Craps for New Zealanders: Bets, Odds and Rules

Updated October 2026

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A practical guide to come-out rolls, bet comparisons, play options, and the rules to check on an online craps table.

How Pass-Line Bets and the Come-Out Roll Work

The shooter’s first decision is not which number to call. To take the shooter’s role, you must place a wager on either the pass line or the don’t-pass line. These are opposing positions on the opening roll: a pass-line bet backs the shooter, while a don’t-pass-line bet takes the opposing position. The come-out roll is the roll that determines whether either wager is settled immediately.

The sequence is easiest to follow if you separate the wager from the roll. First, the shooter has a pass-line or don’t-pass-line bet in place. Then the dice are rolled for the come-out. The result is compared with the rules for the chosen line. The same roll can therefore produce opposite results for the two positions: a number favourable to one is unfavourable to the other.

On a come-out roll of 7 or 11, the pass-line wager wins. A don’t-pass-line wager loses. The outcome is immediate for both sides; there is no need to wait for a later roll to settle those opening bets. If you are trying to understand a craps table, this is the first branch to recognise: a 7 or 11 at the start favours the pass line, not the don’t-pass line.

A come-out roll of 2 or 3 reverses that result. The pass-line wager loses, while the don’t-pass-line wager wins. A roll of 12 has the same stated result under the standard outcome description: pass loses and don’t-pass wins. However, some online casino rulesets in New Zealand treat a come-out 12 as a tie instead. Under that rule, the pass-line bet is not settled as a loss on that roll; the table’s displayed rules determine how the tie is handled. This difference matters because the number alone does not tell you the result unless you also know the ruleset.

For an opening result outside these immediate outcomes, the pass-line or don’t-pass-line wager is not settled by the come-out roll. The roll has not produced one of the listed immediate wins or losses. That distinction prevents a common reading error: not every opening throw ends the wager. A result may instead lead the game into its continuing sequence, where the original bet remains relevant.

This is why the opening roll should be read as a decision point rather than as a complete description of the round. A pass-line bet does not simply win whenever the dice show a number you favour, and a don’t-pass bet is not a separate way of calling the exact next roll. Each wager has a defined position, and the come-out result either settles it at once or leaves the round to continue under the game’s rules.

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If you are comparing the best bet on a craps table, begin by asking which side of the opening outcomes you intend to back. On 7 or 11, pass wins and don’t pass loses. On 2 or 3, the results reverse. On 12, check whether the table treats it as a don’t-pass win or a tie. Those are rule-based differences, not matters of timing or interpretation. A table that displays its come-out rules clearly lets you identify the consequence before placing the wager.

The labels can also be confusing if you read them as instructions to the shooter. “Pass” and “don’t pass” name the two betting positions; they do not change the roll or give the shooter a separate method of throwing. The shooter’s required choice is between those positions. Once the wager is placed, the come-out roll is evaluated according to the applicable outcome rules.

A useful way to track the opening is to keep three questions in order: which line was backed, was the roll a come-out roll, and what rule does the table apply to that result? If the roll is 7 or 11, the pass bet wins and the don’t-pass bet loses. If it is 2 or 3, pass loses and don’t pass wins. If it is 12, the same result applies unless the ruleset specifies a tie. For other opening results, the wager is not resolved immediately.

That sequence gives you a clear basis for judging what a bet does, without assuming that one side is universally the best craps bet. The pass and don’t-pass lines respond differently to the same come-out roll, so the choice depends on which side of those outcomes you want your wager to occupy. Before play, read the table’s treatment of 12 in particular: it can change whether the don’t-pass side wins or whether the opening bet is tied.

Which Bets Have the Lowest House Edge?

The house edge is a measure of the casino’s mathematical advantage over a particular wager across repeated play. It is not a promise about what will happen in an individual round, and it does not describe every bet available at a craps table. To compare the house edge, you need to identify the exact wager and the rules that apply to it.

In Bank Craps, the Pass Line has a house edge of approximately 1.41%. This figure applies to that bet under the game’s stated rules. It does not mean that every craps wager gives the player the same mathematical position, or that the whole game can be assigned one universal house-edge figure.

