Craps How to Play — Complete Beginners Guide for African Players 2026
Craps has a reputation for complexity that deters many beginners — but the core game is genuinely simpler than it appears. Once you understand two bets — the Pass Line and the Odds bet — you have access to some of the best expected value in any casino. This guide explains everything an African beginner needs to start playing confidently.
The Basic Structure
Craps is a dice game where players bet on the outcomes of dice rolls. One player (called the shooter) rolls two dice. The total of the two dice determines the outcome. The game moves through two phases: the Come Out roll and the Point phase.
The Come Out Roll
The Come Out roll starts a new round of play. If the shooter rolls a total of 7 or 11, all Pass Line bets win immediately — this is called a natural. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, Pass Line bets lose immediately — this is called craps. Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the Point. A marker is placed on that number on the table and the Point phase begins.
The Point Phase
The shooter continues rolling until one of two things happens: they roll the Point number again (all Pass Line bets win) or they roll a 7 (all Pass Line bets lose — called sevening out). Any other number rolled during the Point phase has no effect on the Pass Line bet. The round ends either way and a new Come Out roll begins.
The Pass Line Bet — Start Here
The Pass Line is the fundamental craps bet and the best starting point for any beginner. House edge: approximately 1.41%. You win on a Come Out 7 or 11, lose on 2/3/12, and then win if the Point number is rolled again before a 7. This is the lowest-complexity craps bet and the one that all strategy builds on.
The Odds Bet — The Best Bet in Any Casino
After a Point is established, you can place an additional bet called the Odds bet directly behind your Pass Line bet on the table. The Odds bet is unique in gambling: it pays true mathematical odds with zero house edge — the only standard bet in any casino with absolutely no house advantage. The casino accepts Odds bets because most players do not know about them or do not use them.
Most casinos allow you to place 2x, 3x, or higher Odds bets relative to your Pass Line bet. Always take the maximum Odds allowed. At 3x Odds, the combined house edge on your total Pass Line plus Odds position drops to approximately 0.47% — one of the lowest in any table game.
Good Bets and Bets to Avoid
Recommended bets: Come bet (1.41% house edge — works like Pass Line but placed after a Point is set), Don Pass and Don Come (1.36% — you win when other players lose), Place bets on 6 and 8 (1.52% — additional action on the most common Point numbers). Bets to avoid completely: Proposition bets (Any 7, Any Craps, Hardways) carry house edges of 9-16%. Big 6 and Big 8 are the same as Place 6/8 but pay even money instead of 7:6 — significantly worse. Field bet carries a house edge of 2.78-5.56%. These bets should be ignored by beginners entirely.
18+ | Play Responsibly | If gambling is affecting your life, please seek help