How to Play Craps Online
Learning how to play craps online might seem tricky at first, but it’s simple once you know the basics. The goal is easy: place your bets and guess the outcome of the dice roll.
Below, you’ll find a quick demo that walks you through a round of craps step by step without complicated terms.
After the demo, we explain each bet, along with the odds, payouts, and strategies to help you play smarter. By the end, you’ll understand the game and feel confident enough to try it yourself.
Tap the fullscreen icon and turn your phone sideways for a better view of the demo.
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Play Craps for free below to get familiar with the layout and the types of bets.
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Learn to Play Online Craps
The first step to understanding how to play craps online is to learn the rules and different types of bets you can wager on.
We take you through each of these in a simple way so you can learn quickly and start playing.
Craps In-Round Rules
Each round of online craps has a coming-out phase and a point phase. The gameplay begins after the initial wagers are on the table and the dice roll.
Before we get into the bets you can make, let’s look at the rules defining each stage.
Come Out Roll
Each round begins with one roll called the “come-out roll.” There are three possible outcomes here.
- If the first roll is a 2, 3, or 12, that’s called “Craps,” and all Pass Line bets lose.
- If it’s a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win immediately.
- If it’s 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the “point,” and the game continues to the next stage.
The Point Phase
When a point is set (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), the puck changes from OFF to ON and moves onto that number. Now the dice will keep rolling until one of two things happens:
- If the point number is rolled again, Pass Line bets win.
- If a 7 is rolled first, the Pass Line bets lose, and the round ends. The puck goes back to OFF, and a new round starts.
Common Craps Bets Explained
There are several bets in craps that you have the option of placing throughout any given round. Let’s look at all the options on the table.
All craps bets have different odds and payouts, but we’re going to focus here on what each one means and the correct time to place them.
Multi-Roll Bets
Multi-roll bets tend to be one of the most popular options. Many cover several dice roll outcomes and give the player a better chance of winning.
“Pass Line” Bet
The Pass Line Bet at the craps table is a common stake at the start of the round.
This wager means you think a 7 or 11 will hit before a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll.
When a point is set instead of a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, the pass line bets remain active on the table.
It stays there until the shooter hits the point again or sevens out.
“Don’t Pass” Bet
The Don’t Pass Bet is the opposite of the Pass Line Bet.
So, a don’t pass wager means you think a 2 or 3 will land before 7 or 11 on the come-out roll. A 12, in this case, is a push.
It is far less common since most people play the pass line, and you’re betting against them.
It’s only bad manners if you celebrate openly on a “don’t pass” win.
Come Bet
You can only make a Come Bet after a point is set.
It means you think the shooter will get a 7 or 11 on the dice before they land the come point again.
This wager is similar to the pass line bet, except you place it at a different time.
Don’t Come Bet
The Don’t Come Bet is the reverse version of the Come Bet.
So you place this wager if you think there will be a 2 or 3 before the come point. Again, a 12 here is a push.
This bet is essentially the same as the don’t pass wager, but placed after a set point.
Taking the Odds / Laying Odds
Taking the Odds can only be done after a point is set if you’ve made a pass wager.
These bets pay off if the point gets hit again before the shooter gets a 7.
You can lay the Odds after a point is set if you made a don’t pass wager.
You win this bet if the shooter throws a 7 before they roll the come point a second time.
Place Bets / Buy Bets / Lay Bets
Place and Buy Bets can happen anytime, but only pay out when a point is set.
These wagers mean you think that a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will happen before a 7.
The casino takes a 5% commission on the buy bet for slightly better payouts.
The lay bet is essentially the opposite of the buy bet and is rooting for a 7 first.
Big 6 / Big 8
You can place these bets at any time. A Big 6 pays when the shooter rolls a 6 before a 7.
Likewise, the Big 8 pays off when they throw an 8 before a 7.
These wagers differ slightly from the 6 or 8-place bets and buy bets because they are active even when a point isn’t set.
They are usually regarded as sucker bets.
Hardway Bets
You can place these bets at any time. You are wagering on a 4, 6, 8, or 10 to show where both dice are the same numbers.
