Online Craps Games Canada 2019

Craps stands out as one of the most famous dice games found in both traditional and online casinos. It's intriguing because, unlike other games that are often run by a dealer, in craps, it's the players who roll the dice. Although the game might seem complex at first glance, our comprehensive guide and practice tools are designed to help you master it quickly.

Where does craps come from?

Craps enjoys significant popularity in America today, yet its roots aren't American. Interestingly, its exact origin story isn't clear, but one theory suggests craps began in England during the time of the Crusades. French knights adapted the game and named it crapaud, which English speakers later modified to craps. Another theory is that British crusaders discovered the game in the Middle East, where it was known as az-zahr, an Arabic term for dice.

How Craps originated

The game of craps has its beginnings in England, where Sir William of Tire's knights played it for leisure. Around 1125, while laying siege to the castle known as 'Hazarth of Asart,' they named the game 'Hazard' after the castle. There's also the belief that its name originates from 'Azzah,' meaning 'the dice.' The truth behind its origins remains a mystery, with both stories sounding equally plausible.

Via France to the United States

Initially, craps was a favorite pastime among wealthy gentlemen, but over time it became accessible to the wider public. As its popularity grew, the game made its way to France, where they called it 'Craps,' referring to a losing throw, before migrating to America in the 17th century, mainly through European immigrants in the southern U.S.

Craps in a new jacket

In craps' early days, dice manipulation was common, and the game's betting mechanics were a bit loose, often resulting in cheating. When gambling was legalized in the U.S., craps underwent transformation. John H. Winn introduced the 'do not pass' system, eliminating the incentive to cheat by manipulating the dice. Today, the game is played by these structured rules and finds a place in online casinos as well.

The basis of craps

If craps appears daunting due to its numerous betting options, rest assured that the game is fairly straightforward and thrilling. You don't have to memorize every rule before starting. By understanding the basics, anyone can place bets against the house using two dice and try to predict the outcomes successfully.

Shooter

In craps, the player rolling the dice is known as the 'shooter.' A roll resulting in a total of 7 or 11 means a win for the shooter and those betting on him. However, if the sum is 2, 3, or 12, the shooter loses, benefiting those betting against his roll. The shooter continues until he rolls a losing number, after which the role passes to the next player.

Craps game explanation in general

A typical craps table accommodates up to 20 participants. Any player can choose to throw the dice or simply predict the result instead. The opening roll is called a 'Come Out,' signaling the start of a new round. If the shooter fails to establish a new 'point,' then the role passes to the next player, who repeats the process.

If you are just starting: Pass Line

Before diving into a game of craps, some basic understanding of the rules is valuable. It's recommended to pick a playing strategy that enhances your winnings. One commonly used bet is the Pass Line bet, where a win is achieved if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the first throw. While this bet seems simple, it's a great starting point for newcomers.

When discussing craps, the term 'Natural' refers to the outcome of the initial roll being a 7 or 11.
Come-out roll: the first roll
The 'Boxman' supervises the game in a physical casino setting, ensuring fair play, a role often absent in online variations.
Crap out: 2, 3 or 12 in the come-out roll
Craps: A roll with 2, 3 or 12 points.

Bet with online craps

If the total sum from the shooter's roll is neither 2, 3, 7, 11, nor 12, it's a 'point.' The Pass Line bets remain, allowing players to make additional bets during the subsequent roll. Here's where understanding odds can significantly improve your game strategy.

Come bets

An alternative betting approach is the 'come' bet. If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, you win. With a 2, 3, or 12, you lose. For any other sum, your bet rolls into the next round and moves to the box associated with the rolled 'point' number.

Do not pass line bets

In one betting scenario, players win if the shooter ends up with a 2 or 3. Should the outcome be 7 or 11 on the initial roll, players lose their bet. A roll totaling 12 results in a tie, allowing the bet to carry over to the next roll.

Place bets

Single-number bets depend on the shooter rolling a specific number before a 7. This method is straightforward: Win if your number is hit first, or lose if the 7 appears beforehand.

Bets on 4 or 10 yield a 9 to 5 payout, with the house retaining a 6.7% advantage.
For bets on 5 or 9, the payout is 7 to 5, while the house has a 4% edge.
Having bets on 6 or 8 offers the most favorable scenario with a payout of 7 to 6 and a relatively low house advantage of 1.5%.

Field bets

On the craps playmat, placing a 'field' bet allows for potential winnings when certain numbers appear before the 7. A hit on 2 or 12 doubles the payout, while other numbers only return even money.

Big 6 and Big 8 bets

The option to bet on a 6 or 8 can be appealing, as they are common totals next to the 7. When choosing a Big 6 or Big 8 wager, success hinges on the shooter rolling that number before a 7, though the payouts are not very generous.

Propositions bets

Proposition bets, which involve betting on specific dice combinations, often sound enticing but carry high house advantages. It's recommended to approach them with caution or avoid them altogether.

If a 'point' is established, players can make additional wagers to take advantage of favorable odds. However, avoiding bets like Big Six or Big Eight, which come with high house advantages, might be wise.
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7 points: 5 times your bet
11 points: 15 times your bet
Craps is widely recognized as a dice game both in online and physical casinos. Unlike many games, craps doesn't have a live dealer variant because it's always the player's role to roll the dice, not a dealer. Initially, craps might seem complex, but with the detailed explanations and practice available here, you'll quickly grasp its workings effortlessly.
A 1 and a 2: 15 times your bet
Craps (2, 3 or 12 points): 8 times your bet.

Craps enjoys significant popularity in the United States today, but interestingly, it didn't begin there. While its exact beginnings are somewhat clouded, one thing is certain: it's not American in origin. A popular theory suggests that craps began in England during the crusades, where French knights encountered it, calling it 'crapaud'. English speakers later adapted this to 'craps'. Another theory proposes that British soldiers found the game in the Middle East, where Arabs played something called 'az-zahr'—which translates to 'dice'. The English term for 'craps' might have derived from the frustration of losing by saying 'craps', hinting it could have easily been called something much less polite.

Smart bets

The roots of craps trace back to England where it was a favorite pastime among knights during sieges. Sir William of Tire’s knights reportedly enjoyed this game while besieging a castle named Hazarth of Asart in 1125, leading them to initially call it 'Hazard'. Some suggest the name's origin also links to the Arabic 'Azzah', meaning 'the dice'. The true origins remain ambiguous, with both possibilities sounding equally credible.

Our Conclusion

Originally, craps was a game played primarily by affluent gentlemen but gradually became widespread among the general populace. As time went on, the game gained popularity, and the French aptly named it 'Craps', which means 'losing throw'. In the 17th century, the game traveled to America along with European immigrants in the southern regions, escalating its fame across the states.