One of the most popular dice games that you now get at online casinos as well is craps. This is more a game of chance: you roll the dice and the outcome of the roll determines whether you win or lose and payouts are made based on the wagers placed. All you need to play is a craps table – this is a table that has the required markings on it – and 2 dice to roll; at an online casino the entire set-up is laid out on your computer screen. You just have to click the Roll button to get the dice rolling once you have placed your bets.
Top Craps Casinos with Bonuses
One of the reasons for the popularity of craps is a low house edge, and that is also why not many casinos offer bonuses for use to play craps. And even in the ones where you are allowed to, only certain bets can be placed and the wagering requirement contributions are also designed to ensure the casino doesn’t run into loss – it is about 10% at the most.
We list for you the top casinos offering craps and allowing you to use the bonuses available to play this amazing game.
Brief History of Craps
The earliest records of a game similar to craps – played with dice made of pig knucklebones – have been traced back to the times of the Roman Empire. Fast forward to more recent history and the game of Hazard, which came up in France sometime in the 18th century, bears the closest resemblance to craps.
The game sailed across to the USA via the Arcadia in the 19th century and found itself being played in French Louisiana. Bernard de Mandeville of New Orleans took the game to the rest of the USA mainly through excursions on the steam boats on the Mississippi River. After World War II, games like video poker and slots overtook craps in the popularity charts. It was only with the arrival of the online casino that the game has started becoming popular again.
Craps Rules
While the craps table looks possibly intimidating, game play itself is very simple and also extremely fast. To play consistently it is important to know the rules. The people in the game can be categorized into:
- The shooter: This is the person shooting dice. The shooter’s aim is to get a winning combination on his first dice roll: 7 or 11. If he throws a 2, 3, or 12 he loses. Every player gets to be the shooter.
- Other players: They wager on the outcome of the dice roll. They can accept or decline the chance to be the shooter. They have the option of betting for or against the shooter. They can also place any of the other bets found in the game.
- Non-players: These are players who do not play but are part of the game. These include:
- Dealers: Each game has 2 dealers. Their task is to accept bets and supervise the game in general.
- Boxman: The game’s banker, he also ensures fair play.
- Stickman: He controls the dice roll and assists the dealers in running the game.
How to Play Craps
Playing craps is relatively simple. The following steps show you how.
- The shooter launches the first roll, also called the come-out roll. He wins if he scores a 7 or 11 on the first throw; this is also called a natural.
- If he throws a 2, 3, or 12 he loses, bringing the round to an end right there.
- Any other number that pops up is the shooter’s point.
- The player throws till he shoots a 7 to lose (7 out) or a point number (score a point) to win.
Different Bets Found in Craps
The following are the main kinds of bets in craps:
- Come and don’t come bets: These are like the pass line and don’t pass line bets; the don’t come bet works exactly the reverse of the come bet. They both pay even money and you can place them after the come out roll. Come bets allow for placing of odd bets with the standard bet. The rules for these bets are as follows:
- You win if you place a come bet and throw a 7 or 11, and lose if you throw a 2, 3, or 12.
- If you shoot a point number on a come bet a new point number is established; this point is not dependent on any point made during the come out roll. You will now win only if the shooter rolls the point.
- With the don’t come bet shooting a 12 ties the game and gets it pushed, allowing you to collect your bet amount back or leave it on the table for the following round.
- Pass Line bet: It is the most popular craps bet as it allows a shooter to win on a winning throw. It wins on a 7 or 11 and loses on a 2, 3, or 12. The pass line bet pays out at 1:1.
- Don’t Pass Line bet: This is not a very popular bet; you stand directly against the shooter and also all other players. It is not popular among shooters as well because with this bet he wins only by losing the throw. It pays out at 1:1.
- Odds bets: These are extra bets; you can place them while a game is in progress. These bets are allowed after a shooter has established a point. They are popular among players as they can reduce the house edge. The payout for the different odds are listed below:
- 2:1 for 4 or 10
- 3:2 for 5 or 9
- 6:5 for 6 or 8