The Any 7 bet in Bank Craps has a much higher stated house edge: approximately 16.67%. The contrast matters because the bets are separate choices with different settlement conditions. A low edge on the Pass Line cannot be carried over to Any 7 simply because both wagers are made at the same table.

Read the figure as a property of the bet

A house-edge percentage is useful only when its scope is clear. When you see a figure for a craps bet, check whether it refers to the Pass Line, Any 7, or another named wager. Also check that the table’s rules match the rules attached to the figure. A percentage without a defined bet and rule set can give a misleading impression of what you are comparing.

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The Pass Line’s approximately 1.41% edge is the lower of the two stated figures here. That makes it the stronger choice on house edge when comparing it directly with Bank Craps’ Any 7 bet. It does not establish that craps, overall, offers the best odds in a casino. That broader claim would require comparable figures for other games and for the specific wagers being considered.

Nor does the comparison show that the Pass Line will produce a better result in every session. House edge describes a long-run mathematical relationship, not the outcome of a particular roll or sequence of play. A wager with a lower edge can still lose; the figure helps compare the structure of bets, not predict the next result.

Include side bets and bonus bets

Regular bets are not the only wagers a table or game may present. Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets. Their presence should not cause you to assume that the favourable figure associated with a regular wager also applies to them.

Treat each additional bet as its own decision. Look for its name, the outcomes that settle it, and the house-edge figure that applies to it. If the rules or the relevant figure are not clear, the Pass Line’s edge cannot be used as a substitute. The distinction is especially important when a table presents extra wagers beside a familiar regular bet: proximity on the screen or layout does not make their mathematics equivalent.

For a practical comparison, begin with the wager itself rather than the label “craps.” The Pass Line has an approximately 1.41% house edge in Bank Craps, while Any 7 has an approximately 16.67% edge. Those figures show a marked difference between these specific options. They do not rank every craps bet, and they do not support a general ranking of craps against every other casino game. Use the stated edge only for the wager it describes, and keep side bets and bonus bets separate from regular bets when assessing the table.

Build a Strategy Around Points, Come Bets, and Odds

A craps strategy has to follow the table’s sequence. The key change occurs when a point is established: before that, the pass bet is waiting for the come-out result; afterwards, the shooter is trying to repeat the point before a seven appears. Come bets and odds bets fit into this later stage, so they cannot be treated as options available at every moment.

The point can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Once one of these numbers becomes the point, the pass bet wins if the shooter rolls that number again before rolling a seven. If a seven appears first, the pass bet loses. This means the point determines which result the pass bet is waiting for. A strategy built around the pass line must account for that change rather than treating every roll as an independent decision.

A come bet becomes available only after a point has been established. It creates another wager that follows the point-and-seven sequence: the come bet wins when its number is rolled before a seven. In practical terms, this adds a separate result to track alongside the original pass bet. Before placing one, make sure you can distinguish the established point from the number relevant to the come bet. Otherwise, it is easy to misread which roll settles which wager.

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Odds are also conditional. They can be added only after a pass bet or a come bet, and the amount is capped at a multiple of that initial bet. A specialist affiliate review describes this arrangement, but the permitted multiple can depend on the rules being discussed; it should not be treated as a fixed feature of every table. Check the table’s stated rules before assuming how much odds you may take.

This produces a useful decision order. First identify whether a point has been established. Then track the pass bet against that point and seven. Only once the point exists can you consider a come bet. Odds become relevant only after there is a qualifying pass or come bet to attach them to. Each step depends on the previous one, so a plan that ignores timing can propose a wager that is not yet available.

A mathematical approach to craps should therefore begin with the rules and state of play, not with a sequence of actions imagined in advance. At each decision, identify the wager, the outcome that settles it, and whether the conditions for adding another wager have been met. This lets you predict what a roll will do to each bet without confusing the pass bet, a come bet, and an odds addition.

No betting system can change the order in which these conditions apply. If the point has not been established, a come bet is not yet available; if there is no pass or come bet, there is no qualifying bet on which to take odds. Keeping those dependencies clear is more useful than memorising a rigid pattern, because the next valid choice depends on the table’s current state.

