Craps for New Zealanders: Rules, Bets and Formats
Available in USThe guide follows pass-line and don’t-pass outcomes from the come-out roll through point play, then explains how rules vary across online formats.
Table of Contents
How Craps Bets Resolve on Each Roll
A craps round is organized around the come-out roll and, if a point is established, the rolls that follow it. The pass line and don’t-pass line are opposing bets on that sequence. If you are the shooter, you must have a bet on one of those lines to take the dice. The result of each roll is determined by the current stage of the round, so the same number can have a different role before and after a point is set.
On the come-out roll, a seven or eleven wins for pass-line bets and loses for don’t-pass-line bets. A two or three has the reverse result: pass-line bets lose, while don’t-pass-line bets win. A twelve also loses for the pass line, but the don’t-pass result can depend on the ruleset. Some New Zealand online casino rules treat twelve as a tie for the don’t-pass bet, so that bet is returned rather than settled as a win. Check the table’s own rules to see which treatment applies.
These come-out outcomes settle the line bets immediately. They do not establish a point. If the come-out roll is four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten, that number becomes the point. The round then moves into a different phase: the pass-line bet is waiting for the shooter to roll the point again before a seven appears.
The point creates a target that remains active across subsequent rolls. If the shooter rolls the point again first, the pass-line bet wins. If a seven appears first, the pass-line bet loses. Other rolls do not end that pass-line sequence; the shooter continues rolling until one of those two decisive results occurs. This is why it matters whether a roll happens on the come-out or after the point has been established. A seven wins a pass-line bet at the start of the round, but ends the point sequence against it.
The don’t-pass line follows the opposing logic once a point is in play: it benefits from a seven appearing before the point is repeated. The initial come-out outcomes are not entirely symmetrical, however, because the seven and eleven favour the pass line, while the two and three favour the don’t-pass line, with twelve subject to the tie rule in some games. To read a table correctly, identify whether the dice are on a come-out roll or resolving an established point before interpreting the line bets.
A come bet becomes available only after a point has been established. It is a separate bet placed during that point phase, rather than a replacement for the original pass-line wager. Its stated winning condition is that the point is rolled before a seven. The important distinction is timing: you cannot place a come bet before the round has a point. Once the point exists, the bet can be added, and its resolution depends on the order of the relevant rolls.
Taking odds is a further addition to an existing wager, not a standalone bet. A specialist affiliate review describes odds as available only after a pass or come bet, with the added amount capped at a multiple of that initial bet. Treat that as a description from that review, not as a universal limit for every New Zealand game. The relevant ruleset needs to specify whether odds are offered and the cap it applies. The initial pass or come bet remains the underlying wager; taking odds does not change the number needed to resolve it.
When reading a table layout or rules panel, separate the main bet from any additional wager attached to it. First establish which stage the round is in. Then identify the point, if there is one, and follow whether the point or seven arrives first. Finally, check whether the rules apply a tie to twelve on the don’t-pass come-out result and what conditions govern odds. This sequence lets you predict how the listed bets resolve without treating every roll as though it had the same meaning.
Bet Resolution Checklist
- Identify if the roll is a come-out roll or occurs after a point is set
- Determine the current point number if applicable
- Check the rules for the treatment of a twelve on the don’t-pass come-out roll
- Verify the conditions and caps governing any odds wagers
These mechanics explain what a bet requires to win or lose; they do not, on their own, identify the best bet on a craps table. To compare bets, you need to distinguish their resolution rules from other measures of cost and risk. A clear grasp of the roll sequence is the starting point: it shows what each wager is waiting for, and when an additional bet can be made.
Comparing Bet Types by House Edge
A house edge is a measure of the casino’s mathematical advantage on a wager, expressed as a share of the amount bet. It helps compare the long-run cost built into different bets. It does not predict the result of your next roll, or determine whether a particular session ends in profit or loss.
The Pass Line is a useful reference point because its stated house edge is 1.41%. In Bank Craps, the Pass Line figure is approximately the same: 1.41%. These figures describe the wager’s expected disadvantage over repeated play under the rules used for the calculation. They are not a fee taken from each bet, and they do not mean that the casino wins a fixed share of every player’s stake.
That distinction matters when you compare a wager with its published edge. In a short run, results can differ sharply from the long-run expectation. A bet with a lower house edge can lose, while a bet with a higher edge can win. The edge describes how the wager behaves across repeated outcomes, not which outcome will occur next.
