The Whimp’s Guide to (Start Playing) Craps

I hate confrontation and imposing on others as much as the next timid, socially-disconnected millennial, which means the idea of walking up to a table full of people and rules and shouting bets scares the hell out of me — until I grew a pair and did it once.

Craps is worth that terrifying first step.

In a world where Vegas gambling continues to get crappier (seriously, don’t sit down at a 6/5 Blackjack table y’all), the dice game of Craps remains a constant since payouts are based on true odds of a roll of dice. For that reason alone you should learn this game and stick to it for all your gambling needs. It doesn’t hurt that it’s so damn fun too.

The first step is to find a table limit you’re comfortable with. While the most common limits are going to be $10 and up, $5 tables can be found on the Strip early in the day and in the middle of the week (The Cromwell and Casino Royale are a couple of favorites). There’s also plenty of great options downtown on Fremont Street (Golden Gate and the D are some of the best in town). While this is the minimum bet to play, plan to have double or even triple that on the table at any one time. With risk comes reward!

Etiquette states to wait for the current roller to finish their session before laying out your buy-in money. Look for the black or white circular marker on the table. If it’s white and on a number, just sit back and prepare to jump in. If it’s black, step up, place your money on the table and prepare to make some friends.

Basic Bets
Start with the most basic bet on the overly-complicated table: the Pass Line. It’s the long, curved narrow area that lines the outside of each half of the table and says PASS LINE on it. A bet on this line will pay even money if the first roll (also known as the Come Out roll) is a 7 or 11 and lose if it’s a 2, 3 or 12. Otherwise, it will stay there for the duration of the roll.

If the shooter rolls anything other than a 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12, that number becomes “the point” and the black circular marker is flipped to white and placed on that number. Now the Pass Line bet will pay out if the shooter rolls that number again before rolling a 7, otherwise you lose the bet. Bets can be placed on any of the numbers with a slightly worse than true odds payout. These are called “place bets.” Simply throw down your bet and say “Place (insert number here).”

Taking Odds — the Best Bet in Vegas
Craps manages to rival 3:2 Blackjack for low house edge thanks to the ability to take true odds on a couple of basic bets. Remember that Pass Line bet you made at the beginning? Now it’s time to give it the super power of “true odds.” Put 2 to 3 times what you placed on the Pass Line (or whatever you’re comfortable with) behind your Pass Line bet. If the point is rolled before a 7, you will win even money from the Pass Line, and true odds from the odds bet! The house has absolutely no edge on the money placed there.

The second way to get these alluring true odds is to place a minimum bet on the big COME space of the table. The “Come” bet works the similar to the Pass Line bet (wins even on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3 or 12) with the difference of the bet being moved to the next number rolled. From there, just like taking odds on your Pass Line bet, you can take true odds on the number it is moved to.

Etiquette
As stated before, wait for a roll to finish before interrupting the game. The last thing you want is to step in at the wrong moment and be blamed for causing a shooter to “seven out.”

Speaking of “seven-ing out,” avoid saying the word “seven” at all costs. Whether you’re superstitious or not, the table as a whole hates the bad mojo of summoning the cursed “7” in the middle of a hot roll. You’ll be the target of many stink eyes if that number moves past your lips.

The dealers have one of the most difficult jobs in the casino. Keeping track of every bet, paying out the correct amounts, and providing top-notch customer service is no simple feat, and should be tipped accordingly. To make it more fun, I’ve found dealers love being part of the action. Throw down a buck on a couple of the “hard way” bets (a long shot bet where dice must be come up with a specific combination to pay out; otherwise it loses) while indicating they are for the dealers. They’re often grateful if it hits, turning a $1 tip into $7-$9, and just as grateful if it loses for the thought and being a part of the fun. Personal anecdote: I managed to shoot a couple of successful hard-way bets for the dealers resulting in over $100 tip and some serious fist bumps. A month later I received a few free nights. It pays to be nice.

Craps: The Social Money-Losing Experience
It’s often crowded, loud, and intimidating. The cheers from an epic run and the groans from a big loss fill the casino floor, attracting the curious and uninitiated. Is your first step into the world of rolling the bones scary? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely. There’s no other game in the city where you will make new friends, high-five strangers and feel the comradery from rolling a pair of acrylic plastic pieces.

If all else fails and you can’t work up the nerve, you can always sit down at one of those inferior, less intimidating electronic versions.

Get a little practice in before you hit the table for real with Wizard of Odds’ free Craps Trainer and read up on some of the more in-depth strategies: http://wizardofodds.com/games/craps/

[Images: EDGeVegas, CrapsPit, Canstock]

Alex Cocilova

Prior to being a Las Vegas enthusiasts, Alex wrote for PCWorld magazine. Now, between being a tech nut and addicted gamer, Alex spends his time absorbing everything he can find about Sin City. From articles to podcasts, to the latest and greatest craps strategy that just can’t fail, Alex wants to know it all. He’ll do his best to pass that knowledge on to you, the loyal Vegas Bright readers.