What is live craps?
Live craps is an online craps game with a real stickperson streaming from a studio and rolling physical dice. Players watch the roll on video and place bets through a digital interface.
What is Live Craps?
Live craps is an online craps game with a real stickperson streaming from a studio and rolling physical dice. You watch the roll on video and place bets through a digital interface. Because the dice are physical, much of the game is visible as it happens.
Seeing the roll on camera is useful context, but it is not by itself a guarantee of fairness. Regulated operators are subject to licensing requirements and, where applicable, independent testing and certification of the systems involved. The practical step for players is to verify the operator's provincial registration, read the specific table's rules and paytable, and check whether the operator publishes testing or certification information.
This page covers the rules, how a round resolves, and the house edge on the main bets. If you want the broader picture, see the live casino games hub.
Craps at a Glance
These figures apply to standard craps under typical rules. The odds bet has no house edge of its own, but it must be paired with an underlying Pass or Don't Pass wager and it increases the amount at risk.
1.36%
Don't Pass house edge (standard)
1.41%
Pass Line house edge (standard)
0%
Odds bet house edge (requires a base bet)
2.78%+
Field and other bets — varies by paytable
How to Play Live Craps
Craps has a large betting layout, but the core round is simpler than it looks. It comes down to the come-out roll, the point, and whether the point repeats before a seven.
The Basics
- Shooter: the player whose turn it is to roll the dice.
- Come-out roll: the first roll of a new round.
- Point: a number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) established on the come-out roll.
- Seven-out: rolling a 7 after a point is established, which ends the round.
- Pass Line: a bet that the shooter will win the round.
- Don't Pass: a bet that the shooter will lose the round. A come-out 12 normally pushes under standard bar-12 rules.
How a round resolves
| Come-out result | Pass Line | Don't Pass |
|---|---|---|
| 7 or 11 | Wins | Loses |
| 2 or 3 | Loses | Wins |
| 12 | Loses | Pushes (bar-12) |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 | Establishes the point — play continues | |
Once a point is established, the shooter keeps rolling until either the point repeats or a 7 appears. Rolling the point again before a 7 wins the Pass Line and loses the Don't Pass. A 7 before the point does the reverse.
🎯 Expected value, not a system
The Pass Line and Don't Pass bets have the lowest house edges on the table under standard rules. That is a statement about long-run expectation. It is not a prediction, and it does not guarantee a profit in any session.
Craps Betting Options & Odds
Each row below refers to a specific bet under stated assumptions. House edge is a long-run theoretical figure, not a session forecast. Actual tables vary in their paytables; always read the table you are playing.
| Bet | House edge | Assumed rules | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Pass | 1.36% | Standard rules, bar-12 on the come-out | Lowest edge on the table |
| Pass Line | 1.41% | Standard rules | Effectively tied with Don't Pass |
| Odds (Pass or Don't Pass) | 0% | Requires an underlying Pass or Don't Pass bet and an established point | Lowers the edge on total money wagered, but increases the amount at risk |
| Come / Don't Come | 1.41% / 1.36% | Placed after the come-out, treated like a new Pass or Don't Pass | Useful for adding numbers without a new shooter |
| Field | 2.78% or 5.56% | 2.78% if both 2 and 12 pay double; 5.56% if only one does | Read the paytable before betting |
| Proposition bets | Varies widely | Each proposition has its own rules and payouts | Some exceed 16%; treat them as entertainment |
📘 How to read the odds
House edge is the casino's theoretical long-run advantage on a bet. It assumes the bet is resolved many times. It does not predict any single roll or session.
The odds bet on the Pass Line or Don't Pass is paid at true odds and carries no house edge of its own. Taking odds reduces the house edge measured against the total you wager. It does not reduce the amount at risk — it increases it. It also generally requires that the point has already been established, and it is only available up to a maximum multiple set by the table.
Worked Example
A $10 Pass Line bet with 2× odds, to show how a round plays out. This is a mechanics example, not a prediction.
- The shooter rolls a 6 on the come-out. A point of 6 is established.
- You take 2× odds on the Pass Line, so you place an additional $20 behind your $10 Pass Line wager.
- The shooter rolls again. If the point (6) repeats before a 7, the Pass Line pays 1:1 and the odds bet pays at true odds (6 pays 6:5, so $20 returns $24 profit). If a 7 appears first, you lose both the $10 Pass Line and the $20 odds.
Because the odds bet is paid at true odds, it has no house edge on its own. It does not remove the house edge on the base Pass Line wager, and it increases the amount you have at risk on the round.
Approaches and Bankroll Management
The only decisions in craps are which bets to place and how much to stake. Systems change bet sizes or add wagers; they do not change the underlying odds.
💰
Pass Line with odds
A single Pass Line bet with an odds wager taken after the point is established. Reduces the house edge on total money wagered compared with a Pass Line bet alone. Increases the amount at risk on the round.
📊
Don't Pass with odds
Mathematically similar to the Pass Line under standard rules. Requires laying odds rather than taking them. A come-out 12 pushes rather than wins.
