Any player who has ever spent time in a land-based casino has heard the excitement around the craps tables. This table game is exciting, and players have won huge payouts when they hit a lucky streak. With the game of craps, you will have many ways to wager and win and enjoy one of the most thrilling games ever created. And with the use of the latest technology, you no longer have to spend time traveling to a land casino. You can engage in a safe and secure game of craps right from home! With best online craps in the USA featured at licensed and regulated online casinos, you will always have access to this amazing game and will benefit from some stellar chances to earn payouts.
If you are new to this game, we provide the details you will need to learn the rules and pick up some tips and strategies. One of the great aspects of playing craps at an online casino is engaging in free play. This will provide you with all the time you need to learn specific game rules, wagers, and strategies to increase your winning chances.
Get ready to enjoy an awesome casino table game when you access craps. Here, you can learn about the game history and why it has become one of the most played titles at any land or online casino site.
Origin of Craps
There are many stories about where and when the game of craps originated. Some evidence shows that this game may have been played during Roman times. In those days, legions and soldiers played this game by using pig’s knuckles and throwing them on shields. This may be where the expression “roll the dice” came from. The game was originally called “Hazard,” and it is believed to have been invented by Sir William of Tyre. He was an English nobleman waiting for his knights to capture Hazarth in 1125 AD.
Hazard was a game that was very common during the Middle Ages and was played by Arabs. The popularity of the game spread quickly through Europe and also stated being enjoyed by players in England. Years later, during the 1600s, Hazard was introduced into gaming houses across England. Players would find royalty and noblemen playing the game, and it became a popular social event.
During the 18th century, Acadia became a colony in England and was named Nova Scotia. French people were forced out of this area and settled in Louisiana, which is how the game made its move into the United States. At this time, the game was called crebs, or creps. Craps became the name of the game in the 19th century, and the name stuck. Spreading across the US, craps quickly became a popular gambling game and was soon featured at gambling venues across the country.
American players had two versions of the game. First, there were casino craps and street crap. Since then, the game has remained one of the most popular table selections played in casinos and attracts thousands of players and even more spectators due to the high levels of energy and excitement. Modern-day craps was revolutionized by John H. Winn, who added betting options like the Don’t Pass area on the table. The betting system and game layout designed by Winn are what are still used today.
Technology and Online Craps
As the game of craps continued to gain popularity and started being a standard game featured in casinos, technology was advancing. Soon, there were online casinos operating, allowing players to play their favorite games and wager using their computers. Over the years, the leading software developers have created amazing games of craps that can now be played using your PC or even a mobile device! The game of online craps offers all of the popular betting options and will provide hours of excitement. The only thing an online version lacks is the social interactions you would enjoy at a land casino.
As software companies enhanced the game, they also developed different variations. Today, you can enjoy different games of craps when you sign up at a licensed online casino and will have even more chances to wager and win. If you are a fan of the classic game of craps, take some time to learn about the other variations that can be enjoyed when you play online.
Here, we take a look at some common variants that can be played at online casinos. All of these games can be previewed for free, so you can learn rules and how they differ from each other before you place any real money bets.
- Bank Craps – This is the standard version of the game where bets are made against the casino. You will place agers by placing chips on the table before any dice are rolled.
- Crapless Craps – Invented by Bob Stupak, this game is a popular choice as you can never lose a pass line bet if any 2, 3, or 12 is rolled. It is commonly played in the state of Mississippi and can be enjoyed online as well. It is almost impossible to lose your pass line bet with his version, which results in a lower house edge and better odds for players.
- High Point Craps – If you are looking for a simple version of a craps game, take a look at High Point Craps. When dice are rolled, any 2 or 3 will be ignored, and the shooter will roll again. Any 11 or 12 will result in an automatic win. Other number combinations will establish a point on the table, and the player will roll any amount higher than the setpoint to win.
