Craps vs. Baccarat: Rules, Odds, and Key Differences

Craps and baccarat are two of the most popular casino table games, but they have a lot of differences when it comes to how they’re played, the bets you can make, and their odds. Baccarat is generally simpler, while craps offers more options for how you can approach each round.

So, how do you know which game is right for you? On this page, we will break down the rules of baccarat and craps, the odds, and key differences between the two so you can decide which one fits your playing style.

Craps vs. Baccarat at a Glance

The biggest difference is how much control you have over your wagers. In craps, you choose your wagers, how to combine them, and whether to take or lay odds. In baccarat, you pick a bet and a stake, and the dealing rules determine how each hand plays out.

How Craps and Baccarat Work

Let’s take a closer look at the rules of each game.

How Craps Works

Every round starts with the come-out roll. The player rolling the dice, called the shooter, throws two dice. On a Pass Line bet, a 7 or 11 wins and a 2, 3, or 12 loses. Any other total becomes the point.

Once a point is set, the shooter keeps rolling. A Pass Line bet wins if the point shows up again before a 7, and loses if the 7 comes first. A Don’t Pass bet generally works the opposite way. It wins on a 2 or 3 on the come-out, loses on a 7 or 11, and usually pushes on a 12. Once a point is established, they win if a 7 comes before the point.

Craps has many other betting options, but you don’t need to learn them all to play. Pass Line or Don’t Pass is enough to get started.

How Baccarat Works

At the beginning of a round, you bet on Banker, Player, or Tie. The goal is to have your hand finish closest to 9. Cards 2 through 9 count at face value, aces count as 1, and tens and face cards count as 0. Only the last digit of the hand’s total counts, so a 7 and an 8 make 5.

You don’t decide whether either hand draws a third card. There are fixed rules that determine when cards are drawn. This is why baccarat has a shorter learning curve than craps: your main decisions are only which bet to make and how much to stake.

Craps vs. Baccarat House Edge and Odds

*The craps figure is based on the total amount wagered. Baccarat figures assume standard eight-deck rules with the usual 5% Banker commission.

Baccarat provides a straightforward low-edge Banker bet. Craps’ edges vary much more by wager, with odds bets allowing players to reduce the effective edge on qualifying wagers.

How Taking Odds Works in Craps

If you’re wagering on the Pass Line or Come bet, after a point is set, you can place an additional wager, which is called taking odds. If you wager on Don’t Pass or Don’t Come, it would be called laying odds, and it works the opposite way. 

Why take odds? It carries no house edge because it pays at true mathematical odds. The original Pass Line bet still has its 1.41% edge, but since that edge now applies to a smaller share of your total money on the table, the effective edge drops. 

Here’s an example of how it works. Let’s say you bet $10 on the Pass Line, and the shooter sets a point of 6. You add a $10 odds bet behind it. If a 6 rolls before a 7, the Pass Line pays $10 and the odds bet pays true odds of 6:5, or $12. That’s $22 in profit. If a 7 comes first, you lose both bets, or $20.

Typically, casinos cap your odds wager depending on the point. A common structure is 3x-4x-5x. Here’s what that would look like with your original $10 bet:

If you took an odds bet on the Pass Line, the 3x-4x-5x structure would drop the house edge to .37%. The one thing to keep in mind is that even though the house edge drops, you are ultimately putting more money at risk.

Which Game Is Easier to Learn?

Baccarat is generally easier to learn than craps because it has fewer rules and requires less decision-making. It’s as basic as choosing Banker, Player, or Tie, setting your stake, and watching the cards play out. Because of its simplicity, there are opportunities to win big in baccarat if your bankroll can support it.

On the other hand, craps asks you to understand the come-out roll, the point, and the rules for each wager. A good way to start out is by sticking with the Pass Line or Don’t Pass bets until you learn more about other betting options as you play. 

Which Game Offers More Betting Options?

Compared to baccarat’s three main wagers, craps offers far more betting options:

Just because craps has more betting choices than baccarat doesn’t mean it has better odds. The house edge in craps can swing from low to high depending on the type of bet.

Which Game Gives Players More Control?

Neither game lets you control the outcome, since the dice and the cards are random. However, craps gives you more opportunity to make decisions, which gives players more sense of control.

You can pick from many wager types, keep several bets active, and decide whether to take or lay odds, giving you more of a hands-on approach. Baccarat’s fewer decisions and fixed rules offer less flexibility for the player. That said, more choices don’t mean better results.

Craps vs. Baccarat Bankroll Considerations

In either game, how you structure your wagers affects how much money you have at risk. In craps, having several wagers active at once increases your exposure. As we mentioned earlier, taking odds can lower the effective house edge, but it means you have more money on the table.  

Baccarat provides less opportunity for exposure since you’re generally betting on one event per hand. This makes betting systems like the Martingale an effective strategy if your bankroll is flexible.

Neither one guarantees your bankroll will last longer, but the number of active bets, size of your wagers, and length of play can all have an effect.

Craps vs. Baccarat Online

Craps and baccarat are available online in RNG (Random Number Generator) versions and live dealer tables. Visually, the main difference between the two games is the format. Baccarat’s simple layout suits a screen well, while craps has to accommodate a larger setup.

Another difference is availability. Baccarat is widely available at online casinos, where you can typically find multiple games and sometimes numerous variants. Craps, on the other hand, is slightly less common.

Before you play either one, check betting minimums and maximums, rules, baccarat commission, craps odds limits, available wagers, and game speed.

Which Game Best Fits Your Playstyle?

Baccarat May Suit You If You Prefer:

• A shorter learning curve
• Fewer betting decisions
• Straightforward low-house-edge wagers
• Less need to combine wagers to get a low edge
• A simpler table or online interface

Craps May Suit You If You Prefer:

• More betting options
• More say in how your wagers are structured
• Taking or laying odds
• More variation in how each round plays out
• A game with more mechanics to learn

Craps vs. Baccarat: Key Takeaways

Baccarat may suit players who prefer simplicity, while craps may be the better choice for those who like more flexibility and engagement. Whichever game you play, set a budget you can afford to lose, and walk away when you reach it. If gambling stops being fun, contact a local problem gambling support service.