Craps Dice Game

  1. Street Craps Dice Game Rules
  2. Craps Dice Game
  3. Craps Dice Game Rules

Beginning the Game Win money by betting on what numbers are rolled on a pair of dice. Another way of thinking about the craps game is thinking that since there is a 1 in 6 chance that a 7 will be rolled, there is a 5 in 6 chance that a 7 will not be rolled. So betting on a point number in this case or betting for the shooter to not roll a 7 is a great bet as 5 out of 6 rolls will not be a lucky seven. Craps can be an intimidating game for the beginner. The table seems to have about a hundred different kinds of bets, the players are barking out commands in what seems to be a foreign language, and the pace is too fast to ever ask a question. I can sympathize with the beginner, because at one point in time this was how craps appeared to me. Craps is a game where players make wagers on the outcome of the roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. The craps table at any casino is always packed because this isn’t your typical game of dice. Saying that craps is a casino game played with dice is like telling people that Mount Rushmore is a sculpture of some dead guys. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about craps dice game? Well you're in luck, because here they come. There are 389 craps dice game for sale on Etsy, and they cost $24.12 on average. The most common craps dice game material is metal. The most popular color? You guessed it: red.

Casino dice games are popular with gamblers all over the globe. The 6-sided cube dice we use today were born in China roughly 2600 years ago. Back then, dice were used strictly for fortune telling, but somewhere along the way that shifted. Dice began being used as entertainment, and dice games were created.

Craps is the undisputed heavyweight champion when it comes to gambling games with dice. But there are plenty of other gambling games involving dice you can play in casinos or online.

I’m going to cover some of these gambling dice games. The next time you walk into a casino, you’ll have a better understanding of these interesting games.

These games can be terrifying to the newbie or novice player, but you don’t have to let fear keep you away.

Sure, these games are fast-paced and have a crowd surrounding the table yelling and throwing out all sorts of phrases you’re unfamiliar with. Don’t fret, many players (including me) felt the same way before they took some time to learn. Knowing these dice games will give you the confidence to walk straight up to the table and place your bet.

1 – Craps

Craps is the king of dice games, no doubt. If you’re looking for a fun time and some true comradery hit the craps table.

Standing around the table, slinging around high-fives, laying bets and throwing dice combine to assemble my favorite casino nights. Craps may be the most complex table game at the casino, but it doesn’t have to be scary.

Let’s cover some basics and you’ll be right at home rubbing elbows with the avid players:

To pass or not to pass?

One mistake craps players make is to ignore the side bets for the moment and focus on the main game. This consists of the “Pass Line” or “Don’t Pass” line. Pass line bets are on the shooter to win.

So, if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, the pass line bet wins. But if the come out-roll is a 2, 3, or 12, the pass line bet loses. If the come-out is any other number that becomes the point.

The shooter then tries to roll that point number again before rolling a 7. If the player rolls a 7 before hitting the point, they “seven out,” and the bet loses. The “don’t pass” bet essentially works juxtaposed to a “pass line” bet.

In other words, it’s a bet AGAINST the shooter. “Don’t pass” bets win if the come-out roll is 2 or 3. The bet is a push if 12 is rolled. A come-out of 7 or 11 is a loser.

If any other number is rolled it establishes the point and if a 7 is rolled before the point is hit the bet pays.

This is an abridged overview of craps, but it gives you a basis for how the game works. You’ll surely pick up the rest at the table.Whatever you do remember this:

Never say the word seven at the table.

And when you’re throwing the dice, please make sure the dice hit the back wall.

2 – Hazard

Before we had craps, we had hazard.

Hazard dates to at least 14th century England, and some suggest it goes as far back as the 12th century. Thought to be of Arabic origins; the word hazard derives from the Arabic al-zahr (“die”).

The game drew large crowds in high stakes gambling rooms throughout medieval Europe before waning in popularity. Craps got its name from “crabs”, a roll of 1-1 or 1-2 in hazard. The name isn’t the only thing craps stole from hazard; the gameplay and rules are largely the same.

Hazard takes place with two dice by any number of players. The shooter (or caster) begins by throwing the dice to establish the main point — any number from 5 to 9. This may take more than 1 throw.

After the main is established, the other players may make their wagers, betting on whether the caster will win or lose, after which he throws the dice again.

If a player throws in, or nicks, he wins. Five is nicked by 5, 6 by 6 or 12, 7 by 7 or 11, 8 by 8 or 12, and 9 by 9.
The caster loses when throwing aces or deuce-ace (crabs, or craps) or when throwing 11 or 12 to a main of 5 or 9, 11 to 6 or 8, and 12 to 7.

The player continues throwing until she wins or loses. The dice then pass to the next shooter. While the popularity of hazard has greatly diminished, you might still be able to find it in some casinos.

