Craps for New Zealanders: Bets and Rules

Updated October 2026

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Follow the come-out roll into the point phase, compare wager costs, and distinguish what free apps can show from game rules.

How a Craps Round Moves from Come-Out Roll to Point

A craps round begins with a come-out roll. Before rolling as the shooter, a player must have a wager on either the pass line or the don’t-pass line. These bets follow opposite outcomes in some parts of the round, so the same roll can count as a win for one line and a loss for the other.

The come-out roll determines whether the round ends immediately or moves into a point phase. If the dice total 7 or 11, pass-line bets win and don’t-pass-line bets lose. No point is established on that roll. The result is resolved at the opening stage rather than through a later attempt to repeat a number.

A total of 2, 3 or 12 produces the reverse result for the two lines: pass-line bets lose, while don’t-pass-line bets win. There is a qualification for 12 in some New Zealand online casino rulesets: those rules treat it as a tie on the don’t-pass line rather than a win. That difference affects the settlement of the wager, even though the roll remains part of the come-out stage.

The remaining come-out totals are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. When one of these appears, that number becomes the point. The round has then moved from its opening roll into a continuing phase. The point is the target number for the pass-line bet: the shooter must roll it again before rolling a 7 for the pass bet to win.

This change of phase is central to understanding the flow of craps. Before a point exists, the come-out roll is assessed according to its immediate total. Once a point has been established, the relevant question for the pass-line route is whether the point or 7 appears first. The point is not a new wager or a separate roll; it is the number that gives the continuing round its objective.

For example, a come-out total of 6 establishes 6 as the point. The pass-line bet does not win merely because 6 appeared on the opening roll. Instead, the shooter must roll 6 again before rolling 7. If the point appears first, the pass bet wins. If 7 appears first, the required order has not been met, so the pass bet does not win. The same structure applies when the point is 4, 5, 8, 9 or 10.

The distinction between an opening total and a point is easy to miss. A 7 on the come-out roll is an immediate pass-line win, but a 7 after a point has been set prevents the pass-line condition from being met. The number itself has not changed; its role depends on where it occurs in the round. The same is true of a point number: on the come-out roll it establishes the target, while a later occurrence can resolve the pass bet.

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A round therefore has a compact sequence: a line wager is in place for the shooter, the come-out roll is made, and its total either settles the line at once or establishes a point. If there is a point, the pass-line result depends on the order in which that point and 7 are rolled. This sequence, rather than a single number considered in isolation, determines how the pass-line outcome develops.

The don’t-pass line is also active at the opening stage, with outcomes that contrast with those of the pass line on the listed come-out totals. A 7 or 11 loses for don’t-pass bets, while 2 or 3 wins; 12 is a win under some rulesets and a tie under others. Those opening outcomes should be distinguished from the point phase. The sequence described for a pass bet establishes a point and requires it to recur before 7. It does not make every roll in the round equivalent to a come-out roll.

The practical meaning of “best bet” depends on what is being compared, but the movement from come-out roll to point does not by itself identify a universally best choice. It describes when a pass-line result is immediate and when it remains unresolved pending later rolls. A bet’s position in that sequence is what makes the rules legible: first the opening outcome, then, where applicable, the point objective.

House Edge and the Cost of Different Craps Wagers

House edge is a way to describe the casino’s mathematical advantage on a wager over repeated play. It is not a prediction of what will happen in a particular round, nor does it state how much an individual player will lose. A low figure indicates a smaller theoretical cost relative to the amount wagered; it does not remove the possibility of losing a bet.

In Bank Craps, the Pass Line carries a house edge of 1.41%. The Any 7 wager has a much larger edge, at approximately 16.67%. These figures distinguish two bets within the same game: the lower edge belongs to the Pass Line, while the Any 7 bet is considerably more costly in theoretical terms. The comparison concerns the wagers themselves, not a claim that every craps table or version of the game offers identical conditions.

The house edge should also be kept separate from payout odds. Payout odds describe the return attached to a winning wager, while house edge expresses the casino’s long-run mathematical advantage. A bet can appear attractive because its payout is large, yet still carry a substantial house edge. Conversely, a comparatively modest payout does not by itself establish that a wager is poor value. The relevant measure is the relationship between the wager’s possible outcomes and its returns, not the size of a single win.

