Winning at Craps: Strategy Guide

Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Written by Ann Christin

Craps is a fast-paced, popular and exciting dice casino game… which you can play at some of the very best online casinos around. In this guide, we will look at how to start winning when playing online craps, how to minimize the house edge, and the most popular strategies for beginners, intermediate players and advanced Craps players so that everyone can start winning at Craps.

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How to Play Online Craps Successfully

Before playing the game and even thinking about placing bets, you first need to learn the game and strategies – and test them out to start winning at Craps.

  • Research The Different Craps Games

    The best online casinos will offer all different types of craps games. So, before you start spending your own, real money on them, make sure that you know the rules for whatever Craps game you are playing – and how this might affect your game strategy.

  • Understand Your Bankroll and Budget Accordingly

    Before making any bets or coming up with a strategy, to start winning at Craps you need to understand, realistically, the types of bets and strategies you can apply to your bankroll. If you have a low budget, then it is wise to avoid a high-risk, high-stakes Craps strategy.

  • Check the Craps Table Maximum Bets and Minimum Bets

    The minimum and maximum bets can affect how long you can keep playing the game for using your strategy. If the Casino craps table doesn’t work with your budget and your best craps strategy, then you should look elsewhere.

  • Set Yourself Time Limits

    Craps is fun – and passing the time playing the game, especially if you keep winning at Craps, can be all too easy – or if you are losing and think you’re due some winning bets soon! However, set yourself a time limit so you don’t start overspending.

  • Test Out Strategies and Bets A Number of Times

    To truly understand how well your strategy and bets are working, you should try them out several times. However, never play those bets that you cannot afford to lose… ever.

  • Track and Analyze Your Bets and Results

    When your Craps gaming session has come to an end, you should look at your bets and results to analyze the effectiveness of your strategy. You can also analyze your own gameplay and how it can be improved.

  • Learn to Play Craps Online for Free

    The best thing about playing craps online is that you can practise the games for free before you hit the table for real money. So, for more chance of winning at Craps, try out your skills on a free craps game first.

The Rules of Craps

The rules of Craps are easy to learn. It will always begin with pass line bets and you will need to bet on whether you think the dice will win with a total of 7 or an 11 (pass bet) or a total of 2, 3 or 12 and lose (a Don’t Pass Bet). This very first dice roll is called a ‘Come Out’ roll and is taken by the shooter.

The round will end when the value of the dice totals 7 or 11 (a neutral) or if the total values 2, 3 or 12 (a Craps). If it lands on the former – a 7 or 11, then any player that has made a pass line bet will win. If the total is 2, 3 or 12 then anyone that has made a Don’t Pass Line bet will win.

Obviously, there are all different values apart from this it could land on – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. In this instance, then the value rolled will become a ‘point’. Then the game moves on to the next stage of the Craps game… and this is when the Craps table comes into the game. The dealer will place a puck on the Point number that was rolled so players can see what is happening. They can make their additional bets accordingly.

The shooter then rolls the dice for a second time – and this keeps on repeating until they either roll the point number again or roll a 7. When this has been done, the game round ends. If the shooter lands the point before rolling a 7, they will remain the shooter. However, if they roll a 7 first, then the role of the shooter will pass on to another player.

The Payout and Odds in Craps

When winning at Craps, the payouts can range anywhere between 1:1 to 30:1, depending on the true odds and the house edge – and whether you play safer bets or proposition bets:

  • Odds: The real probability of winning your bet. If it has true odds of 3 to 1 then for every one time you win, you should expect three losses.
  • House Edge: This is the difference between the true odds and the payout. The best bets have a lower house edge.

One of the best ways to start winning at craps is by reducing the house edge on your bets as much as you can. Avoid proposition bets with high house edges such as those which have 16.9%.

Craps Payout

The amount you win and your chance of winning depend on the type of bet you make.

