Craps for New Zealanders: Rules, Bets and Odds
Available in USFollow each round from the come-out roll to the point, and compare bet terms, odds, side wagers, formats and app rules.
Table of Contents
- How a Craps Round Moves from Come-Out Roll to Point
- House Edge, Odds Bets, and the Cost of Side Wagers
- A Strategy Built Around the Bet’s Actual Terms
- Craps on an iPad: What the Rules Need to Show
- Pass-Line Bets, Don’t-Pass Bets, and the Main Trade-Off
- What a Dice Set Can—and Cannot—Change
- Craps Formats and the New Zealand Online Context
- The Shooter’s Role and the Point-Before-Seven Objective
- Free Craps Apps: Learn the Rules Without a Real-Money Claim
- Assessing an Online Craps Casino by Its Terms
How a Craps Round Moves from Come-Out Roll to Point
A craps round is organised around two phases: the come-out roll and, if a point is established, the point phase. The pass-line and don’t-pass-line bets are placed against opposite outcomes, so the same roll can settle one as a win and the other as a loss. The shooter must have a pass-line or don’t-pass-line wager in place to take the shooter’s role.
The come-out roll starts the sequence. If the dice show 7 or 11, the pass-line bet wins and the don’t-pass-line bet loses. If they show 2 or 3, the result reverses: the pass-line bet loses, while the don’t-pass-line bet wins. A 12 also loses for the pass line, but the don’t-pass result depends on the ruleset. Some New Zealand online casino rules treat 12 as a tie rather than a win for the don’t-pass bet. That difference affects how the wager is settled, even though the dice result is the same.
A roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 does not settle the pass-line bet on the come-out roll. Instead, the number rolled becomes the point. The game then moves into a different sequence: the shooter continues rolling, and the pass-line bet wins if the point appears again before a 7. If 7 appears first, the pass-line bet loses. The point therefore gives the round its continuing condition; it is no longer enough to wait for any pass-line winning result from the come-out phase.
For instance, if the come-out roll establishes 6 as the point, the pass-line wager remains unresolved. Another 6 before a 7 wins it; a 7 before that repeat loses it. The same order applies to any of the listed point numbers. The dice do not need to show the point immediately, and rolls of other numbers do not replace the established point. What matters for the pass-line decision is which of the two relevant outcomes arrives first: the point again or 7.
The don’t-pass bet follows the opposing direction once a point has been established. Its successful outcome is the 7 arriving before the point repeats; a repeat of the point works against that wager. The come-out phase and point phase should therefore be read separately. On the come-out roll, the immediate results are determined by the number shown. After a point is set, the order of later rolls determines whether the point is made before a 7 or the 7 comes first. Treating every roll as if it had the same function obscures why a wager can remain open after the first throw.
Come bets enter only after a point has been established. They are not another name for the original pass-line wager: they are an additional bet that can be made during the point phase. A come bet wins when the point is rolled before 7. Its availability is conditional on the round having reached the point stage, so it cannot be placed as part of the initial come-out decision. This timing matters when reading a table layout or a game’s wager controls: the original line bet starts the shooter’s sequence, while a come bet becomes available only after the game has established a point.
The resulting order is straightforward. First, the shooter’s line wager is in place and the come-out roll takes place. A 7 or 11 settles the pass-line and don’t-pass outcomes in opposite ways; a 2 or 3 does the same in reverse, with 12 subject to the stated don’t-pass tie variation in some rulesets. A point number instead carries the pass-line bet forward. The shooter then rolls until either that point repeats or 7 appears, and come bets may be added only during this later phase.
This sequence is the useful starting point when assessing what counts as a strong craps wager. A label such as “best bet” has little meaning without the bet’s conditions: the come-out result, whether a point has been established, and what event settles the wager all matter. The basic mechanics do not make every option equivalent. They show where each bet enters the round and which result it depends on. Further comparisons of cost and tactics require those terms to be kept distinct; combining them into a single idea of a favourable roll would misstate how the round works.
Attention: The phase of the round determines the meaning of the dice roll; for example, a 7 is a win on the come-out roll but a loss after a point has been established.