That distinction matters when asking whether craps has the best odds in a casino. A game-wide answer would obscure differences between wagers. The Pass Line figure is low relative to the stated Any 7 figure, but that does not establish that every craps wager has a low edge or that craps, as a whole, ranks ahead of other casino games. Such a comparison would require consistent figures for the relevant bets and games. A broad label such as “craps odds” cannot substitute for examining a particular wager.

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Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets. Their presence can therefore change the cost profile of a craps session, even when a player also makes a lower-edge regular wager. The distinction is between the type of bet and the game in which it appears: a craps table does not give every available wager the same mathematical profile. The Pass Line’s 1.41% edge should not be applied to side bets or bonus bets merely because they are offered alongside it.

For a comparison to be meaningful, the named wager must match the figure being discussed. The Pass Line and Any 7 are not interchangeable descriptions of a general craps bet. Treating the lower Pass Line edge as representative of all bets would understate the cost of the Any 7 wager; using the Any 7 figure to describe the Pass Line would overstate it. The figures answer a narrower question: how the stated house edges of these two Bank Craps wagers compare.

Accordingly, the best odds on craps cannot be identified by the game name alone. The stated Pass Line edge is 1.41%, whereas the Any 7 edge is approximately 16.67%; those values support a direct comparison between those wagers, not a universal ranking of casino games. The lower figure identifies the less costly of these two bets in theoretical house-edge terms. It does not guarantee a favourable result in an individual round, and it should not be extended to other wagers without their own applicable figures.

A Mathematical Approach to Pass, Come, and Odds Bets

A mathematical approach to craps starts by separating the wagers in a sequence rather than treating them as one combined bet. A pass-line wager is the initial commitment. Once a point has been established, a come bet becomes available. Odds are a further wager, permitted only after a pass or come bet. These conditions matter: a player cannot place any of the later wagers at an arbitrary moment in the round.

A come bet adds another way to participate after the point is in play. Its stated winning condition is that the point is rolled before a 7. It therefore depends on the order of later rolls, not simply on whether a particular number appears at some point. Placing the bet changes the amount at risk, but it does not alter the dice outcomes or the order required for the wager to win.

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Odds are attached to an existing pass or come bet rather than standing alone. This makes the sequence important: first there must be a qualifying line or come wager, and only then can an odds wager be added. An affiliate review describes the odds amount as capped at a multiple of the initial bet. That is a source-specific description, not a fixed market-wide limit; the applicable table rules determine the amount permitted in a particular game.

This structure can be represented without assuming a particular stake. Let the initial wager be the base amount, and let any added odds wager be a separate amount. The total exposure is the sum of those commitments. The cap restricts the odds component relative to the initial bet; it does not change the initial wager, create a new point, or guarantee a return.

The distinction between the base bet and odds also clarifies what a betting system can and cannot do. A staking plan may prescribe when to add a come bet or odds and how much to commit, but it cannot make a point more likely to arrive before a 7. It can organise exposure across the sequence; it cannot control the sequence itself. Calling a plan mathematical is meaningful only if its assumptions and limits are explicit, not because it claims to predict the next roll.

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The same reasoning applies to a proposed “best” strategy. There is no single conclusion available from wager order alone: the result depends on the rules in force, the amounts selected, and the outcomes of the rolls. A strategy that increases the amount staked after a qualifying bet may raise potential returns, but it also increases the total amount exposed.

A useful comparison therefore asks what each wager requires, when it may be placed, and what event resolves it. The pass or come wager supplies the qualifying bet; odds are conditional on that wager and subject to a cap described by the applicable rules. This is a framework for analysing the sequence, not a prediction tool. A trainer or practice interface can illustrate the order of decisions, but the mathematical structure remains the same: later wagers add exposure under specified conditions, while the dice determine the result.

