How To Bet On Craps

You hear the roar of the crowd over even the raucous environment of a casino and you really want to get in on the fun, but you realize that you have no idea how to bet on craps. Craps attracts players with its fast action and communal atmosphere. It may look difficult to bet on craps, but if you start by just making the simple bets, then the more complex bets begin to make sense after just a little bit of time.

1. Start by betting on the Pass Line. When the dealer turns over the button so that it is black and says "Off," it means that the game is about to start again and now is your time to get in there. The Pass Line is the area closest to the players on the craps board. Put your bet in this area and close to you. The shooter will then roll the dice. If the roll comes out as a 7 or 11, you win even money. If the roll comes out 2, 3 or 12, you lose your bet on craps. Any other roll becomes the "Point" and the shooter will need to roll again. Your Pass Line bet is still in play and will continue to be in play until the shooter either roll the Point again and you win, or rolls a seven and you lose.
2. Make an odds bet. Odds bets are one of the only wagers in a casino that is a true neutral bet, meaning that the casino has no edge. An odds bet is made after you have bet on the Pass Line and after the Point has been thrown. Place your odds bet next to your Pass Line bet, but outside of the Pass Line area closer to you. The odds bet is simply an additional wager that the Point will be thrown again instead of a seven. The payouts for these bets are exactly the same as the statistical chances of winning, so there is no house edge. Since this is an even bet on craps, most casinos will put a limit on how much you can bet on the odds, which should be listed on the placard for the table. You can also ask the dealer if you are unsure of how much you are allowed to bet.
3. Don't play against the table unless you really like being hated. In addition to the Pass Line, you can play the don't Pass Line, which follows the exact opposite rules as the Pass Line bet. You lose on 7 or 11, win on 2, 3 or 12, and then win if the shooter rolls a seven before the Point is rolled again. There is nothing wrong with playing the don't Pass Line, but the other players normally don't like it when someone is rooting against them. Stay away from the don't pass area until you feel comfortable around a craps table.
4. Make a Come Bet. If you are waiting on your Pass Line bet to pay off and you want a little more action, then consider making a Come Bet. Place your bet in the "Come" area of the craps table. A Come Bet works the same way as a Pass Line bet, only it can only happen after a Point has been established. When the shooter rolls again, your Come Bet is treated as a Pass Line bet and wins on 7 or 11 and loses on 2, 3, or 12. If another number is rolled, your Come Bet gets moved to that number on the craps table and that number is considered the "Point" for your Come Bet. Your Come Bet on craps will pay off if it's Point is rolled before a seven is rolled.
   
5. Watch and learn. There are many other ways to bet on craps, most of which have a huge house advantage. While these bets tend to suck your money away, they can be fun if they pay off. Watch the players and the dealers to figure out how these bets are played. As you get more comfortable with Pass Line, odds and Come Bets, the other action on the table will begin to make more sense.