For example, two 5s is a “hard 10.”
You need the “hard number” to hit before the shooter rolls a 7 to win these wagers. The hardway 2 and 12 are both craps with their betting area.
Single-Roll Bets
The craps table also has several proposition bets in the center that are only good for a single roll. These side wagers payout well but have a much lower probability of hitting.
Snake Eyes
You’re betting the shooter rolls a two. The single pips on the dice look like the eyes of a snake.
Ace Deuce
This wager pays when the dice land on three. Also called “3 craps,” it will always have a 1 and a 2 in combination.
Yo
You’re wagering that the next roll is an 11. Also called Yoleven, this combo will always contain a 5 and a 6.
Boxcars
This bet wins when the shooter rolls a 12. It is always two 6s and is sometimes called cornrows or midnight.
C & E
The C bet is for “craps,” and the E stands for “eleven.” You can make these wagers singly or combined.
Big Red
Here you’re hoping for a 7 to hit. It’s unlucky to say “seven” in craps, so this roll gets a nickname.
Any Craps
This bet wins when the shooter rolls any of the craps numbers 2, 3, or 12. It is also called the three-way.
The Horn
Wagering on the horn is hoping for a 2, 3, 11, or 12. All these numbers only have a single combination.
Field Bet
The field pays off when the shooter hits a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. The payout for a 2 or 12 gets doubled here.
Multi-Bet Nicknames
Some wagering combinations have unique nicknames. For example, betting the world or “whirl” is when you put stakes on big seven and the horn, and Hard and Horny combines the hardway choices with the horn.
The Best Online Craps Strategies
Your best strategy in real money online craps is playing the math and making bets with a lower house edge. Once you understand the basics of the game and know the odds and payouts for popular bets, you can play more smartly.
Craps Strategy #1: Only Play Popular Bets
The most popular bets at the Craps table are the pass line, don’t pass, come, and don’t come. Playing them is a good strategy since all these bets have a house edge under 1.5%. In the long run, every $100 you stake in these areas will give you more than $98.50 back.
Pass Line / Come
These are by far the most common bets at the Craps table.
When the button is off, you place pass line wagers and win on a 7 or 11 but lose on 2, 3, or 12. Come bets behave the same way, but you place the stake after the point is on.
Almost everyone at the table will have one of these bets active. It generates exciting energy and camaraderie because everyone wins or loses at the same time.
- House Edge: 1.41%
- Payout: 1 to 1
Don’t Pass / Don’t Come
These wagers are the opposite of the pass / come bets.
Don’t pass hopes for a 2 or 3 while the point is off. Don’t come does the same when the point is on. These bets lose when the shooter throws a 7 or 11.
A 12 on the don’t bets breaks even, making for better odds. It’s a less popular option despite the lower house edge since you’re usually betting against the table.
- House Edge: 1.35%
- Payout: 1 to 1
Craps Strategy #2: “Taking the Odds” Bet
One of the best Craps strategies involves a somewhat hidden bet that is often overlooked because it isn’t marked on the table. The odds wagers, “taking the odds” and “laying the odds,” are the only bets in the casino with a 0% house edge.
You can place odds bets on your pass line, don’t pass, come, and don’t come stakes. You “take” odds on pass / come, and “lay” odds on don’t pass/don’t come.
These wagers are doubling down on the currently set point number, but you can bet more than double.
It’s a great strategy to make odds bets since they have a 0% house edge. The only risk is that these wagers get cleared with your initial one.
If you take the odds on your pass line stakes and the shooter rolls a 7 before hitting the point, you’ll lose them both.
Betting the Max Odds
The odds bet is such a good play that casinos cap the amount you can wager.
The cap is usually based on the odds of hitting the point number in land-based casinos. For example, the rules may say you can add up to 3x your stake on 4 / 10, 4x on 5 / 9, and 5x on 6 / 8.
Most online craps casinos for real money just put a flat cap of 2-3x on odds bets.
Craps Strategy #3: Place the 6 and 8 to Win
Place bets are put on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 and are only active after the point is on. No other rolls matter for these wagers, and you can bet on the number winning or losing. Placing numbers to lose has better odds, but the payouts are diminished, so avoiding these bets is a good strategy.
