Craps Game Guide

Introduction

Look for the noisiest corner in a land-based casino and you will definitely stumble onto the craps section. Played around a custom-built table with two dice as the only equipment needed, craps is extremely easy to learn. Players bet on the outcome of the two dice and they need to familiarize themselves with the different betting options in order to fully understand the game.

New players may feel hesitant to try their hand at craps because of the fast pace and the phrases used around the table that sometimes feel like the players are speaking another language! A solution has been found in the form of online casino craps – fast becoming one of the most popular forms of gambling on the internet. Here, players can learn the game at their own pace and from the comfort of their own home.

History

12th Century English knights created a game called Hazard that is considered the forbearer of craps as we know it today. The game was hugely admired in medieval England and references to it can be found in popular literature of those times. Hazard found its way to the French nobility in the 1700s, who promptly changed the name to Crabes. The first settlers to America brought the game across the seas with them and it soon became equally popular among the local population.

In 1907, John H. Quinn formulated the rules of craps as we know them today, introducing new rules and features. The game was a steady favorite in land casinos throughout the last century until it hit the online casino industry and became all the rage. Today, millions of gamblers choose to take their craps fun online because of the fun and convenience of this pastime.

How to Play Craps

The simplicity of craps is what draws many players to the game. Essentially, players wager against the house on the outcome of two dice. The dice are thrown on a special craps table with unique features. The dice are rolled in turn. The role of the shooter (dice roller) is taken up by the same player until the dice turn up specific numbers. Players predict the outcome of the dice before the shooter rolls them. Wagers can be made for one throw or for a whole series of throws. The payout table determines winning combinations.

Players need to become familiar with the various betting options available to them. For example, players can wager that the next roll will be a three. This is known as the Ace Deuce bet. Betting on craps numbers means that players predict that the next throw will turn up a 2, 3 or 12. Alternatively, players can bet that a series of throws will or won’t turn up certain numbers. A Pass Line bet therefore means that the player wagers that the numbers 7 or 11 won’t appear in the next roll.

Craps Tips

 Remember that craps is a game of chance and no strategy has yet been found to overcome the luck factor. However, players can take certain steps to minimize their losses by managing their bankroll and knowing when to quit.
 Experts suggest that sticking to the basic bets (ie. Pass/Don’t Pass) will make your money go further.
 The two best bets around a craps table are the 6 or 8 and the Line Bet. The worst are those at the center of the layout that come with terribly high house edges.
 Experts also suggest that players develop some sort of pattern to their game. Playing ‘all over the place’ will ultimately cause you to lose more in the long run.

Craps Tournaments

Craps fans enjoy a spin off of their favorite form of entertainment by playing at craps tournaments. They can play in free tournaments, which have the casino putting up the prize money, or buy-in tournaments which have the players paying an entry fee that goes towards the prize pool at the end. The main difference between regular craps and tournament craps is that players are playing against other players and not the casino. This is an important fact to remember when determining your game strategy. Players should read the terms and conditions of each particular tournament to ensure that they understand what is required of them.