How Craps Works
Craps is a dice game where one player (the "shooter") rolls two dice and the other players bet on the outcomes. In online craps, a virtual shooter rolls automatically; in live dealer craps, a real dealer rolls physical dice at a physical table streamed by video.
A round of craps has two phases:
- The Come Out Roll: The shooter's first roll.
- 7 or 11 (a "natural") — Pass Line wins, Don't Pass loses.
- 2, 3 or 12 ("craps") — Pass Line loses. Don't Pass wins on 2 or 3; ties on 12.
- Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) — that number becomes the Point.
- The Point Phase: The shooter keeps rolling until either the Point number is rolled again (Pass Line wins) or a 7 is rolled (Pass Line loses — a "seven out").
Best Bets in Craps: House Edge Table
| Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1.41% |
| Don't Pass | 1.36% |
| Come | 1.41% |
| Don't Come | 1.36% |
| Pass / Come + 1x Odds | ~0.85% |
| Pass / Come + 2x Odds | ~0.61% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% |
| Any 7 (Proposition) | 16.67% |
| Hardways (Proposition) | 9–11% |
The Odds Bet: Zero House Edge
After a Point is established, you can place an Odds bet directly behind your Pass Line bet. The Odds bet is unique in casino gambling: it carries zero house edge. It pays at true mathematical odds:
- Point of 4 or 10: pays 2:1
- Point of 5 or 9: pays 3:2
- Point of 6 or 8: pays 6:5
Most online casinos allow 2x, 3-4-5x or even 10x Odds. The more Odds you take relative to your Pass Line bet, the lower the combined house edge. At 10x Odds, the blended edge of your Pass Line + Odds falls below 0.2%. This is the single best expected-value play available across any casino table game.
Bets to Avoid
The craps table is littered with Proposition bets in the centre — Any 7, Any Craps, Hardways, Horn, World, etc. These bets carry house edges from 9% to over 16% and are designed to look exciting while extracting money rapidly. Treat the centre of the craps layout as off-limits for any serious strategy.
Similarly, Field bets (covering 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 on the next roll) carry a 5.6% house edge at standard pay tables — far higher than Pass Line + Odds.
Also available: GRAI-licensed bookmaker →
Frequently Asked Questions
Craps Bets: House Edge Reference Table
| Bet | House Edge | Pays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1.41% | 1:1 | Most popular, low edge |
| Don't Pass | 1.36% | 1:1 | Slightly lower edge than pass |
| Come | 1.41% | 1:1 | Same as pass, mid-roll |
| Don't Come | 1.36% | 1:1 | Same as don't pass, mid-roll |
| Odds (behind pass/come) | 0% | True odds | No house edge – always take maximum |
| Place 6 or 8 | 1.52% | 7:6 | Best place bets |
| Place 5 or 9 | 4.0% | 7:5 | Moderate edge |
| Place 4 or 10 | 6.67% | 9:5 | High edge – avoid |
| Field | 2.78–5.56% | Varies | Avoid unless 12=3x pay |
| Any 7 | 16.67% | 4:1 | Worst bet on the table |
Craps in Ireland: Availability & Tips
- Craps not commonly found in Irish land-based casinos – mainly available in live casino online sections
- Live dealer craps (via Evolution Gaming) available at some GRAI-licensed online casinos
- Casino gaming licences not yet issued by GRAI (expected 2027–2028); online casinos operate under transitional provisions
- Stick to pass line + maximum odds for the best craps strategy (combined house edge below 0.5%)
Bet on the Pass Line. On the Come Out roll, 7 or 11 wins, 2/3/12 loses. Any other number becomes the Point. The shooter must roll the Point again before rolling a 7 for the Pass Line to win.
Pass Line + maximum Odds carries the lowest house edge of any casino bet — approaching 0% on the Odds portion. Combined edge under 0.5% at 10x Odds.
An Odds bet placed behind the Pass Line after a Point is set carries zero house edge. It pays true odds: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8.
Avoid all Proposition bets (Any 7, Hardways, Horn). They carry house edges from 9–16%, losing money far faster than Pass Line + Odds.
Yes. RNG craps is available at many licensed online casinos accessible to Irish players. Live dealer craps (real dice, physical table, video stream) is less common but available at select casinos using Evolution Gaming.