Comparing the published figures
The Bank Craps Any 7 bet has an approximately 16.67% house edge, compared with approximately 1.41% for the Bank Craps Pass Line. The gap is substantial: the Any 7 wager gives the casino a much larger mathematical advantage per unit wagered over the long run. If your aim is to limit the built-in disadvantage among these two choices, the Pass Line has the lower stated edge.
That comparison is specific to the two named bets. It does not establish that every Pass Line wager in every craps format has identical terms, nor does it rank every available wager. The 1.41% Pass Line figure is also stated independently as the house edge for the Pass Line bet. When reading a game’s rules, check that the displayed wager is actually the Pass Line and that the game is using the rules to which the figure applies.
The Any 7 figure is approximate, as is the Bank Craps Pass Line figure. Treat the decimal precision accordingly: the values are comparison tools, not guarantees that a particular player’s loss will match those percentages. Differences in rules or the specific bet being offered can make a published figure inapplicable. A wager label alone is not enough to establish that two games use the same terms.
For a practical comparison, first identify the exact bet, then look for its house edge under the game’s rules. If the figure is not given, you cannot reliably place that wager above or below another one based on edge alone. Do not assume that an attractive payout, a simple name or frequent wins means a bet is favourable. Payout size and house edge answer different questions: the payout describes what a winning wager returns, while the edge measures the mathematical disadvantage across outcomes.
Features a lower stated house edge of 1.41%, making it a useful reference point for comparing costs.
Carries a substantially higher house edge of approximately 16.67%, giving the casino a larger mathematical advantage.
What “best” means in this comparison
There is no single answer to what the best craps bets are unless you specify the criterion. If “best” means the lower house edge among the quantified Bank Craps bets described here, the Pass Line is the clear choice over Any 7. If “best” means a bet that guarantees a win, no house-edge figure supports that conclusion. If it means the highest possible payout, the edge figures alone do not answer it.
The same distinction applies when asking whether craps has the best odds in a casino. The figures above compare particular craps bets with one another; they do not compare craps with every other casino game or wager. Without comparable figures for those alternatives, it would be unsound to declare craps the casino’s best-odds game. You can use the Pass Line figure to assess that bet, but not to make a market-wide ranking.
Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets. That general distinction is a reason to inspect the edge for each wager rather than judging a game by its main bet alone. It does not establish an exact edge for any side or bonus wager beyond the figures stated for the specific Bank Craps bets above. In particular, do not transfer the Any 7 percentage to a different wager simply because both are additional choices on a craps table.
A lower house edge can help you choose between bets when the relevant figures are known and comparable. It cannot remove the house advantage, control the dice, or ensure that your result follows the long-run expectation during a short session. The useful decision is therefore limited but concrete: compare the edge attached to the exact wager, recognise what that number measures, and avoid treating it as a promise about an individual outcome.
A Strategy Built Around the Rules, Not a Dice System
A sound craps strategy starts with the rules that determine a wager’s value, not with a method for arranging or throwing the dice. The Pass Line house edge is 1.41%. That figure gives you a way to compare the wager with alternatives under the rules being used; it does not predict what will happen on your next roll or guarantee a result over a particular session.
A house edge is a long-run measure of the game’s mathematical advantage, not a timer or a promise. A low edge does not mean that a wager will win soon, and a higher edge does not determine when it will lose. You can use the figure to avoid treating every available bet as equally costly, while still recognising that each individual result can differ from the long-run expectation.
Make each decision rule-dependent
Before placing a wager, identify what event must occur for it to win and what event ends its chance. For a Pass Line bet, the relevant sequence depends on the point: the point numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, and the shooter must repeat the established point before rolling 7 for the pass bet to win. This structure matters to your decision because the wager is tied to a defined sequence, not to a general belief that a particular roll is “due.”
- Identify the winning event and the event that ends the bet’s chance
- Compare the wager’s house edge with the Pass Line
- Use rules to determine the cost and conditions of a bet
- Rely on a system to predict the next dice roll
- Assume a roll is “due” based on a general belief
- Judge a bet’s value based on a payout or a simple name
The practical question is not whether a system can call the next number. It is whether the bet’s conditions and house edge suit the way you intend to wager. If you cannot explain what must happen for a bet to win, when its chance ends, and how its edge compares with the Pass Line, you do not yet have enough information to judge its cost.