These are just a few of the popular variants you may have access to when playing online. The actual craps games offered will all be based on the software provider and what games that support. While some sites will only offer classic сraps, these mentioned versions may also be found. In addition to these, you may find sites that offer the following:
- Simplified Craps
- Die Rich Craps
- New York Craps
- Low Limit Craps
- High Limit Craps
- Scarney Craps
- Open Craps
Live Dealer Craps
If you already know how to play the game of craps and want the best possible experience at an online casino, be sure to choose a site that features live dealer сraps. With this, you will play the game in real-time and will see all action at the tables. However, since craps involved the roll of the dice, this is one thing that you physically cannot do, so the live version does have some limitations. In US online casinos, you will find live craps being offered by software providers like Visionary iGaming, Ezugi, and GGL.
When you play live dealer craps, there will be two dealers at the table. One will act as the game host and will oversee all betting. The other will act as the short and will be responsible for rolling the dice. All other aspects of the game are the same as you would find at any land casino. You can place an array of bets and will enjoy secure access and game fairness. If you do not wish to visit a land casino and want a more realistic experience than computerized craps, be sure to look for sites that feature a live dealer option of the game.
Basics of Playing Craps
The game of craps may be intimidating to new gamblers. This is a fast-paced game that has a lot of action. Many times, new players at a land casino will prefer to watch the action at the table since they feel the game is hard to learn. In fact, craps has some basic rules. With some time and practice, you can master these rules and have your chance at striking it rich at the tables.
The best way to learn how to play craps is to access a free game online. Online casinos feature demo games where you can practice skills or learn the rules. There are even sites that feature craps tutorials, which will walk you through the entire game. Craps has a basic concept. The short will roll dice to determine a point and hope to roll that number again before rolling a 7.
If a point is made, the shooter will roll again, and this is referred to as the come out roll. This means that it is the beginning of the game, and there has been no point established. Should the next number be 4 through 10, that will then be the point. The goal again is to roll that same number before a 7. If a 7 is rolled, the shooter passes the dice to the next player, rolling to make the new point.
The game itself is easy to play. The complicated part comes with deciding how to wager. There are many different bets that can be placed during the game of craps, and some can only be placed at certain times. If you want to be the best possible player, you need to learn all of the betting options and know when to place these bets to improve your chances of winning.
Craps Betting Options
Understanding the different bets used when playing craps is where you will have to spend most of your time as a beginner. There are many types of bets, and they are not always easy to understand. Here, we provide a list of common bets that are placed at the tables, along with a description of each. It will take time and patience to gain the knowledge needed to play craps for real money, but once you learn these bets and known how to play the game, you can enjoy endless action and benefit from some great player odds.
- Pass Line Bet – This is a basic bet and is one that most players will make when they play for real money. It offers a low house edge of 1.14%. If you want to play craps the easy way. Placing a pass line bet is the best option. You will just place this bet and ignore all other options. Pass Line bets are won on the come out roll of the game. If a 7 or 11 is rolled, the bet will win. Any 2, 3, or 12 will lose. Any other number will set the point, and you will now want that number to be rolled prior to a 7 to win.
- Field Bets – You can place field bets on any single roll at any point during the game. You will win even money payouts if the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 are rolled. With many craps tables, a 2 will double payouts, and a 12 will triple payouts. Bets will lose if a 5 through 8 is rolled.
- Come Bet – This is similar to the Pass Line bet but can be placed at any time. It is usually used during the middle of the game, where a point has been rolled and established. This bet works like the Pass Line Bet expect it is placed when there is a point established. It offers a decent house edge of 1.41%.
- Place Bets – These are on-demand Point bets. You will be wagering that the placed number will be rolled before the shooter rolls a 7. You can place these bets at any time, but most players will choose Place Bets after a point is established. Depending on the number you bet on, payouts can range from 9:5 to 7:6.
- Proposition Bets – These can also be placed at any time and offer different payouts based on the rolled numbers. The best payout is 3:1 for a 12, and the lowest is 5:1 for a 7 that is rolled. With prop bets, the house edge is pretty high and is between 11% and 16%.
