each end of the table, pay off bets.
What Are Some Craps Betting Terms?
Playing craps online is easier when you know the terms, so here’s a craps glossary. Terms like boxman and stickman don’t apply to most craps online, though they are helpful to know when you play live craps.
| CRAPS TERM | DEFINITION |
| Bank | The stacks of chips that the casino has on the craps table while the game is going on. |
| Box Cars | A pair of sixes. This equals craps on the Come Out roll and is bad for the shooter. |
| Boxman | The dealer who handles the box of money. The boxman exchanges cash for chips and handles the house money. |
| Come Bet | Bets made after the Come Out roll. These bets win on rolls of 7 or 11 and lose on rolls of 2, 3, and 12. |
| Come Out Roll | The first roll starts a new game. |
| Crap | The numbers 2, 3, and 12. |
| Crap Out | Getting a 2, 3, or 12 on the first roll. |
| Craps Strategy | Nebulous, except for knowing the odds on the better craps bets – thus knowing which bets to make and which to avoid. |
| Don't Come Bet | To win on a roll of 2 or 3, lose on rolls of 7 or 11, and push on a roll of 12. This establishes a Don’t Come point on their next roll. |
| Don't Pass Bet | A bet made on a Come Out roll. It wins with rolls of 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, pushes on 12, and creates a point for the player on the next roll. |
| Line Bet | Any bet made on the Pass Line. |
| Pass Line Bet | The basic bet in craps. This bet wins when 7 or 11 happen on the Come Out roll. Losses occur when the dice equal 2, 3 or 12. |
| Point | When 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled on the Come Out. |
| Seven Out | The losing roll of 7 that ends your turn. |
| Shooter | The bettor who rolls the dice. |
| Snake Eyes | A pair of ones. This equals craps and is bad for the shooter on the Come Out roll. |
| Stickman | The dealer who handles the long stick, using it to collect the dice and give them to the shooter. |
| Sucker Bet | Wagers with such bad odds only a sucker makes them. Craps has many sucker bets. |
How Do I Bet In Craps?
Craps is known for its huge number of bets. Most of these are sucker bets, so it's alright if you never make many craps wagers. Here's a quick look at the basic online craps real money bets that give you good odds.
- Pass Line Bet: The basic bet in craps. You're betting on the shooter to win. The pass line bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, but loses on a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number sets the point. If a point is set, you hope to roll the same number again before rolling 7.
- Don't Pass Bet: The opposite of the pass line bet. You're betting against the shooter. A 2, 3, or 12 wins, while a 7 or 11 loses. If a point is set, then you win with a 7 and lose if the shooter rolls the point again.
- Come Bet: This is quite similar to the pass line bet, except bettors make it after the point is established.
- Don't Come Bet: Similar to the Don't Pass Bet, except bettors make it after the point is established.
Those are the main bets you’ll find when you play craps online, but many others exist. Here's a full list of craps bets, along with their house edge and payouts.
Craps Odds And Payout Chart
| BET TYPE | HOUSE EDGE | PAYOUT |
| Pass Line Bet | 1.41% | 1 to 1 |
| Don't Pass | 1.36% | 1 to 1 |
| Come Bet | 1.41% | 1 to 1 |
| Don't Come | 1.36% | 1 to 1 |
| Buy 4 / Buy 10 | 2.44% | 1 to 2 |
| Buy 5 / Buy 9 | 3.23% | 2 to 3 |
| Buy 6 / Buy 8 | 4.00% | 5 to 6 |
| Field Bet: 3, 4, 9 10, 11 | 5.50% | 1 to 1 |
| Field Bet: 2, 12 | 5.50% | 2 to 1 |
| Place 4 / Place 10 | 6.70% | 9 to 5 |
| Place 5 / Place 9 | 4.00% | 7 to 5 |
| Place 6 / Place 8 | 1.52% | 7 to 6 |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 9.09% | 9 to 1 |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 11.10% | 7 to 1 |
| Any 7 Bet | 16.9% | 4 to 1 |
| Any Craps Bet | 11.11% | 7 to 1 |
| 2 Craps or 12 Craps | 13.90% | 30 to 1 |
| 3 Craps or 11 Craps | 11.11% | 15 to 1 |
| Horn Bet: 3 or 11 | 11.11% | 3.75 to 1 |
| Horn Bet: 2 or 12 | 11.11% | 7.5 to 1 |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 9.09% | 1 to 1 |
Playing Craps for Real Money vs. Free
When you play most casino games online, you have two options—play for real money or play for free. There are pros and cons to each method, of course. If you play for free, you can win but you won’t make any real money at the game. If you’re playing for real money, however, you can cash out any winnings straight to your bank account.
Most players want to get to the point where they can play for real money online. That said, there are advantages to playing for free; at least to start. Online casino games are made to be as flashy and fun as the ones in real life. That means they can get a bit overwhelming at times, especially for novice players.
By playing for free first, you have a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of a game. This means you can get used to graphics and sound effects, learn when to place bets, discover how side bets work, and look for any bonus rounds that may pop up as you play.
