Craps is a casino dice game where players bet on the outcome of two dice. It looks complicated because the table is covered in betting areas, but the core game is simple, and its best bets carry some of the lowest house edges in the casino. This guide explains how a round of craps works, what each common bet pays, and which bets are good value and which are expensive.
- The Pass Line bet has a house edge of 1.41%, and Don’t Pass 1.36%.
- The “free odds” bet you can add behind Pass or Don’t Pass has no house edge at all.
- Centre-table proposition bets, such as Any Seven, carry edges of about 9% to 17%.
- No strategy changes the edge on a bet. You can only choose cheaper bets.
How craps works
Craps uses two six-sided dice. Each round has two stages.
Stage 1: the come-out roll
The first roll of a round is the come-out roll.
- 7 or 11: Pass Line bets win immediately.
- 2, 3 or 12 (“craps”): Pass Line bets lose immediately.
- 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10: that number becomes the point.
Stage 2: rolling for the point
Once a point is set, the dice are rolled until either:
- the point is rolled again: Pass Line bets win, or
- a 7 is rolled (“seven-out”): Pass Line bets lose, and the round ends.
All other numbers in between do not affect the Pass Line bet, although they may settle other bets on the table.
Why some totals come up more often
With two dice there are 36 equally likely combinations. Seven is the most common total because six combinations make it.
| Total | Ways to roll | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 2 or 12 | 1 each | 2.8% each |
| 3 or 11 | 2 each | 5.6% each |
| 4 or 10 | 3 each | 8.3% each |
| 5 or 9 | 4 each | 11.1% each |
| 6 or 8 | 5 each | 13.9% each |
| 7 | 6 | 16.7% |
This table explains almost every payout in craps. Bets on rarer totals pay more, but the casino builds in a margin by paying slightly less than the true odds.
The main bets and their house edge
| Bet | How it works | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | Win on 7/11 on come-out, or if the point repeats before a 7 | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t Pass | The opposite; 12 on the come-out is a push | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Come / Don’t Come | Like Pass/Don’t Pass, but made after a point is set | 1:1 | 1.41% / 1.36% |
| Free odds (behind Pass or Come) | Extra bet after a point is set | True odds: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8 | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | The number rolls before a 7 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% | |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% | |
| Field (2 and 12 pay 2:1) | One roll: win on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 | 1:1, 2:1 on 2/12 | 5.56% |
| Field (12 pays 3:1) | Same, better paytable | 2.78% | |
| Hard 6 or Hard 8 | 3+3 or 4+4 before a 7 or the “easy” way | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Any Craps | One roll: 2, 3 or 12 | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Eleven (“Yo”) | One roll: 11 | 15:1 | 11.11% |
| Any Seven | One roll: 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% |
Paytables vary, especially online and on the Field and proposition bets, so check the game’s rules screen. We computed these edges from the standard payouts shown.
The free odds bet
Once a point is set, you can add an “odds” bet behind your Pass Line bet. It pays at the true odds of the point being rolled before a 7, so it has no house edge. It is the only zero-edge bet commonly found in a casino.
Here is what it does in pesos. You bet ₱100 on the Pass Line and add ₱200 in odds after the point is set. Your expected cost is still about ₱1.41, the edge on the ₱100 Pass bet, while your total bet is ₱300. The odds bet lowers the average edge across your total stake, but it also increases how much money is on the table and how much your results swing. Only add odds you can afford to lose.
Online and live versions may limit odds to a fixed multiple of your Pass bet, or may not offer odds at all. Check the rules.
Craps etiquette and online play
At a physical table, the player rolling the dice is the “shooter”, and the role moves around the table. Online, RNG craps lets you play alone at your own pace, and live dealer versions use real dice on camera. RNG games can be very fast, and the faster you play, the more you are expected to lose per hour, even on low-edge bets.
You will find craps less often than baccarat or sic bo in Philippine online lobbies. Compare it with other table games in our table games online guide.
Common craps mistakes
- Betting the centre of the table. Proposition bets are where most of the house edge lives.
- Placing the 4 and 10 instead of taking odds on a Pass or Come bet.
- Pressing bets after wins, which raises your stake when you are already ahead and lengthens the session.
- Believing in “hot” or “cold” shooters. Each roll is independent.
- Chasing losses with bigger bets.
Our take
In our view, the sensible way to play craps is also the simplest: bet the Pass Line (or Don’t Pass), add a modest odds bet if you understand it, and leave the rest of the layout alone. That keeps your edge near 1.4% or lower. Craps can still swing hard in a short session, so set a budget first.
FAQ
What is the best bet in craps?
The free odds bet behind Pass or Come has no house edge. Of the bets you can make on their own, Don’t Pass (1.36%) and Pass Line (1.41%) are the cheapest.
Is craps easy to learn?
The core game, Pass Line on the come-out roll and then the point, takes a few minutes to learn. The many side bets are what make the table look complicated, and you can ignore them.
Can you play craps online in the Philippines?
Some PAGCOR-licensed operators offer RNG or live craps. Availability depends on the operator, so check the game lobby, and verify the operator using our guide on how to tell if an online casino is legit.
Is there a winning strategy for craps?
No. You can choose bets with a lower house edge, but no system changes the odds of the dice. Read more about house edge in RTP in online casino games.
Play responsibly
Craps can be fast and streaky. Set a budget and a time limit before you play, and stop when you reach either one. For free, confidential support, call PAGCOR‘s 24/7 National Problem Gambling Helpline at (02) 8248-9568, or read our responsible gambling guide.
This site is for 21+ only. Please gamble responsibly.
Sources
- House edges and probabilities computed by CasinoGuide PH from standard craps payouts (two fair dice, 36 combinations).
- PAGCOR, Responsible Gaming page, accessed 26 Oct 2026: pagcor.ph
Last updated: 30 October 2026
