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Dean Calloway
Senior Craps Editor 12+ yrs
Every answer on this page was written by an editorial team member, reviewed by Dean Calloway, and re-checked against published craps house-edge math where probabilities are quoted.
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Send a craps question to our editorial desk and we'll reply within 48 hours. Bet selection, the point, free odds, casino recommendations — anything. Below: every question we've already answered, plus reader-submitted threads.
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Welcome to Craps.team's question-and-answer section. You can send any craps question to our Craps Expert and we'll reply within 48 hours. Rules, bet selection, casino picks, or anything else — don't hesitate. Use the contact form to submit; or browse the most-asked questions below.
Most-asked questions
What's the best bet in craps?
Pass Line backed by maximum free odds. The Pass Line itself carries a low 1.41% house edge, and the odds bet behind it pays true odds with a 0% house edge — the only fair wager on the table. Don't Pass (1.36%) backed by lay odds is marginally better still. Stick to those, add Place 6 and Place 8 (1.52% each) if you want more action, and skip the flashy center props. Our /strategies/ section shows exactly how to structure it.
What is the point and how does it work?
On the come-out roll, if the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes 'the point' and the puck flips ON. The shooter then keeps rolling until either the point repeats — Pass Line wins — or a 7 appears first, which ends the hand. A come-out 7 or 11 is an instant Pass win (a 'natural'); a 2, 3, or 12 is craps and loses. See /rules/ for the full sequence.
What does 'seven-out' mean?
Once a point is established, if the shooter rolls a 7 before repeating the point, that's a seven-out: the Pass Line loses, the round ends, and the dice pass to the next shooter. It's the moment every Pass bettor dreads. Note that the 7 is your friend on the come-out roll and your enemy during the point phase — same number, opposite effect. The /glossary/ explains every term.
Are free odds really a zero-edge bet?
Yes — free odds are the only bet in the casino with no house edge at all. After a point is set you can back your Pass or Come bet with an 'odds' wager that pays true odds: 2:1 on the 4 and 10, 3:2 on the 5 and 9, and 6:5 on the 6 and 8. Because the payout exactly matches the probability, the casino keeps nothing. Always take the maximum odds your table allows. See /strategies/ for the math.
What's the difference between Pass and Don't Pass?
Pass Line bets with the shooter: you win on a come-out 7 or 11 and when the point repeats. Don't Pass bets against the shooter: you win on a come-out 2 or 3, push on 12 (the '12 bar'), and win when a 7 hits before the point. Pass carries a 1.41% edge, Don't Pass a slightly lower 1.36%. Most players ride the Pass Line for the social energy; the math marginally favours Don't Pass. The /glossary/ defines each.
Should I make Field bets?
Sparingly. The Field is a one-roll bet that wins on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 — it looks like most of the numbers, but 5, 6, 7, and 8 are the most common totals and they all lose. With 2 paying 2:1 and 12 paying 3:1, the house edge is about 2.78%, well above Pass, Come, or Place 6/8. It's fine for occasional fun, but it shouldn't be the core of your play. Build around Pass plus odds instead.
Are the center proposition bets worth it?
No. The big-payout bets in the middle of the layout — Any 7 (16.7% edge), Any Craps (11.1%), the hardways (about 9-11%), and hop bets — carry the worst odds on the table. The flashy payouts exist precisely because they almost never hit. Treat them as entertainment money at most. Everything you actually want to win with sits on the line: Pass/Come, free odds, and Place 6 and 8.
What is a Come bet?
A Come bet works exactly like a Pass Line bet, but you make it after the point is already established. The next roll becomes your personal come-out: 7 or 11 wins, 2/3/12 loses, and any box number becomes your Come point, which you can then back with free odds. Come bets let you get multiple numbers working with the same low 1.41% edge. They're the natural way to add bets without touching the props.
Does dice control or 'dice setting' actually work?
There's no proven, repeatable edge from it. Despite claims, no controlled study has shown a shooter can influence two tumbling dice on a felt table reliably enough to beat the house edge. The dice are random, each roll independent of the last. The only real levers you control are bet selection — choosing the lowest-edge wagers — and bankroll discipline. Spend your effort there, not on a throwing technique.