What Craps Apps Can and Cannot Establish

A craps app for an iPad or iPhone can be assessed as a representation of rules and play, but its appearance or ease of use cannot establish that it is the best option for either device. A meaningful comparison would require evidence about the individual app: its rules, how it handles rolls, and whether its functions work as described. Without that detail, a ranking would imply distinctions that cannot be substantiated.

Rule accuracy is one testable dimension. In Bank Craps, the point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. For a pass bet to win after a point has been set, the shooter must roll that point again before rolling a 7. An app that presents a different set of point numbers, or shows a pass bet winning after a 7 instead, would not represent that rule correctly. These are concrete checks; a polished interface alone is not evidence of accuracy.

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The rules displayed should also be distinguished from the app’s underlying operation. A screen may explain a rule correctly while the implementation behaves differently. Conversely, an unfamiliar layout does not by itself show that the game is inaccurate. Assessment therefore depends on whether the sequence and outcomes shown in play remain consistent with the stated rules, not simply on graphics, animation or the apparent realism of the dice.

A separate issue is which version of craps an app presents. In the described Simplified Craps version, 2, 3 and 12 are losing outcomes, while 7 and 11 are winning outcomes. Those results provide a clear way to identify that ruleset. They should not be treated as a complete description of Bank Craps: a game using simplified outcomes may be internally consistent while representing a different version of the game. The name and explanation of a ruleset matter when judging what an app teaches.

Device suitability is another question, but it cannot be inferred from the words “iPad” or “iPhone” in a product description. Compatibility, screen layout, controls and accessibility are properties of a particular app and its supported device, not of craps itself. A general account of the game cannot establish whether an app functions properly on a given device or whether its interface is appropriate for that screen.

Nor does a simulated session establish how a real table will operate. An app can show a sequence of rolls and outcomes under its own rules; that demonstration does not, by itself, verify the fairness of a separate game, the handling of wagers by an operator, or the quality of a live craps experience. Those are distinct claims requiring evidence about the product or service concerned.

The useful distinction is between evaluating a rules demonstration and endorsing a product. Rules can be checked against the outcomes an app displays. Device performance and product quality require app-specific evidence. Without such evidence, claims that one craps game is the best for an iPad or iPhone go beyond what the game mechanics alone can establish.

Choosing Between Pass-Line and Don’t-Pass Bets

Pass-line and don’t-pass bets take opposing positions on the shooter’s result, but their outcomes are not exact opposites in every case. The clearest difference appears on the come-out roll: a 7 or 11 pays a pass-line bet and loses a don’t-pass bet, while a 2 or 3 reverses that result. A roll of 12 also loses for the pass line, but its treatment on the don’t-pass line can depend on the ruleset.

This distinction matters when comparing what are sometimes described as the best bets in craps. The labels “pass” and “don’t pass” do not identify a universally superior choice; they describe different outcomes attached to the same roll. Which line wins depends on the number rolled and, once a point is established, the subsequent result. A preference for one line therefore amounts to choosing which sequence of outcomes to back, rather than selecting a bet that wins in every situation.

Come-out results

On the come-out roll, the pass line wins with 7 or 11. Those same numbers lose for the don’t-pass line. With 2 or 3, the outcome switches: the pass-line bet loses and the don’t-pass bet wins.

The treatment of 12 needs a separate check. A pass-line bet loses on 12, but some online craps rulesets available in New Zealand treat 12 as a tie for a don’t-pass bet rather than a win. That difference affects the result of the wager, even though the dice total is the same. A comparison between line bets is incomplete if it assumes that every ruleset settles 12 identically.

The come-out stage thus gives each line a distinct set of winning outcomes. It does not, by itself, establish which is the better bet for every player or table. The answer depends partly on the rules governing the don’t-pass treatment of 12 and partly on what happens after a point is set.

When a point is active

If the come-out roll establishes a point, the pass-line bet has a specific winning route: the shooter must roll that point again before rolling 7. The point can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. This makes the pass-line outcome after a point has been established different from its immediate come-out resolution.

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The don’t-pass bet should not be assumed to be a simple mirror image of that later sequence. Its come-out outcomes already show an exception in some rulesets, where 12 is a tie rather than a win. For the same reason, the table’s stated rules should be read before treating the two lines as interchangeable opposites.

