As casino games go, craps is relatively simple. It's definitely not nearly as involved as poker, but it's not as simple—or, on the other hand, as tedious—as slots. Plus, craps may look intimidating to newbies, with all of the different bets on the table.

It's definitely understandable, seeing the tables for the first time, to ask how anyone keeps up with all of the rules and is able to place smart bets. It can look intimidating. But the good news is this: craps is easier than it looks, and actually there are only a handful of bets truly worth making. The rest are there primarily to provide players with more options—and to encourage them to bet on outcomes with much worse odds. If you're new or looking for where to play online, it is worthwhile to check out some of the best craps casinos with solid odds and established bonuses.

We understood this when we set it as our objective to produce a guide to the best craps strategies, and that is what we are covering today. We will walk you through the most sage strategies, discuss the odds to the game, and provide what all craps players ought to know.

Just keep this in mind: the odds exist, and winning any casino game is always a matter of luck and expertise. There is no skill that can completely eliminate the existence of chance—that's why these games are gamble to begin with.

So while nobody can promise a win, there are certain tips that can significantly boost your chances. In craps, what that translates to is knowing which bets offer the best odds, which bets offer the lowest house edge, and how to use that to your advantage. If you focus on those specific bets, your chances of going out a winner are considerably higher than if you're just making arbitrary bets. Just remember—no matter how much your odds improve, they'll never be 100%.

Understanding Craps Odds

As in any game, the idea in craps is to emerge victorious. But to do that, you'll need to be aware of how the different wagers work—and which ones are better than the rest. To the untrained, the table in craps will seem to be a motley assortment of random betting suggestions. But to anyone familiar with the odds and who understands the house advantage, there is an unmistakable scheme behind the melee.

Technically, craps is one of the best games you can play at a casino—but only if you bet correctly. There are four basic bets most savvy players gravitate towards: Pass Line, Come, Don't Pass, and Don't Come. These are the player favorites because they have the lowest house edge, which means your odds of winning are increased.

To show you, the house edge on the Pass Line bet is merely 1.41%, while that of the Don't Come bet is equally bullish at 1.36%. Those are so minuscule that those bets essentially break even in the long run—so they won't drain your bankroll nearly as fast. And you can make them even stronger by taking free odds, as we'll explain in full below.

Apart from those four, the only other two bets worth making are on 6 and 8. These allow you to bet on individual numbers instead of the present point. The house edge on these is 1.52%, and the payout is 7:6—not bad at all. Placing a bet on anything else besides these six is, quite simply, money down the drain. The others have worse odds and payouts, so you're much more likely to lose unless you get ridiculously, incredibly lucky.

Best Craps Strategy: Avoid One-Roll Bets

This is one of the most important unwritten craps rules: don't make a one-roll bet. They are:

• Field bets (you win when the next roll is a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 — house edge is between 2.78% and 5.56%)
• Any 7 (you win when the next roll is exactly 7 — 16.67% house edge)
• Any craps (you win if 2, 3, or 12 rolls — 11.11% house edge)

You can see most of these have a house edge greater than 10%, which is terrible for the player. Worse odds than roulette, video slots, or even most poker-based table games.

Sure, chasing these bets might be fun if you’re in it for the adrenaline. If you’re fine with losing money in exchange for excitement, go for it. But if your goal is to maximize your odds of winning, then avoid these bets entirely. They don’t belong in any smart craps strategy.

Yes, bets like "Boxcars" (12) or "Snake Eyes" (2) pay glitzy 30:1—but the odds of actually making them are 35:1, so the house has a staggering 13.89% edge.

Bottom line? If there's one message to take away here, it's that single-roll wagers are a trap for anybody who hopes to make money. You'd have to be insane lucky to win with them on a regular basis—and you can't build a strategy around that. So instead, here's what we recommend for serious craps players.

Use Odds Bets to Your Advantage

Once you have placed a basic bet like Pass or Don't Pass, the most helpful thing you can do is take odds bets after the establishment of the point. This is actually an add-on bet that has no house edge—i.e., it pays true odds and gives you the best bang for your buck.

By keeping your initial bet small and only raising it with the odds bets, you minimize the average house edge on your total investment. This enables you to stay in the game longer and aim for larger payouts without risking as much money.

Hedging Your Bets

The odds betting system we've just described is probably the best way to play craps. But there's another, and some prefer to use a slightly more conservative system.

For instance, if you're playing under a limited bankroll, hedging out your main bets with safer multi-roll wagers is perfectly understandable. The best manner in which to accomplish this—without compromising your main Pass Line or Odds bet—is by putting down Place 6 and Place 8 bets.

You will only put these wagers down after the point has been established. Should the point be 6, place a bet on 8—and, conversely. If the point is anything other than 6 or 8, go ahead and bet on both 6 and 8. The house edge in this case is still minimal, so you're not losing much. And since you're already hedging your top bet with free odds, you won't have to worry too much about the overall house edge.

Of course, hedging does have a catch: lower total payouts, but more frequent victories. It's a good tactic for players who desire a steady, lower-risk experience that still allows for profit. With a bit of luck, it can certainly pay off for you.