Craps – how to play

Craps Dice table

Wild Diamonds fun Casino Craps Table

Craps

Craps, (sometimes just referred to as “Dice”) can at first glance appear to be a very confusing and intimidating game.  With over a 100 betting options and croupiers who appear to speak a different language whilst dealing this game, it is no wonder that many people at a casino will opt for the simpler games.  Craps can be a fun and exciting game with the players rolling the dice to determine the outcome.

Brisbane Fun Casino offers beginner players a chance to learn the game of Craps without the risk of losing any real money.  Our croupiers can teach you the basic bets and will have you playing the game like a professional in a short period of time.  We have simplified some of the odds and don’t teach some of the really complicated bets in order to speed the game up and keep it flowing.  For those experienced players, all of the betting options are there to make our games as real as the original casino games, you will find our Craps Table much more player friendly than those a a real casino.

Craps is played with two dice so the possible numbers rolled are 2 through to 12. The Craps table layout looks confusing because there are many different bets that can be made and because the layouts at both ends are duplicated to allow more players at one table. However, only one bet is played in basic Craps play, and it is placed on only one area of the layout. The rest of the layout can be ignored. Craps play can look confusing and fast-moving because players can place multiple bets on different areas of the layout at the same time. In reality, Craps play can actually be slower than blackjack due to the fact that the dice often have to be rolled multiple times before an outcome is determined.

When you place a basic Craps bet (explained below) all you are doing is placing a wager that the person who is rolling the dice will roll the number he needs to win. You’re essentially just along for the ride. You are in no way in competition with the person rolling the dice. In fact, you are betting on how lucky or unlucky they are with the dice.

 

Number of Players:

Our tables can accommodate around 12 players each. Brisbane Fun Casino Craps tables are manned by 1 croupier.

Craps Objective:

In a nutshell….If you are rolling the dice, you want to roll a 7 or 11 on the first roll.  If you roll 2, 3 or 12 you lose straight away.  If you roll another number, you keep rolling and hope to roll your first number before rolling a 7 again.  If you bet against the shooter, you are betting on the opposite to happen.

Your Options/Decisions:

The basic bet in craps is the Pass Line bet:

  • The bet (chips) is placed on the area of the layout marked “Pass Line” (see the diagram below).
  • The Pass Line bet is a series bet, meaning that the person shooting the dice (aka “the shooter”) may have to roll the dice multiple times before you win or lose.
  • The first roll in a series is called the come-out roll and it is different from the rest of the rolls in the series.

On the Come-Out Roll:

  • 7 or 11 are automatic Pass Line winners and the series ends. (This is essentially a one-roll series.)
  • 2, 3, or 12 (known as Craps) are automatic Pass Line losers and the series ends. (This also is essentially a one-roll series.)
  • Any other number rolled (4,5,6,8,9,10) becomes the shooter’s point and the series continues.

When the series continues….:

If the shooter establishes a point, the series continues and the shooter continues to roll the dice. The object of the game now becomes for the shooter to roll their point number again before they roll a 7.

  • If any number other than the point or a 7 is rolled, nothing happens and the shooter rolls again.
  • If the point is rolled, Pass Line bets win and the series ends.
  • If a 7 is rolled, Pass Line bets lose (known as a “seven out”) and the series ends.
This is the most confusing thing to new craps players.

Note that rolling a 7 after a point is established is a loser,

which is opposite of the 7 being a winner on a come-out roll.

Remember this key point and you’re a craps player!

In other words, if a shooter establishes a point, they then roll the dice continuously (the series of multiple rolls) until they either roll their point or seven out. If a number other than the point or a 7 are rolled, nothing happens (as far as Pass Line bets are concerned) and the shooter rolls again.

That’s all there is to basic Craps play !

Here’s an example series:

  • The shooter throws the dice on a come-out roll, which starts a new series, and a 5 is rolled. (Recall that rolling a 7 or 11 would have been winners and 2, 3, or 12 would have been losers.)
    • The shooter has established a point of 5.
  • The shooter throws the dice again and rolls an 8.
    • Nothing happens for Pass Line bets, but other bets on the layout are acted upon accordingly such as hard 8, field etc.
  • The shooter throws the dice again and rolls a 3. (Note that rolling a 2, 3, 11, or 12 after a point is established means nothing to Pass Line bettors.)
    • Nothing happens for Pass Line bets, once again other bets may be taken or paid.
  • The shooter throws the dice again and rolls a 5.
    • This is the shooter’s point so Pass Line bets win and the series ends.

Craps Summary:

You can bet with the dice shooter or you can bet against the dice shooter.

You can also place specific bets on spcific numbers or combinations of numbers, see below side bets .

A new shooter starts when the shooter loses.

Craps Side bets listed below can be placed at any time.

The Field Bet is a type of side bet that can be made at any time and is paid even money when any of the following numbers are thrown: 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11. On the numbers 2 and 12 the bet wins 2 to 1 (double your initial bet). On numbers 5, 6, 7 or 8 the bet is lost.

The Come Bet is like the Pass line bet but it is placed after the shooter has made the point. You place the come bet, the dice are rolled and the come bet then goes to the point number that was rolled which in effect becomes the number you are now hoping will come up before a seven. It’s an additional bet to the pass line and allows the player to cover more numbers. The Don’t Come bet is the opposite of the come bet, this is also placed after the come out roll and relies on the same rules as a Don’t Pass bet.

Hardways bets (bets in the middle of layout) win if 4, 6, 8, or 10 are thrown in pairs as pictured on the table layout. They lose when the number rolls “Easy” (not in pairs or as pictured on the table layout) OR if a 7 rolls first.

Big Six & Big eight bets are when a player can choose either the 6 or 8 being rolled before the shooter throws a seven.

There are other ways to bet, but if you are a beginner, the above covers all you will need to know.

Thank you for your attention, we look forward to seeing you on our Craps Tables.

Craps players

Busy Craps tables at Wild West function

Mini Craps

2 Mini Craps tables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please note: Some experienced Craps players may notice slight variations in our odds (payouts). This is because we are a Fun Casino with the emphasis on fun. We have simplified some of the more complex aspects of the game. In most cases, the odds are now more in the players favour.

Interesting facts: (useless information!!)

Most people believe Craps was invented in the US, but it was actually introduced to the US by a French gambler. The game was known as Crapaud which is a French word meaning “toad” in reference to the original style of play by people crouched over a floor or sidewalk.

Prior to that, the game of Craps was invented by Sir William of Tyre in 1125 AD during the Crusades. Sir William and his troops came upon a castle which was named “Asart” or “Hazarth”, they called the game Hazard named after the castle. In the 17th Century, Hazard became a huge pastime and you would see it being played in every tavern in England. It was later renamed by the French and introduced to the US (Some say Craps was introduced to Canada first).