Adding wagers can change the amount exposed without changing the underlying dice outcome. A specialist review describes taking odds as an additional wager available only after a Pass Line or Come bet, with the amount capped at a multiple of the initial wager. Treat that as the rule reported for the game discussed in that review, not as a rule that necessarily applies at every table. Check the actual game rules before relying on it. An extra wager is still money at risk, even when its terms differ from those of the initial bet.
Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets. That makes the label or payout alone a poor guide to value: a large advertised return does not tell you how often the qualifying result occurs or what the bet costs mathematically. Compare the rules and stated edge where available, rather than assuming that an additional option improves a strategy.
Separate strategy from dice control
A dice set, a preferred grip or a repeated throwing routine may feel like a method, but it does not change the stated bet rules or establish that you can control the result. A strategy should therefore be built from decisions you can verify: which wager you place, what conditions govern it, and how much you choose to expose. A claimed system that depends on predicting or controlling a roll is not a substitute for that analysis.
The most useful discipline is to decide on your wagers before the sequence develops, then reassess only when the rules allow a new decision. This keeps the point sequence from turning into a reason to add money impulsively. It also makes it easier to distinguish a deliberate choice—such as selecting a wager with a known edge—from an attempt to recover a previous loss by changing bets.
No bet removes uncertainty from craps. A rule-based approach can help you understand the cost and conditions of your choices, but it cannot make a losing result impossible or convert a dice pattern into a reliable forecast.
What Changes Between Craps Variants
The name “craps” does not identify one uniform set of rules. Before comparing a game or app with another, check who is wagering against whom, what counts as a winning roll, and whether the rules describe a complete game or only a simplified version. A familiar label alone does not establish that the same bets and outcomes apply.
A familiar label like “craps” does not guarantee a uniform set of rules; you must verify who is wagering and what counts as a win for each specific variant.
Bank Craps
In Bank Craps, one player rolls two dice, and the casino is the opposing party for the betting. The central Pass Line sequence depends on a point: the shooter needs to roll that point again before a seven appears. This is the version to associate with the stated Pass Line house edge of approximately 1.41%; that figure is specifically for the Bank Craps Pass Line, not a general property of every game called craps.
The distinction matters when checking a rules panel. If a game describes a player rolling against the casino and refers to a point that must be made before seven, it is using the defining Bank Craps structure. Do not assume that an app with a craps label also offers every bet or rule associated with that structure.
Street Craps
Street Craps changes the wagering relationship: players bet against one another rather than against the casino. That does not make its rules interchangeable with Bank Craps. The crucial detail is who covers a winning wager and how the players agree to settle it. A description that focuses only on dice outcomes may leave this difference unclear, so inspect the game’s stated rules rather than inferring the format from the name.
The two dice still produce the roll, but the opponent in the wager is different. As a result, a house-edge figure for a casino-backed Bank Craps bet should not be applied automatically to a Street Craps wager.
Simplified Craps
The described Simplified Craps rules identify a narrow set of immediate outcomes: rolling 2, 3, or 12 loses, while 7 or 11 wins. Those statements do not, by themselves, establish how every other roll is treated or whether the full Bank Craps point sequence is used. Check for those details before treating the simplified format as a complete substitute for Bank Craps.
A dice set or a preferred way of holding the dice does not tell you which variant is being played. The rules do. Likewise, the “best” roll depends on the format and the wager being considered; a listed winning total in a simplified game should not be read as a universal craps result.
Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets. That distinction is separate from the variant name: check the individual bet terms, not just the game label, before deciding what a roll means for your wager.
Using Craps Apps to Learn the Roll Sequence
A craps app can make the sequence easier to follow because it keeps the dice result, the current phase of the hand and your bets visible together. Treat it as a way to inspect how a particular game implements the rules, not as evidence that every app follows the same version. Before playing, look for an explanation of the table layout and the rules the app uses.
Check the table before you roll
Start by identifying the pass-line and don’t-pass-line areas, the dice display and any indicator showing whether the game is on the come-out roll or has a point. The point is one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. A clear point marker matters: once a point is established, the hand continues until that point or a 7 is rolled.
Inspecting the Interface
Locate the pass-line and don’t-pass-line areas, the dice display, and the point indicator (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10).
Open the rules or help screen to understand bet settlements and the specific treatment of a come-out roll of 12.
Test the interface without real wagers to observe the order of events, bet placement, and point establishment.