A common reading error is to treat the point as though it were simply another immediate win number. It is not. When one of the point numbers appears on the come-out roll, the pass-line wager has not won; the number becomes the target for the next phase. The pass-line result depends on a later repeat before 7. Conversely, an early 7 or 11 is decisive for the pass line on the come-out roll, but a 7 after a point has been established has the opposite effect on that wager. The phase of the round, not merely the face value of the dice, determines what the roll means.
House Edge, Odds Bets, and the Cost of Side Wagers
The house edge gives a common basis for comparing wagers: it expresses the casino’s theoretical advantage over time as a share of the amount staked. It is not a forecast for an individual round, and it does not set a limit on how much a player can win or lose in a particular session. For Bank Craps, the stated Pass Line house edge is approximately 1.41%. The Any 7 bet carries an approximately 16.67% edge. The difference is substantial: the Any 7 wager costs more, in theoretical terms, for each amount staked.
That comparison concerns the price of the wager, not its chance of winning on a single roll. A wager with a higher house edge can still win in an individual round; its less favourable feature is the expected cost over repeated play. So the question of whether craps offers the best odds in a casino has no single answer independent of the bet selected. The Pass Line figure is low relative to the stated Any 7 figure, but the game’s name alone does not determine the cost. The wager’s own terms do.
Odds bets require a separate accounting line. A specialist review describes an odds wager as available only after a pass or come bet has been made, with the extra stake capped at a multiple of that initial bet. This is a conditional addition, not a standalone wager: without the qualifying line bet, the odds option is not available under that description. The cap also matters because it limits the additional stake; it does not change the underlying terms of the pass or come bet.
The distinction between a line bet and its attached odds is useful when assessing the amount exposed. The line bet remains in place, while the odds stake is added only if the required preceding wager exists. A player comparing the headline house edge of a line bet with the cost of another wager should not treat those stakes as interchangeable. The availability and size of the odds portion depend on the applicable rules, including the stated cap. Since the cap is expressed as a multiple rather than a fixed amount, the actual permitted stake depends on the initial bet and the rules in force.
Pass Line house edge is approximately 1.41%, while the Any 7 bet carries a significantly higher edge of approximately 16.67%.
This also separates mathematical cost from betting tactics. A wager sequence can alter which stakes are exposed and when, but it does not make the stated house edge disappear. The 1.41% figure describes the Pass Line wager; it should not be casually applied to every additional bet placed during a round. The same is true in reverse: the Any 7 figure belongs to that wager and is not a measure of every bet available in craps. Comparing terms requires identifying each wager, its qualifying conditions and its own edge.
Side bets and bonus bets typically carry higher house edges than regular bets. That makes their cost relevant even when they are presented as optional additions or as a way to pursue a separate outcome. A larger possible payout, where offered, is not by itself evidence of favourable odds. The relevant comparison is between the stake, the bet’s conditions and the house edge attached to it.
The figures therefore support a narrow conclusion rather than a blanket ranking: the stated Pass Line edge is lower than the stated Any 7 edge, while an odds wager is conditional and subject to a cap described by a specialist review. “Best odds” depends on which wager is being priced. The useful unit of comparison is the individual bet, not the game label.
A Strategy Built Around the Bet’s Actual Terms
A craps strategy is a sequence of decisions, not a method for controlling the dice. The useful questions are when a wager becomes available, what event settles it, and how much money remains committed while it is open. A system that changes the timing or size of bets does not alter the stated house edge on the underlying Pass Line wager, which is 1.41%.
The first decision is whether to place a Pass Line bet. After a point has been established, a come bet becomes available. It is a separate wager with its own result: it wins if its point is rolled before a seven. That condition makes the order important. A come bet cannot be treated as an opening wager or placed before the round has reached the point stage.
A practical plan therefore begins with a fixed budget for the session and a clear rule for how much of it may be committed at once. The planned stake should be chosen before play, not adjusted in response to a recent win or loss. This does not improve the dice odds; it limits the amount exposed to decisions made in the moment. The distinction matters because a betting pattern can change the size of a possible loss without changing the probability structure of the game.
Treat each wager as a separate commitment
Once the point is established, a come bet adds another position to track. Its outcome is not the same as the original Pass Line wager, and it should be recorded separately. Before placing it, the relevant calculation is not simply whether another bet is permitted, but whether the combined open stakes still fit the planned exposure.
