How to Shoot Dice: Craps Rules and Table Etiquette

At a casino craps table, the shooter rolls two dice while players bet on the total. To shoot dice, follow the dealer’s instructions, keep your wagers within the table limits and understand whether the round is on its come-out roll or has an established point.

Before your first roll

Watch a round before joining. Read the minimum and maximum wagers and ask the dealer which bets are open. Keep drinks, hands and chips away from the landing area. Follow the casino’s rules for handling dice and aiming the roll; ask for help rather than assuming every table has identical procedures.

Place or change bets only when the dealers say betting is open. Do not reach into the table while dice are in motion. If dice leave the table or the roll is disputed, wait for the dealer’s decision rather than moving a wager yourself.

The come-out roll

For a Pass Line bet, a total of 7 or 11 wins on the come-out roll. A total of 2, 3 or 12 loses. Rolling 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 establishes that number as the point. Other types of wagers have different rules; do not assume every bet wins or loses with the Pass Line.

What happens after the point is established?

The shooter continues rolling. For the Pass Line, rolling the point again before a 7 wins the bet; rolling 7 first loses it. Other totals leave that Pass Line bet unresolved. The point and the next roll’s odds depend on the game state, not on how long you have been waiting.

Understanding the dice probabilities

Two fair six-sided dice produce 36 equally likely ordered combinations. Six combinations total 7, so its probability is 6/36, or 1 in 6. Three combinations total 4, giving a probability of 3/36, or 1 in 12.

Once 4 is the point, the relevant race is between 4 and 7. Other totals simply continue the round. There are three combinations for 4 and six for 7, so the chance of making that point before 7 is 3/(3+6), or one third. This example explains why different point numbers have different odds.

Does a throwing technique guarantee an advantage?

No throwing routine should be treated as a guaranteed way to beat the game. A controlled-looking roll is not evidence that the dice outcomes are predictable. Under the fair-dice model, each roll has the same combination probabilities. Betting systems and previous results do not change those probabilities.

Playing within a budget

Craps wagers can accumulate quickly when several bets are active. Know your total exposure before each roll. Decide a spending limit in advance, avoid chasing losses and stop if the game becomes stressful.

For an operator’s explanation of the round, see The Venetian’s craps rules. Our craps guide and Pass Line guide explain the main wagers; our safer gambling guide covers limits and support.