Craps has a reputation for being loud, fast and intimidating, but the truth is simpler than the table chatter suggests. The game revolves around a single pair of dice and a handful of bets, most of which carry a house edge below 1.5%. For Australian players used to pokies and blackjack, craps offers some of the best odds in the building , provided you understand the sequence of play. For more details, visit RooPokies bonus code.
This guide walks through the game in the order it actually happens, from the come-out roll to the resolution of each bet type. No unnecessary jargon, no assumed knowledge. Just the mechanics that matter.
Step 1: Understand the Come-Out Roll
Every round of craps begins with a come-out roll. The shooter , the player holding the dice , throws them down the table. If the total is 7 or 11, the Pass Line bet wins immediately and pays even money. If the total is 2, 3 or 12, the Pass Line loses. Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the “point” and the game moves into its second phase.
Here is why this matters: the come-out roll is the only moment when the Pass Line has a genuine advantage over the house. Across the 36 possible dice combinations, 8 produce a natural win (7 or 11) and only 4 produce a loss (2, 3 or 12). That built-in edge is why experienced players treat the come-out as the most valuable part of the cycle.
Before the first roll, place your Pass Line bet in the marked area. The table minimum applies, and most Australian venues operate with limits between $5 and $50. Do not touch the dice once the shooter has them , that privilege belongs to the shooter alone, and the dealers enforce it strictly.
- Pass Line bet: wins on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3 or 12
- Don’t Pass bet: the mirror opposite, with a 1.36% house edge versus 1.41% on the Pass Line
- Come-out naturals: 7 and 11 account for 22.2% of all dice combinations
Step 2: Playing the Point and Placing Odds
Once a point is established, your Pass Line bet stays locked in. To win, the shooter must roll the point again before rolling a 7. This is where patience replaces speed, and where the smartest money in craps appears: the Odds bet.
An Odds bet sits behind your Pass Line wager and pays at true mathematical odds , 2:1 on points of 4 and 10, 3:2 on 5 and 9, and 6:5 on 6 and 8. It carries zero house edge. Yes, zero. Most Australian casinos permit single or double odds, though some allow up to 5x or more. At 3-4-5x odds, the combined house edge on a Pass Line plus Odds strategy drops to approximately 0.37% , better than almost any other table game available.
If you prefer backing the house’s side, the Don’t Pass bet wins when the shooter sevens out. Behind that sits the Don’t Come, which follows the same point cycle. Both appeal to players who want the outcome of the point phase rather than the natural roll. Either way, keep your bet decisions finished before the dice leave the shooter’s hand.
Table etiquette matters here. Say “odds, please” clearly to the dealer when you want to back your bet, and stack chips in even increments. Dealers in Australian venues generally work at pace, and clear instructions keep the game moving.
Step 3: Managing Multi-Roll and Proposition Bets
Beyond the line bets, craps offers a cluster of multi-roll wagers. Place bets on 6 and 8 pay 7:6 and sit behind a 1.52% house edge when placed correctly. Come bets recreate the Pass Line cycle mid-game. Buy bets on 4 and 10 collect 2:1 but usually carry a 5% commission, which pushes the effective edge to around 4.76% unless the commission is waived on winning bets only.
Proposition bets deserve caution. Hardways, any craps, horn bets and the field all carry edges ranging from 2.78% to well over 16%. The any 7 bet, popular with newcomers for its 4:1 payout, holds a punishing 16.67% house edge. Treat these as entertainment rather than strategy, and cap them at a small percentage of your session stake , 5% is a sensible ceiling.
| Bet | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Pass Line + 3-4-5x Odds | Varies | 0.37% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Field | 1:1 | 5.56% |
| Any 7 | 4:1 | 16.67% |
Pacing is the final piece. A busy craps table resolves a roll roughly every 30 to 45 seconds, which means 60 to 80 wagers an hour. Set a session budget in AUD, stick to the lowest-edge bets, and let the game’s natural rhythm do the rest. Craps rewards discipline far more than it rewards bravado.
