Craps: Online Casino General Information

Craps is a game involving two 'perfect' dice, a great deal of luck, and intelligent betting. Over the years, craps has developed into a game in which players have the option of actually betting 'for' or 'against' the person throwing the dice. This betting option played a major role in the elimination of fixed dice when craps first started gaining steam in the 1800's. Today, casinos use what are know as 'perfect' dice, which are optimally crafted and balanced to prevent any corruption of normal dice odds. The person whose turn it is to roll the dice, designated as the 'shooter', is given a tray or bowl full of dice to choose from, but must keep his hands over the table so that no cheating takes place. A great deal of excitement ensues as the shooter readies himself to toss the dice, which should ideally bounce off the far end of the table before coming to a stop. The incredibly large number of possible bets has everyone intensely involved, waiting to see if they will win a nice sum of money on the shooter's throw.

So how can online casino craps possibly compare to the excitement of live craps? It's quite simple. The answer lies in the software used by online casinos to recreate the live craps experience. When playing craps online, players are oftentimes accompanied by the lively voice of a male or female stickman, just as in real casinos. Background noise adds to the real feeling, and in some online casinos, a miniature screen appears showing a different visual of the table with the option of choosing dice, grasping them, and actually throwing them by using your mouse. Technology has indeed brought craps to the online world!

One of the definite advantages of playing online is the clarity given to the betting options. Many times, just by passing a cursor over the table image on your screen, the name of the bet including odds and paybacks will be displayed. There is no hassle and the need for a go-between. Playing is simple, straightforward, and extremely clear.

Craps appears complex, but really is much less frightening once the basic concept is understood. Essentially, the shooter throws the dice in what is called his 'come out roll', according to the procedure described above. The player may shoot a 2, 3, or 12, signaling an immediate loss, or a 7 or 11, signaling an immediate win. Any other number rolled establishes the player's 'point', a number which must be rolled again by the player before rolling a seven in order to win. The player will continue rolling until he either wins or loses. At all times other than while the dice are being rolled, players may place their bets. If the shooter loses, the dice move clockwise to the next player on the left.

Listing all the different possible craps bets only succeeds in confusing players even more with the never-ending list of different possibilities. Instead, giving a brief overview in order to understand the concept behind each type of bet is a shorter and more effective method. The main betting in craps can be divided into 5 categories: Basic Bets, Odds Bets, Place Bets, One Roll Bets, and Hardway Bets.

Basic Bets: These bets deal with betting for or against the shooter, which means betting that he will roll his point before rolling a seven, or the opposite in the case of not having an immediate win or loss. They are simple to place and easy to follow.

Odds Bets: This type of bet also involves betting for or against the shooter, and serves to increase the initial wager made in a basic bet. Wins and losses are determined the same way.

Place Bets: The bets are placed on numbers on the table after the first roll of the dice by the shooter. Here as well, players are betting for or against the shooter with one minor adjustment; they are betting if he will or will not shoot a seven before rolling the number chosen for the place bet.

One Roll Bets: The idea behind one roll bets is the placing of a bet which will either be won or lost by the very next roll of the dice. There are specific combinations and number options for this bet on the table, and paybacks are very high due to the greater house odds.

Hardway Bets: These bets deal with rolling specific numbers in 'doubles' form. Paybacks differ according to which doubles number the player chooses to place his bet, which is won if the dealer rolls that doubles combination before rolling a seven. Some hardway bets are immediately lost if the doubles number is rolled in any other form.

Paybacks and odds vary between the different bets.