Here at Casino.com ZA, we bring the best selection for South African players looking to play Craps online. Despite being one of the most popular online casino games, there are still some people who find Craps hard to understand. Our detailed guide will teach you how to get started with this misunderstood classic casino game.
Playing Craps Online Guide at Casino.com ZA
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BETTING RULES: HOW TO PLAY CRAPS?
Playing Craps is relatively easy once you’re used to how the game works. Like most online casino games, each stage has a fixed order of play to follow. Here’s a simple version of the order of play before we dive into the more complex details.
- Players make their bets
- Next, the ‘come out’ roll takes place
- There’s either points, natural, or Craps
- More rolls are performed
- Another roll is up next, and players can choose to make ‘don’t come’ or ‘come’ bets
That’s a simplified version of the events we’ll cover to help you get to grips with Craps gameplay.
The first lot of bets that players can make are twofold. Firstly, players can make individual bets on the dice roll – these are unrelated to the complete cycle of Craps bets and are based on the value of the two dice from the roll.
Secondly, players can place what is known as a ‘pass’ or ‘don’t pass’ bet. This applies to what will take place over the next series of rolls. If a natural is rolled, a 7 or 11, the dice are rolled again. If the dice score 2, 3 or 12, this counts as a loss, but another roll is still allowed.
If any other score is rolled, this is called ‘making point’. After the first lot of rolls, there is a bet called the ‘come out’. This has the same betting choices as the first betting round, but a 7 will cause the shooter to lose.
Depending on the stage of betting in play, different bets are available to players, so it’s important to know what round you’re involved in.
If you’re confused by the general rules when playing Craps, you can always check the help section available in each Craps game at any of the online casinos listed at Casino.com ZA. If you require more support, you can also look through the Help and Support section to access any additional help you might need.
RULE VARIATIONS
Different forms of Craps are available on the market. Each one has a slightly different set of rules for players to follow. We’ve put together a quick snapshot to make sure that South African players know what you’re in for every time you try a different variation of Craps.
- Bank Craps - Bank Craps involves the players betting against the house, rather than against each other.
- Crapless Craps - This might sound confusing, but the Craps name applies to a certain kind of roll, not the dice. So, in Crapless Craps, there are no scores that achieve Craps — every roll on the ‘come out’ is a point except for a 7.
- High Point Craps - High Point Craps is a variation of Craps in which players who roll a 2 or a 3 don’t make the point, so get to roll again (rather than losing as in standard Craps).
- New York Craps - In New York Craps, you just bet on box numbers. This makes it much simpler for players; you win if you bet on the right box, and you lose if you bet on the wrong box.
- Simplified Craps - The name covers it nicely. With Simplified Craps, players either have a winning bet or a losing bet. That’s it.
- Diceless Craps - This is a more complicated game, and is also extremely rare. In Diceless Craps, players use cards to signify the dice. You might be able to find it somewhere out there, but it’s not as common as other Craps variations.
There are obviously other versions of Craps on the market, so don’t consider this an exhaustive list. It’s always worth checking out the range of Craps games available at the sites recommended by Casino.com ZA on a regular basis, to see the latest variants for you to play.
ODDS AND PAYOUTS
When playing Craps, the payouts differ based on the round of the game that you’re playing. A number of different bets can be placed, all of which pay different levels of odds. Here’s a quick rundown of the different bets that you can place, as well as the odds available for each bet.
- Pass: This applies to betting that the player will achieve the point.
- Don’t pass: Betting that the player will not achieve the point.
- Pass line: This is also known as ‘box betting’.
- Don’t pass line: The opposite of the pass line bet.
- Field bet: Bets on individual numbers 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11.
- Hardway: Betting on 2 or 12.
Bet Type | Odds | Payout | House Edge |
Pass | 49.3% | 1/1 | 1.4% |
Don’t Pass | 49.3% | 1/1 | 1.4% |
Pass Line - 4 or 10 | 33.3% | 2/1 | 4.76% |
Pass Line - 5 or 9 | 40% | 3/2 | 4.76% |
Pass Line - 6 or 8 | 45.5% | 6/5 | 4.76% |
Don’t Pass Line - 4 or 10 | 66.6% | 1/2 | 2.44% |
Don’t Pass Line 5 or 9 | 60% | 2/3 | 3.23% |
Don’t Pass Line 6 or 8 | 45.5% | 5/6 | 4% |
Field - 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 | / | 1/1 | 5.5% |
Hardway - 2 or 12 | / | 2/1 | 5.5% |
BASIC STRATEGIES AND TIPS
There are plenty of different strategies that you can use when betting on Craps. While we don’t have the room for a full in-depth strategy guide here, we can provide you with a basic introduction to some of the most popular betting strategies used by players. We’ll also show you a few strategies to avoid.
POPULAR BEGINNER STRATEGIES
- Pass and Come Strategy
Using the ‘pass and come’ strategy is essentially a way for players to access the game and to use the “free odds” bets to grab larger wins. By using this strategy, you will place minimal bets on the ‘pass’ and the ‘come’, but lay larger wagers on the odds that feature later in the game. It’s important to remember that a 7 can make you lose all of these bets, so make sure you stick to a betting level that falls within your comfort zone when trying this strategy.
- Don’t Pass and Don’t Come Strategy
This is almost the exact opposite of the first strategy. Here, players are betting on the shooter not to get the roll needed to make the point. The similarity is that it requires low bets on the ‘don’t pass’ and ‘don’t come’ aspects, as well as increased bets for the secondary wagers. Just like the ‘pass and come’ strategy it’s important to manage your bankroll when taking advantage of the ‘don’t’ pass and don’t come’ strategy.
