Each player takes turns rolling the dice. The player who's rolling is called the shooter. Everyone bets on the the same roll of the dice, whether they're the shooter or not. The shooter keeps rolling until he "sevens out" (rolls a seven at the wrong time), and then the next player gets to roll.
The first throw of a new craps game is called the “come out” roll. Players make their bets, and the shooter gets the chance to throw the dice. Afterwards, the come out roll can only be made if the previous shooter did not make a winning roll. When the shooter rolls the dice, they are rolled across the craps table and best are disbursed according to the numbers rolled. The table is divided into three separate areas; two side areas, with a center area dividing the two. The side areas are replicas of each other and contain the Pass and Don’t Pass Bet lines, Come and Don’t Come bets, Odds Bet, Place Bets, and Field Bets. Meanwhile, the center area of the table contain the proposition bets.
If you’re just starting out, it can be a bit complicated understanding the various bets you can make in a game and how you can win. With the pass bet win line, players win if the first roll comes up a 7 or 11 (a “natural) and lose if the roll is a 2, 3, or 12 (this is called craps.) If a point is rolled during the craps game (in other words, a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) it must be rolled again in order to win. Consequently, if the shooter throws a 7 before the point can be repeated, you will lose.
With the Come Bet, you have basically the same rules as the pass bet line. However, the only way you can place a bet here is if the point on the pass line has already been determined. Once gamblers place their bets, the very first dice roll becomes the point. Once again, you win if it’s a natural and lose if it’s craps. The Don’t Pass line bet is actually the opposite of the pass line bet; in other words, a “natural” will cause a player to lose and rolling a 2 or a 3 will cause the player to win. Rolling a 12 means a player ties with the casino. If a point comes out, you have to roll a 7 before the point is repeated in order to win. The Don’t Come Bet is a direct reversal of the Come Bet.
There are several other bets players can make, but these are a few of the most common. Gamblers can also choose to make place bets, which can only be played once a point has been determined, or field bets which are for one dice roll only. Many Las Vegas casinos also offer Big Six, Big Eight bets which causes a player to win if a six or eight is rolled before a seven. Finally, there are several proposition bets that can be made as well, but they are all also for one dice roll with few exceptions.
