The weird and wonderful game of craps involves predicting the outcome of a pair of dice and while luck obviously plays a huge role, there are some tips you can follow to get the very most out of your online craps experience.
While these 9 craps tips will no doubt help you have a more enjoyable gaming session, there is no real way to learn how to win at craps every single time. Craps is a casino game with a house edge, and game outcomes are random. The tips on this page will not improve the odds of winning at craps.
Tip #1: Learn the rules
Of all our craps tips, the number one tip that will vastly improve your experience of playing craps is to learn the rules. This might seem obvious, but it is especially important for craps as it is such a unique and often complex game to understand. At the bare minimum, you need to know what the Comeout roll and Point phase are, and what the Pass/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come bets are. Now would be a great time to brush up on your online craps knowledge by learning how to play craps.
Tip #2: Use the odds as a guide to your Craps strategy
It’s well worth taking the time to look at the odds of every available bet in craps. Why? Payouts of the various bets give you an indication of how likely they are to come up. The higher the odds, the more you stand to win, but the less likely that actually is. For example, the Pass/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come bets pay out at evens (1/1), while the Crap 12 bet pays 30/1. While it is certainly tempting to go for that 30/1 payout, it’s important to realise that it’s way less likely to come up than the Pass and Come bets (and their inverses). The upshot? Stick to the bets with lower payouts that come up more often.
Tip #3: Play bets with the lowest house edge
Another excellent way to improve your experience playing craps online is to consider the house edge of each bet. Remember, the house edge is the opposite of the Return To Player (RTP) is that it’s the cut the casino takes from every bet played. Stick to bets with a low house edge and your money will last longer. The craps Don’t Pass strategy (basically, betting on Don’t Pass) is commonly touted as the best since the Don’t Pass bet has the lowest house edge of just 1.40%. Don’t Come bets also have a house edge of 1.40%, making them just as good as the Don’t Pass bets. The Pass and Come bets are almost as good, with a house edge of 1.41%. Compare that to the house edge of 16.7% for the Any 7 bet and you can see how much of a difference playing low house edge bets can make!
Tip #4: Play odds bets (taking and laying the odds)
Playing bets with both a low house edge and a low payout could potentially make for a pretty boring game! The sweet spot lies in the balance between these scales, ie. odds bets. Also referred to as ‘taking or laying the odds’, odds bets are those that are available after a point has been established. With odds bets, you’re effectively betting that the point will (taking) or won’t (laying) be rolled. The beauty of odds bets is that they have no house edge (although you can’t place these alone, they have to be placed directly after Pass/Don’t Pass/Come/Don’t Come bets, which do have a house edge, albeit low), and more attractive payouts. For example, betting that the point 4 will come pays 2/1. Just remember that the number of possible combinations will also influence the payout, eg. there are more ways to make a 7 (1 and 6, 3 and 4, 5 and 2) than a 10 (5 and 5, 6 and 4).
Tip #5: Avoid put and prop bets
As an extension of the tip to go for bets with a low house edge, you should avoid bets with a high house edge. Those with the highest house edge are the put (bets made after the comeout) and prop bets (standalone bets on any roll). Put bets pay out evens (1/1) but they tend to have a pretty large house edge, eg. 33.3% on 4 or 10! Prop bets also have a substantial house edge, eg. the Any Craps bet has a house edge of 11.11%, and their higher payout odds (usually 7/1 or 8/1 for Any Craps) suggest these bets don’t come up very often either. Take home point? Avoid put and prop bets.
Tip #6: Manage your bankroll wisely
Of course, one of the most impactful craps tips comes down to responsible bankroll management. Keeping a close eye on your bankroll and how you use it reduces the likelihood of running into problems such as extensive losses. Here are some key takeaways to effectively manage your bankroll:
- Bet only what you can afford to lose: Think of your craps gameplay as a bit of fun and your bankroll as the amount you’re willing to pay for that fun.
- Bet conservatively: A lot of the advice on craps strategy tells you to place a series of bets, but these can quickly add up. Keep the size of your bets a small percentage of your overall bankroll. That way, you can have a longer, more enjoyable session without losing a lot of money.
- Never try to chase your losses: As mentioned above, think of your session as a ticket event, where you pay a price for your experience. Once you’ve used your funds, your experience is over, whichever way it went. Trying to double down to make up any losses is only ever a losing game – don’t go there!
Tip #7: Take advantage of deals
Like any other casino game, there is no golden rule for how to win at craps. Luck is the overriding factor that means ‘you win some, you lose some’. That said, you can minimise the effect of that variability by taking advantage of bonuses and special offers as and when they arise. At PlayOJO, for example, you get money back for every bet you place, whether that bet wins or loses. Now that’s a great craps strategy!
Tip #8: Keep it fun
This one doesn’t just apply to craps games, of course. Strategies are interesting to try, just make sure you’re approaching the game with a relaxed frame of mind. Keeping the focus on fun means you’ll have a far more enjoyable game.
Tip #9: Stay in control
It’s crucial you maintain control of your online craps gaming session at all times. Being able to play responsibly means you’re way more likely to have a positive experience and keep any losses to a minimum. Here are some key ways to stay in control of how long you’re playing and how much you’re spending:
- Set a budget and stick to it: Have a set budget in mind and resolve to stick to it before you start playing. You can always use tools such as deposit and bet limits to help you.
- Be mindful of time: It’s way too easy to lose track of time when trying to execute the best craps strategy. Make use of session reminders to keep track of how long you’ve been playing.
- When it’s no longer fun, you’re done: If you start getting annoyed or frustrated that you’re not winning, that’s a great time to stop. Keeping your emotions in check and knowing when it’s time to quit will ensure your experience is always a positive one.
Summary
There you have it! Now you know what the best bet in craps is and how to maximise your enjoyment of this complex and intriguing game. The best craps strategy is to bet mindfully, watch those odds and house edge percentages, and, above all, keep it fun. Try out these 9 tips on your next visit to the online craps table and see how you get on. Enjoy!
FAQs
In a word? No. There is no way to consistently win at craps as the element of luck plays a role in the game. Some will argue that learning how to shoot dice can help you hone your skills at throwing specific numbers. However, not only is that extremely difficult to do, it also doesn’t apply to online craps where you don’t touch the dice at all.In a word? No. There is no way to consistently win at craps as the element of luck plays a role in the game. Some will argue that learning how to shoot dice can help you hone your skills at throwing specific numbers. However, not only is that extremely difficult to do, it also doesn’t apply to online craps where you don’t touch the dice at all.
There are 2 bets that can be considered the best in craps: the Don’t Pass and Don’t Come bets. Both of these have the lowest house edge of just 1.40%. After that, the Pass and Come bets are the next best, with a house edge of 1.41%.
The best craps bet for beginners is Don’t Pass. This bet has the lowest house edge of just 1.40% and it can be played by anyone on the Comeout roll, making it the perfect bet for beginners.
Place your chips on the Big 6 8 spot on the craps table. This means you’re betting on a 6 or 8 to come up. It’s a popular bet as there are lots of ways to make 6 or 8 with two dice, making them the most common dice totals to be rolled.
