Craps is a dice game that is played in many different places in New Zealand. Like most dice games, craps is based on luck, although there is a small amount of craps strategy involved. Craps can be played for fun in a home setting or at any of the land-based casinos in New Zealand.
Kiwis also have the option of playing online craps, as many online casinos in New Zealand offer craps under the speciality games category. Craps is not as popular with young New Zealanders as some of them find it a bit confusing to understand how the game of craps plays out!
This is why we have put together an easy guide to help you play craps in NZ. We will answer several questions that will help you gain confidence of playing craps online or at a land-based casino in NZ.
Some of the questions that we cover in this how-to guide are:
Where can I play Craps in NZ?
There are three main options when it comes to playing craps in NZ. We will list out all three options for you and leave it up to you to decide which option will work best for you.
land-based Casinos
New Zealanders can head on over to any of the licensed land-based casinos in the country, enter the gaming floor and find a craps table. You will need to be over the age of 20 (legal gambling age in NZ) to be allowed entry onto the casino floor.
Some of the land-based casinos that you can check out in NZ include the Christchurch Casino, SkyCity Hamilton, SkyCity Auckland and Grand Casino Dunedin. Craps tables are not as popular at land-based casinos than some of the other table games such as roulette and poker.
This is because most Kiwis visit land-based casinos only occasionally and when they do, they prefer playing popular table games like roulette and blackjack instead of craps.
Online Casinos
Online craps are far more popular than land-based casino craps because Kiwis enjoy relaxing from the comfort of their homes and playing craps at their own pace. One thing we need to point out is that New Zealand currently has a ban on online casino games.
The government of New Zealand is in the process of passing new legislation that will make online casinos legal by 2026. Even though online casinos are banned, there are many offshore casino operators that allow Kiwis to register an account and play craps online.
Some casinos require Kiwis to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect to the online casino and register an account, whereas many online casinos do not require a VPN and allow NZ players to register directly.
When you play craps at an online casino, you have the option to play while on the go as all NZ casinos are mobile friendly.
Home Games
If you don’t want to go to a land-based casino or play online casino craps, then the third option is for you to buy a craps board and play craps at home with your family and friends. You cannot legally invite and offer real money craps games from your home in NZ.
When you play craps at home, you must play craps for fun or free to play craps just for the experience.
Understanding How To Play Craps
Craps is played with two dice that are rolled onto the craps table. The person who rolls the dice is referred to as ‘the shooter’. When you are playing craps online, you will have to press ‘roll’ on the computer screen to roll the dice.
There are three main outcomes when you roll the dice. We give you a quick overview of these three outcomes.
Natural
This is the best possible outcome in a game of craps as you win when you get a ‘natural’. This happens when the roll of the dice ends up with either a 7 or a 11. Once you get a natural, you can take your winnings and roll again if you want to keep playing.
Craps
You end up getting craps or crapping out when the roll of the dice results in either a 2, 3 or 12. These are the numbers you don’t want in craps as it means you lost the round. The number 2 is often referred to as snake eyes in a game of craps as getting 1 on each dice, comes across as 2 snake eyes. If you end up crapping out, you get the option to roll again and test your luck.
Point
If you roll the dice and up getting either 4,5,6,8,9,10 it is considered the Point. In an online casino game, a small button will pop-up on your screen with the words ‘On’ to let you know that the Point has been established in the game. At a land-based casino, the craps dealer will mark the Point on the table.
When you get a point, you get another chance to roll the dice and hit your point number again. You don’t have to get the same numbers on the dice that established your point. You can get any other combination as long as it combines to hit the same number you had when you got the Point.
If you get the same number as the point, you end up winning. However, if you don’t get the same number as the point, you end up losing. Example – if you roll the dice and end up getting 4 + 4 = 8, you have established a Point. The next time you roll, you need to get 8 to win! You can get a 5 and a 3 or a 6 and a 2 to make up 8 and don’t need to get 4 + 4 against to get to 8.
The number 7 is not part of the Point sequence because 7 is considered an unlucky number in craps and if you end up rolling a 7, you lose or seven out!
Different Bets You Can Make In Craps
There are many different bets that you can make during a game of craps and all these bets are based around the craps table. This is why it is important for you to take some time to familiarise yourself with the craps table as only then you will know what each bet is all about.
If you are playing at a brick & mortar casino, you can always run your questions past the craps dealer who will be happy to explain how the game works and clear any questions. If you are playing craps online, we suggest you check out free craps games where you don’t have to make any real money deposit.
Use free craps games to understand how the game works, what bets you can make and what are the potential payouts. When you have a better understanding how the game works, you can switch over and play real money online craps.
These are the main craps bets that you should understand as your craps strategy is based around which bets you decide to use to your advantage. Pick them right and you increase your odds of winning, pick the wrong and you increase your odds of losing.