Most online casinos will allow new players to play a few rounds without wagering cash up front. Our best advice is to take advantage of this opportunity if you can.
What Is The Best Craps Strategy?
Savvy players know that craps is a game of chance, so there’s no real craps strategy to learn like in video poker or online blackjack. Still, you’ll find craps tips and tricks that help you play with the best odds at the craps table.
- Stick to Pass/Don’t Pass or Come/Don’t Come bets. These have odds in the 1.36% to 1.41% range.
- Learn how to "take the odds". This is a bet after the point is established that has an effective house edge of 0.00%. For this reason, casinos limit how much you can bet when taking the odds.
- Use money management. Determine your bankroll, then bet only 1% to 2% of the bankroll on any one wager. Lock in wins with shorter sessions when you get lucky. Have strict loss limits that prevent you from going on tilt or chasing lost cash.
- Accept Table Game Bonuses. Many online casinos focus bonus cash on slots, keno, and scratch cards. Read the fine print and some allow specific table games to clear the wagering requirement. Play at casinos that allow craps to clear the requirement.
- Avoid Sucker Bets. One last time - avoid sucker bets when playing at an online casino. See our list of craps bets below for the odds and payouts of each wager at the craps table.
What to Look for in an online craps casino
Playing craps online is all about having fun and relaxing in your downtime. You don’t want your online casino experience to be stressful.
That being said, choosing an online casino can be mind-boggling. Some sites that look legit can be anything but. That could mean big trouble for you, like financial losses, identity theft and more. That’s why it’s important to choose an online craps casino that is regulated and legal in the US. In order to take even more guesswork out. Here are a few more things to look for when picking a casino:
- Third Party Reviews. Always read reviews on third party sites, and customer reviews, too. A lot can be said from word of mouth. If the casino has some legit complaints, you might want to steer clear.
- Customer Service. Every online casino player wants to be treated like a VIP. That’s why you should always see how a casino handles it’s customer care. We like casinos that offer 24/7 support in a variety of contact methods; live chat is great, but they should have an easily accessible email or phone number at the very least. If it takes you 20 minutes to find out how to contact the site, it’s best to move on.
- Bonuses, Promotions and Rewards. Speaking of VIPs, all the best casinos have wide selection of bonuses, weekly promos and a sweet rewards program. Look for sites that offer cash back bonuses and free spins bonuses, in addition to fun, seasonal promos. Loyal players should be spoiled with opportunities to win prizes like electronics, free play games and cash. If you’re a high roller, the very top casinos offer exclusive events (think private concerts and early tournament entries), and prize draws for high-end items like cars and trips.
- Game Selection. We know you’re really playing online craps for the games, themselves. Really great casinos will have a solid selection of games from great software developers. It’s a bit of a balancing act, however. On one hand, you want a casino with a broad selection of games, on the other, you want a casino that offers good software. In some cases you get both, but we like to see casinos with a smaller selection of quality games vs. one with a large catalogue of duds. You spend more time scrolling than actually playing and that’s never fun.
Picks by League
Today's Matchups
Betting Tools
Craps Online FAQ
Can you play free craps online?
Yes, you can. Many social media sites and how-to sites offer free craps online, but the best places to play free craps are the real money online casinos. These gaming sites offer online craps and other casino games for real money, of course.
Those same sites offer free versions of the same games for promotional reasons. Their free craps game uses the exact same version of the game and the same software.
Is playing craps online legal?
Legality depends on the jurisdiction you're playing in. Only 5 US states have licensed and regulated online casino betting. The other US states don't regulate online casinos, but also don't prosecute individual players when they gamble online. Players in these states instead play craps online at offshore casino sites.
It's legal to play craps there, but you won't have consumer protections. Instead, you'll need to read casino reviews and pick a safe, fair online casino.
Is 11 in craps bad?
It depends on the part of the game it's in. Not unless you make the Don't Pass bet or Don't Come bet. If you make the Pass Line bet or Come bet (betting on the shooter), then a 7 or 11 wins the bet. Conversely, a 7 or 11 loses the wager on a Don't Pass bet.
The difference between the Pass/Come bets is the part of the game it is – before or after a point is established. The Pass Line/Don't Pass bets are made before a point is established, while the Come/Don't Come bets are after a point is established.
Can you play craps online for real money?
Yes, you can. Register a player account at a real money online casino. Sign in, make a deposit, accept the bonus, and start playing for real money. Usually, craps is located in the Table Games section of the casino's top menu. You'll find online craps on the Specialty Games page on rare occasions.
Are online craps games rigged?
Online craps games on legitimate gaming sites are not rigged. Choose the best US online casinos known for fairness, safety, and trustworthy payouts. To do so, read honest reviews of online craps casinos.
Where can I play craps online?
The best place to play craps online is at a real money online casino. Whether you want to play real money craps or free craps, these sites offer craps games with a full range of betting options. Most US live dealer casino at the moment don't feature live craps, so you'll need to play online craps instead.