Look for a rules or help screen that explains what happens to each bet, rather than relying only on colours or animations. A win message tells you the result; the rules explain why it happened. Also check whether the app states how it handles a come-out roll of 12 for a don’t-pass bet. Some New Zealand online casino rulesets treat that result as a tie, so an app’s display should be read in the context of its stated rules.
If the game offers a free-play mode, use it to inspect the interface without placing a real wager. You can focus on the order of events: where a bet is placed, when the dice are rolled, how the point is shown and when the app settles the bet. A free game is useful for learning those mechanics only if you still check which rules it implements.
Follow one hand from the start
Place a pass-line bet before the come-out roll, then watch how the app labels the roll and updates the bet. A come-out roll of 7 or 11 wins a pass-line bet. If the result is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the point and the app should show that the hand has moved into the point phase.
When a point is set, note whether the pass-line bet remains active rather than being settled immediately. The shooter needs to roll that same point again before rolling a 7 for the pass bet to win. If a 7 appears first, the pass bet loses. Following the same hand across several rolls makes the distinction between the opening roll and later rolls visible: the same dice result can have a different role depending on the phase.
You can repeat the exercise with a don’t-pass bet to see how the app displays that side of the layout, but consult its rules for the exact treatment of come-out results. Do not infer a rule from a sound, colour or animation alone. The settlement panel or transaction history, if the app provides one, can help you connect the dice result to the bet outcome.
Test when additional bets become available
After the app establishes a point, check whether it allows a come bet. Come bets are available only after a point has been established. Once placed, a come bet is resolved by whether its number is rolled before a 7. Watching the app’s bet position change or its status label update can help you distinguish a come bet from the original pass-line bet.
The interface should make clear which bet is being resolved. If several bets are active, follow them one at a time: identify the bet, note the result that would settle it and then compare that expectation with the app’s settlement. If the display is too crowded to do this, use a simpler layout or place fewer bets while learning. The purpose is to see cause and effect, not to fill the table.
If an app offers odds or other additional bets, read the specific rules before using them. The permitted timing and settlement can depend on the game’s implementation. Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets, so they should not be treated as necessary tools for understanding the roll sequence.
Attention Side bets and bonus bets typically carry a higher house edge than regular bets and should not be used as primary tools for learning the roll sequence.
What to inspect on a phone or tablet
On a phone, controls may occupy more of the screen, while a tablet may show more of the table at once. In either case, check that you can still read the point indicator and distinguish active bets from settled ones. Rotate the device or adjust the display only if the app supports it; do not assume that a wider view changes the rules.
Look for readable labels, an accessible rules panel and a way to review the current hand. If the dice result disappears quickly, pause or replay the sequence if those controls are available. If the app does not explain a result, avoid guessing from its visual effects; return to its written rules or choose a game that presents the relevant information clearly.
A free craps game can be useful when it lets you repeat the roll sequence and observe how the point and bets change. It cannot establish that a different app, live craps table or casino uses identical rules. Use it to learn the pattern shown on that screen, then read the rules of any other game separately before relying on what you learned.
Choosing an Online Craps Format in New Zealand
Choosing a craps site is easier when you know which details are confirmed and which are not. Use this list as a starting point, and check that the available games suit you before playing.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000002 Ricky Casino lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000002. You can use that licence detail as a point of reference when considering the site.
License: Curaçao Gaming Authority, licence no. OGL/2024/165/0185 BitStarz lists a Curaçao Gaming Authority licence, number OGL/2024/165/0185. This gives you a specific licensing detail to check when assessing the operator.
License: 07017519840 · Payout speed: 1-3 business days Zotabet lists licence number 07017519840 and a payout speed of 1–3 business days. These are the confirmed details available for your consideration.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000091 7Bit Casino lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000091. You can refer to this information when reviewing the operator.
Payout speed: 1-3 business days Lamabet lists a payout speed of 1–3 business days. This is the confirmed practical detail available to help you assess the operator.
License: Malta Gaming Authority, licence no. MGA/B2C/370/2017 Play Grand lists a Malta Gaming Authority licence, number MGA/B2C/370/2017. You can check this licensing information as part of your review.
License: Malta Gaming Authority, licence no. MGA/B2C/394/2017 N1 Casino lists a Malta Gaming Authority licence, number MGA/B2C/394/2017. This provides a specific licensing detail for you to consider.
Payout speed: 1-3 business days Wintino lists a payout speed of 1–3 business days. That is the confirmed detail available here for your consideration.
