Craps Rules, Bets and Odds Explained
Craps is a casino dice game where players wager on the total rolled by two six-sided dice. A shooter starts each round with a come-out roll, then the table follows either an instant result or a point-number cycle. For players in Canada, the term matters because online and live dealer craps can look crowded, but the core rules come down to pass line, don’t pass, come, odds and higher-risk centre-table wagers. This glossary explains the game flow, common bet types, house edge ranges and practical bankroll context without casino brand references.
How Craps Works: Basic Game Flow
Craps starts with a come-out roll and uses that roll to decide whether the round ends immediately or moves to a point. If the shooter rolls 7 or 11, pass line bets win at even money. If the dice show 2, 3 or 12, pass line bets lose, while don’t pass usually wins on 2 or 3 and pushes on 12 under standard rules. Any total of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 becomes the point.
Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until the point repeats or a 7 appears. Repeating the point pays the pass line; rolling 7 first ends the hand and resolves the line bets against the shooter. This sequence explains why licensed online casinos and live dealer tables separate the come-out phase from the point phase, even when the interface compresses the layout on mobile screens.
Primary Betting Options in Craps
The pass line is the core craps bet because it follows the shooter through the full come-out and point cycle. Don’t pass takes the opposite side, with a 12 normally treated as a push rather than a win. Come and don’t come bets use the same logic after a point exists, creating a fresh mini-cycle from the next roll. Field bets cover 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 in one roll, while proposition bets target exact totals or doubles.
Bet selection changes the long-term cost of play. Pass line and come carry a house edge of about 1.41%, while don’t pass and don’t come sit near 1.36% when the 12 pushes. Field bets vary by paytable, commonly around 2.78% to 5.56%. Centre proposition wagers can exceed 11%, so they add volatility rather than steady value.
Odds and Payouts
Craps payouts depend on both the bet type and the table paytable, not just the dice result. Pass line, don’t pass, come and don’t come generally pay 1:1 on the base wager. Free odds, when offered behind a line or come bet, pay true odds: 2:1 on points 4 and 10, 3:2 on 5 and 9, and 6:5 on 6 and 8. That pricing carries no house edge on the odds portion.
Field payouts need careful reading because the 2 and 12 decide much of the edge. A layout that pays 2:1 on one of those numbers and 3:1 on the other is stronger than a double-only version. Canadian players should also check minimums in CAD, especially on live dealer products from providers such as Evolution, Ezugi or Pragmatic Play Live, where table limits and stream format affect session pacing.
| Bet Type | House Edge | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line / Don't Pass | 1.41% / 1.36% | Use as the main low-edge base bet |
| Come / Don't Come | 1.41% / 1.36% | Adds repeated point-style decisions after setup |
| Field Bet | 2.78%-5.56% | Check 2 and 12 payouts before wagering |
| Proposition Bets | 11.11%-16.67%+ | High-volatility wagers with weaker expected value |