At land-based casinos, the dealer will assist you in placing your chips in the proper areas. To bet on the 6 to win, you would put money in the come area and ask them to “place the 6.” When playing craps online, make sure you hover the cursor on the area that says “place 6” or “place win 6.”
Each number has different odds and payouts based on its probability of hitting.
4 or 10 to Win
At 2 to 1 odds, you’re twice as likely to see a 7 before getting a 4 or 10.
Since dealers don’t make change, these bets are always in $5 increments because of their payouts.
- House Edge: 6.67%
- Payout: 9 to 5
5 or 9 to Win
You get slightly better odds 3 to 2 on hitting the 5 or 9 before a 7.
Again, the payout structure for these bets calls for $5 bet increments. Online, this won’t matter.
- House Edge: 4.00%
- Payout: 7 to 5
6 or 8 to Win
The 6 and 8 are the most popular, with the best place odds at 6 to 5.
Due to the payouts, dealers only place these wagers in $6 increments. Again, this is to avoid change.
- House Edge: 1.52%
- Payout: 7 to 6
Craps Strategy #4: Avoid Prop & Single Roll Bets
If you want to win more, the final craps strategy you should employ is to avoid the sucker bets with high house edge.
Prop Bets
The proposition bets are in the center of the table, with the dice combinations displayed.
They are all single-roll bets with attractive payouts but carry a much higher 9 – 17% house edge.
- House Edge: Over 9%
- Payout: 4 to 1 and up
The Field
The field bet gets mixed reviews since it’s a single-roll bet, but its odds are closer to even.
You’re betting on a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 where 2 and 12 pay double. If they pay triple, the edge is better.
- House Edge: 5.56%
- Payout: 1.125 to 1
Big 6 & Big 8
Big 6 or Big 8 are multi-roll bets but only payout 1 to 1, which is less than you get when placing the same numbers.
The only difference is that the wagers are active when the point is off and have a higher house edge.
- House Edge: 9.09%
- Payout: 1 to 1
Online Craps Betting Odds
This online craps odds chart saves you from having to do the math. It shows all possible two-dice combinations and the odds and probabilities of seeing a specific number.
Best and Worst Bets to Place in Online Craps
Bets With Best Odds
The following wagers all have a house edge under 2%.
- Pass Line
- Come
- Don’t Pass
- Don’t Come
- 6 or 8 Place Bets
Bets With Worst Odds
Avoid these wagers with a house edge over 10%.
- 4 or 10 Hardway
- Any 7
- Any Craps
- 2 or 12 Craps
- 3 or 11 Craps
Online Craps Payouts
The table below shows the typical payout examples for all the craps bets and their house edges. Keep it handy to know your chances of hitting one of those long-shot single-roll prop bets.
Craps Payout Table
| Bet | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | 0.95 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Come | 1 to 1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Come | 0.95 to 1 | 1.35% |
| Take Odds 4 or 10 | 2 to 1 | 0.00% |
| Take Odds 5 or 9 | 3 to 2 | 0.00% |
| Take Odds 6 or 8 | 6 to 5 | 0.00% |
| Lay Odds 4 or 10 | 1 to 2 | 0.00% |
| Lay Odds 5 or 9 | 2 to 3 | 0.00% |
| Lay Odds 6 or 8 | 5 to 6 | 0.00% |
| Buy 4 or 10 | 39 to 21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 5 or 9 | 29 to 21 | 4.76% |
| Buy 6 or 8 | 23 to 21 | 4.76% |
| Lay 4 or 10 | 19 to 41 | 2.44% |
| Lay 5 or 9 | 19 to 31 | 3.32% |
| Lay 6 or 8 | 19 to 25 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 to Win | 9 to 5 | 6.67% |
| Place 5 or 9 to Win | 7 to 5 | 4.00% |
| Place 6 or 8 to Win | 7 to 6 | 1.52% |
| Place 4 or 10 to Lose | 5 to 11 | 3.03% |
| Place 5 or 9 to Lose | 5 to 8 | 2.50% |
| Place 6 or 8 to Lose | 4 to 5 | 1.82% |
| Hardway 6 or 8 | 9 to 1 | 9.09% |
| Hardway 4 or 10 | 7 to 1 | 11.1% |
| Any 7 | 4 to 1 | 16.7% |
| Any Craps | 7 to 1 | 11.1% |
| 2 or 12 | 30 to 1 | 13.9% |
| 3 or 11 | 15 to 1 | 11.1% |
| Big 6 or Big 8 | 1 to 1 | 9.09% |
| The Field | 1.125 to 1 | 5.56% |
Note: Payouts and odds may vary from casino to casino, as table rules could be altered.