- Set a fixed budget for the session
- Choose planned stakes before play
- Record come bets separately from Pass Line wagers
- Adjust stakes in response to wins or losses
- Treat the total open stakes as negligible
- Place come bets before a point is established
Taking odds is also conditional: a specialist affiliate review describes it as an addition available only after a Pass Line or come bet, with the amount subject to a cap expressed as a multiple of the initial wager. That description should be checked against the rules governing the particular game rather than assumed to be a universal term. The strategic implication is straightforward: odds are not a free-standing starting position, and the cap affects the maximum additional commitment.
A disciplined approach sets the intended base wager first, then decides in advance whether an eligible odds addition fits the budget. If the cap, eligibility condition, or applicable table rules are unclear, the amount cannot be calculated reliably. Treating an uncertain term as if it were settled is not a strategy; it is an unpriced exposure.
Avoid systems that depend on recovery
A progression that increases stakes after losses may make the next wager larger, but it does not make the previous loss recoverable by rule. Likewise, reducing a stake after a win does not improve the chance of a favourable result. These systems organise cash flow; they do not change the game’s stated probabilities or the house edge attached to a wager.
The same test applies to a proposed mathematical strategy. It should identify the wager, the point at which it may be placed, the event that wins or loses it, and the total amount at risk while it remains unresolved. If a system relies on placing come bets before a point exists, or treats odds as available without an underlying Pass Line or come bet, it does not match the stated conditions. If its claimed advantage comes only from changing stake size, the claim is about exposure management, not a change to the house edge.
A craps trainer can help rehearse this decision sequence: identify which wagers are open, confirm whether a new bet is eligible, and update the committed total. Practice can make those steps easier to follow, but it cannot predict a live result or validate a system by producing a short run of favourable outcomes.
The most defensible strategy is therefore procedural. Keep the base stake consistent with the budget, add a come bet only after the required point stage, and consider odds only when the underlying bet and cap are clear. That structure cannot guarantee a return. It does make the cost and conditions of each decision visible before more money is committed.
Craps on an iPad: What the Rules Need to Show
A craps game on an iPad should make the wager state legible before a roll, not leave the meaning of the dice to be inferred from animation. The basic Bank Craps structure is specific: one player rolls two dice, and the aim is to roll a point number before a seven appears. A useful screen keeps that sequence visible as the round changes state.
The point is one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Once established, it becomes the number that must appear again before a seven for the pass bet to win. The display should identify the point plainly and keep it distinct from the latest dice result. If the interface shows only a changing total, the essential condition can be obscured: the player needs to know whether a roll establishes a point, repeats it, or produces a seven.
Dice should be readable as two separate dice as well as a combined total. That presentation makes it possible to follow what was rolled without relying on a result label alone. The game should also distinguish the come-out stage from the stage after a point has been set. These are different states, with different significance for the next roll. A screen that preserves the current state and the latest result is easier to understand than one that displays a brief animation and then removes the information.
Rules should be available in the game itself, in wording that explains what changes after a point is established. Labels such as “point” should have a clear explanation rather than being treated as familiar casino vocabulary. The seven condition needs equal prominence: after a point has been set, a seven appearing before that point ends the pass-bet attempt without a win. A presentation that highlights the point but hides the opposing condition is incomplete.
This matters when comparing a craps game for iPad with one designed for an iPhone. The screen size may differ, but the rules do not. On either device, essential information should remain visible without requiring a player to remember a previous screen or decode small labels. Touch controls should also make the selected wager and the action about to be taken clear; visual polish cannot compensate for uncertainty about what is being placed or which stage of the round is active.
A tablet version should separate explanation from decoration. Dice animation can show a roll, but it should not be the only record of the outcome. Persistent text for the point, the current result, and the relevant win-or-loss condition gives the display a practical function. Rules should be accessible without interrupting the round, and terms should be consistent across instructions, wager labels, and result messages. That consistency reduces ambiguity; it does not alter the underlying probabilities.