3 – Chuck A Luck

Chuck-A-Luck comes to us from Australia. Chuck-A-Luck is an exciting dice game where 3 dice tumble in a spinning cage and you wager on how many dice will come up with the number you chose. In the beginning, players would throw the dice in a horn shaped chute rather than using a cage.

The extreme simplicity of the game makes it hugely popular with the novice casino gamblers. The game pays 1:1 for a single up to 30:1 for a jackpot bet of 3 of a kind.

Chuck-A-Luck is a great introduction for players into gambling dice games. Stop by a table and enjoy the elementary fun.

4 – Klondike

Klondike is a gambling dice game that was popular in frontier America. The game is played with 5 dice that are 6-sided and is like poker dice. The objective in Klondike is to roll a better hand or combination than the banker to win. Gameplay begins with the banker rolling first to establish the benchmark.

The players then take turns rolling to try to best the banker. The 1 is like an ace and is the highest-ranking number. Then the numbers rank 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 from highest to lowest.

If the player rolls the same combination as the banker, she loses. To win at craps, you have to roll a better combination than the banker. Klondike is that simple.

5 – Banka Francesca

Banka Francesca is an extremely fast paced dice game. While it might not be familiar to U.S. gamblers, Banks Francesca is one of the most popular games at Portuguese casinos.

The game is played with 3 dice.

There are three possible bets:

  1. “Big” – the sum of all three dice is 14, 15 of 16
  2. “Small” – the sum of the dice is 5, 6 or 7
  3. “Aces” – the sum of the dice is 3; so, 3 ones.

The dealer will continue to roll the dice rapidly until one of these results comes up.

Bets of “Big” or “Small” pay 1:1 and “Aces” pays 60:1.

6 – Sic Bo

Sic bo is a popular gambling dice game around Asia and is played with 3 dice on a table where players make their bets.

“Sic bo” in Chinese means, “dice pair”. Despite its popularity in Asia, the game didn’t reach the casinos in the U.S. until sometime in the 1980s.

Sic bo has many variants, and Chuck-A-Luck may be the most familiar. The game table resembles the popular craps table with a multitude of side bets.

The most popular bets are “small” and “big”. The small bet is betting that the sum of the 3 dice are 4 to 10 and a big get pays on 11 to 17.

7 – Simplified Craps

There are dozens of variations of standard craps. This is a testament to the love affair gamblers have with the game. This variant, , is a wonderful game to start with for the beginner gambler. In this game a player simply wins if she throws 2, 3, 4, 10, 11 or 12 and loses if they roll 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.

So, if you want to wade into the waters of casino dice gaming and aren’t sure where to start. I suggest trying simplified craps to gain your confidence.

You’re sure to have a great time.

Conclusion

Gambling dice games don’t have to be intimidating. They are, in fact, some of the most exciting tables in any casino or online casino site. The evolution of the die has certainly been interesting, and there’s little doubt that new and exciting gambling dice games will be coming to a casino near you for years to come.

Hopefully, with a little bit of understanding and Lady Luck on your side you’ll be able to make your next casino trip a success.

The most popular and probably the only dice game in casinos nowadays is craps. When this game was played on the streets, the activity was known as ‘shooting dice’ and the game was called ‘street craps’. In street craps players played against each other, and not against a gambling establishment like a casino. It required very little for the game to be played, and was mainly played in informal setting. The casino version of the game that you probably know, at least from movies, is called just ‘craps’.

If you are a beginner, we can’t deny that craps might seem intimidating at first. It’s not that it isn’t easy to play once you get into it, but until you learn the basic rules you will think it is a complicated game with hundred different types of bets, while players shout from all around the table. Fortunately enough for those that don’t want the clamor, there is online craps, so they can learn the game at peace with the help of their computer, Smartphone, tablet etc.

When you are through with this guide, you will think quite the contrary of craps and how it isn’t that complicated. Once you learn the first and most basic bets, the entire game will immediately reveal itself as you get to know the other bets. During your craps playing time you will add more bets to your use, and after just 10 to 15 minutes of practice in free play mode at any online casino, you will master the game enough to get you going.

Craps Rules

The following are the rules that apply to playing craps:

  • Casinos decide which bets will be offered as well as the payouts for them.
  • The players throw the dice in turns, and the one throwing them is called the ‘shooter’.
  • Bets are placed on the appropriately marked sections of the table where the particular bet is displayed.
  • Before throwing the dice the shooter needs to make a ‘Pass’ or ‘Don’t Pass’ line bet. At some craps tables these bets may be called ‘Right’ and ‘Wrong’ or ‘Win’ and ‘Don’t Win’ bets.
  • A craps game is played in rounds.
  • For a round to start, the shooter needs to make a ‘come out’ roll. If the roll is two, three or twelve, bets placed on Pass line are lost. If the roll is seven or eleven, they win.
  • If the shooter’s come out roll is four, five, six, eight, nine or ten, then a ‘point’ is established to pass. In order for the bets on Pass Line to succeed, the point must be rolled before a seven, and the round will finish. If the point number is established before a seven, the bets lose and the dice is given to the next shooter. Whenever the Pass line bets win the Don’t Pass line bets lose and the other way around.
  • If twelve is rolled on the come out roll, the Don’t Pass Line bets are pushed, while the Pass Line bets lose.

