How to Play Craps for Beginners: Rules, Table and Bets Explained
The come-out roll, the point, who works the table, what the main bets pay and what they cost, in plain words.
By the EVO33APK Editorial Team · Fact-checked by a second editor · Last updated 5 October 2026
In short
How to play craps for beginners comes down to one cycle. A shooter rolls two dice. That first roll either settles a pass line bet or sets a “point” number. The shooter then keeps rolling until the point reappears or a 7 shows. Chance decides each roll, and every bet except the odds bet carries a house edge.
- One cycle. A first roll, then a point to repeat.
- Four staff. Stickman, boxman and two base dealers.
- A built-in cost. No approach removes the casino’s advantage.
18+ only. EVO33APK is an independent information and affiliate site. This guide explains the rules of a table game. It has no registration links and does not say that EVO33 offers craps.
Table of contents
- How to play craps for beginners: one round from start to finish
- Which totals settle the first roll?
- Who runs a craps table?
- How do you read the felt?
- What do the main bets pay, and what do they cost?
- Which bets cost the most?
- What are the table manners?
- What can knowing the rules not do?
- Craps glossary
- Frequently asked questions
How to play craps for beginners: one round from start to finish
The easiest way to learn the game is to follow a single imagined round. The numbers below are an illustration, not a record of real play.
- A player puts NPR 100 on the pass line before the shooter’s first roll. This first roll is called the come-out roll.
- The shooter throws and the dice total 8. That is not one of the totals that settles the bet, so 8 becomes the point. The dealer moves a marker to the 8 box and flips it from “off” to “on” (Wizard of Odds, checked 5 October 2026).
- The next throw totals 5. Nothing is settled, so the shooter rolls again.
- The next throw totals 8, the point. The bet is paid at even money: NPR 100 in winnings, with the stake coming back.
Had a 7 arrived before that second 8, the NPR 100 would have been lost and the dice would pass to the next shooter. Shooters rotate clockwise around the table (Caesars, July 2026 page, checked 5 October 2026).
Which totals settle the first roll?
Only some totals end a pass line bet at the come-out roll. The table below also shows the opposite bet, don’t pass, side by side. Source: Wizard of Odds, last updated 3 August 2026, checked 5 October 2026.
| Roll | Pass line bet | Don’t pass bet |
|---|---|---|
| Come-out: 7 or 11 | Paid at even money | Lost |
| Come-out: 2 or 3 | Lost | Paid at even money |
| Come-out: 12 | Lost | Tie, stake returned |
| Come-out: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 | Point is set, bet stays | Point is set, bet stays |
| Later: point repeats before a 7 | Paid at even money | Lost |
| Later: 7 before the point | Lost | Paid at even money |
The 12 rule varies by place. In Reno and Lake Tahoe the tie falls on the 2 instead (Wizard of Odds). Wikipedia calls a come-out 2, 3 or 12 “craps”, and a 7 that ends a point phase a “seven out” (checked 5 October 2026).
Who runs a craps table?
Anyone learning how to play craps for beginners soon notices the staff: up to four employees work each table, plus the shooter, who is a player. Wikipedia and Caesars (both checked 5 October 2026) describe them as follows.
| Position | Where and what |
|---|---|
| Boxman | Sits behind the casino’s chips, supervises the dealers and keeps the game running smoothly |
| Two base dealers | Stand either side of the boxman, take bets and pay players on their half of the table |
| Stickman | Stands opposite the boxman, handles the dice, calls each result and deals with the bets in the centre |
| Shooter | Any player whose turn it is to roll |
How do you read the felt?
Part of how to play craps for beginners is reading the felt. Both U-shaped ends of the table carry the same markings, while the centre holds a group of side bets that players from either end can use (Wikipedia, checked 5 October 2026). That is why a table seems crowded. A newcomer can ignore most of it.
- Pass Line and Don’t Pass. The two basic bets, made before a come-out roll.
- Come and Don’t Come. The same rules as above, but started after a point is set.
- Numbered boxes (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10). Places for bets on single totals, and where the marker sits.
- The centre. One-roll bets, run by the stickman.
What do the main bets pay, and what do they cost?
Learning how to play craps for beginners also means learning what each bet costs. The house edge is the slice of each wager the casino keeps on average across a very large number of bets. At 1.41%, NPR 1,000 spread over many pass line bets costs about NPR 14 on average. That figure describes many bets together and says nothing certain about one sitting.
| Bet | Payout listed | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass line / Come | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don’t pass / Don’t come | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Odds bet (added behind a pass line bet) | True odds: 2:1 on 4 and 10, 3:2 on 5 and 9, 6:5 on 6 and 8 | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
| Field (with 12 paying 2:1) | Varies | 5.56% |
| Big 6 / Big 8 | 1:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 6 / Hard 8 | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 / Hard 10 | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any craps | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% |
Source: Wizard of Odds, craps appendix 1, last updated 3 August 2026, checked 5 October 2026. That page states each figure as the player’s edge, a negative number. Here the same figures are shown as house edge. Payouts and rules differ between casinos, so the casino’s own rules decide.