So, for example, if you make a Pass Bet of 6 or 8, then it has true odds of 6 to 5 and payout odds of 7:6 with a house edge of just 1.52%. This means that there is a reasonably high chance of winning this type of wager, although the payments won’t necessarily be as high.

However, if you place a proposition bet, such as an Any 7 one roll bet, then your true odds of winning are 1 to 5 and your payout odds are 4:1. This bet has a massive 16.90% house edge. So, this may have a much bigger payout, but your chance of winning is smaller and the bet offers much less value.

Basic Craps Strategies for Beginners

Hopefully, you understand that the best winning strategy for a beginner is to pick the bets with the lowest house edge and to practise playing Craps games online for free.

Here are some lower-risk Craps betting strategies to help new players improve their knowledge of the game, enjoy the game and hopefully make some small wins…

  • Pass Line Craps Strategy

    The Pass line betting strategy is one of the simplest of all strategies and is very popular for new players and those playing in land-based casinos.

    One of the reasons for this is its low house edge… which is just 1.41%. If you make a winning pass-line bet, then it will pay out even money (1:1).

    You can start this beginner betting strategy by simply betting on the pass line on the shooter’s come-out roll. If the dice totals 7 or 11 then your pass-line bet will win

  • Don’t Pass or Don’t Come Craps Betting Strategy

    This is a strategy that won’t make you popular with other players… so this is better used at an online casino rather than a land-based site.

    With this strategy, you are betting against the shooter… so you win if the shooter lands 2 or 3. If they land 7 or 11 you lose and if it’s a 12 then it will be a push bet and your stake will be returned.

    If the point is thrown, then players should choose a Don’t Come bet – which will pay out if the shooter rolls 2 or 3 on their next roll.

    This craps strategy has an even lower house edge than the pass-line betting strategy at 1,46%.

  • Craps Bankroll Management Strategy

    The biggest strategy a new player can learn is understanding when it’s time to step away from the table.

    Many inexperienced players will keep going on a losing streak in the hope that a win is coming and end up eating through their entire bankroll. The best strategy for a new player is to set yourself a reasonable win goal before you start and walk away when you reach your target.

    We would suggest setting a win goal of around 20% of your bankroll before you start playing

Intermediate Craps Betting Strategies

If you are a player that knows well the rules of the game and where the best payouts can be found then you may wish to look at some of the more intermediate Craps betting systems. These will help you to build on what you know and possibly improve your Craps bets payout odds.

The Craps Odds Strategy

If you are a player that likes a good mathematical Craps betting strategy, then you may consider laying the odds. This is a dark strategy (a dark strategy involves betting against the shooter and players).

When you are laying the odds, bettors should place a wager on the shooter landing a 7 before they throw a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. These are only able to land if the Point has already been made. Because the chance of landing these are statistically fair, these bets have no house edge.

However, because of that, the payout reflects this and if you lay the odds against a 4 or a 10 then they offer odds of just 1:2. Laying the odds against 5 or 9 pays out at 2:3 and laying odds of 6 or 8 pays out at 5:6.

So, they won’t make you rich any time soon.

Craps Press and Pull Strategy

This Press and Pull strategy (also known as Press Strategy) sees players press their wagers when a place bet lands and pull the profits when it lands four times.

So, if the player chooses to make a place bet on 6, then it has a payout of 7:6. The player would then place a $6 bet and, if it wins, they will get a payout of $7. In this strategy, a player keeps $1 and asks the dealer to push it up to $12. If the 6 manages to land before the point again, then the player would win $14.

In this strategy, the player then adds $4 to the $12 bet and $14 win, taking it up to $30. If you hit lucky for the third time, then the player adds an extra $1 to the $3o bet and the $35 win, taking it up to $66. If this bet wins, then you will be paid out $143 which you will then pull from the table.

The point of this strategy is to win big with minimum investment from your initial bankroll. However, the chance of winning 4 times in a row on the same number is very slim. If the bet loses then you walk away with nothing.

In addition, when you place bets with this strategy, you would certainly need to know about the game sufficiently first.

