The game of Craps revolves around dice. Wagers are made upon the result of a single roll, or a series of rolls, of a pair of dice. Craps is a game of probabilities and odds, so any discussion of Craps will benefit by a brief explanation of the probabilities involved. Since the game uses two dice, a shooter (the person rolling the dice) can roll any number between 2 and 12. It is important to understand that some numbers are more likely to appear than others on a single roll of the dice.

Overview Where there is noise, there is craps. This exciting, energetic dice rolling usually draws the attention of many casino regulars and visitors alike. Wagers are placed on certain number combinations being displayed when two dice are rolled and come to rest. The craps tables usually draw the attention of many casino regulars and visitors alike.

Basic Rules of Play The dice are tossed from one end of the craps table to the other making sure that both dice bounce off of the back wall of the table. Moving in a clockwise direction, players take turns rolling the dice. The Shooter's first role is called the "Come Out" role. This Shooter continues to role as long as he or she makes winning roles. The "Come Out" role is very important in craps in that it establishes the Shooter's "Point." "The Point" is the number that the Shooter must role again before he or she roles a 7. A 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 establishes the point. Rolling a 7, 11, 2, 3 or 12 on the "Come Out" role results in the dice being passed to the next Shooter. The Puck - This two-sided disc indicates whether or not a game is in progress and if a "Point" has been established. The puck displays "OFF" and remains on the "Don't Come Bar" until a "Point" has been established by the shooter. The dealer then turns the puck to the "ON" side and moves it to the numbered location on the craps table to denote the "Point" number for this shooter. Betting On Craps Pass Line Bet - A simple and basic even money bet. You are betting that the first role of the dice will add up to 7 or 11. On this bet, a 2, 3, or 12 loses the bet. Any other number establishes the "Point." The "Point" number has to be rolled again before a 7 comes up to win, otherwise, the bet is lost.

The game of craps is the most popular dice game in the United States at the moment there are a few different theories about its origin. Dice games can be traced back to the roman times with shaved pigs knuckles being used as the dice. Craps however was based on the game hazard, which was popular in the 17th and 18th century in England. The name craps is believed to have derived from the English crabs which was the name for the throw of aces or ace-deuce. The game moved over to the United States when the French moved to New Orleans and the French pronounced the game craps and in there version of the game the player throws against the house and not another player like the English version of the game. The game was very popular on the Mississippi river boats and it was a simplified version of modern day craps that was spread about the United States. There are two modern day versions of craps played today. Street craps has more in common with the riverboat game than Bank craps and it is so named as it can be played on the street. A shooter establishes a point, then tries to make that point. Bettors either bet with the shooter or against the shooter. Someone must cover the bet for the shooter in order for the game to progress. Bank craps is the form played in the casinos and has a more complicated form of betting with the house covering the bets.

In Craps, winning or losing depends on a variety of different possible outcomes on any roll of the two dice. The two dice can produce many different number combinations; some can be made several ways, others only one way. For example, two dice can roll the number 6 as follows: 5/1, 4/2, 3/3, 2/4 and 1/5. But the number 2 can only be rolled one way: 1/1.