The useful standard for choosing a craps game on an iPad is therefore not a claim that one interface is “best,” but whether it presents the rules accurately and keeps the round’s state understandable. The same test applies to an iPhone version: two dice, a clearly identified point, and the point-before-seven condition should be easy to follow. A game can look convincing while leaving those essentials unclear. In craps, that is a display problem, not a change to the rules.
Pass-Line Bets, Don’t-Pass Bets, and the Main Trade-Off
The pass line and don’t-pass line take opposing positions on the come-out roll. A pass-line wager wins if the roll is 7 or 11; a don’t-pass wager loses on either result. If the roll is 2 or 3, the outcome reverses: the pass-line wager loses and the don’t-pass wager wins. These outcomes make the basic choice direct, even though the rules for 12 need checking.
On a 12, the pass-line wager loses. The don’t-pass result varies by ruleset: some New Zealand online casino rules treat 12 as a tie rather than a win. That distinction matters because a tied wager is not a winning wager. A comparison that treats every don’t-pass 12 as a win would misstate the terms where the tie rule applies.
Wins on 7 or 11 during come-out; loses on 2, 3, or 12.
Wins on 2 or 3 during come-out; loses on 7 or 11.
Pass line always loses; don’t-pass result varies by ruleset (win or tie).
The trade-off is therefore about which side of the opening-roll outcomes a wager backs. Pass line backs 7 and 11, while don’t pass opposes those results and backs 2 and 3. The treatment of 12 can narrow the difference: in a ruleset where it is a tie, that roll does not produce a don’t-pass win. The wagers are not simply identical choices with different labels; their results change according to the number rolled.
When deciding which bets in craps fit the intended position, the come-out outcomes are the relevant comparison. A preference for pass line means accepting losses on 2, 3, and 12 while winning on 7 or 11. A preference for don’t pass means losing on 7 or 11, winning on 2 and 3, and checking whether 12 is a win or a tie. Neither description identifies a universally best bet: it describes the result attached to each wager under stated rules.
The practical task is to read the outcome wording before placing either bet. In particular, the 12 clause should say whether the don’t-pass wager wins or ties. If that clause is absent or unclear, the comparison is incomplete; assumptions about one ruleset should not be carried into another. A tie is a material difference from a win, even though it does not reverse the overall opposition between the two bets.
These bets are best understood as opposite positions, not as a promise that a chosen side will produce a favourable sequence. A winning result on one side corresponds to a losing result on the other for the listed come-out outcomes, apart from the 12 variation. The choice establishes which results the wager supports; it does not change what the dice roll or remove the losing outcomes attached to that side. That is the useful distinction behind the label “best bets”: the relevant question is which outcome pattern the terms actually pay, not which name sounds more favourable.
What a Dice Set Can—and Cannot—Change
A dice set is a chosen way to position the dice before a throw. It concerns their starting orientation and handling, not the scoring rules of craps. The phrase “best dice set” can suggest that one arrangement produces a preferred result. That suggestion has no support in the game’s defined point sequence: a selected starting position does not turn one face combination into a guaranteed roll.
For a pass bet, the relevant sequence is fixed. The point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Once one of those numbers has been established as the point, the pass bet wins if that point is rolled again before a 7. The dice set does not change which numbers count as points, nor does it change the condition for winning.
That distinction separates a physical routine from a wager’s terms. A player may choose a consistent way to hold or position the dice, but consistency is not evidence that the routine controls the result. A set cannot be treated as a substitute for knowing what counts as a point or what sequence settles the bet. The relevant test is still the number shown on the dice after the throw, not their arrangement beforehand.
A dice set concerns the starting orientation and handling of the dice; it does not change scoring rules or the probability of rolling a specific point.
The “best” dice roll in craps depends on the wager and the stage of the round, rather than on a preferred arrangement. For a pass bet after a point is established, the point itself is the winning roll if it appears before a 7. A different number may not settle that bet. Calling a particular throw desirable without stating the bet and situation therefore leaves out the part that determines its value.
Dice-setting claims often blur two separate ideas: a player can choose a physical setup, while the game assigns outcomes according to its rules. The first is a personal procedure; the second determines whether a wager wins or loses. A claimed advantage would need evidence that the setup reliably changes outcomes, not merely a description of how the dice are placed. Without that distinction, a routine can sound like a way to select results when it is only a way to begin a throw.
