So you want to know why that large table at the casino is having the time of their lives. Craps in casinos can be one of the most exhilarating times you will have with lots of excitement and action all around you. There is much debate on where craps originated from, many believe that it came from a game many years ago called Hazard. The game really took form in the 19th century when John H. Winn simplified the craps table and created the modern lay out you see today.

How to Play Craps
Playing craps is not as hard as it looks. Many players get intimidated by all the action at the table and all the different betting options. The table can hold up to 12 players all playing at the same time. Only one player can roll the dice at a time. The main focus of the game is to bet on then winning outcomes of the dice rolls.

To begin the game the shooter (the player throwing the dice) is given five dice and is to choose two of them. Before the first rolls players will bet on the pass line bet and if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 everyone who bet on the pass line will win.

If there is no 7 or 11 a point would be determined and the shooter will keep rolling until they hit a 7 or 11.

Betting on Craps
USOnlineCasino.com has broken down the different types of betting you can do at a craps table to help you further understand how to correctly play casino craps.  There are a great number of bets with different payouts and odds, which are outlined below:

Pass Line Bet
Is the simpler of bets you can make at a craps table. If you are just starting out its a pretty save wager due to the fact that the house has and edge of 1.14% and you will only have to focus on one part of the table. After placing your bet on the pass line and the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 you win even mney on your bet. If the shooter was to roll a 2,3 or 12 the player will lose their bet. Any other combos would determine the point.

Come Bet
The come bet like the pass line bet share a lot of similarities. The one difference is that you can only place the bet after the point has been set. If the shooters roll is a 7 or 11 then you win. If the shooter rolls a 2,3,12 the player will lose their bet.

Field Bet
Playing the field as its called allows players to bet on specific rolls of the dice. If you are to play a field bet you would be betting on either 2,3,4,9,10 or 11. If a shooter rolls 2 or 12 then the player is paide out at a rate of 2:1. The shooter can keep throwing the dice and if you have bet on any of the above numbers you can keep winning until a 7 or 11 roll happens then the house takes all bets.

Hard Way Bets
Are a fun yet risky type of bet as the payouts are much higher. A Hard Way Bet is one that consists of the player betting on a specific roll of the dice. For example a player can bet on a double 2, 3 or 4 which will pay out 9:1 if its hit. For six and eight Hard Way bets the payout is 7:1.

Big 6 & 8 Bets
The 6 & 8 bets are quite simple. You can bet on the points 6 or 8 and the payout is much better then any other numbers. The payout consists of 7:6.

Don’t Come Bet
Is the opposite of the Come bet and can be played while the game is in progress. The Don’t Come bet pays out if you the shooter rolls a 7 before the number you picked.

One Roll Bets
Is betting on what the player will roll in one shot. The payouts are higher but its much more riskier. The payouts are as follows: For a 4 or 10 roll the payout is 5:1, 6 or a 8 the payout is 10: 1 for 3 or 11 the payout is 15:1 and for a 2 or 12 the payout is 30:1.

Craps Strategy
To be honest there is really no strategy for craps as the outcome of the dice rolls are quite random, however we’ve provided some general tips to help you out during play.

• Take your time when you are placing your bets. Don’t be pressured by all the movement and excitement of all the people around you.
• Let it be known that you may not win a single bet so don’t bet so large at first
• Playing online will help you get a hang of the game before going to a real casino.
• Observe other players who are winning at the tables and try to play on tables with hot streaks going for them – somewhat mythical but hey why not try it!