Play Online Craps for Real Money or for Free

The exact history of Craps is unclear, with many claiming it to be a variation of an Arabic dice game called Al Dar that spread to Europe in the 12th century, while others believe it originated in the 1780s as Krabs, a variation of the popular game of Hazard in Europe. Either way, the popular dice game of craps that we know and love today can be found at many online casinos. 

Play Online Craps for Free

One look at a craps table may be enough to make you break out in a cold sweat, but you'll be pleased to know that there are ways to explore the game without risking any money. This is, in fact, a great way of learning the ropes when it comes to online craps, as you can play for as long as you like.

There are two main ways to play online craps for free: in the online casino's demo mode or by taking advantage of sign-up bonuses. These two methods are slightly different, so we'll explore each in more detail. That way, you can decide which is right for you. 

Free Online Craps Demo Mode

Online craps is the perfect game to start exploring in demo mode since there are several rules to get your head around. The best way of familiarizing yourself with a new game is to play it and learn as you go along, so it's good to know that you can do so without a deposit and using your own money. That's where demo mode comes in.

Demo mode is free to access the game. Most online casinos offer the ability to play many of their games in demo mode, which may also be called Free Play Mode or labelled as Try Free. In demo mode, the game of online craps is the same as in real money mode, except for the balance, which is in play chips.

Get Some Craps Credits for Free

Another way of playing online craps without risking your own money is by claiming and using a sign-up bonus. Sign-up bonuses are a set amount of funds you can use to play games, just like many other bonuses. The major difference here is that you don't need to deposit it to get it!

Many online casinos offer sign-up bonuses as a way of attracting new players. All you have to do to claim one is register a new account with the best online casino offering the sign-up bonus, which will be added to your balance. You can then use it to play online craps, as long as the T&Cs allow it (some games are excluded, check before claiming!).

The benefit of sign-up bonuses is that if you win, you can withdraw your winnings as long as you've fulfilled the stated wagering requirements. While some sign-up bonuses don't allow you to withdraw winnings, others let you get your hands on those winnings as straight cash!

Play Online Craps for Real Money

Once you've had a taste of the game of online craps by exploring it in demo mode or having played it using a sign-up bonus, you may at some point have wished your winnings were in real cash. That's when you know you're ready to take the next step and start playing the game for real! But how exactly do you do that? And is it safe?

Two main ways to start playing games like craps for real money are by making a deposit and using your cash or the casino's money as a bonus. Let's look at each approach to see which one suits you best.

Online Craps Deposit Methods

Making a deposit is the most obvious way of playing craps for real money. If the idea of depositing money to an online casino makes you a bit nervous, don't worry! As long as you choose an online casino with a good reputation, is fully licensed and offers trusted payment methods, your experience will be as safe and secure as it is when you do your online shopping. Check our detailed online casino reviews to help you choose the best site for you.

Depositing at an online casino is a quick and easy process. Once you've joined, you'll be prompted to make your first deposit. You can also click any Deposit buttons or visit the Cashier.

Then you choose your preferred deposit methods, such as credit or debit card, online payment service provider or bank transfer, enter your details and how much you want to deposit, then click the button to complete the transaction. Your newly deposited funds will appear in your balance, and you'll be all set to start playing online craps for real!

Payment Provider	Accepts Deposits	Accepts Withdrawals	Payout Speed	Fees	More Info
	Yes	Yes	up to 72 Hours	up to 5%	Neteller deposit casinos
	Yes	Yes	48 to 72 Hours	up to 7%	Skrill deposit casinos
	Yes	Yes	48 to 72 Hours	up to 3%	PayPal deposit casinos
	Yes	Yes	up to 3 days	up to 3%*	credit card deposit casinos

*In many cases, the casino may waive or even pass on fees associated with transacting with the casino. Ensure to clarify fees with the casino that you choose.

Bonuses Available for Online Craps

As mentioned above, bonuses for online craps come in many different forms, but they all have one thing in common: they're perfect for extending the time you can play your favourite games, which means they can serve as a bit of a boost. To your chances of winning! But what kinds of bonuses are there? 

