Online Craps A Guide for 2018

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, September 18, 2018

In many ways, it’s easy to underestimate the value of craps to online casino operators. After all, card games as a whole accounted for 12.1% of the GGY (gross gambling yield) online in the year ending September 2017, while this number is forecast to fall further in the near-term.

To put this into context, slots account for nearly two-thirds of the iGaming GGY, while table games are responsible for more than 15%.

Still, craps remains a highly sought-after game online, with a cult following of players throughout the UK. We’ll take a look at this enduringly popular card game below, while tracing its unique history and prospects for the future.

Craps Through the Ages – A Brief History

Not only is craps one of the most popular casino games, but it can also lay claim to being one of the longest standing.

In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest that a rudimentary form of craps was first played in the days of the Roman Empire. During this time, soldiers of the Roman Legions were known to shave down pigs knuckles into the shape of dice, before throwing these cubes into their inverted shields as a form of in-camp entertainment.

This is where the term “roll the bones” originates from, and future iterations of craps are said to have evolved from this.

However, some claim that the modern iteration of craps is in fact a descendant of an early-English game called Hazard. This game was invented by the English noble Sir William of Tyre, while it became particularly popular among the knights of the Crusades.

It was reportedly played by knights as they prepared to lay siege to a castle called Hazarth in 1125 AD, as they looked to pass the time before the sustained heat of battle.

The game grew quickly from these humble origins, spreading throughout England during the Middle Ages. The formative iteration of Craps earned cult status at this time, with famous author Geoffrey Chaucer frequently referencing the game in his iconic work ‘The Canterbury Tales’.

Given Chaucher’s reputation for providing a realistic insight into the social and leisure activities of Brits during this era, these references seem to underline just how popular the game was in the Middle Ages.

As Hazard spread to luxurious gambling houses at the turn of the 18th century, the game began to earn international repute. It became particularly popular in France by the mid-1700s, with natives renaming the game ‘Crabs’ after the term applied to the lowest value available when throwing the dice.

By 1755, the French has lost control of the colony Acadia in North America, following a long and drawn-out conflict with the English. Many French natives who had been living there were subsequently forced out, with a number winding up in Louisiana.

As a result, the popularity of Craps began to spread throughout the U.S., and by the early 19th century the African-American communities of the South had begun to develop the modern iteration of the game.

It’s here that we must reference John H. Winn, who is widely accredited as the “father of modern-day craps”. He revolutionised the game in 1907, by introducing the now seminal rule allowing players to bet right or wrong. He also introduced an area on the playing board called “Don’t Pass bets”, which is central to the appeal of the game in the modern age.

These changes have remained true to this day, laying the foundation for Craps to be successfully replicated online. With this in mind, all that is left is to learn the basics of the game, and the strategies that can improve your chances of winning.

Craps Gameplay and Strategy – Getting to Grips with the Game

One of the main benefits of online craps is its competitive house edge, which is typically lower than competing games such as roulette, blackjack and slots.

While this varies between different variations of the game, the average house edge for craps is just 1.41%. This makes for an extremely viable proposition from a player perspective, and one that can translate into frequent wins of variable sizes.

The game starts with the single roll of dice, with each online player taking turns to perform this act. The person rolling the dice is referred to as a shooter, and while this responsibility is shared this is largely symbolic as it does afford individuals a competitive advantage.

In fact, everyone places bets on the same roll of the dice, regardless of whether they’re a shooter or not. The shooter in question will continue throwing the dice until they roll a seven at the wrong time, with this phenomenon known colloquially as “Sevens Out”.

Prior to rolling the dice, you’ll place your bets on the table as per your predetermined strategy (we’ll discuss this further below), before selecting the “roll” button and commencing play. The dice are then rolled, and the outcome displayed, with this process repeated throughout an individual session of gameplay.

At this point, you’ll need to recognise that craps is a game played in distinct rounds. The first of these is called a “Come Out” roll, with the length of this round being determined by the results generated. Players will continue to take turns rolling the dice during this period, until unlucky participants land a dreaded losing combination.

Now we come to the types of wager available when playing craps, which play a pivotal role in determining whether you win or lose. The first of these is a ‘Pass Bet’, which can be activated by placing your wagers in the area marked “pass” on the board. If you or the shooter rolls a seven or 11, you’ll win the bet and claim the prize. If a two, three or a 12 is rolled, you’ll lose your stake money and take a hit to your bankroll.

If any other outcome is achieved, this becomes the so-called point number. Regardless of the precise digit in question, you’ll win if the point number is rolled prior to landing a seven Conversely, if you roll a seven before rolling the point number, you’ll lose with this type of wager.

It’s this bet that affords craps its average house edge of 1.41%, but it is by no means the only type of wager available to players.

