Many casino games require basic mathematics in order to play well; craps is no exception. Don't take that to mean that just because a number hasn't been rolled in awhile that it's due to come out because of the law of averages. The dice don't have any sort of memory. The probability of winning craps is important to understand when placing your wagers on the table.

Why Craps isn't Blackjack

In games like blackjack, cards are usually removed from play after they've been on the table, therefore changing the probability of what cards show up with each individual draw. This is where concepts like card counting come into play. In craps, you aren't removing any numbers from play; each roll is independent of the others. In mathematics, this way of determining probability is referred to as independent trials.

Independent Trials

The basis of independent trials is that the occurrence of one event has no bearing on the probability of future events. No matter how many times you roll the dice, the odds are 5 to 1 that a 7 is going to be rolled. The events are separate. Because of this, you can enter into a craps game at any point and know what the odds are.

Why this is Important

Knowing this information comes with its own set of advantages of disadvantages. It's advantageous because you don't have to worry about learning strategies in game play like you need to for games like poker and blackjack. On the other hand, it's a disadvantage because that means you really don't have control over the game itself. The strategies that you need to learn for craps are based on your betting strategy; what bets to take, how often to bet, and how much to bet. This requires a lot more self-control and organization than you would need for more strategy-based games.

Coming to this understanding will greatly increase your probability of winning in craps. You can't beat the house edge, but you can make sure that the edge doesn't destroy your bankroll because of common misconceptions.