When the "shooter" rolls a 7 or 11 on the first throw (The Come-out roll) it is refer to as a "natural" and an automatic win. On the other hand, if 2, 3 or 12 rolls, it is called, "craps" and you lose your Pass Line bet. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes your "Point." You win if the "Point" repeats before 7 rolls, and you lose if 7 show before your "Point." Is made. Place these bets in the area marked "Pass Line" on the layout.

If the shooter is winning, the dice are not passed on. The dice are only passed to the next player if the shooter sevens-out (rolls a seven) or decides not to continue rolling. In the Internet version of Craps, the player loses if there is a seven-out and can end the game at any time provided there are no bets placed. Pass Line and Don't Pass Line bets are made on the shooter's "Come Out" roll. All other bets are placed after the come out, once a "point" has been determined, and work independent of the "pass line" and "don't pass" bets.

Some gamblers believe that you can recover your losses by doubling your bet every time you lose. This is known as the Martingale system. The idea is that when you win, the win will be big enough to cover your previous losses. There are two problems with this system: You may run out of money before you win. You can only double your bet so many times because of table limits, and so occasionally you will hit the table limit before winning – and this will be very expensive.

These wagers are decided on the next roll of the dice, the next roll decides if you win or lose. Field Bets are popular because seven outcomes will win (2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12) can win, while only four (5, 6, 7 or 8) can lose. Any Seven Bets are made when you bet the next roll will be a 7. Any Craps Bets are made when you bet the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. Two Bets are for the next roll to be a 2. Twelve Bets are for the next roll to be a 12. Three Bets are for the next roll to be a 3. Eleven Bets are for the next roll to be an 11. Horn Bet is made when you are betting that a 2, 3, 11 or 12 will show on the next roll. All of these bets are made through the stickman, except for the Field bet which you can place for yourself

Basic craps terminology: Shooter: the current dice thrower. Come-out roll: The shooter's first roll. Pass: If the shooter wins his game, by any means, he is said to "Pass". Don't Pass: The term used if the shooter loses. The following illustration depicts the left half of a craps table. The bets to the bottom right, therefore, are referred to as the center bets, as they are actually in the center of a full sized table.