Top online free & real money craps casinos USA
You can start playing online craps for real money in minutes. Our best US online casinos for craps games offer the most valuable casino bonuses for players and a good range of tables to join. Learn how to play and get tips on how to improve your game. If you're ready to play, click on one of the casinos below.
Our best US casinos to play craps online in September, 2024
Play our free online craps games
You can enjoy our free craps games right here on this page with no download or sign up needed. Familiarise yourself with the gameplay and hone your skills at the game before playing craps at real money casinos in the US. Try our top games and play craps for free:
The most popular craps variants online
Some of the most common craps games in the US are crapless craps, simplified craps, and die rich craps. Most craps variants won’t stray too far from the standard version, and look to simplify the gameplay or betting to speed things up for players. We’ve gone through the most common below.
- Standard (or Bank craps)
- Crapless craps
- Die rich craps
- New York craps
- Simplified craps
- Diceless craps
Standard (or Bank craps)
The standard craps game sees players wager on the outcome of a pair of dice thrown by a shooter. Rounds end usually if either a 7 or point number is rolled.
How to play craps
Craps is actually very simple in terms of gameplay, even if the craps table layout and betting lingo might seem complex. You can learn more about that in our how to play craps guide. But if you’re ready to start playing US online craps for real money now, this step by step of how to play covers the essentials:
- 1
Find a table
Choose one of our recommended US craps online casinos, pick a game, and join the table.
- 2
Betting begins
There are a few betting options when playing craps online, though the most common are Pass line/Don't Pass.
- 3
Roll the dice
The first roll is the come-out roll, which will determine if you win or lose your bet, or establish the point number (more on this below).
- 4
Keep shooting
If there's no win or loss on the come-out, you'll keep betting and rolling until a 7 or the same point number appears.
- 5
The round ends
Once the point number (a Pass Line win) or a 7 (a Don't Pass win) is rolled, the round is complete and the process repeats.
The come-out roll and point numbers
Let’s break down the betting and rolling in the game a little more. There are two phases to an online casino craps game - the come-out roll phase and the point phase.
Come-out roll
The come-out roll phase is the very first part of a real cash craps game. Your job is to place a bet on the craps table - either Pass or Don’t Pass. Each craps game has a shooter (throwing the dice), and in this phase the shooter is aiming to roll either a 7 or 11. If those numbers are rolled, bets on the Pass Line win. But if a 2, 3, or 12 drops, the game is over and a new shooter takes over. However, if any other number hits, that number becomes the point number for the game.
Point phase
In the point phase, the shooter needs to roll that number before they roll a 7 for Pass Line bets to win. If they hit a 7, bets on the Pass Line lose. Conversely, bets on the Don’t Pass Line win.
Believe it or not, these are essentially the only rules you need to know to play craps online for real money. If you’re a beginner, you’re not forced to bet on anything else. Ever. As long as you understand this basic principle, you’re good to go.
Of course, as you can tell just by looking at the online craps table, there are many different things to bet on. See our craps rules section for more info.
Casino craps tips for beginners
To take your online craps games a step further, our experts have collected their very best tips for playing a strong game at the craps table. From playing using just one bet (nothing else on the table needs to matter), to smart strategies for winning more often and the bets to avoid, these craps tips will give you an edge over other players and the casino.
- Stick with pass line bets if you're new to craps - They are the most common type of bet at US casinos, and it's good to learn them fast. You also get a very decent house edge.
- Try a smart betting system like the 3 Point Molly - Protect your pass line bets and have three numbers working for you, balancing the money you bet with a better chance of a hit.
- Steer clear of proposition bets - Dealers may often try to tempt you with these, but the high house edge gives you very slim chance of winning.
- Stay away from Big 6 or 8 - Don't give the casino a 9% house advantage! Place the 6 or 8 instead with a much healthier 1.5% advantage for the casino.