For anyone comparing dice sets for craps, the useful standard is modest: the set describes positioning, not a promised result. No arrangement replaces the game’s point values or makes the pass bet win automatically. The decision that matters remains the wager’s stated condition. A dice set may make a player’s routine more consistent; it cannot rewrite the scoring sequence or guarantee that the required number appears first.
Craps Formats and the New Zealand Online Context
For New Zealanders looking for craps options in 2026, this list is a starting point for checking the details that matter to you. Confirm that craps is available to you and review each operator’s terms before playing.
License: Malta Gaming Authority, licence no. MGA/B2C/394/2017 N1 Casino lists a Malta Gaming Authority licence, number MGA/B2C/394/2017.
License: Curaçao Gaming Authority, licence no. OGL/2024/165/0185 BitStarz lists a Curaçao Gaming Authority licence, number OGL/2024/165/0185.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000064 Neospin lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000064.
Payout speed: 1-3 business days Lamabet lists a payout speed of 1–3 business days.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000091 7Bit Casino lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000091.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000002 Ricky Casino lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000002.
License: 07017519840 · Payout speed: 1-3 business days Zotabet lists the licence identifier 07017519840 and a payout speed of 1–3 business days.
License: Malta Gaming Authority, licence no. MGA/B2C/370/2017 Play Grand lists a Malta Gaming Authority licence, number MGA/B2C/370/2017.
Payout speed: 1-3 business days Wintino lists a payout speed of 1–3 business days.
“Craps” can describe materially different games. Bank Craps is played against the casino: one player throws two dice, and the central objective is to make a point number before a seven appears. Street Craps instead has players wagering against one another, rather than against a casino. The betting relationship therefore changes, even though both formats use dice.
Simplified Craps removes much of that structure. Under the described rules, a roll of two, three or twelve is a loss, while seven or eleven is a win. Those outcomes define the basic result without requiring the fuller Bank Craps sequence. A favourable result in this simplified version is not automatically comparable with a “best craps roll” in Bank Craps: the rules deciding what counts as a win are different.
The New Zealand position also depends on when an online casino began operating. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 took effect on 1 May 2026 and created the country’s first domestic licensing system for online casino gambling. Its transition period runs from that date to 1 December 2026. A provider that was already serving people in New Zealand before the Act took effect may continue during that period, subject to the transitional rules. Providers that have not applied for a licence must stop online casino gambling in New Zealand by 1 December 2026. If an application is refused, the provider must end its online casino operations in the country and leave the market.
The licensing system is not expected to be fully operational until 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs oversees the online casino licensing framework and remains New Zealand’s primary gambling regulator. The Gambling Commission handles casino licensing applications, decides them, issues online casino licences and approves changes to licence conditions. These are separate responsibilities, not interchangeable labels for one authority.
Licensing Warning
Providers that have not applied for a licence must stop online casino gambling in New Zealand by 1 December 2026.
Before the 2026 Act, online casinos operating from outside New Zealand were not licensed or supervised by a New Zealand regulator. Customers using offshore sites in that period had no domestic government recourse. Offshore sites remain practically accessible, and players do not face legal liability simply for using them; that does not supply the domestic protections associated with the new licensing framework. During the transition, providers are prohibited from advertising to people in New Zealand. Licensed operators will also face tighter advertising rules, and sponsorships are prohibited. The framework is intended to require stricter age and identity checks from licensed operators; unlicensed operation is expected to become an offence around mid-2027, with enforcement action and fines possible.
For a New Zealand reader comparing craps formats, the game’s rules and the provider’s legal status are distinct questions. A familiar label does not establish that two games share the same rules, and the transition does not make every accessible offshore casino a locally licensed service.
The Shooter’s Role and the Point-Before-Seven Objective
The shooter is the player assigned to roll the dice, but the role comes with a betting condition: a player must have a wager on either the pass line or the don’t-pass line to act as shooter. Rolling without either line bet does not meet that requirement. The shooter’s place at the table therefore combines a physical task with a defined betting position; it does not create a separate class of wager or a special outcome.
For a pass-line wager, the central objective after a point has been set is to roll that same point again before a seven appears. The possible point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. Once one of them becomes the point, the pass bet depends on the order of two events: the point returning first produces a win, while a seven appearing first defeats that objective.