Tips to Help You Play Smarter
Online craps game has great odds if you place the bets with the lowest house edge. Some wagers have significantly better odds within the wide range of betting options, while others are sucker bets.
Follow the valuable craps tips below if you want to place bets with good odds and win more often.
Apply Strategy
Craps offers good and bad bets. Not knowing the basic strategy can lead to poor decisions.
If you want to win money, focus on the bets with the lowest house edge. Stay calm and don’t get too excited.
Bet Pass or Don’t Pass
Betting on the Pass or Don’t Pass lines gives you better odds. Here’s how it works:
- Pass Line: You win if the first roll is 7 or 11. You lose if it’s 2, 3, or 12. For other numbers, you win if that number is rolled again before a 7.
- Don’t Pass Line: You win if the first roll is 2 or 3. You lose if it’s 7 or 11. A roll of 12 is a tie. For other numbers, you win if a 7 is rolled before that number.
Don’t Make Single-Roll Bets
As I mentioned above, avoid Field, Any 7, or Any Craps. They raise the house edge to over 10%.
Use Don’t Come Bets
If a point is set on your Don’t Pass bet, place a Don’t Come bet. You win if the next roll is 2 or 3, tie on 12, and lose on 7 or 11.
Go for the Odds Bet
The odds bet is placed after your Pass or Don’t Pass bet and pays true odds based on the point number.
It has a 0% house edge, making it one of the best bets in the casino.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about how online Craps works behind the scenes? Here are a few things most guides don’t cover.
What is the house edge in craps?
The standard pass line bet, which most beginners should stick with, has a house edge of 1.41%. The don’t pass bet has a slightly lower house edge, at 1.36%.
The house edge varies drastically depending on which bets you make. The table also has different versions of house edge percentages because some bets stay in place for multiple rolls.
Is it possible to win at craps?
Craps is a luck-based game, so during any given round, you can indeed win.
However, like any casino game, there’s a house edge built into it that ensures the casino makes money in the long run.
For this reason, our recommendation will always be to play for fun and with a set budget in mind. If you happen to win early, collect your winnings and walk away.
How does craps compare to other casino games?
One major factor is that by using the optimal betting method in craps, a player can lower the house edge to 1.36%. This is decent when compared to some other table games.
With the best possible rules, Blackjack has a house edge of 0.28%, baccarat is 1.06%, and roulette is 2.7% if you play on a single 0 table.
Do online Craps tables have a maximum bet limit per round?
Yes. Each table shows the minimum and maximum bets. The limits can vary depending on the casino and game version.
How much should you bet on Craps odds?
Since the odds bet at the Craps table has a 0% house edge, you should wager the max allowed by the casino if you can afford it. Remember to use bankroll management best practices so you don’t burn your chip stack out too fast.
How quickly do online Craps games move compared to the real casino game?
Online Craps is usually faster. There’s no waiting on other players or dealers — it moves as quickly as you do.
Does the online Craps software show past dice rolls and betting history?
Yes. Most games have a history or log button to check recent rolls and past bets.
Can multiple players join the same online Craps table at once?
Not usually. Most online Craps games are single-player, so it’s just you against the dice.
Casino and Game Reviews
Jeremy Olson Online Casino and Games Expert
Jeremy Olson is a research writer specializing in US casino reviews and game strategy. He has covered poker, casino games, and sports betting since 2004.
He converted bad beats in blackjack and poker into a passion to learn and now specializes in several areas of the online casino market.