Guide
Online Craps Guide: Casino Craps Rules, Bets and Odds
Updated 2026-10-19
Short answer
How online craps works: the come-out roll and the point, which craps bets have the lowest house edge, which to avoid, and how to practise before you play.
How does craps work?
This online craps guide starts with the one bet that matters most. Craps is a dice game played with two six-sided dice. One roll at a time decides most bets. The table looks complicated, but the core of the game is one bet, the pass line, and two phases: the come-out roll and the point.
Online craps comes in two forms. Digital craps uses a random number generator that a UK-licensed casino must have independently tested. Live-dealer craps streams real dice from a studio. The rules and the house edge are the same in both.
What happens on the come-out roll?
The first roll of a round is the come-out roll.
- A 7 or 11 wins for pass line bets.
- A 2, 3 or 12 is "craps" and pass line bets lose.
- Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the point.
What happens once a point is set?
The dice keep rolling until one of two things happens. If the point number rolls again, the pass line wins. If a 7 rolls first, the pass line loses and the round ends. Every other total is ignored for the pass line, although other bets on the table may win or lose.
Which totals roll most often?
Two dice make 36 combinations, each as common as the next, but the totals don't come up equally often. That's the whole maths of craps:
| Total | Ways to roll it | Chance per roll |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 1 in 6 |
| 6 or 8 | 5 each | about 1 in 7.2 |
| 5 or 9 | 4 each | 1 in 9 |
| 4 or 10 | 3 each | 1 in 12 |
| 3 or 11 | 2 each | 1 in 18 |
| 2 or 12 | 1 each | 1 in 36 |
Because 7 is the most common total, it wins on the come-out roll and loses once a point is set. The point numbers 6 and 8 are the easiest to repeat before a 7, which is why place bets on them carry a low house edge.
Which craps bets have the lowest house edge?
The house edge is the share of each stake the casino keeps over the long run. The difference between the best and worst bets on a craps table is enormous:
| Bet | House edge |
|---|---|
| Pass line | 1.41% |
| Don't pass | 1.36% |
| Come / don't come | 1.41% / 1.36% |
| Odds bet (behind pass or come) | 0% |
| Place 6 or place 8 | 1.52% |
| Field (2 and 12 pay double) | 5.56% |
| Any seven | 16.67% |
The odds bet is the only bet in the casino with no house edge. Once a point is set you can add it behind your pass line bet, and it's paid at true odds. Tables limit how large it can be, often as a multiple of your pass line stake.
Which craps bets should beginners avoid?
The centre of the table holds the one-roll proposition bets: any seven, any craps, the hardways and single totals such as 2 or 12. They pay big multiples, which is the attraction, but they carry house edges from around 9% to over 16%. Over an evening they drain a balance much faster than the pass line. If you want a simple plan, play the pass line, add odds when a point is set, and leave the centre of the table alone.
Is "don't pass" a better bet?
Mathematically it's a fraction better, 1.36% against 1.41%. In practice the gap is tiny. Some players prefer pass because they win with the table rather than against it at a live game. Online, pick whichever you like; neither changes the outcome much.
Can a craps system beat the house edge?
No. Every roll is independent, and no betting pattern changes the house edge on the bets you place. Progressions such as doubling after a loss only change how fast you win or lose, and they can turn a small losing streak into a large loss. The only lever you control is which bets you make.
How do I practise craps?
Free-play tables and demo modes let you learn the layout and the order of play without risking money. Practise until you can follow a round without thinking, especially which bets stay active after the come-out roll. Our free casino games section and the table-game guides for roulette and blackjack explain how house edge works across the other classics.
Where can I play craps online in the UK?
Craps is less common than roulette or blackjack, so search the table-games or live-casino lobby before you deposit. Our live dealer page explains how streamed tables work. Play only at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission; our list of UK casino sites shows licensed brands rated on our Trust Index. Set a deposit limit first and use the responsible gambling tools if play stops being fun.
Online craps guide: our verdict
Craps looks busy, but a good plan fits in one line: bet the pass line or don't pass, add the free odds bet once a point is set, and leave the proposition bets in the middle alone. That keeps the house edge near 1.4% on your main stake and 0% on the odds. We'd practise in a free demo until a round feels routine before staking real money.
Live-dealer craps runs slower than digital craps, which helps a budget last. Digital tables can roll every few seconds, so set a loss limit before you start.
18+. Gamble responsibly. Free, confidential support is available from GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
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