One of the most difficult games to learn how to play at a land-based or online casino is craps. However, it’s also widely regarded as one of the most exciting games because of its unique ability to unite people and create a community spirit.
The only other game that has the ability to unite people like this is roulette. I’m a big fan of craps, although it did annoy me when I first started playing because of the many different bet types I had to learn and the somewhat tricky and confusing table layout.
Suppose you’ve ever considered playing craps but have also been put off like so many other players because of these confusing elements, don’t be. You’ve come to the right place. Here is everything a beginner can expect when they play craps for the very first time.
Important Things To Remember Before Playing Craps For The First Time
Before playing a game of craps in person at a land-based casino or online at one of several highly recommended iGaming sites, it’s important that you start by learning the basic rules.
As a beginner, I suggest learning how to play online before ever stepping foot in a land-based casino to play one of the world’s favorite dice games. I learned how to play over a decade ago because learning online was so much easier (and cheaper).
For example, if you walk into a land-based casino to play craps, a free-play demo mode is usually never available, which is why I suggest playing online.
When you register a new account on a fully licensed and regulated craps site, you can usually launch any of their computer-generated craps in the risk-free practice mode, using fun chips instead of real money.
Playing in the free-play demo mode is the quickest and easiest way to learn how to play craps. Each craps variant will also have a detailed explanation of how to play, along with all the rules. In live dealer craps from award-winning providers like Playtech and Evolution Gaming, you can even watch a short video tutorial before you play.
Another way I learned how to play was to consume as many ‘how to play craps’ videos on YouTube. When I had familiarised myself with the basic craps rules and my confidence had grown, I started playing in the real money mode at the low-stakes tables, which I suggest you do too, before playing high-stakes gaming.
For example, most computer-generated craps from the market-leading iGaming software providers allow you to play one round from as little as $/€/£0.10 to $/€/£0.50, and most live dealer craps are playable from $/€/£0.50 to $/€/£1.00 per round. High rollers, in comparison, can spend hundreds or more per round!
How To Play Craps And Key Terms/Phrases Every New Player Should Learn
The aim of this popular dice game is to predict where the dice might land after they have been thrown down onto the craps table. It’s usually played in rounds with a minimum of two phases per round – the ‘come out’ and the ‘point.’
Each active player takes it in turn to roll the dice, usually around the table, in a clockwise motion. Up to a maximum of 20 people can play craps at the same table at a land-based casino.
Alternatively, countless people can play online at the same time in a digital environment when playing either regular, computer-generated craps or highly sophisticated live dealer craps.
You don’t have to throw the dice, but you can still play. Instead, you can place your money on the ‘shooter’ (the person who throws the dice).
All you (or the shooter) must do is place a wager before the dice are thrown on where you think they will come to rest. Now, you or the shooter throw two of the dice to determine the outcome for that roll.
The best way to describe things without going into too much detail is that during phase 1, all pass line bets placed on 7 or 11 on the come-out roll win but lose on 2, 3, and 12. The only time a 7 or 11 is good in craps is at this point when the come-out roll is a 7 or 11.
The initial role establishes the point number, which is a win for successful wagers placed on the pass line. At this point, you will get to roll again. A come-out roll can only happen if the previous player who rolled the dice (the shooter) rolls a seven or makes their point.
If you are still confused, don’t panic. Learning will take a while, so I suggest watching videos, taking your time to read carefully through the rules, and practicing playing online in the free-play mode.
Key phrases and bet types I suggest learning sooner rather than later that will boost your efficiency as a player are the following:
- Come Out Roll
- Come Bet
- Don’t Pass Bet
- Don’t Come Bet
- Lay Bet
- Any Craps
- Place Bet
- Hi-Lo
- Big Red
- Outside Numbers
Other bet types and phrases you will come across and should learn are Garden, Lay Bet, Free Odds, Field Bets, Buy Bets, Big Six, Big Eight, 2-Way and 3-Way Craps, Natural, Any Seven, 3 or 11 Bets, 2 or 12 Bets, and Horn Bet, to name a few.
Any beginner’s guide from a reputable site like AskGamblers will bring you up to speed in no time, so if you want to learn how to play craps, I would suggest trying this trusted site first.
Today’s most trusted online casinos with craps have several popular titles from various multi-award-winning software providers. As well as Craps, you can often find several other fun dice games, including Sic Bo and a few Dice-themed online slots.
Some of my favorites I can recommend checking out are regular, computer-generated Craps from Games Global, Live First Person Craps from Evolution Gaming, and Live Sic Bo from Pragmatic Play. Pragmatic Play has also developed an epic dice-themed live dealer TV game show called Live Snakes & Ladders.
You may also want to keep an eye out for Banka Francesca, Hazard, Chuck-a-Luck, and Klondike (usually only available at land-based casinos).
My favorite dice-themed slots and other computer-generated dice-themed games are Dice Dice Dice, Wicked Dice, 88 Fortunes Dice, Dicey Fruits, Dice Rush, and Harlequin Dice.
When playing any of these dice games using your own hard-earned money, I cannot stress enough how important it is to gamble responsibly, so avoid playing while tired or intoxicated, and try to set as many ‘safer gambling tools’ as possible (e.g., win/loss limits, session time reminders, and deposit limits).