- Don’t Pass Line – This is the complete opposite of the Pass Line bet. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 to start, the bet is lost. Any 2 or 3 will result in a win, and a 12 will be a push. The house edge with this wager is 1.36%, and it is a common bet, though most experienced players will bet the Pass Line instead.
- Don’t Come Bet – An opposite of the Come bet, you place the bet behind the number as it is being rolled. Any 7 will offer a win. The goal with this bet is to get a 7 before any point is established.
- Hardways – These are difficult bets to win and are often placed by high rollers or experienced gamblers. If any 4, 6, 8, or 10 is rolled as a pair, the bet will win. The bet loses if there is no pair. For example, to win a 10 bet, the dice must be two 5s. The payouts vary, and with a bet on 4 or 10, you will get an 8:1 payout and a bet on 6 or 8 will receive a 10:1 return.
- Free Odds – This is the only time you will ever be able to bet at a casino and have no house edge in play! With this bet, you will place it after you place a Pass Line bet. After a point has been established, you will be able to place additional bets on that point. If you place a free odds bet, you will receive true odds with no house edge. This means a 6:5 payout is offered on 6 and 8, a 3:2 return on 5 and 9, and a 3:1 return on any 4 or 10.
Strategies to Use
To be a successful player, you will have to learn some strategies when you take a seat at the craps tables or play online. By using a strategy, you can lower the house edge even more and improve your chances. As a beginner, there are some great low-risk strategies that can be used. These will not only help you win more but will also improve your knowledge of the game overall.
One of the best strategies for beginners is the Pass Line Craps Strategy. With this, you will place bets on the pass line and benefit from a low house edge of 1.41%. Wining these bets will award even money payouts, and this is a great way to begin placing wagers on the game. The Don’t Pass/Don’t Come Strategy can also be beneficial for beginners. You will be betting against the shooter and win with a 2 or 3, while a 7 or 11 will lose. With any 12, the bet is a push.
If you have become familiar with the rules of the game and know the beginner strategies mentioned above, you can start to make use of intermediate strategies. This helps improve your skills and will minimize the house edge, increasing your odds of winning. Here are some useful intermediate strategies to consider when playing real money craps.
- Craps Odds Strategy – When you lay odds when playing craps, you will be betting against the shooter and other players. For example, you will bet that the shooter will throw a 7 before they throw a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. These bets are made after a point has been established and the odds are fair. The payouts are a bit lower with these bets, but you will find you will win more often.
- Craps Press Strategy – When you use this strategy, you will press a bet when any place bet lands and will then pull your earnings when the bet lands four different times. The goal of this strategy is to win large amounts with a small starting wager. You will be using money already won at the table to double your bet sizes. Since the chances of a number landing four times consecutively are slim, this aggressive strategy may result in more losses than wins.
- 6/8 Strategy – This is a progressive betting strategy that involves wagering only on 6 and 8. You will place a bet of $6 on both numbers and will pull profits and place the same bet again. If you lose, bets are placed again at double the amount. As with all progressive betting systems, there is a risk of losing, but a win after increasing bet sizes will help recoup these losses and generate a profit.
Playing Online or at Land Casinos
Once you have mastered the rules and betting options with craps, you will be able to wager at the tables at your favorite land casino or an online site. While land-based craps is quite exhilarating, many players who are just getting started will prefer to play online. There are many benefits to choosing online craps over the games featured at a casino venue. First, you have access to free games, so you can take time to learn rules and even pick up tips from other players.
Online craps provides a convenient way to play, and you can access games at any time. You will also find these games to be more affordable. At land casinos, there are table minimums, and these can be high, especially during peak hours. When you play online, you can choose bets based on your casino budget so that the game can be enjoyed by low, mid, or high rollers.
You will also find that online craps offers less stress and pressure. You are free to place Don’t Come/Don’t Pass bets without negative responses from players, and you can enjoy faster games since you are not waiting on other players. Online casinos also offer great player bonuses that can be used to place more wagers on craps games.
No matter how you chose to engage in real money play at the craps table, you will be playing one of the oldest and most enjoyable games ever to be created!