oftware to try their free craps games.

If it’s the money behind the chips that really gets your heart pounding though, then you’ll be happy to know you have an opportunity not only to play free online craps too but to win real money while doing it.  It’s not a gimmick or a scam; it’s a very generous promotion offered by a number of the more persistent casinos, and it’s called a “No Deposit” bonus.  To get your hands on the free cash all you have to do is become a member of the casino.  It’s a process that’s totally free and takes only a few minutes.  Once your information is confirmed, your new account will be credited with $5, $10, and sometimes up to as much as $20 in free craps cash.  The money is instantly available for you to play with, and anything you win with it is yours to keep. 

No Deposit bonuses aren’t the only way to get gratuitous cash to play free online craps.  If your tastes run a little higher, then check out Expert Players’ bonus page.  You’ll find dozens of rotating offers every month including matching bonuses worth up to $1000!  If you’ve already got your heart and credit card set on playing the cash tables at your favorite casino, then it only makes sense to take advantage of their free matching bonuses.  Sometimes you need a code; sometimes they’re automatic; either way, Expert Players has the scoop.  At many casinos, you can double or even triple your initial bankroll by cashing in on a 100% or better matching bonus.  The best bonuses are usually only offered with your first deposit, so be careful not to miss this one-time opportunity for tons of free cash and free online craps.

Craps Rules
While the excitement of the craps table could easily be considered its biggest draw, at the same time it can be quite intimidating for new players.  Luckily those players now have the option of joining this wildly popular casino game from the comfort and security of their own homes.  Heck, you can even play it on your phone!  Thanks to the wonders of technology and the wide availability of online casinos all you need to play craps is a computer, an internet connection, and a player account.  Of course if you want to do well at even online craps you might consider learning the craps rules.  Read on for Expert Players’ take on the basics of the craps game.

Like poker and blackjack, online craps is a table game which means you’ll likely be playing it in the company of other players.  Unlike poker and blackjack though, the craps game is one not of skill and of cards but of luck and dice.  While the players change, all craps games are the same as are the craps rules, making it easier for you to hop tables and even casinos as you see fit.  Even brief observation makes the point of the game pretty obvious.  The action surrounds the shooter (the player that holds the dice) and the dice themselves.  Any players not shooting are there to place bets on the outcome of the roll, and of course to cheer on the shooter.  While most craps players are cheering for the same thing, betting options allow you to bet against the shooter too if you want to try something different.

To play craps online, you will take one of two roles; that of the shooter or that of a regular bettor.  The shooter can only make very specific bets while the other bettors have free reign.  Playing is easy.  It’s in betting that craps rules get a little tricky.  Each dice has six sides and with a set value for each side, and the possible combinations of the two dice are limited to a total of 2-12.  This is the same whether you’re playing craps online or live.  While the dice are obviously just animations in online craps games, randomization software ensures that the outcome is determined in the same way as a live roll.

To play craps, the action begins with what’s called the “come out” roll.  This roll determines the importance of all future rolls in that round.  A roll of 2, 3, or 12 is a “craps” roll and ends play.  A roll of 7 or 11 is a “natural” roll and also ends play.  Any other roll establishes what is called a “point.”  The shooter’s objective once the point is determined is to roll that number again before they roll a 7.  The bets available at craps games are all centered around each player’s guess of what the shooter will roll.  The higher the odds against the shooter hitting that number, the higher the payout for that bet.  We’ll cover the odds and their importance in online craps more in the craps strategies section of our site. 

Craps Strategies
Because craps is a game of chance, all craps strategies are based not around skill but around understanding the odds and using them to make the best bet.  Before Expert Players bombards our faithful readers with advanced craps strategies, we’d first like to cover betting basics which are of course the heart of any good craps strategy. 

The most basic bet in craps is the Pass Line bet.  This bet wins automatically on a come out roll of 7 or 11 and loses automatically on a roll of 2, 3, or 12.  Any other number establishes the point, and the Pass Line bet is pending.  For a Pass Line bet to win after the point is established, the shooter must hit the point again prior to hitting a 7.

Don’t Pass Line bets are exactly what the name implies—the opposite of a Pass Line bet.  A come out roll of 2 or 3 is an automatic win, while a come out roll of 7 or 11 is an automatic loss.  To keep things fair, a come out roll of 12 results in a push with the bettor’s money being returned.  If a point is established, then a Don’t Pass bettor will only win if the 7 is rolled before the point.  In other words, Don’t Pass Line bettors are cheering for the exact opposite of what Pass Line bettors are.

Come bets are like a Pass Line bet replaying after the point.  Just like a Pass Line bet during the come out roll, a Come Bet wins on a roll of 7 or 11 and loses on a roll of 2, 3, or 12.  Any other number sets the “Come Point” which must be rolled before a 7 for the Come bet to win.  It is important to remember that the Come Point will probably be different from the regular point.

Don’t Come bets are to Come bets what Don’t Pass Line bets are to Pass Line bets.  They play in the same way as a Don’t Pass Line bet but after the point is established.  In other words, a 2 or 3 after the come out roll results in a win while a 7 or 11 results in a loss with a push for 12.  Other numbers set the Come Point.  The Don’t Come bettor must hope that the 7 hits before the Come Point in order for their bet to win.

These are called line bets.  They are not only the most basic bets in craps but also the bets with the best odds, and thus they are the bets any good craps strategy focuses on.  All other bets in craps focus on a single roll.  These single roll bets carry very bad odds for a bettor and thus should be left out of your craps strategy. 

Craps strategies may go beyond choosing the smartest bets to more specific playing factors like bankroll management and betting limits.  These are good practices to incorporate into your play (especially when you consider the odds against coming out ahead in craps), but first and foremost in a craps strategy should always be playing the smartest bets.

Craps Tips
Because the strategies available to craps players are so limited, good craps tips become that much more valuable.  Fortunately for you, Expert Players has plenty of good craps tips for its eager readers.  We’ve done the research so you don’t have to and are bringing you the most valuable craps advice that experienced players have to offer.  So grab a notebook and let’s get started!

First, the one mistake many players make when approaching the craps table is to assume that because the game is one of luck any bet has equal odds of winning.  Playing with this misconception is a good way to lose your stack fast.  Unless you enjoy losing, then you’ll want to acquaint yourself with the odds.  For example, roll bets (those apart from the traditional four line bets) have the worst odds at the table.  The house edge on these odds is up to more than 16%, and the bets with reasonable odds are further plagued by a commission charged by the house.  Stick to Pass/Don’t Pass and Come/Don’t Come bets which carry nearly 50/50 odds, and then optimize those odds by “betting the odds.”  Odds bets are after all the only ones that don’t carry a house edge.

While playing the safest bets will extend your bankroll, it is important to remember that the rounds go much faster in online craps than they do in a live casino because the software automates every process to near perfection.  If you really want to stretch your bankroll, then consider taking frequent breaks or seek out the most popular tables. 

Avoid systems!  This is a tip we suggest for many casino games.  Scam artists are constantly pushing these specialized betting strategies, but there are no statistics that prove that they are effective.  It’s fine—even advisable—to put some of your winnings back in the game when you’re on a roll, but don’t bet superstitiously and don’t gamble your money on betting systems.  Instead, choose a wager that you’re comfortable making and that will allow you to bet the full length of your session.  If you win big, then you can bet big at your own discretion, but if you lose don’t throw chips after chips by overbetting your budget.

Follow the luck.  This is one of the craps tips that you won’t hear Expert Players make for any other game, but part of the fun of craps is the excitement of the table.  If another player is burning it up, then mimic their bets.  If you lose, at least you won’t lose alone.