Advanced Craps Strategy

If you are an experienced Craps player and want to up the ante when you win at Craps – and aren’t afraid to play aggressively then this is a strategy you might consider… not for the weak of heart!

The Three-Point Molly Strategy

If you are experienced, have a decent-sized bankroll and don’t mind pushing your luck a little, then this is worth considering.

This approach is all about players putting maximum odds bets on numerous outcomes that have low house edges and fair odds of coming in. In this way, a player could potentially mitigate losses from multiple bets by landing lots of smaller wins throughout the game.

This is how it might work:

  • Make a Pass Line craps bet: bet on the shooter to roll a 7 or 11. The second stage comes when a Point is set…
  • Place a Come Bet and Maximum Odds bets on the Point: When the point is established, you should make a maximum odds bet on the point plus a Come bet.
  • Move your Come Bet to the Next Point bet: If the shooter lands a number other than 7, 11 or the point, then this should be your second point. Move your Come Bet to the next point bet and add max odds. Then place another Come Bet. You should now have a Pass bet, Come Bet and Point Bet and another number.
  • Add a wager to a third number: You should place bets on 3 numbers. So, if the shooter does throw a number that isn’t one of the 2 numbers you bet on, 7 or 11 then this will become your 3rd point. Place a maximum odds bet on this 3rd number.
  • Keep on playing until 7, 11 or the Point is thrown: If the shooter lands on one of your other bets, take your win and place a Come bet on the next roll of the dice. If another number is thrown, change your Come Bet over to the new number. You should always have 3 number wagers at any one time.

This is a great Craps strategy because it will protect your Pass bet. But, this is a pretty aggressive Craps strategy that requires a substantial budget!

The Best Craps Betting Strategy

Ultimately, although there are different strategies based on your skills and your budget, the best winning Craps strategy is to play bets with the lowest house edge and those that have the best chance of landing. The most popular craps betting strategy is always going to be the one that gives you the most chance of winning – like the pass line bet.

To win the maximum amount whilst making sure that you keep your house edge nice and low, you might want to bet the minimum table limit on a Pass bet/Don’t Pass bet and then to lay these odds.

The house edge on Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets are very low… 1.41% and 1.36% respectively, whilst laying the odds has no house edge, this gives you a better chance of beating the house.

Rolling the Dice Strategy

Ultimately, playing Craps is all about the roll of the dice. So, some players believe there is even a strategy to rolling the dice and landing the numbers that they want. However, this is certainly not a strategy that any Craps expert would recommend as it would require a player to spend thousands of hours (and a lot of money) recording and monitoring the results of the dice throw.

So, the best option for winning at craps is to consider a good betting strategy and bankroll management system rather than trying to control the outcome of the roll of the dice.

Winning at Craps FAQs

Where Can I Play Craps?

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You can play Craps at one of our recommended online casinos which offer a wide variety of real money and free Craps games.

How Does Craps Work?

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To win at Craps, you need to know how it works. Punters simply make Craps bets on the outcome of the roll of the dice. The shooter rolls a come-out roll – and you can bet on Pass Line (7 or 11) or Don’t pass line (2,3 or 12). If any other number is rolled, it is the point. The shooter keeps rolling until they either land the point number again or a 7 – which ends the game. There are lots of different bets.

Can I Play Craps for Real Money?

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Yes, you can. You can play real money games at the best online casinos. There are live casino games and RNG casino games. Both have the same rules, but Live Casino games are played with real dealers.

The rules and bet types are the same no matter what you play – Big and Small bets. Odds and Evens and several other proposition bets with big payouts but high house edges as well.

With twenty years of expertise in iGaming, Ann a Nowegian / Canadian expert writer based in Malta, focuses on casino and betting products for well-regarded digital publications. She is committed to offering reliable, up-to-date information in the fast-paced world of online gaming.

Ann Christin
Ann Christin
iGaming Specialist 🇨🇦 Canada
Verified expert
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