Modern online casinos have a variety of games, in addition to slots, which are the most common, card games, such as poker, Blackjack, and Baccarat, Roulette, and dice games, such as craps and Sic Bo. All of those games are available in both virtual and live forms.
Since craps are the most popular dice game, most online casinos have it in their offer. You can play it as a live game or a virtual game. The choice depends on your preferences, and we’ll compare and contrast the two later.
What Is Online Craps?
Craps is a game of chance played with two dice. It involves a complicated layout until you grasp the game's concept.
There are many speculations about the nature of craps. You may have already encountered different “strategies” that claim to work. However, let’s consider the facts. Every outcome in craps depends on how the dice will land. Logically, no one can affect that. That’s why the element of chance is strong in craps.
Online craps is every game of craps, live or virtual, that you can play on the internet. In terms of the rules and the game’s nature, there are no differences between the two. In live craps, a real-life shooter shoots the dice. A random number generator controls a virtual craps game. In both cases, the result is random.
How to Play Online Craps?
Craps isn’t difficult to play, however, complicated the layout may seem. If you’ve played it at a land-based casino, you’ll have no trouble playing it online since the concept is the same. However, if you’re a novice, online craps for free may be an excellent start for you. Most casinos have the free play option so that you can practice without risking your money.
The modernization of gaming has introduced another feature — mobile gaming. Nowadays, online casinos are generally mobile-optimized. You can load their websites on your smartphone or tablet. Thus, mobile craps is any game of craps you can play on the go.
Choose Wisely
All casino games you play for real money are risky. Real-money craps aren’t different. That’s why you must play it at a trustworthy casino. Many online casinos have built a bad reputation by voiding winnings and delaying payouts. So, when a casino interests you, you can check how it rates on reliable portals and among players.
Moreover, it would be best to explore different website sections. Terms and conditions are tedious to read, but they can reveal a lot about the casino’s business practices. If the section is incomplete, there may be something the operators are trying to hide. Additionally, there should be payment information and security and fairness information.
Speaking of which, good casinos are both secure and fair. They generally use tools such as encryption and a random number generator to protect the players’ privacy and make sure that the games are fair. They often also have the games monitored by testing agencies.
Risky Bets vs. “Safe” Bets
There are many different bets in craps. That’s why the game’s layout seems complicated. Some bets have higher odds than others. They also have lower payout rates. Which way you’ll go depends on you, that is on the size of your bankroll. If you can afford to lose big, you may wish to try your luck on some riskier bets.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass Bar Bets
Let’s start with the basics — the pass line and don’t pass bar bets have the lowest house advantage. They’re available during the whole game, unlike the come and don’t come bets, which are only available after the come out roll.
The pass line bet has a house edge of 1.41%. Those who place it bet on the shooter’s side. If the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11, they win. If the dice land on 2, 3 or 12, they lose. However, if the outcome is one of the remaining numbers, that means the shooter has established a point. For you to win the bet, they need to roll their point before a 7.
The don’t pass bar borders the pass line on the craps table. The don’t pass bar bet, as the name suggests, is the opposite of the pass line bet. Placing it means betting against the shooter. So, if they roll a 7 or an 11, you lose, but if they roll a 2, 3, or 12, you win. This bet has an even lower house advantage than the pass line bet. Both of them pay one to one.
Free Odds Bets
The two basic bets have a low house edge. Free odds bets, however, have no house edge. They act as side bets — you can’t place a free odds bet on its own. Despite that, they’re pretty player-friendly because they lower the house edge of other bets.
Placing a free odds bet on top of the pass line bet is called making the odds. When you make the odds, you bet that the shooter will roll their point before they roll a 7. The lower the chances for it to be rolled, the higher the payout rate. Therefore, a 4 and a 10 pay two to one, a 5 and a 9 pay three to two, and a 6 and an 8 pay six to five.
Laying the odds is quite the opposite. It’s betting that the shooter will roll a 7 before their point. It pays one to two against a 4 and a 10, two to three against a 5 and a 9, and five to six against a 6 and an 8.
Come and Don’t Come Bets: Extending the Basics
These two bets are somewhat of an extension of the two basic bets — the pass line and don’t pass bar bets. They’re available after the come out roll, whereas the pass line and don’t pass bar bets are available throughout the game.
High-Risk Bets
As opposed to the bets we’ve listed so far, which have relatively high odds, the following bets have a high house edge. That means that they have lower odds and higher payout rates. Thus, they’re not for everyone. You may want to try them if you’re a risk-taker with deep pockets. Otherwise, you probably shouldn’t take your chances with them.
Put bets are similar to the pass line bet, except for one significant difference. Placing a put bet means skipping the come out roll and subsequently facing a house advantage of more than 33%. That percentage can be lowered, however, by placing a free odds bet.
Proposition bets (“prop” bets) are those you can place only on the following dice roll. Namely, you lay your wager on an exact number. If the shooter rolls it, you win. But if any other number comes up, you lose.
Online Craps Winning Tips
Since craps is a game of chance, you can’t strategize. You can, however, enhance your chances with some general tips.
Firstly, craps is a dynamic game. There are many bets, and it can be confusing for a novice. Before you start playing it for real money, you should play it for free so that you can practice.
When you decide it’s time you make your first bet, it’s essential that you do it at a trustworthy casino. Online gaming has many benefits, but that doesn’t mean it’s not flawed. Regarding real-money gaming, you’re responsible for your online and offline decisions. Therefore, be careful and take your time reviewing the casino before you sign up.
Lastly, in craps, you can choose between low-risk bets and high-risk ones. The former won’t bring you a lot of money right away. But if you’re lucky and patient, they can be worth it. It’s better to win little by little than to risk everything for a slim chance of winning big.
Live Dealer Craps vs. Virtual Craps
The game's rules and nature are the same, whichever version you play. However, there are some differences between live dealer craps and virtual craps. Both are available online, but in a live game, the shooter shoots the dice. A random number generator controls a virtual game of craps to accomplish the same effect (randomness).
Live games are interactive — you can chat with everyone involved, including the shooter. The experience is similar to that of being at a land-based casino. That also means that the shooter dictates the pace of the game. In a virtual game, you can play as slowly or quickly as you want.
Closing Thoughts
Craps is a fun game once you get familiar with the rules and the layout. It can also be lucrative if you’re lucky. But if you play it online, you should make sure that you don’t take any risks aside from those the game itself implies. That’s why we’ve selected a few legitimate casinos for you. They’ve built a good reputation and proven it, so feel free to experience their game libraries.