How to Play Craps Online
Learning how to play craps is easier than the table layout suggests. At its core, you are betting on the outcome of two dice. The game revolves around one key roll — whether the shooter hits their “point” number before rolling a seven. Most of the complexity comes from the dozens of side bets available, but you only need three to play well. This guide covers the rules, every major bet type with its house edge, which wagers to avoid, and practical tips for playing online.
Updated Written by Jonathan Williams
What Is Craps?
Craps is a dice game played in rounds. One player (the shooter) rolls two dice, and everyone at the table bets on the result. In online craps, you are always the shooter — the dice roll is determined by a random number generator, and the animation is visual only.
The game has one of the widest house edge ranges of any table game. The best bets (Pass Line with Odds) give the casino an effective edge below 1%, while the worst bets (proposition wagers) hand it over 16%. Knowing which bets to use and which to ignore is the entire strategy. This makes craps a strong option alongside blackjack and baccarat for players who want low-edge table games.
How a Round of Craps Works
Every round has two phases: the come-out roll and the point phase. Understanding this sequence is all you need to follow the game.
The Come-Out Roll
The round starts with the come-out roll. Three outcomes are possible:
- 7 or 11 (natural): Pass Line bets win immediately. Round ends.
- 2, 3, or 12 (craps): Pass Line bets lose immediately. Round ends.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10: That number becomes the “point.” The round continues.
The Point Phase
Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until one of two things happens:
- The point number is rolled again — Pass Line bets win (pays 1:1)
- A 7 is rolled (“seven out”) — Pass Line bets lose, and the round ends
Every other number rolled during the point phase is irrelevant to the Pass Line bet. The round continues until the point or a seven appears.
Craps Bet Types and House Edges
Craps offers more than 30 different bets, but only a handful are worth using. The table below covers the key wagers ranked by house edge.
Best Bets
| Bet | House Edge | When to Place | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Odds Bet | 0% | After point is set (behind Pass/Don’t Pass) | True odds (2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8) |
| Don’t Pass | 1.36% | Before come-out roll | 1:1 |
| Pass Line | 1.41% | Before come-out roll | 1:1 |
| Don’t Come | 1.36% | After point is set | 1:1 |
| Come | 1.41% | After point is set | 1:1 |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% | After point is set | 7:6 |
Worst Bets
| Bet | House Edge | Why to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Any 7 (“Big Red”) | 16.67% | Worst bet on the table — pays 4:1 but true odds are 5:1 |
| Any Craps (2, 3, or 12) | 11.11% | Single-roll proposition bet |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 11.11% | Requires exact doubles before a 7 or easy combination |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 9.09% | Slightly better but still poor value |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 9.09% | Place 6/8 gives same result at 1.52% edge instead |
| Field Bet | 5.56% | Looks appealing but edge is steep |
The centre of the craps table — where all the proposition bets live — is where the casino makes its biggest margin. Experienced players treat it as decoration.
The Odds Bet: The Best Wager in the Casino
The Odds bet is unique across all casino games because it carries zero house edge. It pays at true mathematical odds with no commission or markup. You place it after a point is established, directly behind your Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet.
Payouts depend on the point number:
- Point of 4 or 10: Pays 2:1
- Point of 5 or 9: Pays 3:2
- Point of 6 or 8: Pays 6:5
Most online casinos allow Odds bets of 3x to 5x your Pass Line stake, and some offer 10x or even 100x. The more you put on Odds relative to your flat bet, the lower your combined house edge becomes. A Pass Line bet with 3x Odds has an effective house edge of about 0.47% — lower than almost any other wager in the casino. Browse our casino guides to compare house edges across all major table games.
Pass Line vs Don’t Pass: Which Is Better?
The Don’t Pass bet has a marginally lower house edge (1.36% vs 1.41%) because you are betting with the mathematical favourite — a seven is the most likely dice total, and during the point phase you win when it appears. However, the difference is negligible over any realistic session.
In physical casinos, Don’t Pass bettors are sometimes called “wrong” bettors and can draw social friction because they win when the table loses. Online, this is a non-issue — nobody else is at your table. Both bets are excellent choices, and either one combined with Odds gives you the lowest house edge available.
Online Craps Variants
Most online casinos offer two main formats, with the same core rules and bet types.
Virtual (RNG) Craps
The standard online version. A random number generator determines each roll, and the dice animation is visual. Rounds are fast — you control the pace entirely. This is the best format for learning because there is no time pressure.
Live Dealer Craps
A real dealer rolls physical dice in a studio, streamed to your screen. The gameplay is identical but with a social element and visual transparency. Available at most best online casinos with live game libraries. Rounds are slower than RNG craps due to the physical roll and betting window.
Tips for Playing Craps Online
Craps can drain a bankroll quickly if you chase proposition bets. These practical habits keep you on the right side of the maths.
- Start with Pass Line + Odds only. This two-bet combination gives you a sub-0.5% effective edge with 3x Odds and is all you need as a beginner.
- Ignore the centre of the table. Hardways, Any 7, and proposition bets carry 9–17% house edges. They look exciting but are mathematically terrible.
- Maximise your Odds bet. The Odds bet has zero house edge. The more of your total wager you shift to Odds (versus the flat Pass Line), the better your overall return.
- Set a session budget. Even with low house edge bets, variance in craps is real. Decide your stop-loss before you start.
- Understand bonus interactions. Like roulette, craps typically counts at only 5–10% toward wagering requirements, making it poor for bonus clearing.
- Try free versions first. Many new online casinos offer demo craps tables. Use them to learn the bet placement and round flow before wagering real money.
If you are new to online gambling, check our guide on spotting a safe online casino before depositing. And if craps feels too complex at first, free demo slots offer a simpler starting point while you learn.
Conclusion
Craps has the best single bet in the casino (Odds at 0% edge) and some of the worst (Any 7 at 16.67%). The entire strategy comes down to using the former and ignoring the latter. Stick with Pass Line or Don’t Pass, back it with maximum Odds, skip everything in the centre of the table, and you are playing one of the lowest house edge games available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bet in craps?
The Odds bet is the best wager in craps — and in any casino game — because it has a 0% house edge. It pays at true mathematical odds with no commission. You can only place it after a point is established, behind a Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet. Combined, Pass Line with maximum Odds gives an effective edge below 0.5%.
Is Don’t Pass better than Pass Line?
Marginally. Don’t Pass has a 1.36% house edge versus 1.41% for Pass Line. Over thousands of rolls the difference is measurable, but over a single session it is negligible. Both are excellent bets. Choose whichever you prefer — online, there is no social stigma to betting Don’t Pass.
What are proposition bets and should I use them?
Proposition bets are single-roll wagers placed in the centre of the craps table — bets like Any 7, Any Craps, and Hardways. They carry house edges from 9% to over 16%, which is 7–12 times higher than the Pass Line. They should be avoided entirely if you want to play with a mathematical advantage.
How does online craps differ from a physical casino?
The rules and bets are identical. The only differences are pace (online is faster, with no waiting for other players), the random number generator replacing physical dice, and the ability to play free demo versions. Live dealer craps uses real dice for players who prefer physical randomness.
Is online craps fair?
Licensed online craps uses certified random number generators tested by independent laboratories such as eCOGRA, GLI, and iTech Labs. Each roll produces a statistically random outcome equivalent to physical dice. Live dealer craps uses real dice on camera for additional transparency. Always play at casinos licensed by recognised regulators like the UKGC or Malta Gaming Authority.