Pass or Don’t Pass
Pass or Don’t Pass lines are two betting options on the craps table. When you bet on the Pass Line, you are betting that the shooter will win and come out with a natural or winning the Point and then getting a 7 out.
If you choose to bet on the Don’t Pass line, you are betting on the shooter losing or crapping out by getting a 2 or 3. These two bets can be made only before the Point is established. If you end up getting a 12 on a Don’t Pass bet, nothing happens as you don’t lose or win.
When the point is established, you have the option to bet again and choose either the Come or Don’t Come wager.
Come or Don’t Come
The Come or Don’t Come wager takes place after the Point is established and operates like the Pass or Don’t Pass bet with the exception being that the Come or Don’t Come can only be made once the point is established.
The Come option is again based on whether the shooter wins by getting a natural or hits the Point bet and wins. The Don’t Come option is based on whether the shooter loses by getting a 2 or 3 and crapping out. If the shooter ends up getting a 12, once again you don’t lose or win.
Proposition Bets
These bets can be found in the centre of the craps table and involves betting on a single number. The odds of betting on a single number are high and promises the best payouts but also has the highest risk.
Numbers| Odds | |
|---|---|
| Aces (2) or Twelve (12) | 31-1 |
| Any Craps (2, 3 or 12) | 8-1 |
| Ace-Deuce (3) or Eleven (11) | 16-1 |
| Seven (7) | 5-1 |
| Hard Four or Ten | 8-1 |
| Hard Six or Eight | 10-1 |
Hard Ways
This is when you bet on the shooter rolling a pair such as 4 + 4 = 8. If the shooter ends up getting 5 + 3 or 6+2 you lose as the shooter needs to get a pair for you to win. The odds of a shooter getting 6 or 8 is higher than the odds of getting 4 or 10 as a pair.
Field Bets
This is a single bet where you can win if the shooter ends up with a 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. If you get 5,6,7, or 8 you lose. If you get 12, your odds are 3-1 and if you get 2, your odds are 2-1.
Place Bets
Once the shooter has a point, you can make a place bet on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. If the shooter ends up hitting any of these numbers before a 7, then you win. You get odds of 9-5 on numbers 4 and 10, odds of 7-5 on numbers 5 and 9, odds of 7-6 on numbers 6 and 8. You can remove a place bet, any time before the next roll of the dice.
Hop Bets
This is when you bet on what you think the exact combination the shooter is going to roll. This is hard to guess and hence the odds are either 31-1 or 16-1 depending on what combination you choose.
Is Online Craps or Live Dealer Craps Better?
You have the option of playing online craps or heading over to the live dealer section of the online casino and playing live dealer craps. There are pros and cons to both options and it will really depend on what you like to determine whether online craps or live dealer craps is better.
Online craps is played against the live craps software and the random number generator (RNG) that determines the results of the dice roll. There is no interaction with any live croupier or any live casino players. You are under no pressure, can control the pace of the game and can play online craps at home or while on the move.
When it comes to live dealer craps, you need to have a strong internet connection as the live dealer craps game is being streamed from a live dealer craps room. You will have the chance to interact with a real live dealer and other live craps players. There is additional pressure as you are playing in front of other players and the live dealer.
We suggest you play both online craps and live dealer craps a few times and then determine the pros and cons of each. This will give you a better understanding of whether you should play live dealer craps or online craps.
How Do I Play Online Craps in NZ?
You will need to find a safe and secure online casino in NZ that offers craps games. You can run a Google search and review the different online casinos that show up on the search page. This can be a time consuming process as there are so many different aspects that you need to check at an online casino such as the welcome bonus, payment options, licensing information, game selection, game vendors, promotions and more.
We have done the work for you by researching, reviewing and shortlisting the best NZ online casinos. Sign-up at any of our featured NZ online casinos, make a deposit and you will be able to play your craps right away!
Check out our top NZ Online Casinos where you can play craps!
Craps - Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it more fun to play craps at a land-based casino or online casino? It really depends on your personal preferences. If you are more outgoing and like being the life of a party, you will probably have more fun playing craps at a land-based casino. The best way to answer the question is to do both and then decide which one appeals to you the most.
- Can I sign-up at more than online craps online casino in NZ? Yes, you can create an account at more than one craps online casino in NZ, claim your welcome bonus and play craps online. However, you cannot create more than one account at the same casino as it will result in your account getting banned.
- Can I win real money playing craps online in NZ? Yes, you can register at any of our recommended NZ online casinos, make a real money deposit and play craps for real money. If you get lucky and win, you can withdraw your real money winnings.
- Is it legal for me to host real money crap games in my home? You can play craps at home for fun in NZ but you cannot run real money craps from your home and invite outsiders to gamble as it is against the law in NZ.
- I am 18 years old; can I play craps at a brick & mortar casino in NZ? The legal gambling age in NZ is 20 and hence you cannot play at a brick & mortar casino in NZ if you are 18 as you will have to show ID proof to enter the casino floor.