Take the Don’t Pass Bet, which was the brainchild of John H. Winn and gives the game a distinct competitive edge. This actually affords players a marginally better chance of winning, as they’re required to bet against the shooter at a favourable house edge of 1.36%.

With the Don’t Pass Bet, you’ll instantly win if the shooter rolls a two or a three. Conversely, you’ll lose if a seven or an 11 is rolled, while the game will effectively be declared as a draw in instances where a 12 is landed.

The point number rule is also enforced here, although in this instance you must roll a seven before the point number to claim the win. If you land a seven after the point number, you’ll lose the game and your stake money.

Now we come to the “Come Bet”, which can be placed while a particular round is ongoing. This impacts on the next roll, during which you will win or lose based on whether the point number has been established.

During this time, the Come Bet will prove successful if the shooter subsequently rolls a seven or an 11. In contrast, you’ll lose if the shooter lands a two, a three or a 12.

If any other number is rolled out, the point number will have been set. If this is landed prior to the number seven, you’ll win the wager and claim the available prize.

As you would expect, these rules are reversed when placing a “Don’t Come Bet”, one again forcing players to make a relatively straightforward choice between two wagering options. It’s interesting to note that these betting options mirror the house edge available through Pass and Don’t Pass wagers, standing at 1.41% and 1.36% respectively.

Another increasingly popular wagering option exists in the form of “Place Bets”, which offers a marginally higher house edge but potentially larger returns. A Place Bet requires players to wager that a number of their choice will be rolled before the shooter lands a seven, choosing from four, five, six, eight, nine or 10.

Betting on numbers five to nine (or four to 10) carries an inflated house edge of 6.7%, for example, while this falls to 1.5% when backing numbers six to seven (or six to eight). Wagering on five to seven (or five to nine) boasts a house edge of 4%, creating a more attractive proposition to high rollers with a greater appetite for risk.

Field bets serve a similar purpose, although each of these wagers offers a basic house edge of 5.56%. This is a one-time bet based on the next roll being a two, three, four, nine, 10, 11 or 12, and it adds a unique dimension to the basic craps gameplay.

In terms of rewards, all wins payout at a rate of 1:1, with the exception of two and 12 which deliver considerably more.

Like a number of other online casino disciplines, craps is entirely opportunistic in its nature and officially categorised as a game of chance. As a result, the best and most successful strategies are aimed at incrementally increasing your chances of winning, rather than attempting to identify patterns in random results or aggressively pursuing larger returns.

Successful players tend to rely heavily on Don’t Pass and Don’t Come wagers during the course of gameplay, as these bets minimise the house edge to 1.36% and increase your chances of winning over time. This type of risk-averse strategy can be augmented with occasional place bets, which offer a marginally higher house edge but enable players to stack the odds in their favour.

Placing on numbers six to eight offers a competitive house edge of just 1.5%, for example, while the probability of winning remains relatively high for players.

Now, high-rollers will be intrigued to know that there are a number of more aggressive betting strategies suitable for craps, most of which rely on field bets. These one-off, single number wagers will appeal to those with a healthy appetite for risk, although we’d recommend avoiding them as the risk-reward ration does not necessarily stack up.

For example, you can place hardways bets on specific numbers. These involve wagering on numbers such as a hard eight, which is comprised of two fours and carries a house edge of 9.09%. This is an extremely unlikely result, however, and in this respect a corresponding payout of 9:1 does not offer outstanding value.

This type of aggressive betting strategy is certainly an acquired taste, and one that should only be applied by seasoned gamblers with an inflated bankroll.

Choosing Your Game and Online Casino Platform

Despite enjoying cult status among UK players, craps variations are not widely represented online.

Iterations such as Vegas Craps remain the most popular accessible on the market, while this type of game has not seen the same level of innovation as roulette, blackjack and similar disciplines.

However, pretty much all of the major casino operators include a handful of craps variations in their online libraries, creating a level of accessibility that is helping to promote the game among the younger generation.

When choosing a potential service provider through which to play online craps, start by verifying that the casino is licensed to operate in the UK. From here, you should compare the craps titles included by each individual platform, prioritising those that include a number of options to choose from.

Real-time bonuses and promotional packages should also be considered before choosing an online casino, as this can help you to access free money when you start to play. While operators are unlikely to offer promotions that are aimed specifically at craps games, you’ll be able to leverage general deposit or no-deposit bonuses and apply them to your chosen title. In the case of no-deposit bonuses, you’ll have money automatically applied to your account once you’ve completed the registration process and opted in, helping to pursue retains that offer 100% profit!

So there you have it; our comprehensive guide to online craps. There’s no doubt that this cult game can offer fun to players of all age, while its relatively simplistic nature and low house edge offers even greater value in a crowded market.