- Laying Odds Bets
Laying odds bets involves placing a wager on the shooter not making the point after you have placed a ‘don’t pass’ bet. What makes this bet worth your time? It offers no house edge when you do it correctly. While these bets will never offer huge payouts, they do provide you with the best statistical chance of walking away with a profit.
- 6 and 8 Bets
With 6 and 8 bets, you place two bets on each roll, you bet on the 6 and on the 8. This is best used as a negative progression betting system, in which you increase your wager level if you end up losing a bet. It’s up to you to decide what level you increase your wager by, but players usually bet a single unit on each option and increase the bet by a unit on each option in the event of losing a bet.
- Three Points Molly Strategy
This is executed across the ‘pass’ and ‘come’ lines. Whenever a point is set, you bet maximum odds on that point. You do this until you have three points bets in place on the board. You continue to let the three bets ride until the shooter craps out. This means you will be placing a relatively low wager on every roll, but will still have the opportunity to bring in a good return from the wagers you’ve placed already.
BAD CRAPS STRATEGY: BETS YOU SHOULD AVOID
- Big 6 and 8
Don’t be confused, this is different to betting on the 6 and 8. A bet on the ‘big 6 and 8’ increases the house edge from 1.5% to 9%, and the house edge increases six-fold with this kind of bet. Despite being very similar bets, this difference in house edge makes the ‘big 6 and 8’ a bet you should consider avoiding at all costs.
- 4, 6, 8 and 10
In Hardways, a combination is made of two dice of the same value. So, this could apply to a pair of 2s, a pair of 6s, a pair of 4s, or a pair of 12s. This offers a very generous payout if you are able to make it work, but on the other hand, it also has a very high house edge. This makes it another of those wagers that you should try to avoid.
- Proposition Bets
These bets are placed on a single roll of the dice and have some of the highest house edge totals of all casino games. Avoid these bets if you want to use one of the best Craps strategy options.
MOBILE EXPERIENCE
Here at Casino.com ZA, we make sure that players have access to some of the finest online Craps games on the market. A key part of this involves delivering a high-quality mobile experience to every player. The online Craps titles available on the online craps casinos we recommend are some of the very best available on the market today, offering fantastic visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and an easy-to-use interface. All of the titles are also fully optimized to ensure that there’s no need for players to worry about slowdown when playing on mobile devices.
If you enjoy playing Craps on your smartphone, you’ll be amazed at the amazing quality of the mobile-friendly Craps games. Take the time to browse the portfolio of games on any of the operators on our website and you’ll be rolling the dice in no time.
ONLINE CRAPS BONUSES
If you want to take advantage of an efficient bankroll management strategy, using an online casino bonus is one of the best ways to do so. Here at Casino.com ZA, we offer insights into some of the best online casino bonuses available to players, catering to diverse gaming preferences and goals. Once you’ve chosen the right bonus for you, you’ll be able to create an account and start playing right away.
If you want to see which of our recommended bonuses can be used when playing online Craps, take a look at our bonuses and Promotions page. Here, you’ll be able to discover everything you need to know about any bonus, including the terms and conditions.
FAQ
What is the best bet in Craps?
In terms of house edge, the best bet in Craps is the ‘don’t pass’ or ‘don’t come’ bet. This has a small house edge of just 1.36%. Some of these bets can also work into a house edge of zero if you follow them up.
How to win at Craps?
There’s no definitive way to win at Craps. You just have to choose your bet, play as smartly as you can, and hope that your strategy is an effective one.
How to shoot dice?
In real-life, offline Craps, all you have to do is grip the dice in your hand and throw it onto the Craps table. If you’re playing online Craps, it’s simply a case of laying your bet and clicking the shoot button.
How to play street dice?
This all depends on the rules of the street dice game that you’re playing. Street dice can have much different rules to standard Craps, and can often be a big risk. That’s why it’s best to avoid street dice and only play at reputable venues.
Where can I get a Craps bonus?
The experts at Casino.com ZA have compiled a list of safe and secure online craps casinos with generous Craps bonus offers available for South African players. Just look through our bonus and Promotions page to see what’s available and get fast access to them.
Can I play mobile Craps for real money?
Yes, you can. Here at Casino.com ZA, we have lined up a fantastic list of mobile casinos where players can choose from a wide range of mobile games, including the latest Craps titles.
Can I turn off my hardway bet?
You can. You’re free to do whatever you like with your bets, and the hardway bet is no different. You can turn this off at any point during the game.
What’s the difference between live and online Craps?
With Live Craps, there’s an element of shooter skill to the way in which the dice lands. If the shooter has a technique that allows them to throw the dice in a certain way, this will change the way that the bets can work. With online Craps, RNG technology ensures the outcome of every single throw is generated randomly, for total fairness.
HELP AND SUPPORT
Playing Craps at the best online casinos listed on Casino.com ZA is a simple way to discover this amazing game. However, sometimes everyone needs a little bit of help — which is why it’s so important that we recommend operators that offer reliable help to all players.
The first way that you can get some help is by using the in-game menus available in Craps games. You’ll be able to get help on anything related to the rules of the game, potential payouts, or the bets available. Whatever you need, check the in-game help menu.
As well as these in-game help menus, you can also access professional Customer Support from the helpful team on any of our approved sites. Just check out the help and support page, where you’ll find details on reaching them through email, Live Chat support, and telephone support. They are always on call, so you can receive the help you need 24/7.
PLAY CRAPS GAMES FOR REAL MONEY
If you want to take part in the fast-paced Craps betting experience, Casino.com is the best site to partner with when searching for your ideal South African online casino. We guarantee our South African players of world-class online casinos with the highest-quality titles available on the market, from some of the leading developers. All you need to do is create an account, and you’ll be ready to play Craps within minutes.