🎯
Three-Point Molly
Keeps a Pass Line bet and two Come bets active at once. Each wager has a low house edge, but three active bets increase total exposure. It is not a lower-volatility strategy.
⏱️
Bankroll management
Set a budget before you play, decide session limits in advance, and stop when you reach them. This controls risk and playtime. It does not change expected value, and no betting system can predict dice outcomes or overcome the house's mathematical advantage.
Live Craps Variants
Live craps is offered in different formats by different studios and operators. Variant availability, rules and paytables change over time, so verify the specific table with the operator before playing.
Common formats
- Standard live craps: full betting layout with a real stickperson and physical dice.
- Faster-paced formats: shorter betting windows between rolls. Rules and payouts are usually standard; the difference is pace.
- Multi-seat or unlimited-seat formats: more players can join the same table. Rules and payouts are usually standard; the difference is seat availability.
Specific product names and rule variations differ by studio and by operator. Confirm what is actually offered at the table you are considering.
Live Craps in Canada: Regulatory Context
Online gambling regulation in Canada is provincial, not national. The two provinces most relevant to live craps are Ontario and Alberta, and they work differently.
Ontario
Ontario operates a regulated market for private online casino operators. Operators must be registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and conduct business with iGaming Ontario (iGO). An Ontario registration applies to Ontario only.
Alberta
In Alberta, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission (AGLC) identifies Play Alberta as the province's regulated online gambling website. Being registered in another province does not mean an operator is licensed in Alberta.
Other provinces and territories
Regulatory arrangements vary. Before playing, check the applicable provincial or territorial framework and confirm the operator's status directly with the relevant regulator.
What to verify before you play
- The operator's provincial registration and the regulator's public registry entry.
- The specific craps tables currently offered, with their published rules and limits.
- The payment methods and support options the operator actually provides to your province.
- The current terms for any bonus or promotion.
🔎 On fairness
Regulated live dealer games are subject to regulatory requirements and, where applicable, independent testing and certification of the systems involved. That is a meaningful safeguard, but it is not a personal guarantee about any individual session. Verify the operator, the studio and the specific table rather than relying on a blanket claim.
Live Craps Providers
Live games are produced by dedicated studios and distributed through casino operators. The developer and the operator are different parties: the studio makes the game, and the operator is who holds your account and who is regulated in your province.
🎯
Evolution
One of the largest live-dealer suppliers, with table-game and game-show formats across multiple regulated markets.
🎯
Playtech
Operates live-dealer studios and supplies table games to operators in multiple regulated markets.
🎯
Other studios
Additional live-dealer suppliers serve specific operators and regions. Availability depends on the operator and the province.
Note: NetEnt has been part of Evolution since 2020. Provider catalogues and operator availability change; verify current offerings with the operator.
Sources, Assumptions and Review Policy
This page is maintained by Ace Goldwyn at LiveCasinoGames.ca. House-edge figures on this page are theoretical values for the specific bets and rules stated in the comparison table. They come from standard published game mathematics and are consistent with industry references. Regulatory information is drawn from the primary sources below.
Assumptions behind the figures
- Don't Pass (1.36%): standard rules, bar-12 on the come-out.
- Pass Line (1.41%): standard rules.
- Odds (0%): paid at true odds; requires an underlying Pass or Don't Pass bet and an established point.
- Come / Don't Come: same edges as the corresponding base bets.
- Field (2.78% or 5.56%): depends on whether both 2 and 12 pay double, or only one.
- Proposition bets: each has its own rules and payout; edges vary widely.
Primary sources
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) — agco.ca.
- iGaming Ontario — igamingontario.ca.
- Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) — aglc.ca.
- Responsible Gambling Council — responsiblegambling.org.
Reviewed by: Ace Goldwyn, LiveCasinoGames.ca.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Next review: March 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the house edge in craps?
Under standard rules, the Don't Pass bet has a 1.36% house edge and the Pass Line has a 1.41%. Odds bets on top of those carry no house edge of their own, but they require an underlying Pass or Don't Pass wager and increase the amount at risk. Other bets range widely, with some proposition bets well above 16%.
What happens on the come-out roll?
On the come-out roll, a 7 or 11 wins the Pass Line and loses the Don't Pass. A 2 or 3 loses the Pass Line and wins the Don't Pass. A 12 loses the Pass Line and pushes the Don't Pass under standard bar-12 rules. Any 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 establishes the point, and play continues.
Is live craps regulated in Canada?
Regulation is provincial. Ontario has a regulated private-operator market overseen by the AGCO and iGO. In Alberta, the AGLC identifies Play Alberta as the province's regulated online gambling website. Always verify the operator's provincial registration before playing.
Does taking odds increase my risk?
Taking odds lowers the house edge measured against the total amount you wager, because the odds portion has no house edge. It also increases the amount you have at risk on that hand. It is not a way to reduce volatility.
What is the minimum bet for live craps?
Minimum bets vary by table and operator. Check the specific table's published limits before joining.