The Basics of Craps

Objective of the Game

When played in land-based casinos, craps can be a game where people can socialize because it attracts much attention and usually many people stand by the table to watch the action. When playing online this is not the case obviously, but the same objective stands, to guess the outcome of the dice.

As mentioned earlier, the player whose turn has come to shoot the dice is called the ‘shooter’. The viewers that stand around the board in land-based craps games are the players and bet on the outcome of the roll. When the dice are rolled, the outcome can be a total number between two and twelve. One round can consist of just one roll or a series of rolls. The object of the game is to bet on or against the shooter.

Come Out Roll

The come out roll is the first roll of the shooter. When a seven or eleven is the outcome, all the Pass Line bets receive a payout. If the outcome of the dice is two three or eleven, then these bets lose. If another number is rolled apart from these, then the point is established.

Craps Dice Game

When the point has been established, the second phase of the game begins. In this phase Pass Line bets succeed when the point number is rolled. If seven is rolled, then they are lost and the round ends. Each new game in craps begins with the come out roll.

Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line Bet

Street Craps Dice Game Rules

If the players want the Pass line bets to succeed, he mustn’t roll two, three or twelve, but eleven or seven. The opposite of these are Don’t Pass Line bets, which succeed if the shooter rolls two, three or twelve. If the point is established the shooter must repeat the point number before rolling a seven. If a seven is rolled, the shooter loses. These bets are the fundamental bets in craps and can be your starting point in learning craps and all the other options.

The best starting bet is the Pass Line bet on the come out roll. It offers a house edge of around 1.40%, while the majority of other bets have much higher edge. They are recommended as best for beginners. Stick to this bet if you want to minimize your chances of losing.

Come Bet and Don’t Come Bet

Craps Dice Game

This bet is similar to the Pass Line bet in the aspect of mathematics, and can be placed after the come out roll, while the Pass Line bet is made before the come out roll. This bet too is won if the shooter rolls 7 or 11, and here too you can win if the shooter rolls the point number before a 7.

Naturally, the Don’t Come bet is the opposite of the Come bet and similar to the Don’ Pass Line bet. With this bet you suggest that the shooter will not repeat the point number before he rolls a 7.

Place and Place to Lose Bets

Place bets are those made on the numbers of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. If some of these numbers has been rolled before the shooter rolls a 7, your Place bet is won. To make this bet you need the Don’t Pass Line bet. The best odds with this bet are if you make on 6 or 8, while the second best option is to make it on 5 or 9.

The opposite of the Place bet is the Place to Lose bet. This bet is won with a 7, but if the number that you are betting against is rolled, then your Place to Lose bet is lost. Here too the best Place to Lose bets are if made on 6 or 8.

Other Bets

Other important bets that you can make in craps are: Buy, Lay, Big 6 and Big 8, Field Bet, Any 7, Any Craps, Twelve Craps or Two Sixes, Twelve Craps or Aces, Eleven or Six Five, Three Craps or Ace Deuce, Two Craps or Aces, Horn Bet etc.

A Simple Strategy to Use

If you decide that craps is your game and that you want to advance with your craps skills, make sure to first carefully learn the basic and most common bets, and then try to learn all the other options. You can take some simple tips with you and always guide yourself according to them. For example, the best wagers that you can make are Pass Line or Come bets and bets on 6 or 8. Pass Line and Come bets have the lowest house edge in craps. But never bet on Big 6 or Big 8, because they have bad payouts.

Also, you should only play craps games where you can Take Odds for Pass Line and Come bets, and remember to never place Proposition bets. After you have learned how to play craps properly, you should see to it that you have found a strategy that suits your style of play the best. Design a system how to manage your money, however, don’t hope for a system like the Martingale, because with it you will need quite a large bankroll.

Summary

Craps is one of the most exciting and loudest games at land-based casinos. They even feature rules of how craps players should hold the dice when they wish to roll as well as other similar rules of conduct. This game provides the true essence of the casino world and pure entertainment. Today, online casinos feature even live craps games where a live dealer is broadcasted from a studio with a craps table in front of him and multiple players can log on to the table and play.

Street craps dice game rules

Useful Craps Glossary

Any Craps: this bet is when players predict that the outcome of the dice will be a total of 2, 3 or 12.

Back Line: another term that denotes Don’t Pass.

Big 6: a bet suggesting that a 6 will be rolled before a 7.

Big 8: similar to Big 6, when a player bets that 8 will be rolled before 7.

Front Line: another term that denotes Pass Line.

Visit our Craps Glossary Guide for a more comprehensive list of terms and phrases.

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