Craps rules - dice flow, point cycles and table checks
Craps rules
Pass line, odds and table-risk guide
Craps can feel overwhelming because the table shows many bet areas at once. Use this guide to learn the dice roles, come-out roll, point cycle, line bets, odds mechanics, bet categories and rules-screen checks before staking.
21+ only. Craps is gambling. House edge is theoretical and long-term; it does not predict a session result. This page explains rules and risk boundaries, not a way to make money.
Quick answer: how craps rules work
- A come-out roll starts the cycle and can either resolve line bets or establish a point.
- If a point is established, the table waits for the point number to repeat or for a seven to resolve the cycle.
- Pass, don't pass, come and don't come are line-bet families with specific timing rules.
- Odds bets can increase total exposure and depend on table-specific limits.
- Proposition, hardways, field, place, buy and lay bets require separate paytable checks.
Dice, shooter and round-flow basics
Craps uses two dice. The shooter rolls, but the user's result depends on the bet type selected and the displayed table rules. A crowd reaction, a hot-table feeling or a shooter streak is not evidence about the next roll.
- The shooter begins a new cycle with a come-out roll.
- The come-out roll either resolves some line bets immediately or establishes a point.
- After a point is set, additional rolls continue until the point repeats or a seven appears.
- Other bets can be active at the same time, which is why total exposure can grow quickly.
Come-out roll: what happens first
The come-out roll is the first rules checkpoint. Always verify the exact table rules, especially how 12 is handled on don't pass.
| Come-out roll | Pass line result | Don't pass result | Risk note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 or 11 | Usually wins. | Usually loses. | Fast resolution can encourage repeated staking. |
| 2 or 3 | Usually loses. | Usually wins. | Verify exact table wording before play. |
| 12 | Usually loses. | Often pushes, but rules can vary. | Do not assume the same don't pass rule everywhere. |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 | Point is established. | Point is established. | The cycle continues until point repeats or seven resolves it. |
Point cycle: what happens after a point is set
Once a point is established, the table waits for either that point number to repeat or a seven to appear. The result depends on whether the user is on the pass side, don't pass side or another bet category.
| Point number | What to watch | Risk boundary |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | Check odds rules and payout explanation. | Higher payout language does not make a session safe. |
| 5 or 9 | Understand point resolution before adding other bets. | Do not add bets because a number feels due. |
| 6 or 8 | Read place-bet and odds rules separately. | More active bets mean more total exposure. |
Pass-line lifecycle example
This example lets a beginner follow one complete craps cycle before adding more bet categories. It is a rules walkthrough, not a recommendation to place the bet.
| Stage | Example roll | What happens | Risk boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come-out roll | 7 or 11 | Pass Line wins immediately under standard rules. | A quick win does not predict the next cycle. |
| Come-out roll | 2, 3 or 12 | Pass Line loses immediately under standard rules. | Do not double the next wager to recover. |
| Point is set | 6 | The round continues until 6 repeats or 7 appears. | More rolls mean more time and possible add-on exposure. |
| Resolution | 6 before 7 | Pass Line wins; a 7 before 6 would lose. | The finished cycle does not make the next shooter hot or cold. |
Pass, don't pass, come and don't come
Line bets are the cleanest way to understand craps flow, but each has timing rules. Learn one cycle before adding another active bet.
| Bet family | What it follows | What to verify | Beginner mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass line | Come-out roll and point cycle. | Come-out results, point resolution and table minimum. | Thinking the point is due after several rolls. |
| Don't pass | Opposite-side line logic with table-specific come-out details. | How 2, 3 and 12 are handled. | Assuming it is a guaranteed opposite of pass line. |
| Come | A new line-bet cycle after a point exists. | When the bet travels and how it resolves. | Forgetting which numbers are active. |
| Don't come | Don't-pass-style logic after a point exists. | Travel rules, 12 rule and point resolution. | Adding complexity before understanding don't pass. |
Odds bet mechanics and exposure caveats
Odds bets are commonly discussed because they use different payout mechanics from many layout bets. That does not make the overall session safe. The line bet plus odds can increase total money at risk quickly.
| Odds rule area | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed multiple | Whether the table allows single, double, higher or custom odds. | Allowed multiple controls maximum exposure. |
| When odds can be added | Whether odds are available only after point or come-point placement. | Timing affects active bet tracking. |
| When odds can be removed | Whether odds can be reduced or removed under table rules. | The user needs a way to control exposure. |
| Total stake | Line bet plus odds compared with session budget. | A small line bet can become a larger total position. |
Place, buy, lay, field, hardways and proposition taxonomy
The craps layout includes many non-line bet categories. Treat each one as a separate rules and paytable check instead of one generic "extra bet" group.