The odds bet stands apart. Wizard of Odds describes it as paying at true odds with no house edge, but it can only be added once a point is set behind a pass line bet.
Which bets cost the most?
Read down the right-hand column of the table. The single-roll bets in the centre cost the most. Any 7 carries 16.67%, about twelve times the 1.41% on the pass line. Hard 4/10 and any craps sit at 11.11%.
Big 6 and Big 8 cover the same totals as a place bet on 6 or 8 but pay 1:1 where the place bet pays 7:6. Wizard of Odds notes that the place bet is the better deal for the same outcome, which explains 9.09% against 1.52%.
These figures describe cost, not a recommendation. Chance still decides every roll.
What are the table manners?
Most customs exist to keep play fast, visible and calm (Caesars and LegalCraps, checked 5 October 2026).
- Dice. The shooter uses one hand and keeps the dice in plain view over the table. Throws should reach the far wall. Anyone who is not the shooter leaves the dice alone.
- Money. Casinos want every cash transaction to be visible, so cash goes on the felt rather than into a dealer’s hand. Tips follow the same rule.
- Timing. Wait until payouts are finished before placing new bets, and do not bet once the dice are already out.
- Talking. State your bet clearly to the dealers. Keep unasked advice to yourself.
- Devices and drinks. Many casinos restrict phones at the table. Drinks stay off the padded rail.
- The number seven. Players avoid saying it once a point is set. LegalCraps calls this a superstition. The dice cannot hear anyone.
What can knowing the rules not do?
Knowing how to play craps for beginners lets you follow a table. It does not alter the odds. Craps is a game of chance, every bet except the odds bet has a built-in house edge, and no system, routine or ritual takes that edge away.
Local law also matters. Legal commentary describes gambling and betting as largely prohibited in Nepal, with online gambling illegal whether the platform sits inside or outside the country (Law Firm Nepal, checked 5 October 2026). This is general information, not legal advice. A qualified Nepali lawyer can answer questions about your own position.
You must be 18 or over, and of legal gambling age where you live. If gambling is causing you harm, start with our responsible gambling guide. For plain explanations of casino game types, see our games page.
Craps glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shooter | The player throwing the dice this turn |
| Come-out roll | Opening throw of a round, made before any point exists |
| Point | The 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 that must repeat before a 7 |
| Craps | A come-out total of 2, 3 or 12 (Wikipedia) |
| Seven-out | A 7 thrown after the point is set (Wikipedia) |
| Pass line | A bet in favour of the shooter |
| Don’t pass | A bet against the shooter |
| Odds bet | An add-on bet after a point is set, paid at true odds |
| House edge | The average share of each bet the casino keeps over many bets |
| Stickman | Staff member who handles the dice and calls the results |
| Boxman | Staff member who supervises the table |
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest way to learn how to play craps for beginners?
Start with the core cycle, which has only two steps: a first roll, then a point to repeat. The crowded felt is mostly optional bets. If you understand the pass line, the point and the four crew roles, you can follow what is happening.
Is craps skill or luck?
Luck decides each roll. Your only choice is which bets to make, and every bet in the table except the odds bet has a house edge. The odds bet can only be added to a pass line bet, so it cannot be used alone.
What does house edge mean?
It is the average portion of every wager that the casino keeps across a very large number of bets. A 1.41% edge works out at about NPR 14 per NPR 1,000 staked. It is a statement about averages, not about your next roll.
Is craps legal in Nepal?
Legal commentary calls gambling and betting largely prohibited in Nepal, and says online gambling is illegal wherever the platform is hosted. This is general information, not legal advice. Our responsible gambling page lists ways to get support.
That is how to play craps for beginners in outline: a first roll, a point, a crew to know and a cost built into every bet. Treat it as knowledge of the game, not as a way to beat it.
Sources
All sources checked 5 October 2026. Page dates are the dates shown on each page.
- Wizard of Odds, Craps basics. Checked 5 October 2026.
- Wizard of Odds, Craps appendix 1 (player’s edge for all bets). Last updated 3 August 2026. Checked 5 October 2026.
- Caesars, How to play craps. Dated 15 July 2026 on the page. Checked 5 October 2026.
- Wikipedia, Craps. Checked 5 October 2026.
- LegalCraps, Craps etiquette. No date on the page. Checked 5 October 2026.
- Law Firm Nepal, Gambling and Betting Law in Nepal. Described as applicable in 2025. Checked 5 October 2026.
This is an independent information site. We cannot access your account, we never ask for a password or a one-time code, and this page contains no affiliate or registration links.