That sequence is the useful measure of the shooter’s role. The shooter can make the roll, but the wager is settled by the order in which the required number and seven appear. A player’s confidence, table reputation or preferred throwing routine does not change the stated condition. The label of “best craps player” has little practical meaning without a defined measure of performance; for the pass-line result, the relevant test is the point-before-seven sequence, not the shooter’s status.
There is no separate route to a pass-line win through a particular style of handling the dice. The point remains fixed for the wager, and the required event remains the same: that number must return before seven. This makes the shooter’s responsibility easy to state, even if the outcome is not under the player’s control.
The don’t-pass line is also one of the permitted betting positions for a shooter, but its role here is only to satisfy the requirement to hold a line wager. The point-before-seven objective described above applies to the pass bet. Keeping those two facts separate avoids treating the shooter’s physical role as if it altered the terms of the wager.
Shooter’s Role
- A player must have a pass-line or don’t-pass-line wager to act as shooter
- The shooter’s role combines a physical task with a defined betting position
- Pass-line success depends on the point-before-seven sequence, not the shooter’s status
Free Craps Apps: Learn the Rules Without a Real-Money Claim
A free craps game is most useful as a rules exercise, not as evidence that a particular result is more likely to occur. In the described Simplified Craps version, the basic sequence is direct: a roll of 7 or 11 wins, while 2, 3, or 12 loses. A free-play session can make those outcomes easier to recognise by showing how a roll maps to a win or loss.
That limited purpose matters when comparing options described as the best free craps game. The useful question is whether the game presents its rules clearly enough to follow the stated outcomes. A result display that distinguishes winning rolls from losing rolls supports basic recognition; a title or promotional label does not establish that the rules are complete or that the play resembles every other craps format.
Simplified Craps should not be treated as a full lesson in Bank Craps. Its stated outcomes cover only the immediate win-or-loss sequence. They do not establish how a point is set, how a round continues, or how other bets work. A free game based on these rules can therefore introduce a small part of craps, but it cannot stand in for rules that it does not present.
Free play also separates learning the displayed sequence from risking money. That separation is useful, but it does not make practice predictive. Rolls in a free game do not demonstrate what a future real-money session will produce, and familiarity with the interface does not alter the game’s outcomes. No result from practice can be carried forward as a forecast.
The label “free” is not enough to assess a game. The relevant detail is the rule set being demonstrated. Where the rules identify the Simplified Craps outcomes, the exercise is narrow and legible: 7 and 11 win; 2, 3, and 12 lose. Anything beyond that requires rules specific to the version being played. A free craps app can help with recognition of those stated outcomes, but it should not be mistaken for a prediction tool or a complete account of craps.
Assessing an Online Craps Casino by Its Terms
A craps casino’s legal position in New Zealand depends on the licensing transition, not simply on whether its website is accessible. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 created the country’s first domestic licensing framework and took effect on 1 May 2026. The Department of Internal Affairs oversees that framework; the Gambling Commission decides licensing applications and approves changes to licence conditions.
The transition runs from 1 May to 1 December 2026. An online casino that was already serving people in New Zealand before the Act took effect may continue during that period, subject to the transitional provisions. To keep operating beyond the transition, a provider must apply for a licence. A provider that has not applied must stop online casino gambling in New Zealand by 1 December 2026. If its application is declined, it must cease those operations and leave the market.
The licensed regime is not expected to be fully operational until 2027. Unlicensed operation is expected to become an offence around mid-2027; operators may face enforcement and fines of up to NZ$5 million. These consequences attach to providers, not to a customer merely accessing an offshore site.
This changes what counts as meaningful terms when assessing an online casino offering craps: its operating status during the transition and, later, whether it has secured the required licence. New Zealand prohibits domestic online casinos, while the new framework establishes licensing for providers serving the market. A site’s claims about game availability or promotional terms cannot substitute for its legal status. During the transition, online casino advertising to people in New Zealand is prohibited; licensed operators’ advertising is permitted only under tight rules, and sponsorships are prohibited.
Created by the ”Casino Slots Adviser NZ” editorial team.
