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Craps

Craps is one of the most exciting casino games in the world. If you're ever in a Vegas casino and can hear cheering and shouting, then that'll be the craps table. Fast, fun and with a dizzying array of bets, it's simply the coolest game in town.

Quick start - jump straight in!

Many people find craps unapproachable because there is a wide range of betting options and it all seems quite complex. So why not have a pop-shot at even money to get a feel for shooting dice and a closer look at the tables:

1. First place a bet on the 'Pass Line' (this is called a Pass Line Bet).
2. You're looking for the total of the two dice - roll a 7 or an 11 and you're a winner! (Be warned, the numbers 2, 3 and 12 are the Craps. If you roll any of these you lose your stake).
3. If any other number (4,5,6,8,9 or 10) comes up on your first roll, you can keep on shooting the dice until that same number (called the Point) comes up again. If it does, you win even money. If a 7 comes up before the Point number, it's game over for this round.
4. During a round, you can place a variety of other bets as seen on the table. While it looks complicated, the concept at the heart of craps is pretty simple. So stick with us and you'll be able to shoot dice with the best of them.

Getting deeper in the game - The Come Out roll and establishing
the Point

The player rolling the dice is called the 'shooter', and when starting a game the shooter rolls two dice in what is called the Come Out roll. As we mentioned above - if you roll a 7 or 11 then you win straight away while rolls of 2, 3 or 12 are Craps - an instant loser.

You also know that if you roll any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) then that number becomes the Point. Once the point has been determined by the Come Out roll, the dealer places an 'ON' button above the Point number on the table.

Now what?

Now that we have a Point, the aim of the game is for the shooter to win by rolling the Point before rolling a 7. If a shooter rolls the Point, then it's a winner while rolling a 7 means that everyone loses. Both outcomes end that particular round of the game - the shooter performs another Come Out roll and it all starts again. If the roll is neither a 7 nor the Point then the shooter keeps rolling!

The bets explained

We've put together all the craps bets you can make, along with diagrams so you can see exactly where you'll need to place your chips:

Pass Line Bets

A Pass Line Bet is made before the Come Out roll right at the beginning of a round. An even money shot, it pays out if a 7 or 11 is rolled while loses if a 2, 3 or 12 comes up. But if any other number is rolled (and then becomes the Point), your Pass Line Bet stays in play and will win if the Point is rolled before a 7. But if the shooter rolls a 7 before the Point then the bet is lost.

Don't Pass Line Bets

As you may have guessed, a Don't Pass Line Bet is the opposite of a Pass Line Bet and can be placed by clicking on the Don't Pass Bar before the Come Out roll. In a Don't Pass Line Bet, you are betting that a 7 will be rolled before the Point.

You win on the Come Out roll with Craps (2 or 3), and on any other roll with a 7. If the Come Out roll is a 12, a Don't Pass Line Bet is returned to you in a 'push' (a tie). You lose on the Come Out roll if it is either a 7 or an 11, and on any other roll if it is the Point.

Come Bets

A Come Bet is an even money bet that pays out if the next roll is either a 7 or an 11 but loses if the next roll is Craps (2, 3 or 12). If the shooter rolls anything else then that becomes the Point and the Come Bet is moved from the ‘COME’ bar to the box corresponding to the Come Point’s number. If the shooter rolls the Come Point again before rolling a 7, you win the bet while you lose if a 7 is rolled first.

Don't Come Bets

A Don't Come Bet is the opposite of a Come Bet and is placed after the Come Out roll in the "Don't Come Bar" on the craps table.

If the shooter rolls a 3 or a 2, the Don't Come Bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11, the Don't Come Bet loses. If the shooter rolls a 12, the bet will be returned to the player in a push.

If the roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the "Don't Come Point," and the Don't Come Bet is moved from the "Don't Come Bar" to the bar in the upper left corner of the box corresponding to the Don't Come Point. Once the Don't Come Point is established, Don't Come Bets win even money (1 to 1) if a 7 is rolled, and lose if the Don't Come Point is rolled.

It's always good to consider Come and Don't Come Bets because you are given the option of Odds Bets (see below) later on in the round - Odds Bets are the only bets in a casino that pay out true odds! (This means they pay out the exact odds according to the probability of rolling a given combination).

Odds Bets

An Odds Bet is a backup bet you can make on Pass, Don't Pass, Come, and Don't Come bets. Your maximum bet is three times your original bet.

Unlike original Pass, Don't Pass, Come and Don't Come bets, unresolved Odds Bets can be removed from the table during play so you can choose to hedge your bets or not after each throw of the dice. Here's how they work:

Pass Line Odds Bets

Place a Pass Line Odds Bet by clicking on the craps table outside of the 'PASS LINE' bar, under your original Pass Line Bet.

A winning Pass Line Odds Bet pays out like this:

Number rolled	Payout
4 or 10	2:1
5 or 9	3:2
6 or 8	6:5

Don't Pass Line Odds Bets

Place a Don't Pass Line Odds bet by clicking on the right side of your original bet in the "Don't Pass Bar", exactly on the 6x6 dice image.