Craps odds & house edge
This table shows the most popular craps bets and their respective game odds. You can also see the house edge for US online casino craps bets, and how certain bets will provide more value. These odds might vary across US casinos, so you should always check with their own odds and payout tables.
| Craps Bet | Odds Paid | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
Pass/Come bet | 1:1 | 1.41% |
Don’t Pass/Don’t Come | 1:1 | 1.36% |
Pass Odds/Come odds | 2:1 on 4,10; 3:2 on 5,9; 6:5 on 6,8 | 0% |
Don’t Pass Odds / Don’t Come odds | 1:2 against 4,10; 2:3 against 5,9; 5:6 against 6,8 | 0% |
Field | 1:1 on 3,4,9,10,11; 2:1 on 2,12 | 5.56% (2.78% if 12 pays 3:1) |
Place 6 / Place 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
The odds above will help you to get started with real money craps in the US. If you are serious about the game, take a moment to learn about the other craps betting options and their own odds.
Types of craps bets
Playing craps is easy, but looking at the table layout with all the technical terms can make the game seem a little confusing. So we’ve laid out all the craps bet terms and types for you. Once you know what it all means, it’s easy to follow the craps rules and win big.
Craps numbers
Not actually a bet. but Craps is the name of the numbers 2, 3, and 12 (as well as the games). Remember, if any of those numbers are rolled during the come-out roll, it’s game over.
The Pass Line bet
This is a bet that the dice will win, meaning the shooter will roll a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or roll their point before rolling an 11 during the point phase.
The Don’t Pass Line bet
This one is the opposite of the Pass Line bet. So if you throw your money here, you’re betting that the 7 will be rolled before the point.
The Come bet
In the Come bet you’re essentially betting that the dice will pass (roll a 7 or 11). You can only make this bet once the point has been established in the come-out roll.
The Don’t Come bet
This is the opposite of the Come bet, so you lose if a 7 or 11 is rolled. The bet wins if the player rolls the craps numbers 2 or 3. If a point number is established (so if any other number is rolled) the bet would win if a 7 is then rolled before that point number.
Field
Field bets let you bet on which number you think will be rolled. You can bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
Place Bets
Look for the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Go ahead and place your bet on these numbers. You’ll land a payday if your number is rolled before a 7.
6:8
This is very similar to a field bet of 6 or 8, with the exception that you’re betting on a giant 6 or a giant 8. This is actually a sucker’s bet, but we’ll have more on that in our strategy section.
Hardways
Place one of these bets and you’re predicting that the shooter will toss a 4, 6, 8, or 10 as a pair before that number comes up as a non-par. For example, if you bet on a hard 5, you’re betting that pair of fives will hit before a 6 and 4. Of course, if a 7 drops, you’re done.
Any Seven
Think the next roll will be a 7? Drop your chips on Any Seven.
Any Craps
If you believe a 2, 3, or 12 will drop next, bet on Any Craps.
Craps rules for beginners
Craps is essentially a dice game where players bet on the outcomes of rolling a pair of dice. Bets are commonly for or against certain scores appearing, and those options will change once the dice are rolled and gameplay begins. Our experts have included some craps basics to guide you as you start playing craps online in the US.
Some key craps rules:
- If a player (the shooter) rolls a 7 or 11 (natural) on come-out round, they win
- If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 6 (craps) on the come-out round, they lose
- If the shooter rolls a 1, 4, 5, 8, or 10 on the come-out round, this becomes the ‘point number’ (the point)
- If the point is established in the come-out round, the shooter must roll that number again before they roll a 7 - other numbers don’t affect the round, so they can keep rolling until they either roll the point (winning) or a 7 (losing).
- Players bet on either the shooter winning or losing the above scenarios
Craps etiquette
Craps is a social game and does have some basic rules of etiquette. These are especially prominent in US land based casinos, but also apply to online live dealer craps games.
- Toss, don’t throw the dice
- Toss the dice down the center of the table
- Handle the dice with one hand
- Don’t take too long to place your bets
- Avoid throwing your bets
- Pay attention to what is going on
- Be curtious to the players and dealers
- Don’t root against the shooter; this is very bad etiquette
- Avoid using the word ‘seven’, this is bad luck. You can use ‘big red’ instead
- Tip the dealers
- Have fun
Top craps strategies
While craps is purely a game of luck, you can use strategies to bet smart and avoid risky bets. Be as clever with your bankroll as possible, especially if you're just starting to learn the game.
