Craps Strategy

The number of betting options in craps can be dizzying, and it can be difficult for a beginner to know what to do. Playing craps effectively requires that you do three things:

Only a few of the bets offered at a craps table are worth making. To minimize the house edge, stick to the following bets:

That’s it—unless you’re playing purely for the thrill and don’t care at all about losing money, you should never make any of the other bets on the table. The price you pay in terms of the house edge is simply too high for all the other bets.

Though the don’t pass and don’t come bets are marginally better than the pass line and come bets, you still may want to avoid betting the “don’ts.” Wrong betting is often frowned upon by other gamblers and seen as taking the side of the enemy. The final choice is yours, though, and all of the bets listed here are excellent.

The only free bet at a casino is the odds bet in craps. Whether you bet the pass line, come, don’t pass line, or don’t come, always take full advantage of the odds bet. Not only does it identify you as a shrewd gambler, it’s also easier on your wallet than any other bet.

Though there’s no such thing as a “hot” or “cold” craps table, some casinos offer better craps conditions than others. Look for casinos that offer the maximum possible odds bets. Finding a casino with 10× or more odds is not difficult in most major gambling meccas. The maximum odds bet permitted will usually be advertised on the casino’s marquee or posted on a small sign on the craps table. If not, ask a member of the crew which odds bets are permitted.