A winning Don't Pass Line Odds Bet pays you back true odds as follows:

Number rolled	Payout
4 or 10	1:2
5 or 9	2:3
6 or 8	5:6

Come and Don't Come Odds Bets

Come and Don't Come Odds Bets are placed beneath the Come and Don't Come Bets, after they have been moved to the Point's box.

A winning Come Odds Bet pays the same as a winning Pass Line Odds Bet. Don't Come Odds Bets pay the same as Don't Pass Line Odds Bets.

Field Bets

A Field Bet bets that the next roll of the dice will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. To place a Field Bet, place your chips on the 'FIELD BAR'. If the shooter rolls a 2 or a 12, you get paid double your initial bet (2:1). If a 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 comes up, you get paid even money. You lose the bet if a 5, 6, 7, or 8 is rolled. Field Bets are 'one-roll bets' so any stake you place is gone if your number doesn't hit after one roll.

Big 6 and Big 8 Bets

Place your chips either on the '6' or the '8' in the box marked '6 BIG 8'. If the number you select is rolled before a 7, you win even money.

Place Win Bets

Place Win Bets are made on the following dice totals: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Place your chips in the box underneath these numbers.

You are allowed to make Place Bets at any time, except during the Come Out roll when the Place Win Bet is off. You win if the shooter rolls your number before a 7 hits.

The payouts depend on the number you bet on:

Number	Payout
6 or 8	7:6
5 or 9	7:5
4 or 10	9:5

Place Lose Bets

Place Lose Bets are just like Place Win Bets, except you are paid if the shooter rolls a 7 before the number you bet on. Place your chips in the box above these numbers.

As with Place Win Bets the payouts depend on the number you bet on:

Number	Payout
6 or 8	4:5
5 or 9	5:8
4 or 10	5:11

Buy Bets

A Buy Bet is the same as a Place Bet with the exception being the payout. Buy Bets are off during the Come Out roll. To distinguish the Buy Bet from a Come Bet, the Buy Bet is labeled with a 'BUY' marker.

When winning a Buy Bet, a 5% commission (the 'vig') is charged. Your winnings are paid at true odds in the following structure:

Number rolled	Payout
4 or 10	2:1
5 or 9	3:2
6 or 8	6:5

Lay Bets

A Lay Bet is the opposite of a Buy Bet. A Lay Bet is labeled with a ‘LAY’ marker.

When making a Lay Bet you are betting that a 7 will be rolled before a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. It is a bet against the dice, which means you win if a 7 is rolled before the number you selected. When winning the Lay Bet, a 5% commission (vig) is also charged.

Lay Bet winnings are also paid at true odds:

Number rolled	Payout
4 or 10	1:2
5 or 9	3:2
6 or 8	5:6

Any 7 Bets

Place your chips in the area marked 'SEVEN'. Valid for one-roll only, you win if a 7 comes up. This bet pays 4:1 and could be used as a covering bet if you choose to make a Don't Pass Line Bet at the beginning of a round.

Any 11 Bets

In the PKRCasino this is called a Horn 11 Bet. Place your chips in the box with the two dice that add up to 11. This is also a one-roll bet

You win this bet if an 11 is rolled next. If an 11 comes up, you win 15:1.

Any Craps Bets

In Any Craps Bets, you win if one of the craps numbers (2, 3, or 12) is rolled next. The Any Craps Bet is placed in the 'Any Craps' box.

This bet pays 7:1 and is a great way to cover your Pass Line Bet at the beginning of a round. And remember the stake only lasts for one roll of the dice.

C & E Bets

The letters C and E represent two different bets:

C bet: This is the same as placing an Any Craps Bet. Click on the letter C to place your chips in the "Any Craps" betting area.

E bet: This is the same as placing a Horn 11 Bet. Click on the letter E to place your chips in the "Horn 11" betting area.

Horn Bets

Place your chips in the box where the two dice add up to 2, 3, 11, or 12.

The Horn Bet wins if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, 11 or 12 next. A winning Horn Bet pays 15:1 on the numbers 3 and 11 and 30:1 on numbers 2 and 12. Horn Bets are also one-roll bets so any stake will only be valid for one shot of the dice.

Hard way Bets

Placing a Hard Way Bet means you think that the shooter will roll a 4, 6, 8, or 10 as doubles (2&2, 3&3, 4&4, or 5&5) before rolling a 7. The Hard Way Bet is placed in the box on the craps table that contains the two dice that correspond to the total of the doubles.

Rolling a number by doubles is said to be rolling the number 'the hard way.' An example is rolling a 4 with a 2 and a 2. An example of an easy way is rolling a 4 with a 3 and a 1. A winning Hard Way Bet pays 7:1 on the numbers 4 and 10 and 9:1 on the numbers 6 and 8. In PKRCasino craps the Hard Way Bets are always on (meaning a bet can be placed at anytime during the round) Unlike Horn Bets and Any Bets, Hard Way Bets stay active until a 7 comes up or until the number you bet on is rolled the easy way.

Now you've got the knowledge under your belt why not hit the tables - remember you can practice with play money until you have the confidence to shoot those dice for real cash. Good Luck!

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