To play craps, the shooter rolls two dice, and on the first roll, the come out roll, a 7 or 11 wins for the pass line while a 2, 3 or 12 loses. Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the point, and the shooter keeps rolling until they hit the point again to win or roll a 7 to lose.
A craps table looks like a maze of boxes and numbers, but almost everything on it comes back to that one cycle: come out, point, then point or seven. I've used the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement's official rules for the bets and payouts, so you know what the regulator says rather than what someone at the table thinks. You can also play the basic game at home with two dice and counters.
The come out roll
The first roll of a new round is the come out roll. The New Jersey rules split the eleven possible totals into three groups:
- 7 or 11 is a natural. The pass line wins straight away.
- 2, 3 or 12 is craps. The pass line loses straight away.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 becomes the point.
Setting and making the point
Once a point is set, the dealer marks it on the layout with a puck turned to on. From then on, only two totals matter for the pass line: the point and the 7. Every other number can come and go without settling the bet. When the point or a 7 finally appears, that round is over and the next roll is a fresh come out roll. A shooter who rolls a 7 after the point has been set is said to seven out, and the dice pass to the next player.
How a round works, step by step
- Before the come out roll, place your chips on the pass line or the don't pass line.
- The shooter throws both dice down the table.
- On a 7 or 11, pass wins and don't pass loses. On 2 or 3, pass loses and don't pass wins. On 12, pass loses and don't pass is a stand off.
- On any other total, that number is the point and the puck goes on.
- If you're on the pass line, you can now take odds behind your bet.
- The shooter keeps rolling. The point wins for pass, a 7 wins for don't pass.
- Bets are paid, the puck goes off and the next come out roll begins.
Pass line or don't pass
These two bets are mirror images, with one catch. The New Jersey rules say a don't pass bet is void if a 12 is rolled on the come out, so it's a stand off rather than a win. That single number is what keeps the house edge on the don't side. Wizard of Odds puts the house edge at 1.41% on the pass line and 1.36% on don't pass per bet made. Most players bet with the shooter, and don't pass players are sometimes called wrong bettors, so the polite thing is to cheer quietly.
Come and don't come bets
A come bet works exactly like a pass bet, except you make it after the point has been set. The next roll acts as its own come out roll: 7 or 11 wins, 2, 3 or 12 loses, and any other total becomes that bet's own come point. Don't come is the mirror of don't pass. These let you join in mid round without waiting.
Taking or laying odds
This is the best bet on the table, and there's no box for it on the layout. Once a point is set, you can put an extra bet behind your pass line chips. If the point wins, the New Jersey rules pay the odds bet at 2 to 1 on a 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on a 5 or 9 and 6 to 5 on a 6 or 8. Wizard of Odds describes this as a fair bet with zero house edge. Don't pass players can lay odds the other way at 1 to 2, 2 to 3 and 5 to 6. New Jersey lets a casino allow odds of up to 100 times the original bet, although the table sign sets the actual limit.
Payout odds for the main bets
| Bet | Wins on | Payout odds (New Jersey minimum) |
|---|---|---|
| Pass line | 7 or 11 on the come out, or the point before a 7 | 1 to 1 |
| Don't pass | 2 or 3 on the come out, or a 7 before the point | 1 to 1 |
| Odds on a 4 or 10 | The point before a 7 | 2 to 1 |
| Odds on a 5 or 9 | The point before a 7 | 3 to 2 |
| Odds on a 6 or 8 | The point before a 7 | 6 to 5 |
| Hard 6 or hard 8 | Two 3s or two 4s before a 7 or the easy way | 9 to 1 |
| Any seven | A 7 on the next roll | 4 to 1 |
| Field | 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 (2 and 12 pay more) | 1 to 1, or 2 to 1 on a 2 or 12 |
When you can take a bet down
Here's the rule many new players don't know. New Jersey says a pass or come bet can't be removed or reduced once its point is set, because that's the moment the bet becomes most likely to lose. Don't pass and don't come bets can be taken down at any time, but they can't be put back. The rules also say place bets, buy bets, come odds and hardways are off on a come out roll unless you call them on.
The Reno exception and other local differences
Wizard of Odds notes that in Reno and Lake Tahoe, the don't pass stand off is on the 2 instead of the 12. Odds limits vary from one casino to the next too: Wizard of Odds says most allow what's known as 3, 4, 5X odds, meaning up to three times your pass bet on a 4 or 10, four times on a 5 or 9 and five times on a 6 or 8. Some tables advertise 10X or even 100X odds, and the table sign is always the final word.
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My take for a first game
Stick to the pass line and take the odds once a point is set. Ignore the one roll bets in the middle of the table until you know the flow, because they're designed to look exciting. For a family version at home, use counters and let everyone have a turn as shooter. However you play, decide on a limit before the first roll and stop when you reach it. If you like dice, you'll find calmer options in my list of dice games for all ages, and the Yahtzee rules are a great family alternative.
Frequently asked questions
What wins on the come out roll in craps?
A 7 or 11 wins for the pass line. A 2, 3 or 12 loses.
What is the point in craps?
If the come out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that total becomes the point. The shooter must roll it again before a 7 for the pass line to win.
Why is a 12 a push on don't pass?
The New Jersey rules make a don't pass bet void on a 12 on the come out roll, which keeps a house edge on that side.
What does the odds bet pay in craps?
2 to 1 on a 4 or 10, 3 to 2 on a 5 or 9, and 6 to 5 on a 6 or 8.
Can I remove my pass line bet?
Not once the point is set. Don't pass bets can be removed at any time but can't be replaced.