What to Check in a Craps App for iPad or iPhone

A craps app is easier to assess when you can follow the game state from one roll to the next. The key test is whether the display makes clear when a roll is a come-out roll, whether a point has been set, and what event settles the pass-line bet. These checks apply whether you use an iPad or an iPhone; a smaller display makes clear labels and uncluttered information especially useful.

Check the come-out result

Start with a pass-line bet and watch how the app labels the first roll of a turn. A come-out roll of 7 or 11 should produce a win for the pass-line bet and a loss for the don’t-pass-line bet. If the app offers both choices, check that it distinguishes their results rather than showing a single generic outcome.

The interface should make the roll and its effect legible. You should be able to tell which dice result appeared and whether the bet won or lost without having to infer the result from a change in your balance. A balance change alone does not explain the rule being applied; a clear status message or other visible indicator can connect the roll to the settlement.

You can also check whether the app keeps the sequence understandable after the come-out roll. The screen should indicate when the game has moved from the opening roll to a point phase. If the state is unclear, it becomes difficult to tell whether a later result is being treated as a new come-out roll or as a roll toward an established point.

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Follow the point phase

The point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Once one of these has been established, a pass-line bet wins if the shooter rolls that same point again before rolling 7. Watch whether the app keeps the established point visible while the shooter continues to roll. The display should not make you reconstruct the point from earlier results.

A useful check is to trace the condition in order: the app establishes a point, shows subsequent rolls, and identifies whether the point or 7 came first. If the point appears before 7, the pass-line bet wins. If 7 appears first, that point-before-seven condition has not been met. The game’s messages should make this distinction clear.

This is also a test of whether the app presents rules as a sequence rather than as isolated animations. A dice animation may show what was rolled, but the interface still needs to communicate what the roll means for the current state. Look for a visible link between the point, the latest result, and the bet settlement.

Judge clarity on the device

On an iPad or iPhone, check that the important information remains readable while the dice, betting area, and game messages are on screen. Labels should be distinct enough that you can identify the current phase and the outcome without relying on colour alone. Controls should not obscure the point or the result messages.

You can use the same short check each time you assess an app: identify the come-out roll, confirm the pass-line result for 7 or 11, note the point if one is set, then follow whether that point or 7 appears first. If the displayed state lets you explain why the bet settled as it did, the simulated play is easier to understand.

How to Compare Individual Craps Bets

A useful way to compare craps bets is to identify the roll that settles each one, then check whether the result wins, loses or is treated as a tie. The pass-line and don’t-pass bets take opposite sides of several come-out outcomes. An Any 7 bet is different: it concerns the appearance of a seven, rather than taking one of those two line positions.

Pass Line and Don’t Pass

On the come-out roll, a total of 7 or 11 wins a pass-line bet. The same result loses a don’t-pass bet. A total of 2 or 3 reverses that result: the pass-line bet loses and the don’t-pass bet wins.

A total of 12 also makes the pass-line bet lose. The don’t-pass result on 12 depends on the table’s rules: some online casino rulesets in New Zealand treat it as a tie rather than a win. A tie returns the stake instead of settling the wager as a win or loss, so this detail changes how the bet behaves on that roll. Check the table’s stated rule before comparing the two line bets.

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These outcomes show why the pass line and don’t pass are not interchangeable, even though both are settled by the same come-out roll. If you choose the pass line, 7 and 11 are favourable on that roll; if you choose don’t pass, 2 and 3 are favourable, while 7 and 11 are not. The ruleset for 12 matters specifically to the don’t-pass result.

Any 7

An Any 7 bet is a separate wager on the total of seven. It does not mean that you have chosen the don’t-pass side of a line bet. The two bets have different settlement rules: don’t pass is resolved according to the line-bet rules, while Any 7 concerns the seven result itself.

The stated house edge for Any 7 in Bank Craps is approximately 16.67%. That figure applies to this wager, not to every bet at the table. It is a useful reason to examine Any 7 separately rather than treating all bets that mention the same roll as equivalent. A bet can sound aligned with a desired outcome while still having a different cost built into its rules.

