Developed by dice manufacturer John Winn around 1910, craps is an extremely popular casino game in the casino, often drawing in large audiences.
It will take some time to get your head around this casino game, but the payoff is worthwhile. Craps is a favorite game among players due to its quick tempo, sociable nature, and minimal house edge.
While it can be confusing at first, players gradually come to enjoy the game in a number of ways. It’s gonna take you a long time to grow tired of it.
Full T&Cs Apply. To be eligible, players must be at least 21 years old, playing within the state of West Virginia. Players must make a single deposit of 10. The bonus money has a 1x wagering requirement.
Full T&Cs Apply. To be eligible, players must be at least 21 years old, playing within the state of West Virginia. Players must make a single deposit of $20. The bonus money has a 1x wagering requirement for slots and 2x for video poker games.
Craps Basics for Beginners – How to Play It For Real Money
Craps is one of the more modern table games in the casino, having been developed in 1910, and as such, it had to compete with some of the behemoths of the gambling world. To do this, they offered players an excellent range of bets and a solid house edge for some of the lower-risk bets. As a result, players can realistically get a house edge from as little as 0.47%.
There are indeed lots of betting options on the craps table. Although the table layout may look complicated initially, there are some straightforward steps you can take towards getting started with craps and progress to the more advanced bets and strategies as you begin to learn the game.
The beauty of craps is that a brand new player can get some of the best returns in the casino just by following simple betting strategies that require very little knowledge of the game.
The Comeout Roll
The first roll in the game is known as the comeout roll. This is when all initial bets are placed, and the puck is off.
Players can place their pass line or don’t pass bets and place their proposition bets such as any craps or 7.
After bets are placed, the shooter rolls the dice. If the rolled number is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number will become the ‘point,’ any other numbers will result in a win/loss for all initial bets, and the table game starts over.
The Intermediate Roll
The intermediate roll is the second roll, after the point has been established in the comeout roll. Players who usually play pass line bets and don’t pass bets would do so in the form of ‘come’ and ‘don’t come’ bets in this stage.
Players may also make place bets, buy bets, proposition bets, and odds bets in this stage.
The shooter rolls the dice again; the game will restart if a 7 or the point number is rolled.
After the Intermediate Roll
If a seven or point number is not rolled, the game will continue until the shooter rolls one of those numbers. As there are come bets available in the second stage, there can be multiple points.
Betting Options in Craps
The number of betting options in craps can make the game seem intimidating at first. But, remember, practice makes perfect, and you don’t have to know all of the betting options to get started. So here are all the ways you can bet at the craps table.
Pass Line Bet: A bet that pays even money, placed on the first roll of the dice. A pass line bet wins if a 7 or 11 is rolled and loses if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. If another number is rolled, that number becomes the point, which the shooter must roll again before a 7 in order for the pass line bet to win.
Don’t Pass Bet: Essentially the opposite of a pass line bet. You lose if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, win on a 2 or 3, and push on a 12. If a point number is rolled, you will win if a 7 is rolled before the point is rolled again and lose otherwise.
Come Bet: Similar to the pass line bet, but made on the second roll of the game, when the point has been established. A come bet wins on a 7 or 11 and loses on a 2, 3, or 12. If any other number is rolled, that will become your come point and, if rolled again, will result in a win. A roll of 7 in this phase will result in a loss.
Don’t Come Bet: Again, essentially the opposite of a come bet, this bet is made after the initial roll, on the point phase. You win if a 2 or 3 is rolled, a 12 is a push, and a 7 or 11 will result in a loss. Any other number will become your come point, and if rolled again, you will lose. You will win if a 7 is rolled.
Pass Odds Bet: The odds bet is unique in that it is a bet that offers zero house edge, and thus, is one of the best bets to make in the casino. Each casino has a different maximum bet based on your initial pass line bet, which will be around 3x for most online casinos.