Stay away from Big 6 or 8
Have you seen Big 6 or 8 on the craps table? Stay away. Sure, you might be inclined to drop your money on that corner of the felt, since the “big” suggests massive payouts. But in fact the opposite is true. Big 6 or 8 pays out even money if a 6 or 8 is rolled. If you bet $5, you’ll win $5. But here’s the deal - it needs to be rolled before a 7 on the come-out roll or you lose.
If you were to instead make a Place bet on 6 or 8, you’d actually get paid out 7:6, which works out to be more than even money. And, here’s the best part, if a 7 is rolled on the come-out roll it doesn’t matter. You don’t lose. That difference gives to house a 9% edge on Big 6 or 8 and just a 1.5% on a Place bet.
The 3 Point Molly
If your goal is to make solid gains in US real money craps, try the 3 Point Molly betting system. It gives you three numbers that will work for you on every bet.
First, make your Pass Line bet, then a Come Line bet. Make sure you back up every single Come bet with either single or double odds, but don’t make more than two Come bets. When one of your Come bets wins, drop another Come bet. You’ll continue playing this way until the shooter tosses their point or drops a 7.
The whole bases of the 3 Point Molly is that you are guarding your Pass Line bet extra carefully with a Come bet.
History of Craps
From the early days in the 1700s when it was known as ‘Hazard’ and played by European aristocrats to the high tech online casino gaming of today, we take you through the colorful history of craps.
-
The Crusades
It is said that the Romans taught English Noble, Sir William of Tyre, a craps-like game called Hazard by the Romans during the 12th centuries Third Crusade. Hazard is an Arabic word which literally translates into ‘dice’. This suggests the Romans might have adapted it from the Greeks who adapted it from the Eastern Orient, but this is mere speculation.
-
The Middle Ages
Having been mentioned in popular literature including Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”, Hazard began to flourish throughout Europe eventually making its way into the houses of royalty and noblemen. In the 1700s French colonists brought the game to Acadia, a French colony in Canada.
-
18th and 19th Centuries
After being forced out the of the colony, the French landed in Louisiana and introduced what they called “crebs” to America. American English led to the prevailing of the name craps to overtake crebs, but the basic rules remained the same. Over the 19th century, craps spread like a wildfire throughout the US with several variations appearing.
-
20th and 21st Centuries
By now craps was a favorite game for gamblers and embedded its roots into American culture. In 1907 John H. Winn, aka the father of modern day craps, revolutionized the game. He brought about various changes in the layout of the table, introduced the Don’t Pass bets area, and the ability for players to bet right or wrong. These changes are still used and make up modern day craps. Now the game is found in every major US casino on land and online.
How to choose a craps casino
Seasoned gamblers can improve their chances of winning at craps by choosing online casinos via a strict criteria. Here's how to find the best US craps casinos online:
Look for the highest payout percentage
This represents the percentage of your wager that a casino will pay out in winnings. So a game with a 98% percentage will pay out $98 if you wager $100. The casino will take the $2 as profit.
That's not to say that you will receive 98% on your own wager. The payout percentage is worked out over a longer period of time and bigger number of players. The simplest thing to remember is to look out for a casino with a high payout percentage.
Look for clearly defined betting information
Because craps has two phases, some bets are only permitted during one phase of the game and not the other. That’s why it’s important to find a US real money online craps site that clearly highlights which bets are allowed and which bets aren’t before you play.
Some craps online casino sites fail to make the betting options clear, or expect you to know the name of the type of bet you’re placing. The really great sites highlight which bets are allowed and tell you in clear text exactly what type of bet you’re about to place.
Why trust our recommended craps casinos?
Our recommendations for the best craps online casinos all score highly for their safe gaming and player security. We’ve scored online casinos for their software, game selection, betting limits, customer service, withdrawal times, and security. We know how important it is for online craps players to enjoy an authentic, safe, and secure experience, and our rating system helps guarantee that.