The practical comparison is therefore about settlement conditions, not a general promise that one line is best. Pass-line wins immediately on 7 or 11 at the come-out and, if a point is established, wins when that point returns before 7. Don’t-pass wins on 2 or 3 at the come-out, while 12 may be treated differently by the particular ruleset. These outcome differences provide a sound basis for comparing the two basic bets without extending the comparison to other wager types or betting systems.

Dice, Points, and the Meaning of a Roll

Bank Craps uses two dice, and the result is read as their combined total. The individual faces matter only insofar as they produce that total under the game’s rules. A roll is therefore not judged by whether the dice show a particular pattern, but by the number they add up to and the stage of play at which that total occurs.

The point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Once one of these totals has been established as the point, the pass bet wins if the shooter rolls that same point again before rolling 7. The sequence makes the total, rather than a particular pair of faces, the operative result: different face combinations can produce the same point total, and the rules treat those combinations alike.

This distinction matters when considering claims about a preferred dice set. A particular arrangement of the dice may look deliberate, but Bank Craps rules do not identify a set of faces as a winning configuration. Nor do they make the point depend on how the dice are held or released. The relevant test is the total shown after the roll, interpreted in relation to the point and the appearance of 7.

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The phrase “best dice roll” can also refer to different things. In the pass-bet sequence, rolling the established point before 7 produces a win. That does not make the point a universally best result: its significance depends on whether it is already the point. A total that has one meaning at another stage of play cannot be evaluated without that context. The rules assign outcomes to totals and stages, not to an abstract ranking of rolls.

A claimed best dice set for craps would require evidence that a particular arrangement reliably changes the relevant outcomes. The game rules themselves establish no such arrangement. They describe a two-dice roll and interpret its total; they do not provide a verified winning set. Accordingly, the sound rules-based distinction is between the visible faces and the total those faces produce. In Bank Craps, it is the total, read against the point and 7, that determines the pass-bet result.

Craps Formats and New Zealand’s Online-Casino Framework

Craps can refer to different rule structures, so the name alone does not establish how a particular game works. Bank Craps, Street Craps and Simplified Craps differ in how play is organised and, in the simplified version described here, in the outcomes assigned to the opening roll.

In Bank Craps, one player rolls two dice, and the game is played against the casino. Its central objective is to roll a point number before a seven appears. Street Craps instead involves players betting against one another rather than against a casino. The label therefore describes a change in the relationship between participants, not simply a different name for a casino table.

Simplified Craps has a more limited stated set of outcomes: a roll of 2, 3 or 12 loses, while 7 or 11 wins. Those rules should not be assumed to apply to Bank Craps or Street Craps. A description of a game as “simplified” is meaningful only in relation to the rules actually used; the format name by itself does not show how every roll is settled.

New Zealand’s regulatory position

New Zealand’s framework is changing. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026 and established the country’s first domestic licensing regime for online casino gambling. The Gambling Act 2003 does not permit online casinos to be based in New Zealand, while the newer Act provides a framework for regulating the activity.

The transition is not the same as a fully operational licensing system. Online casinos that were already providing services to people in New Zealand before 1 May 2026 may continue until 1 December 2026, subject to the Act’s transitional provisions. The full licensed regime is not expected to be fully operational until 2027. The framework also restricts advertising to people in New Zealand during the transition.

Regulatory responsibilities are divided between public bodies. The Department of Internal Affairs is New Zealand’s primary gambling regulator and oversees regulation of the online casino licensing framework. The Gambling Commission hears and determines casino licensing applications, issues online casino licences, and approves changes to licence conditions.

This distinction matters when interpreting claims about craps access in New Zealand. A game’s format describes its rules; it does not establish the regulatory status of the service providing it. Nor does a general reference to online casino licensing mean that the full domestic regime is already operating during the transition. Format and regulatory status are separate questions, and each depends on the relevant rules and stage of the framework.

What the Rules Establish About Playing Craps

Craps rules define a player’s role through the wager required to act as the shooter: a shooter must have a bet on either the Pass Line or the Don’t Pass Line. The choice establishes which line bet is being made, but the basic requirement is the same for both. A player who is not betting on either line cannot take the shooter’s role under this rule.