An odds bet is essentially a way to hedge your initial bet after a pass/come bet. You are betting that the shooter will roll a 7 before the point.
Field Bet: A field bet is a one-roll bet that pays even money on 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11, pays double on a 2, and triple on a 12. Players lose on 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Place Bet: In the point phase, you can make a place bet, which you will win with varying payouts if it is rolled before a 7. The payouts are:
4: 9/5
5: 7/5
6: 7/6
8: 7/6
9: 7/5
10: 9/5
Proposition Bet: Also known as house bets, you are rolling on the next roll of the dice. Here are the payouts for each:
Any Craps (2, 3, or 12): 7/1 Aces (2) or Twelve (12): 30/1 Ace-Deuce (3) or Eleven (11): 15/1 Seven (7): 4/1
It is worth noting that proposition bets have some of the lowest returns to the player on the craps table.
Craps Strategy for Beginners
Playing with a strategy in craps can help you become a better bettor. If you are new to the game, you could consider following one of the two strategies below!
The ‘Pass Line’ strategy
This method focuses on the player making pass line bets that come with a relatively low house edge of 1.41% and is the most common bet on the craps table.
This is great as it automatically puts the bet above many games in the casino, including favorites such as roulette, in terms of RTP, without needing any additional strategy from the player.
To make this better, players should then take the odds to the maximum that the casino allows. This even money bet will essentially bring down the house edge of the initial bet and make the strategy even more profitable overall while helping hedge against losses.
Most online casinos have a maximum odds bet of 3x the pass line bet. And so, combining the pass line bet and the odds bet at 3x reduces the house edge to just 0.47%!
The ‘Hit and Run’ strategy
This one is about making high-risk bets, such as one-roll house bet like 2 or 12, for a payout of 30/1 and leaving the table when you receive a big win.
This strategy is suitable for those who favor big wins instead of smaller, less risky bets but does come with a much larger house edge of around 13.9%.
Where to Play Craps in West Virginia?
If you are excited to play craps offline, you may want to check out one of the brick-and-mortar casinos below!
Remember, if it’s your first time playing, you might want to watch a few games before jumping in, as craps played in real-time is much faster-paced than the online versions.
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort
With lots of table options, including craps, blackjack, and three-card poker, Mountaineer Casino has you covered for live-dealer games.
While you are attending the casino, you might also want to check out their offering of over 1,000 slot machines with high-limit denominations of up to 100 dollars per spin!
There are also various food and drink options, along with a horse racing track and full sportsbook.
Mountaineer Casino is open for gameplay from 10 AM – 2 AM on weekdays and until 4 AM on weekends.
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
At Wheeling Island, players will be able to indulge in 20 live table games, including craps, roulette, and blackjack, spaced out across a vast 90,000 square feet gaming floor.
Wheeling Island is also home to over 1,400 slots, 151 hotel rooms, a full-size racetrack, various eateries, and an events hall.
The casino at Wheeling Island Hotel is open from 9 AM – 4 AM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 12 PM – 2 AM the rest of the week.
The Casino Club at the Greenbrier
The Casino Club at the Greenbrier, the five-star luxury hotel set on a whopping 11,000 acres of wooded grounds, hosts a plethora of tables and slots for guests to enjoy.
The 100,000 square foot gaming space is home to 37 tables, with games such as craps, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and more.
Those who are not guests in the hotel must have a membership to the resort to play at the Club, which is $1,590 annually.
Players must also follow the dress code: Resort casual before 7 PM and business casual after 7 PM.
FAQ
How to bet in online craps games?
Craps is a game that offers lots of ways to bet, and as such, there are many different strategies. This page is home to a handy beginners guide to get you started on all the ways you can bet on craps and how each phase of the game plays out.
What are the odds of winning at craps?
Craps is a game with many different bets available to players, each with varying odds of winning and payouts. However, the RTP for the standard pass line bet is around 98.59%. The proposition bets available are notorious for providing the lowest return to players and generally should be avoided.