Additional features we watch for:
- SSL Certification and encryption security measures
- Verifiable licensing and regulation information
- eCOGRA seal of approval
- Trusted player reviews on gambling review sites like Casino.org
- Fast withdrawals and easy payment options
- Multiple language options
- Speedy, friendly customer support
Why play craps online?
The most notable difference between online and offline craps is the social interaction and real sounds of shouts, screams and gasps. But there are other benefits to betting, budget, and time that US players seek online.
Faster play - Online craps is faster than live games and will give you more control of things like the betting and game atmosphere – including the animations and sounds. If you relish speed you can turn on the turbo option, which skips the visualization of the dice roll and gets immediately into the results.
Lower bets - By playing online craps, you can make smaller bets, often starting out a $1. Land based casinos will generally have a $5-$10 minimum. The software keeps meticulous track of every bet, so you don’t have to keep count of exact units or worry about getting cheated by rounding on bets.
Relaxing atmosphere - If the offline craps table seems intimidating with all the people and noise, online craps might be perfect for you. You can sit back, relax, look up bets on the fly, and never have to worry about the perfect craps performance.
No waiting - Offline craps tables generally have a lengthy wait time for wannabe players. The best casinos online feature a number of craps tables that will gladly welcome you at any time of the day.
More payment options – With all the extra table and gaming time online, you’ll need more than a casino cashier desk to cash your chips. Online casinos will have a range of popular US payment options for craps game wins. You can usually make deposits and withdrawal with a range of credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfer and others.
Craps terminology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Any Seven | Wager that the very next craps roll will result in a seven. This is one of the sucker bets that you should probably just avoid. |
Back Line | A slang term for the Don't Pass Line. |
Bank Roll | The cash or chips that a craps player has available for playing craps. You'll see this term used in all casino games. |
Betting Right | Betting on the Pass or Come craps wagers. This basically means that you aren't betting against all of the other players at the table. |
Betting Wrong | Betting on the Don't Pass or Don't Come wagers. This may be considered unlucky or inconsiderate by other craps players. It's also ever so slightly better (statistically) - make up your own mind. |
Bones | A slang term for the craps dice. |
Cold table | A craps table where the players who are betting right are losing frequently. This is due to either rolling craps or sevening out after the come-out roll. Of course, the wrong bettors are cleaning up! |
Come bet | Similar to a Pass Line bet, but made after the come-out roll. The roll that immediately follows this bet is the one that determines the "point" for this specific wager. |
Come-out roll | The craps roll that begins the round. This is the only time a point can be established for the line bettors. It is also the only opportunity to roll craps or a natural. |
Front Line | A slang term for the Pass Line. |
Hot table | A table where the players that are betting right are winning frequently. This means that the shooters are either rolling lots of naturals or hitting the point frequently without sevening out. May actually be bad thing if you are "betting wrong". |
House edge | A statistical representation of the casino's statistical advantage for any given wager. A 5% house edge, for example, means that the long term expectation for a given type of bet is that the casino will keep $0.05 of every $1.00 that is wagered. The lower the house edge, the better your chances. |
Lay bet | This is a bet that a seven will be rolled before the point. It offers true odds (a 0% house edge) but you must pay a five percent commission for the privilege of making this bet. |
Natural | Occurs when the result of the come-out roll is either a seven or an eleven. A natural results in a win for Pass Line wagers and a loss for Don't Pass Line bets. |
One Roll bets | Bets made on the result of the very next roll. These are the craps bets that offer the highest pay outs but they should be avoided due to the particularly high statistical advantage held by the house. If you're looking for an exciting, high-payout, there may be better options in the casino. |
Place bet | A bet that wins when a specific number is rolled before the round ends. If the shooter hits the point or sevens out before hitting the place number, then the bet is lost. |
Point | The number that is set on the come-out roll. Can be any number other than a natural (7 or 11) or craps (2, 3, or 12). If a point is set (which is not guaranteed), then that number is used as the point for the duration of the ensuing craps round. |
Roll craps | To roll a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll. Results in a loss for Pass Line bettors and a win for Don't Pass Line Bettors. |
Seven Out | When the shooter rolls a seven before the point. Results in a loss for the Pass Line bets and a win for the Don't Pass Line bets. |
Shooter | The player that is responsible for rolling the dice. You do not have to act as the shooter, unless you are playing online, in which case you don't have to worry about messing up. |
Craps FAQs
Can you play craps online?