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How to Make the Comparison

There is no single answer to “what are the best bets in craps” without first specifying what “best” means. If you mean which bet wins on a particular come-out result, compare the settlement conditions: the pass line wins on 7 or 11, while don’t pass wins on 2 or 3, with the 12 rule varying by table. If you mean a bet involving a seven, distinguish Any 7 from don’t pass and read its house edge as a property of that specific wager.

Also separate regular bets from side bets and bonus bets. Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets, so a familiar name or an appealing outcome is not enough to establish value. Read the exact settlement rule and the stated edge for the wager you are considering. That makes the comparison about how each bet works, not about a blanket claim that one choice is always best.

What a Dice Roll Can—and Cannot—Tell You

In Bank Craps, the shooter rolls two dice together. Their face values are added to produce the roll’s total, and that total is what matters for the pass-line result. The dice do not act as separate decisions: a total of 4, for instance, is treated as 4 whether it comes from different combinations of faces.

A pass-line bet is resolved through a sequence, not by judging one roll in isolation. The shooter needs to roll a point number before a 7 appears. The point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. If one of those totals establishes the point, the relevant comparison is then between a later roll of that same point and a roll of 7. The first of those outcomes to appear determines whether the pass bet wins or loses.

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That distinction explains why a roll cannot be called “good” without saying what stage of play it occurs in. A total that establishes a point has a different function from the same total rolled after the point is set. A 7 also has different significance depending on the stage: after a point is established, it ends the pass-line attempt as a loss if it arrives before the point repeats. The sequence supplies the meaning; the total alone does not.

People sometimes look for a preferred way to arrange or throw dice, as if a particular dice set could identify the best roll in advance. The rules described here do not assign special value to a physical arrangement or throwing style. They define outcomes by the total and, once a point exists, by whether that point or 7 comes first. A dice-set choice therefore does not tell you which total will appear or alter the pass-line condition.

For the same reason, a single result is not a forecast of the next one. Seeing a point or a 7 tells you what has happened in the current sequence; it does not establish what the next roll will be. To read a Bank Craps result accurately, track the total and the game state: whether a point has been established, and whether it has been repeated before 7.

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This is a way to understand the bet’s logic, not a method for predicting dice. The rules give you a clear test for settling the pass line, but they do not turn a past roll into evidence that a particular next roll is due.

Craps Rules and Online Casino Regulation in New Zealand

New Zealand’s regulatory framework for online casino gambling is changing. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 took effect on 1 May 2026 and created the country’s first domestic licensing system for online casino gaming. The transition is not the same as a fully operational licensing regime: that regime is expected to be in place in 2027.

The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is New Zealand’s primary gambling regulator and oversees the online casino licensing framework. The Gambling Commission has a distinct decision-making role. It considers and determines casino licence applications, issues online casino licences, and approves changes to licence conditions. These responsibilities should not be confused: the DIA oversees the framework, while the Commission handles licensing decisions.

The transition also matters when you assess claims about where an online casino is licensed. New Zealand law has not permitted online casinos to be based domestically. Before the 2026 Act, offshore online casino gambling was not licensed or supervised by a New Zealand regulator, and customers using offshore websites had no domestic government recourse. The new law establishes a route to domestic licensing, but that does not mean every service available during the transition already holds a New Zealand licence.

Providers that were already serving people in New Zealand before 1 May 2026 may continue during the transitional period, which runs until 1 December 2026. A provider that has not applied for a licence must stop conducting online casino gambling in New Zealand by that date. If an application is declined, the provider must end its New Zealand operations and leave the market. Unlicensed operation is expected to become an offence around mid-2027, and operators without a licence may face enforcement action and fines of up to NZ$5 million.

The transition also places limits on promotion. Providers are prohibited from advertising online casino gambling to people in New Zealand during this period. Once licensed operators are able to advertise, their advertising remains subject to tight rules, and sponsorships are prohibited. Licensed operators must also use stricter age and identity checks.

For you, the practical distinction is between the rules of a craps table and the legal status of the service offering it. A clear description of a game does not establish that its provider holds a New Zealand licence. Equally, the transitional permission to continue operating applies to providers that meet the Act’s conditions; it is not a general approval of every offshore website. The DIA and Gambling Commission have separate roles in the emerging system, so claims about oversight, applications and licence conditions should be understood in that structure rather than treated as interchangeable assurances.

