Craps is a popular casino game traditionally because in brick and mortar casinos it’s one that attracts a great deal of attention because it was once reserved for high-rollers and many spectators would surround the table and cheer the players on. As a result, it’s a game that’s associated with excitement and glamour, even when played online in a slightly different environment. Craps is the loud game in the traditional casino as the stick man shouts out what’s happening on the craps table.
It’s a dice game, and it’s relatively simple one to play but with lots of options making it a little daunting. Players bet upon the dice numbers that they believe will come up after the roll. The harder part to learn is the betting area, but there is much more guidance when playing at an online casino.
In order to get started with any craps game, players need to make their bets. Unlike other casino games, with craps, the most complicated part is actually betting and not playing the game part itself that determines the outcome.
There is a betting layout in online craps and players need to understand it and the odds in order to determine what kind of bets they want to play and just how risky they are. Playing at an online casino for a game like this is especially beneficial, because guides are typically provided that explain the betting options to players to help them become introduced to this exciting casino game.
Once bets have been placed on the layout area, players get going with the game. With some online casinos, the dice rolls automatically once bets have been placed; in others with multi-players, a roll button appears for one of the players to hit, or in single player games the only player hits the button. If the dice lands and corresponds with bets that a player has placed, they receive a payout based on a specific schedule. The bets with the lower odds of coming up are of course the ones with the larger payouts.
The ultimate goal of craps is for the shooter to roll the point number determined by a roll before they roll a 7. During the first roll called the come out roll they can also win by rolling a 7 or an 11.
The most effective strategies in craps start with understanding the betting options, their odds and their risks. We’ll look more in detail at craps later but the best guide is probably this Craps Rules page which takes you through the game step by step.
In order to win, players need to know exactly what they’re getting into with regards to betting and need to make bets that have risks that are in line with their bankroll so they stay in the game longer and don’t lose it all with the first roll of the dice. Practicing at online casinos before putting money on the line is a great way for players to get their feet wet with a game like this.
Some of the most common bets in craps include the come bets and the don’t come bets. Players have a 50/50 chance of getting either one of these bets right. The come bets pledge that the shooter will get their point number before they get the 7; and the don’t come bet is exactly the opposite, essentially betting against the shooter.
While there are only two options with these bets, odds are not equal. Proposition bets are riskier and are another option for players. One bet is the one roll bet, where players wager that the shooter will get a 11, 3, 2 or 12.
Another popular bet is the hardway bet, though it means a big risk with odds stacked against the player, but a big payout if won. A hardway bet means that the shooter will roll a hardway number (i.e. 4-4 or 5-5) before they roll a 7. Understanding the potential payouts and the house edge for each bet is really the only way players can get ahead in craps.