| Bet category | What it does | Check before play | Beginner risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place bets | Wager on selected numbers resolving before a seven. | Number, payout and whether the bet can be turned off. | Covering too many numbers at once. |
| Buy bets | Similar number-focused exposure with commission-style terms in many rulesets. | Commission, payout and when commission is charged. | Ignoring cost terms because payout looks attractive. |
| Lay bets | Wager against a number before seven appears. | Required stake, commission and resolution rules. | Underestimating stake size and complexity. |
| Field bets | One-roll wager covering several numbers. | Exact covered numbers and paytable. | Assuming broad coverage means safer play. |
| Hardways | Targets paired dice totals under special loss conditions. | How hardway wins and loses are defined. | Simple-sounding label hides resolution details. |
| Proposition bets | Often resolves quickly and uses high-payout labels. | Exact one-roll terms and paytable. | Fast repetition and headline-payout temptation. |
Craps bet math and exposure reference
Craps strategy pages often focus on low-edge line bets and odds, but a lower house-edge label can still hide larger total exposure. Use the numbers as general education only, then check the exact table layout, paytable and limits before relying on them.
| Bet category | Generic reference | What it helps explain | Exposure caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass / Come | Pass and Come are commonly cited around 1.41% house edge under standard rules. | Why they are core teaching bets for the point cycle. | They can stay active across multiple rolls and can invite add-on odds. |
| Don't Pass / Don't Come | Often cited slightly lower than Pass/Come, with table-specific push handling. | Why dark-side bets appear in strategy discussions. | Social pressure and rules confusion can make them hard for beginners. |
| Odds | Odds bets are commonly described as zero-house-edge side bets behind line bets. | Why odds appear in math-first strategies. | Zero house edge does not mean zero risk; the amount at risk can grow fast. |
| Place bets | Place 6/8 are usually cheaper than many other place numbers; exact metric depends on per-roll or per-resolution framing. | Why 6 and 8 appear in beginner discussions. | Multiple place bets can create broad active exposure. |
| Proposition / hardways | Prop and hardway bets often carry much higher edges than line bets. | Why center-table excitement is not a core strategy. | High payout labels can encourage repeated small losses. |
Live craps vs RNG craps: rules-screen checklist
- Confirm whether the game is live dealer, RNG, stadium-style or app-specific.
- Check pass and don't pass come-out rules, especially how 12 is handled.
- Record odds multiples, table limits and whether odds can be added or removed.
- Open proposition-bet, field and hardways paytables before placing those bets.
- Stop if the table pace makes you add bets faster than planned.
Common beginner rules mistakes
- Learning the whole layout before understanding the come-out roll and point cycle.
- Assuming don't pass works as a perfect opposite of pass line on every table.
- Adding come and don't come bets before tracking the first point cycle.
- Taking odds because the word sounds safer without checking total exposure.
- Placing proposition bets because they are louder, faster or more visible on the table.
Availability and legal boundary
Game availability varies by operator, state, market type, device and live/RNG version. This page does not provide legal advice and does not imply that any craps game or operator is available to every U.S. user.
What to verify before using craps rules
Use this checklist before relying on any craps rule example. The same table word can affect timing, exposure or payout differently depending on the layout and rules screen.
| What to check | Claim | Where to check it | Caveat | Reader takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Come-out roll | 7/11, 2/3/12 and point-number handling must be checked. | Official table rules screen or current operator rules page. | Don't Pass 12 or 2 handling can vary. | Use as a general rule, then check the table |
| Odds mechanics | Odds availability, multiples and removal rules vary by table. | Exact table rules screen. | Odds can increase total exposure even if payout mechanics differ. | Open the rules screen before play |
| Proposition bets | Fast-resolving and high-label bets need exact paytable checks. | Exact paytable. | Do not present headline payouts as strategy or safety. | Paytable must match your table |
| Tax note | Gambling winnings may be taxable in the United States. | IRS Topic 419, checked May 12, 2026. | General information only; not tax advice. | PASS |
| RG helpline | 1-800-MY-RESET is the National Problem Gambling Helpline route. | NCPG official FAQ, checked May 12, 2026. | Some legacy or state access points may remain active. | PASS |
How to keep this craps guide current
This is the reader-facing update summary for the Craps rules page. The checklist above is the reader-facing version. The internal editorial file keeps screenshots, rules-screen captures and recheck notes.
What this page checks
Shooter/table basics, come-out resolution, point cycle, line-bet categories, odds mechanics, and live/RNG checks.
What we check
Craps rules screens, paytables, provider/operator help text, and editorial rules review before publishing exact payout language.
What this page does not claim
The page does not claim a bet is best, safe, due, profitable or available in every market.
- Last reviewed: May 12, 2026 by Michael Johnson, Sarah Roberts and the responsible-gambling review desk.
- Refresh trigger: update before adding exact payouts, house-edge math, operator availability, legal access, bonuses or payment claims.
- Responsible-play contacts: helpline routing is checked separately and expires faster than evergreen rules education.