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Choosing a Way to Play: Bank or Street Craps

The main difference between Bank Craps and Street Craps is who stands on the other side of a wager. That changes the structure of the game: in Bank Craps, the casino is the opposing party; in Street Craps, players wager against one another.

In Bank Craps, one player rolls two dice. The roll has a defined target: a point number must appear before a seven. The player rolling is therefore not simply competing against another person at the table. The casino takes the opposing side of the game, and the dice determine whether the required condition is met.

Street Craps has a different arrangement. Players bet against each other rather than placing their wagers against the casino. The distinction is about the relationship between the people making the bets, not about identifying a particular player as the shooter or deciding who is most skilled.

When deciding what is the best way to play craps for you, start by asking which opposing arrangement you want. If you want a game in which the casino is on the other side and one player rolls the dice, Bank Craps fits that description. If you want the wagers to be between players, Street Craps is the relevant format. These descriptions do not establish that one version is universally better; they identify how the opposition is organised.

The phrase “best craps player” does not resolve this choice. A player’s reputation is separate from whether a game is structured as Bank Craps or Street Craps. The useful comparison is not a ranking of shooters, but the party against whom your wager is made.

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Before joining a game, check that its rules clearly identify this arrangement. In Bank Craps, confirm that the casino is the opposing party and that the dice outcome is judged against the point-before-seven condition. In Street Craps, make sure you understand that other players, rather than the casino, are on the other side of the wagers. That distinction tells you what kind of game you are entering without assuming that the two formats have identical rules.

What a Free Craps Game Can Teach You

A free craps game can help you learn to read a ruleset as a set of inputs and outcomes. In the described Simplified Craps version, a roll of 2, 3, or 12 is a loss, while 7 or 11 is a win. Practising those mappings lets you check whether you can identify the result of a roll without confusing the total with the decision attached to it.

Treat the practice session as a rules exercise. When a result appears, identify the total, then match it to the outcome stated by the game. If the result is 7, for instance, the simplified rules classify it as a win; if it is 12, they classify it as a loss. The point is not to predict what will appear next. It is to apply the stated rule consistently after each roll.

This also shows what a simplified version leaves out. A result label that is enough to settle a basic practice outcome does not, by itself, teach the full structure of Bank Craps. In Bank Craps, the pass-line result can depend on whether a point is rolled before a 7, so a practice game that does not represent that condition cannot prepare you to follow that sequence. Read the rules before treating a free game as a guide to another version.

Use the interface to test your understanding, not to infer rules that it does not display. Check whether the outcome shown after a roll matches the rule you are applying. If the game presents a result without explaining how it was settled, the display may be easy to follow but less useful for learning the underlying logic.

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A free practice game can therefore teach a limited but practical skill: translating a dice total into the outcome defined by that version’s rules. It can also help you notice when two versions use different settlement conditions. Keep the scope clear: learning the simplified win-and-loss mapping is not the same as learning every wager or sequence used in craps.

Assessing an Online Casino Craps Table by Its Rules

Assess a craps table by reading its rules before placing a wager. Start with the Pass Line: the stated house edge is 1.41%. Treat that figure as specific to this bet, not as a measure of every wager available at the table.

Next, check how the rules settle a come-out roll. A 7 or 11 wins a Pass Line bet, while 2, 3 or 12 loses it. The corresponding Don’t Pass outcomes are generally reversed for those rolls, but some New Zealand rulesets make a come-out 12 a tie instead. That difference affects whether the wager is lost or returned, so look for the table’s precise wording rather than assuming every version follows the same rule.

Check that the rules distinguish the come-out roll from later rolls. The point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Once one is established, a Pass Line bet wins if that point appears again before a 7; a 7 first means the bet loses. This sequence should be clear in the table’s displayed rules and reflected in play.

For a practical comparison, record the Pass Line edge and the stated treatment of a come-out 12, then verify how the table resolves the point. Avoid inferring rules from graphics or labels alone: the written settlement terms determine what happens to each wager. A table is easier to assess when these outcomes are explicit, consistent and available before you play.

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