Craps for beginners: the come-out roll, point, pass and don’t pass, odds bets, place bets and which craps bets have the lowest house edge.
How to Play Craps: Rules, Bets and Odds for Beginners
By Chris Wyatt · Updated October 2026
Quick answer: Craps is a dice game where you bet on the outcome of two dice. On the come-out roll, a 7 or 11 wins for Pass Line bettors and 2, 3 or 12 loses. Any other number becomes the point, and Pass Line wins if the point is rolled again before a 7. The best bets are Pass/Don’t Pass (about 1.4%) backed with Odds, which have no house edge at all.
In this guide:
- How Craps Works
- Main Craps Bets and House Edge
- The Odds Bet: The Best Bet in the Casino
- Dice Probabilities
- Craps Strategy for Beginners
- Where to Play Craps with Crypto
- Craps FAQs
How Craps Works
- Come-out roll: the shooter rolls two dice. 7 or 11 is a “natural” (Pass wins). 2, 3 or 12 is “craps” (Pass loses).
- Point: if 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled, it becomes the point.
- Point phase: the shooter keeps rolling. Rolling the point again before a 7 wins for Pass; a 7 first (“seven out”) loses.
Main Craps Bets and House Edge
| Bet | How it wins | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 7/11 on come-out, or point before 7 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | Opposite of Pass (12 is a push) | 1.36% |
| Come / Don’t Come | Like Pass/Don’t Pass, placed after the point | 1.41% / 1.36% |
| Odds (behind Pass/Come) | Pays true odds once a point is set | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 6 or 8 before a 7 | 1.52% |
| Field | Next roll is 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 | About 2.8% to 5.6% (depends on payouts) |
| Hardways | A pair (e.g. 4+4) before 7 or the easy way | 9.09% to 11.11% |
| Any 7 | Next roll is 7 | 16.67% |
The Odds Bet: The Best Bet in the Casino
After a point is set, you can add an Odds bet behind your Pass Line bet. It pays true odds: 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8. Because it pays exactly what the probabilities say, it has no house edge. The more Odds you take, the lower your overall edge.
Dice Probabilities
| Total | Ways to roll | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or 12 | 1 | 2.78% |
| 3 or 11 | 2 | 5.56% |
| 4 or 10 | 3 | 8.33% |
| 5 or 9 | 4 | 11.11% |
| 6 or 8 | 5 | 13.89% |
| 7 | 6 | 16.67% |
Craps Strategy for Beginners
- Stick to Pass Line (or Don’t Pass) plus Odds.
- Add Come bets with Odds if you want more action.
- Place 6 and 8 are the only reasonable place bets.
- Avoid proposition bets like Any 7, Hardways and Any Craps.
Compare craps with other games in our RTP and house edge guide.
Where to Play Craps with Crypto
Live dealer craps is available at several crypto casinos including Stake and BC.Game. Check our live dealer guide for more.
Craps FAQs
What is the best bet in craps?
Pass Line or Don’t Pass backed with the Odds bet. The Odds bet has no house edge.
What happens on the come-out roll?
7 or 11 wins for Pass, 2, 3 or 12 loses, and any other number becomes the point.
What does seven out mean?
Rolling a 7 before the point during the point phase, which ends the shooter’s turn and loses Pass Line bets.
What is the worst bet in craps?
Proposition bets such as Any 7, with a 16.67% house edge.
Is Don’t Pass better than Pass?
Slightly, with a 1.36% edge vs 1.41%, but the difference is tiny.
18+ only. Gambling involves risk; never bet more than you can afford to lose. Visit our responsible gambling page for support. More beginner guides in our Crypto Casino 101 hub.