Yes, craps is very popular online and you should find plenty of games available at most US online casinos. Craps games online will include graphics-driven games that are faster paced and live dealer craps, which stream the action in real time from a craps table with a dealer.
Can you play craps for real money?
Absolutely, playing online craps for real money is very common, and you won’t have any trouble joining a table. All our recommended online craps casinos in the US will provide real money craps games from a range of established games providers.
Can I play online craps games on my mobile?
Yes, you can. Whether you prefer an app or a mobile casino, craps online work just as well on iPhone and Android devices. Check out our top craps online casinos, which all score highly for mobile compatibility and for the quality of any apps they provide.
Is craps better than blackjack?
Not in terms of odds, as blackjack provides the best odds of the casino games. However, craps is quicker and easier to learn and a more social game. As a new player you’re going to have an easier time (and maybe more fun) playing craps online.
Do I need to download software to play craps online?
Not at all. You can play craps instantly online in the US using your browser with no download required. Any online casino for craps gaming will have top of the line security to protect your log in and personal data. If you prefer to keep your online craps game on your device, you can download casino apps to your phone or tablet.
What is the Come bet?
A come bet is similar to the pass line bet and has some of the best odds. The difference is that the come bet can only be made after a point has been established. This happens when the shooter rolls a 4-6, or 8-10. You place your come bet and the shooter continues to roll. You will lose the bet if a 2, 3, or 12 is rolled and win if a 7 or 11 is rolled. If the shooter rolls the point number, the round ends, but your come bet will still remain. This bet pays 1:1 and has a house edge of 1.41%.
What are the payouts like in craps?
1:1 is the best craps payout you’ll see, though it depends on the bets and casino. In general the best craps payouts will come from bets that are easy to win, such as the Pass Line and Come bet and Don’t Pass line and Don’t Come bet. Although the payouts are 1:1, they are practical to win. Bets with higher payouts include place bets, hardways, and one roll bets. Keep in mind that although US casinos make the payout enticingly high on these bets, they are more difficult to win.
What are the best bets to place in online craps?
The best craps bets to make are the Pass Line, Don’t Pass bar, and Place 6 and Place 8 bets. The latter two offer inner table action and only requires to shooter to roll a 6 or 8 before a 7. The payout is 7:6. Be sure not to mistake the Place 6 or 8 bet with the Big 6 and Big 8 bet; these are different and have a 1:1 payout.
What are the odds of winning?
In general, online or off, the odds at a craps table are about 0.67% in favor of the house. That has nothing to do with influence or rigging, but rather reflects the general laws of averages and statistics. This is just how the casino makes money and, compared to other games, a conservative craps player faces some pretty generous odds.
Are online craps games rigged?
No, the simple fact is that craps is a game of pure chance. There's little you can do to affect the outcome of a roll, and just like in real life, US online craps casinos do not have any influence over the dice either. To be sure you have a fair game, make sure you always play at a reputable online craps casino like the ones we list here for you. These selected casinos implement state of the art software with random number generators in addition to being certified and audited by the most respected organizations.
Can I play craps for free?
Many online casinos in the US offer free craps games so that you can learn the ropes and get comfortable with their software before actually playing the games for money. This is a great way to get experience playing craps online. However, in order to actually win real money, you have to play the real-money craps games.
Where can I find a craps casino online?
Check out our recommended craps casinos for the US. We have played at all of the major online casinos and tested them for security, best craps game play, graphics, and payouts. We also judge craps casinos based on the best bonuses so that you can play longer with any given amount of money you deposit.
More related guides for you
Written by Adam Ryan
A writer and editor with a penchant for games and strategy, Adam Ryan has been with the Casino.org team for eight years now. Having written for and edited numerous iGaming brands in his career, he’s something of a content sage when it comes to our iGaming copy in the US and Canada.