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For a Pass Line bet, the central objective is tied to the point. The point can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. Once one of these numbers has been established, the Pass Line bet wins if that same number is rolled again before a 7. The relevant task is therefore not to select a particular dice pattern or to follow a named player’s routine; it is to understand the point condition attached to the wager.

This gives a rules-based answer to what might be called the best way to play craps: the rules establish a required line wager for the shooter and a defined point objective for a Pass Line bet. They do not establish a universal playing method that guarantees success. Nor do they identify the best craps player in the world. A title of that kind would require a stated measure of “best” and evidence comparing players against it; neither follows from the rules of the game.

The distinction matters because a description of the objective is not a prediction about a particular round. The point condition specifies how the Pass Line bet is resolved once a point is in play. It does not establish that a shooter can control which total appears, or that a player’s reputation changes the condition. For readers assessing a craps table, the useful rule is consequently narrow and concrete: the shooter must choose one of the two line bets, and a Pass Line win depends on the point returning before 7.

That account describes the structure of the wager, not a system for selecting bets or a claim about an individual’s skill. Any broader assertion about a superior player or guaranteed method would go beyond what these rules establish.

Free Craps Games as Practice for Simplified Rules

A free craps game can serve as a way to rehearse a rule set, provided its outcomes match the version being practised. In the described Simplified Craps rules, a roll of 7 or 11 is a win, while 2, 3, or 12 is a loss. Those outcomes give a clear basis for checking whether a practice game presents the central decisions consistently.

The distinction is useful because familiar craps formats do not necessarily share identical rules. A practice session built around Simplified Craps should not be treated as preparation for every craps table. Its value depends on whether the displayed rules use the same winning and losing totals. Where the game presents additional outcomes or procedures, those need to be read as part of that particular version rather than assumed to follow from the simplified rules described here.

A sound practice routine is therefore rule-led rather than title-led. The player can identify the stated winning totals and losing totals, then check whether the game reports those results correctly after each roll. A result that does not fit either group calls for attention to the table’s own rules; it should not be assigned an outcome by borrowing assumptions from another format. This keeps practice focused on understanding the rules rather than memorising a sequence of rolls.

The word “free” describes the absence of a real-money wager only when the game itself clearly operates in a non-wagering mode; it does not establish that its rules are accurate or complete. Nor does the label “app” establish that a product implements Simplified Craps. A useful practice game would need to state which version it follows and make the relevant outcomes clear. Without that match, repeated play may reinforce a different ruleset.

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For the same reason, claims about a best free craps game or a leading craps app require evidence about the particular product and its rules. The winning and losing totals alone cannot support a ranking. They can, however, be used as a compact test of whether a game’s Simplified Craps mode reflects the outcomes it claims to use. This is a limited measure of rules fidelity, not an assessment of broader quality, reliability, or suitability.

Checking the Rules of an Online Craps Game

A craps table’s written rules matter because a familiar wager name does not guarantee identical settlement in every ruleset. The clearest point to check is the treatment of 12 on a come-out roll when a don’t-pass bet is active.

Under the standard outcome described for this roll, 2, 3, or 12 loses a pass-line bet and wins a don’t-pass bet. Some New Zealand online casino rulesets instead make 12 a tie for the don’t-pass wager. That changes the result of the same roll: the bet is returned rather than paid as a win. A rule summary that groups 12 with 2 and 3 without stating this distinction may therefore leave an important detail unclear.

A useful comparison of tables should establish how the rules classify each relevant outcome, rather than relying only on labels such as “standard craps” or “don’t pass.” The full rules should say whether a 12 on the come-out roll is a win or a tie for the don’t-pass line. That detail is more informative than a general claim that a table follows common rules.

The same care applies when assessing which online casino is best for craps: the game’s rules need to be understood before its table can be compared with another. A clear statement of the 12 outcome allows the don’t-pass result to be interpreted consistently. If that rule is not explicit, the table’s settlement cannot be assumed from the wager name alone.

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Published by the Casino Experts NZ team.