Ask your everyday craps player where the name “craps” actually comes from and they might tell you that it is what you would probably say if you have a losing bet. However, the term “craps” actually comes from the French word for toad, “crapaud.”
In casino craps, players play against a house, selecting 2 dice from a selection of dice offered by the stickman. Several rules apply when throwing the dice, for example they must hit the back wall, to avoid a “controlled shot”. Players bet on a playing surface and winnings are paid by the banker.
Players are able to bet on a winning roll “pass line” or a losing roll “don’t pass line”. If a player rolls a 7 or an 11 on the initial roll, all “pass line” bets win. However if “craps” is thrown (that is a 2, 3 or a 12), then all of those “pass line” bets are losers. “Don’t pass line” bets have the effect of reversing the fortunes of the above sets of numbers, except for the number “12″, which is generally declared a tie to maintain the house’s advantage.
Whenever a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 is rolled by the thrower, the stickman places an “on” button on the corresponding number in the field. The player then has as many throws or he or she needs to roll that number again for everyone to win. However, if the player rolls a 7 before they re-roll the “on” number, all players lose.
More and more people have taken to playing online craps in recent years, although it doesn’t offer the same type of fun available at a craps table when everyone can win at the same time. However, the popularity of online craps is always growing because of its relatively easy playability. Let’s just hope they don’t have to look into the snake eyes too much.
Enjoy a craps tournament online.