Is there a system that beats the house edge long-term?
No. No betting progression — Martingale, pressing, pattern-chasing — changes the odds of the dice, and the house edge guarantees losses over enough rolls. Choosing Pass/Come with full odds minimises that edge toward the floor but never erases it. Anyone selling a 'guaranteed winning system' is selling fiction. The honest goal is to lose slowly, enjoy the game, and quit while you're ahead.
Can I play craps for free?
Yes. Our on-site practice table lets you play craps for free with no deposit and no account — it's the best way to learn the come-out, the point, and where the odds bet goes before real money is on the line. Drilling for free first means that when you do play for real, you're not paying tuition for mistakes you could have made in demo mode. Open it from the /#play section.
Is online craps rigged?
Licensed operators are not rigged. Every legitimate craps title — RNG or live-dealer — is audited by independent labs (eCOGRA, iTech Labs, GLI) and certified to roll fairly. The house edge IS built into the payouts; that's the math, not rigging. RNG craps reshuffles the outcome every roll, so past results never predict the next. If you can't find a licence and audit report on a casino's site, walk away. See how we vet them at /how-we-rate/.
What's the difference between live-dealer and RNG craps?
Live-dealer craps streams a real table with real dice thrown by a stickman or shooter, so you watch physical results unfold — closer to a casino floor. RNG (or 'Bubble') craps uses a certified random number generator, often on an electronic terminal, with no physical dice. Both carry the same fair house edges if licensed. RNG is faster and available at lower minimums; live-dealer feels more authentic. Pick by preference, not by any difference in odds.
What table minimum should I look for?
Look for a minimum that lets you fund the bet plus its odds comfortably. A $10 minimum with 3-4-5x odds means you want enough bankroll to put $10 on the line and another $30-50 behind it — that's where the cheap, fair money is. RNG and Bubble craps often start far lower than live tables, which is ideal for stretching a small bankroll while you learn. We list typical minimums in our /casinos/ reviews.
Reader-submitted Q&As
Some recent questions from readers, with our answers. Submit your own via the contact form — replies within 48 hours.
Recently answered
Should I always take maximum odds behind the Pass Line? (Elvin, 15.11.2024)
If your bankroll allows it, yes — odds are the only zero-edge bet in the building. Every dollar you move from a flat bet to the odds behind it lowers your blended house edge, because the odds portion is paid at true odds with no cut for the casino. The catch is variance: bigger odds mean bigger swings, so size them to a bankroll you're comfortable with. The /strategies/ guide shows how to balance it.
Do I have to be the shooter, or can I just bet? (Stanislaw, 12.09.2023)
You can bet without ever rolling. When the dice come to you, you can decline and the stickman moves them to the next player — you simply keep betting the Pass Line, Come, or Place numbers like anyone else. There's no penalty and no obligation to shoot. Just remember that whoever rolls, the odds are identical for every bettor at the table; the shooter has no special advantage.
Why did my Pass Line bet lose on a 12 at come-out? (Lucjan, 28.01.2023)
On the come-out roll, 2, 3, and 12 are all 'craps' and the Pass Line loses on any of them. The 12 isn't special for Pass — it just loses like the 2 and 3. Where the 12 matters is Don't Pass, where it's a push (the 'bar 12') rather than a win, which is how the casino keeps a small edge on the don't side. See the /glossary/ entry for 'craps' and 'bar 12'.
Is it worth pressing my bets when I'm on a hot roll? (Roscislaw, 13.05.2022)
Be careful. A long roll only looks meaningful in hindsight — each throw is independent, so a streak of points tells you nothing about the next roll. Pressing (rolling winnings back into bigger bets) increases the amount exposed when the inevitable seven-out lands. Taking some profit off and keeping a steady, odds-backed structure is far safer. There's no momentum in the dice to ride.
Is online craps legal where I live? (Nadzieja, 02.05.2022)
It depends on your jurisdiction. In many countries online casinos operate under international licences (MGA, UKGC, Curaçao), and operators with those licences accept players. They may not be licensed specifically for your market — a regulated grey area many players navigate safely. Always check the operator's licence display and your own local laws before depositing.