The game of craps is THE most exciting game in the casino. When played properly it offers the house one of the smallest advantages of any game on the casino floor. If you have ever been in a casino and heard everyone yelling around the craps table, you know how fun the game can be. Craps has some of the best odds in the casino and if you play your bets right, it can make the smart player a lot of money. Here are the fundamentals of the game:

1. The game is played by rolling two dice on a craps table. Players stand around the table and take turns “shooting” the dice. Various bets are placed on the sum of the two dice.
2. Each half of a craps table is the same. Generally about 20 people can fit around a craps table and the game progresses in a clockwise fashion around the table.
3. The Shooter may only handle the dice with one hand when throwing and the dice must hit the walls on the opposite end of the table.
4. If one or both dice get thrown off the table, they must be inspected by the dealer before being returned to play. Dice are replaced after about 8 hours of use.
5. Craps is played in rounds and each shooter begins a new round.
6. The first roll of dice in a betting round is called a “Come out roll”. Each Shooter begins their round with a “come out” roll and each new game begins with a “come out” roll.
7. A game begins when a “point” is established by the shooter
8. A “point” is established when the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
9. A game is completed when the shooter successfully rolls the same “point” before rolling a 7.
10. If the “point” is rolled before a 7 is rolled, the shooter begins a new game with a new “come out” roll.
11. If a 7 is rolled while a point is established, the game ends and a new shooter receives the dice.

Craps Bets and Payoffs:

• The Pass Line Bet – On the Come out roll, you will win on a 7 or 11, and lose on a 2,3, or 12. If any other number is rolled that number becomes the point. If the point is rolled again before a 7, you win even money. But if a 7 is rolled first, you lose.
• The Don’t Pass Line Bet – On the first roll, you win on a 2 or 3. You lose on a 7 or 11. A 12 doesn’t count either way. If any other number is rolled, that number becomes the point. If a 7 is rolled before the point is rolled again, you win even money. But if the point is rolled again, you lose.
• The Come Bet – A come bet is placed after the point has already been established. It works exactly in the same manner as a pass line bet.
• The Don’t Come Bet – A don’t come bet is placed after the point has already been established also. It works exactly in the same manner as a don’t pass line bet.
• The Field Bet – Field bets are one-roll bets and can be placed at any time. If a 3,4,9,10 or 11 is rolled, you win even money. A 2 wins 2 to 1 and a 12 wins 3 to 1. But if a 5,6,7,or 8 is rolled, you lose.
• Place Bets, Buy Bets, Lay Bets – Place bets are only in action while a point is established. You can bet on a 4,5,6,8,9 and 10 to be rolled before a 7. Every time they are, you win. When a 7 is rolled, you lose. Buy bets are exactly the same as place bets except you pay a 5% commission to receive the true odds. Lay Bets are the exact opposite of buy bets. You pay a 5% commission to lay the true odds. You are betting a 7 will be rolled before the number.
• Proposition Bets–
  1. Hardway Bets – These bets can be made on a 4,6,8, and 10. To win, the dice must show the same number on each die. If the number comes up in any other combination, or a 7 is rolled, you lose.
  2. ANY 7 – One roll bet: if a 7 is rolled, you win.
  3. ANY CRAPS – One roll bet: if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled, you win.
  4. CRAPS 2 - One roll bet: if a 2 is rolled, you win.
  5. CRAPS 3 - One roll bet: if a 3 is rolled, you win. CRAPS 12 - One roll bet: if a 12 is rolled, you win.
  6. ELEVEN – One roll bet: if an 11 is rolled, you win.
• Big 6 and Big 8 Bets –
  • BIG 6 – If a 6 is rolled before a 7, you win even money.
  • BIG 8 – if an 8 is rolled before a 7, you win even money.