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Quick facts
TopicHow to play craps
AudienceCanadian casino players
Last reviewed2026-07-04
Use caseLearn line bets, free odds, prop bet cautions, and responsible limits
Ontario market checkMatch the exact commercial domain in iGaming Ontario’s current regulated-market directory
Casino Games Guide · Canada

How to Play Craps in Canada

A plain-language guide to the craps table: the come-out roll and the point, pass-line and come wagers, free-odds rules, and the house edge behind each wager.

Updated July 2026 · Age and participation rules vary by province and product · Play responsibly

Craps starts with a come-out roll; the pass line wins on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12, and otherwise plays to the point.

Pass/come and free-odds rules contrast with higher-edge centre proposition wagers. For Ontario, match the exact casino domain in iGaming Ontario’s current regulated-market directory before relying on a commercial claim. Each roll is random; betting systems do not change dice odds.

Ontario source boundary

Match the exact commercial domain against iGaming Ontario’s current regulated-market directory before relying on an Ontario-specific claim.

Use the directory as a domain-level check, then review table-specific rules such as odds limits, field payouts, prop bet rules, live-dealer availability, and responsible-play controls.

iGaming Ontario regulated market directory

How to play craps, in short

Craps is a dice game played in rounds. The shooter makes a come-out roll: a 7 or 11 wins the pass line, a 2, 3, or 12 loses, and any other number becomes the “point.” The shooter then keeps rolling until the point repeats (pass line wins) or a 7 appears (pass line loses). The pass line, come wager, and free-odds structure have lower standard house edges than centre proposition wagers. Craps is entertainment, not income.

How to Play Craps — Step by Step

1

Learn the Round — Come-Out Roll and the Point

A craps round starts with the come-out roll, made by the shooter with two dice. On the come-out, a 7 or 11 wins for pass line bettors, while 2, 3, or 12 (craps) loses. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the "point." Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling until they either repeat the point (pass line wins) or roll a 7 (pass line loses).

The come-out roll sets the point; after that, the shooter rolls until the point repeats or a 7 appears.
2

The Pass Line — a Core Craps Wager

The pass line is a common core wager in craps. It is recorded before the come-out roll and wins on a come-out 7 or 11, or when the point repeats before a 7. The pass line pays even money (1:1) and carries a house edge of about 1.41%, one of the lower standard edges in the game.

Pass line pays 1:1 with roughly a 1.41% house edge — among the better-value bets in the game.
3

Free Odds Behind the Line

After a point is established, a pass-line wager may have a separate "free odds" wager behind it. Free odds are paid at the true mathematical odds of the point, so that portion has a 0% house edge. At a physical table, the wager is conventionally marked behind the pass line. Venue or operator rules may cap the permitted odds multiple (for example, "3x–4x–5x").

Free odds carry a 0% house edge, but only the original line bet still does the heavy lifting.
4

Come Bets During a Round

A come wager follows the pass-line rules but is available after the point is set. Its next roll functions as a separate come-out: 7 or 11 wins, 2/3/12 loses, and another number becomes that wager’s own point. Come wagers share the pass line’s approximate 1.41% house edge, in contrast with higher-edge proposition wagers.

Come wagers mirror the pass line (~1.41% edge) and can be active during a roll.

Craps Bets, Payouts & House Edge

Craps offers dozens of bets, but they fall into a clear value order. Line bets (pass, don’t pass, come, don’t come) carry the lowest house edge; free odds carry none; and the centre proposition and hardway bets carry the highest. The figures below are approximate and vary slightly by table rules.

BetTypePayout
Pass LineLine1 : 1
Don't PassLine1 : 1
ComeLine1 : 1
Don't ComeLine1 : 1
Free Odds (behind line)OddsTrue odds
Place 6 or Place 8Place7 : 6
Field (one roll)Proposition1 : 1 (2:1 on 2/12)
Any 7 (one roll)Proposition4 : 1
Hardways (e.g. hard 8)Proposition9 : 1

House-edge figures are approximate and depend on table rules and odds limits. No bet eliminates the house edge — even a 0% free odds bet only works alongside a line bet that still carries one.

Common Craps Myths

"A shooter on a hot streak changes the odds"

Truth: False — each roll of fair dice is independent. Past rolls do not influence the next one, and no streak shifts the house edge.

"Proposition bets in the centre are the way to win big"

Truth: Misleading — centre prop and hardway bets have some of the highest house edges in the casino (up to ~16.67%). They pay more because they win far less often.

"Dice-control claims change the outcome"

Truth: Unproven — live-table rules commonly require the dice to hit the back wall, and online presentations may use random-number generation. No reliable method changes the outcome.

"Don’t pass is an assured win because the house edge is lower"

Truth: False — the don’t pass edge (~1.36%) is only marginally lower than pass line, and it still loses over the long run. Lower edge is not the same as an advantage.

How to Play Craps — FAQ

Which craps wager has a lower standard house edge?+
The pass line is a standard core wager. It is recorded before the come-out roll and wins on a come-out 7 or 11, or when the point repeats before a 7. It pays even money (1:1) and has a house edge of about 1.41%, among the lower standard edges in the game.
What does the house edge mean in craps?+
The house edge is the casino’s built-in long-run advantage, expressed as a percentage of each wager. Pass-line and come wagers sit at about 1.41%, while centre proposition and hardway wagers can exceed 9–16%. A free-odds wager behind the line carries a 0% edge and is available only when a line or come wager is already active.
Is online craps legal in Canada?+
Ontario-specific commercial claims require an exact online-casino-domain match in iGaming Ontario’s current regulated-market directory. Alberta-specific platform information requires the current official source and its stated scope. Other provinces have their own current official sources, and minimum-age rules vary by province and product.
Can a craps strategy beat the house edge?+
No. Lower-edge pass/come and free-odds structures reduce the expected loss rate, but do not remove the house edge. Betting progressions change stake size, not the underlying dice odds. Craps is entertainment, not a way to make money.

Related Resources

Safety Protocol

Set limits early.
Keep play under control.

Gambling should stay optional, affordable, and time-bounded. Use the technical tools below to define your parameters before engagement.

Practical Engagement Rules

  • 01Establish a strict capital allocation before initialization.
  • 02Terminate session immediately upon reaching pre-set thresholds.
  • 03Avoid engagement during periods of high stress or cognitive load.
  • 04Utilize cooling-off protocols if interaction frequency exceeds targets.

Time Limits

Set session duration alerts to manage your play time.

Deposit Limits

Control your spending by setting daily or weekly caps.

Self-Exclusion

Take a permanent break from all gaming activities.

Authorized Support Nodes

ConnexOntario AGLC GameSense RG Council Canada iGaming Ontario

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