License: Tobique Gaming Commission, licence no. 0000064 Neospin lists a Tobique Gaming Commission licence, number 0000064. You can use this licence information as one point of reference when considering the operator.
A useful comparison begins with the game’s rules, not its presentation. A table labelled “craps” may follow Bank Craps rules or describe a different format. Check who the players bet against, how the game identifies a point, and which sequence determines a win. Those details tell you what the format actually implements.
In Bank Craps, one player rolls two dice while the game’s rules determine the result: a point must appear before a seven for the relevant point sequence to succeed. Street Craps works differently because players wager against one another rather than against a casino. The distinction matters when you assess an online format: a casino-bank table and a player-to-player game do not have the same structure, even if both use dice and familiar craps terms.
Read the rules before treating a displayed bet or result as comparable across formats. Look for the stated version of craps, the role assigned to the shooter, and how the game defines its outcomes. If those descriptions do not make clear whether the casino or other players are the opposing side, the format is not yet clear enough to assess. A title or visual layout alone cannot establish which rules apply.
Check the New Zealand framework
The legal context also affects how you assess online casino play from New Zealand. The Gambling Act 2003 does not permit online casinos to be based domestically. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 introduced the country’s first domestic licensing framework for online casino gambling and came into force on 1 May 2026. This is a transition, not evidence that every online casino is already operating under a New Zealand licence.
Legal Restrictions
Advertising to people in New Zealand is prohibited during the current transitional period, and unlicensed providers must cease operations by 1 December 2026.
During the transitional period, providers that were already serving people in New Zealand before the new Act took effect may continue until 1 December 2026, subject to the Act’s transitional provisions. The full licensed regime is not expected to be operational until 2027. A provider’s continued availability during the transition should therefore not be confused with a completed domestic licensing process.
The Gambling Commission hears and decides casino licence applications. It also grants online casino licences and approves changes to their conditions. The Department of Internal Affairs oversees the online casino licensing framework and remains New Zealand’s primary gambling regulator. These roles are distinct: the Commission handles licensing decisions, while the Department has the broader regulatory oversight described for the framework.
Apply the checks to the format
Keep the game-rule check separate from the legal check. First establish whether the table is Bank Craps or another form, and whether its stated rules explain the relationship between the shooter, the dice and the opposing side. Then consider the provider’s position under the transitional framework. A familiar game label does not tell you either point.
The transition also places limits on what providers may do. Advertising to people in New Zealand is prohibited during this period. Providers that have not applied for a licence must cease online casino gambling in New Zealand by 1 December 2026. If an application is declined, the provider must stop its online casino gambling operations in the country and exit the market. Licensed operators may advertise only under tight rules, and sponsorships are prohibited.
These conditions make timing and status relevant to an online craps choice, but they do not change the game’s rules. Treat the table description as the source for how that particular format plays, and the licensing framework as the source for how the provider may operate in New Zealand. Keeping those questions separate prevents a legal label from being mistaken for a game mechanic, or a game label from being mistaken for evidence of licensing.
What the Shooter Can—and Cannot—Control
To act as the shooter, you must have a bet on either the pass line or the don’t-pass line. That requirement determines which side of the main wager you have chosen; it does not give you control over how the dice land. The shooter’s role is part of the game’s procedure, not a way to influence the result.
For a pass-line bet, the point sequence gives the shooter a defined condition to meet. Once the point is established, the shooter must roll that same number again before a seven appears for the pass bet to win. The point can be 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. If seven appears first, the pass-line condition is not met. The result follows from the order of the rolls, rather than from who is holding the dice.
This is why searching for the best craps player in the world does not identify someone who can reliably control outcomes. A skilled player may understand the rules and follow the sequence correctly, but that knowledge is different from directing a roll. The same distinction applies to a particular grip, throwing motion or dice set: none changes the pass-line condition or establishes that the shooter can choose which numbers appear.
The useful question is therefore not which shooter has a special ability, but what the rules require and what decision belongs to you. You can choose whether your required shooter bet is on pass or don’t pass. You cannot choose the point that must be repeated, or make a seven arrive later by intention. Those are not strategic controls; they are outcomes of the roll.
So, the best way to play craps is not to treat the shooter as a source of predictable results. Keep the two things separate: your bet selects a side, while the roll sequence determines whether that side wins. Understanding that boundary helps you assess a claim about a player or dice technique without mistaking confidence or ritual for control.
Created by the ”Casino Payment NZ” editorial team.
