Roulette vs. Craps – What Is Better?

Roulette, Craps, Dice, Poker Table

Roulette and craps are two well-known casino games that have been around for centuries. They’re both wildly popular in online and land-based casinos, which means they’re accessible almost everywhere. However, which game is better to play overall?

I can help you answer that question by comparing roulette vs. craps. The truth is that both games have their pros and cons – one isn’t necessarily better than the other. However, I can explain some of the differences when it comes to rules, house edge, and other key aspects.

Roulette vs. Craps Rules

These two games are very similar in terms of the variety of wagers you can make. However, the rules also vary significantly, and I want to explain some of those differences.

In craps, you have two dice, and the objective is to roll a number (also known as the “point”) and roll that number again before a 7 is rolled. The “shooter” is the person at the table (in-person or virtual) who’s rolling the dice.

Once the point is made, the shooter rolls the dice again. This is known as the “come-out roll” that restarts the game and establishes a new point. If the next number is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, you will have a new point for the game.

Whenever a shooter rolls a 7 before the point, they lose control of the dice. A new shooter will then roll the dice, and the process starts all over again.

Tip:Roulette is much different from craps in terms of how you play the game. You begin by placing a bet on a dedicated spot on the roulette table (your bets shouldn’t exceed table limits).

The roulette wheel contains 37 different pockets (or more, depending on the version you’re playing). This includes pockets numbered 1-36 and a green zero pocket. The wheel is spun with a small marble, and the winning number is the pocket in which the marble lands.

The pay table determines how much money you’ll win according to the types of bets you make. Pay tables will vary from casino to casino, and I cover the most common payouts in the next section.

Craps vs. Roulette Odds

The odds of winning in both roulette and craps also vary significantly depending on the types of bets you make. Keep in mind that every casino has a statistical advantage known as the “house edge,” and it represents the percentage of the money you’ll lose on average with every bet.

In craps, you have a number of different bets you can make with a varying probability of winning. Here are the odds and house edge of each option.

Similarly, roulette has varying odds that change according to the types of bets you make. However, the house edge is largely the same with every bet. Here’s what you’ll earn with every winning bet for the European version.In roulette, betting on five numbers is known as the “sucker bet” because it has a much higher house edge than the other bets.Roulette vs. Craps StrategyBoth games don’t require a ton of strategy, but you can always improve your chances of winning. The most obvious way to achieve that would be to stick to the wagers with the lowest house edge.Both games offer them, so you can significantly limit the casino’s advantage by choosing wisely. Use the tables above or explore the paytable once you hit the tables to decide.Note:

There’s something else you could do when it comes to roulette. You can find many versions of the game, and some are better than others. European roulette is the best of the popular ones because it features only one zero.

French roulette is even better, and there are also no-zero tables in some online casinos. If you can’t find these, avoiding American roulette is the very least you can do because it features two zeros and a house edge of over 5%.Roulette vs. Craps OnlineThe safest online casinos offer both craps and roulette, as well as several well-known variations of these two games. Roulette is a more popular game and has greater availability over the internet. However, you can still take advantage of special offers to play craps.Ultimately, neither game is better than the other. It all depends on your own personal preferences, and you should play both to determine which one suits you better. You could end up enjoying both!

Bet Odds (Ratio) House Edge
Pass/Come 1:1 1.41%
Don’t Pass/Don’t Come 1:1 1.40%
Field 2 or 12 2:1 5.56%
Field All Others 1:1 5.56%
Big 6 or 8 1:1 9.09%
Place 4 or 10 9:5 6.67%
Place 5 or 9 7:5 4.00%
Place 6 or 8 7:6 1.52%
Buy 4 or 10 2:1 4.76%
Buy 5 or 9 3:2 4.76%
Buy 6 or 8 6:5 4.76%
Hardway 6 or 8 9:1 9.09%
Hardway 4 or 10 7:1 11.11%
Taking Odds 4 or 10 2:1 0.00%
Taking Odds 5 or 9 3:2 0.00%
Taking Odds 6 or 8 6:5 0.00%
Laying Odds 4 or 10 1:2 0.00%
Laying Odds 5 or 9 2:3 0.00%
Laying Odds 6 or 8 5:6 0.00%
Any 7 4:1 16.67%
Any Craps 7:1 11.11%
3 or 11 15:1 11.11%
2 or 12 30:1 13.89%
Bet Payout (Ratio) Chances of Winning House Edge
Reds/Blacks 1:1 48.65% 2.7%
Evens/Odds 1:1 48.65% 2.7%
Lows/Highs 1:1 48.65% 2.7%
Dozens 2:1 32.43% 2.7%
Columns 2:1 32.43% 2.7%
Six Numbers 5:1 16.22% 2.7%
Five Numbers 6:1 13.16% 7.89%
Four Numbers 8:1 10.81% 2.7%
Three Numbers 11:1 8.11% 2.7%
Two Numbers 17:1 5.41% 2.7%
One Number 35:1 2.70% 2.7%
Petko Stoyanov
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About Petko Stoyanov
My name is Petko Stoyanov, and I've been a gambling writer for more than ten years. I guess that was the natural path for me since I've loved soccer and card games for as long as I can remember! I have a long and fairly successful history with English Premier League betting and online poker, but I follow many other sports. I watch all big European soccer leagues, basketball, football, and tennis regularly, and I keep an eye on snooker, volleyball, and major UFC events.