You may already be familiar with the bonuses you get for depositing, but it may surprise you to know that there are other bonuses, including those that don't require you to deposit. Let's look at some of the most common bonuses you're likely to come across that you can use to play online craps.

Free Craps No-Deposit Bonuses

As the name implies, no deposit, no deposit bonus casinos are bonuses you can claim without first making a deposit. We already looked at one type of no-deposit bonus above, the sign-up bonus, which some online casinos offer to register a new account. However, there are other types of no deposit bonuses too.

No deposit bonuses tend to be offered to encourage players to play, especially if they've been absent from the site for a while. It's also quite common for online casinos to offer no-deposit bonuses to a certain group of players so they can try a new game. These offers may be featured on the online casino's Promotions or Offer page. Still, they're also sent via email, especially if it's a personalised offer, so make sure you are on the site's email marketing list!

Claiming a no-deposit bonus is usually a very simple affair. If it's a sign-up bonus, registering a new account is all you need. Other types of no-deposit bonuses can be claimed simply by logging in to the site. In contrast, others don't require you to do anything as they're credited automatically by the online casino.

Welcome Offer for Craps

Perhaps the most common type of bonus, the Welcome Bonus, is a new player offer that you can claim simply by making your first deposit at the online casino in question. Almost all online casinos offer a welcome bonus of some sort, and they tend to be very attractive to bringing in new players.

Most welcome bonuses are in the form of a percentage of your deposit, giving you more than your deposited amount to play with altogether. Claiming tends to be very simple, with a qualifying deposit (i.e. one of at least a certain minimum amount) unlocking the bonus and adding it to your account automatically. You may need to enter a bonus code or contact support to claim the welcome bonus in some cases.

Craps Reload Bonuses

Much like the welcome bonus, Reload Bonuses are offered to players who deposit, though in this case, it's for deposits not including your first. Again, the bonus consists of a percentage of your deposited amount, which you can use to play games like craps (as long as it's a permitted game in the T&Cs).

Reload bonuses are very common at online casinos and are a great way to get more time to play games. However, they come with T&Cs that dictate how they are to be used, including the wagering requirements that must be fulfilled before withdrawals are allowed, so check beforehand.

Cashback for Craps Games

Though it may not be immediately obvious, Cashback offers are a form of bonus. These are a little different to typical bonus offers in that they're credited after gameplay rather than before. There are two types of cashback: net losses cashback and gameplay cashback. Net losses cashback gives you a certain percentage of your losses back if you lose overall. Whether you win or lose, gameplay cashback is credited based on your gameplay. The latter is much rarer than the former.

One important point to note about a cashback casino bonus is that it's usually not straight cash you get back but a bonus, and as such, there may be wagering requirements before you can make a withdrawal.

Live Craps Bonuses

Since many online casinos feature live dealer casino games, it's also common to find bonuses specifically for these realistic games. While most online craps games are RNG based versions, there are one or two games that feature live dealer action, and it's these games that you can use live casino bonuses to play!

Live casino bonuses can be claimed just like any other bonus, usually by making a qualifying deposit. However, some may require you to enter a bonus code or contact support to claim. Remember that live casino bonuses are for use on live casino games only. Playing other games using the bonus will not contribute to the wagering requirements.

Online Craps Tournaments

Another way of getting an online craps bonus is to take part in tournaments. These are great for getting something extra just for playing. Many online casinos run regular tournaments such as slots, table games and live dealer games tournaments. Since craps come in table game and live dealer game formats, these are usually included as an eligible tournament game (check the T&Cs first, though!).

To take part, play during the specified period, and you'll earn points. The players with the most points on the leaderboard at the end of the tournament win prizes. These prizes are often bonuses or cash, which you can use to play more craps!

How to Play Craps?

Though the craps table and various bets may seem complicated, it's an easy game to play once you know the rules. Craps involve rolling (shooting) a pair of dice, with the different areas on the table giving you various ways of betting on the results. The game can be played in two ways, with a simple dice outcome game available for quick bets, while the main game is played in rounds. To learn the details of this dice game, check out our article on how to play and win at online craps.

References

• What is craps (Wikipedia)
• History behind craps and dice (Crescent)