How to Play Bubble Craps
Bubble craps is the automated, electronic version of casino craps. This guide explains how a bubble craps machine works, how a round plays out step by step, every bet with its payout and house edge, the dice math behind it, strategies that actually make sense, and how to practice on a free bubble craps game online before you ever sit down at a machine.
What is bubble craps?
On a bubble craps machine the two dice are sealed inside a clear dome in the middle of a ring of player stations. Instead of a stickman and a crew of dealers, the machine pops the dice with a burst of air (or a mechanical shaker), a camera reads the numbers, and the game pays every winning bet automatically to your credit meter. Each player has a touchscreen showing a full craps layout.
Players often call any of these machines "bubble craps", but you will also see brand names such as Shoot to Win Craps and other electronic or hybrid craps games. Because there is no crew to pay, casinos can offer much lower minimums than at a live table, there is no pressure to tip, and nobody minds if you bet the Don't Pass. The dice are physical dice, not a video animation, so the probabilities are exactly the same as at the felt.
How the bubble craps machine works
- Buy in. Insert cash or a ticket at your station; it shows up as credits. (On Bluff Craps you simply start with free play chips.)
- Betting window. A timer counts down while players touch the layout to place chips. Many machines let the designated shooter press a roll button when everyone is ready.
- The roll. Betting locks, the dice tumble inside the bubble, and the camera reads the result. A re-roll happens automatically if the dice land cocked or can't be read.
- Settlement. Winning bets are paid instantly, losing bets are cleared, and the next betting window opens. Most screens also show roll history and number-frequency statistics.
How to play bubble craps, step by step
The game follows normal craps rounds.
- Come-out roll. Place a Pass Line (or Don't Pass) bet before the first roll of a round. On the come-out a 7 or 11 wins for the Pass Line; 2, 3 or 12 ("craps") loses. Don't Pass is the reverse, except that a 12 is usually a push.
- The point. Any other total (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes the point, which the screen marks with an ON puck.
- Take the odds. Once a point is set, add an odds bet behind your line bet. It pays true odds and has no house edge.
- Add more action (optional). Make Come bets or place the 6 and 8 if you want more numbers working.
- Point or seven-out. The dice keep rolling until the point repeats (Pass wins) or a 7 appears (a "seven-out": Pass loses, Don't Pass wins). Then a new come-out roll starts.
Example: you bet $5 on the Pass Line and the come-out is 6. You add $10 odds. The next rolls are 9, 4, then 6, so you win $5 on the Pass Line and $12 on the odds (6:5). If a 7 had come first you would have lost $15.
Bubble craps bets, payouts and house edge
| Bet | Typical payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Line / Come | 1:1 | 1.41% |
| Don't Pass / Don't Come | 1:1 | 1.36% |
| Odds (behind Pass/Come) | 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8 | 0% |
| Place 6 or 8 | 7:6 | 1.52% |
| Place 5 or 9 | 7:5 | 4.00% |
| Place 4 or 10 | 9:5 | 6.67% |
| Buy 4 or 10 (5% commission on win) | 2:1 | 1.67% |
| Field (2 pays 2:1, 12 pays 3:1) | 1:1 on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 2.78% |
| Field (2 and 12 pay 2:1) | 1:1 on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 | 5.56% |
| Hard 6 or 8 | 9:1 | 9.09% |
| Hard 4 or 10 | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Any Craps (2, 3 or 12) | 7:1 | 11.11% |
| Yo (11) or Ace-Deuce (3) | 15:1 | 11.11% |
| Aces (2) or Twelve | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| Any Seven | 4:1 | 16.67% |
These are the standard payouts. Individual machines can pay less on some bets (for example 6:5 instead of 7:6 on the place 6 and 8) or cap odds at 2x, so always open the help or pay table screen first.
- Pass Line and Don't Pass are the foundation of the game and the cheapest bets you can make on their own.
- Come and Don't Come work like Pass and Don't Pass but can be made after a point is set; each one travels to its own point number.
- Place bets bet that a number rolls before a 7 and can usually be turned off or taken down at any time.
- The Field is a one-roll bet that looks attractive because it covers seven numbers, but those numbers only make up 16 of the 36 combinations.
- Hardways win if 4, 6, 8 or 10 rolls as a pair (for example 3-3 for hard 6) before a 7 or the "easy" way.
- Bonus bets such as All Small (2-6), All Tall (8-12) and Make 'Em All (every number) pay if every number in a group rolls before a 7. They pay big because they rarely hit, and they carry high house edges.
Dice odds every bubble craps player should know
Two dice make 36 equally likely combinations. A 7 can be made six ways (1 in 6), 6 and 8 five ways each, 5 and 9 four ways, 4 and 10 three ways, 3 and 11 two ways, and 2 and 12 one way each. That is why the 7 ends so many rolls, why 6 and 8 are the best place bets, and why bets on 2 or 12 pay so much.
| Point | Chance to make it before a 7 | True odds |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 33.3% (3 ways vs 6) | 2:1 |
| 5 or 9 | 40.0% (4 vs 6) | 3:2 |
| 6 or 8 | 45.5% (5 vs 6) | 6:5 |
Overall, the Pass Line wins about 49.3% of the time, which is where its 1.41% edge comes from. A Pass Line decision takes about 3.4 rolls on average, so on a fast machine you can see a lot of decisions per hour; low-edge bets matter more the more you play.
Bubble craps strategy
No strategy removes the house edge, but you can choose how much of it you pay. These are well-known approaches that translate directly to the machine:
- Pass Line plus odds. The simplest low-edge play: a minimum Pass bet with as much odds as you're comfortable with. The more of your money is on the odds, the lower your overall edge.
- Pass Line plus place 6 and 8. Pass with odds, then place the 6 and 8 in multiples of $6 so the 7:6 payout pays correctly. It keeps the best two numbers working.
- Three-point Molly. A Pass bet with odds plus two Come bets with odds, giving you three numbers working using only zero-edge or low-edge bets.
- Dark side. Don't Pass (and Don't Come) with lay odds has the lowest edge on the layout. Machines are a comfortable place to bet the don'ts since there's no table crowd.
- Skip the middle. Treat hardways, props and bonus bets as small occasional extras rather than your main action.
Two machine-specific tips: the statistics screen showing which numbers are "hot" or "due" is just history, since every roll is independent; and the low minimums mean you can size bets to your bankroll. A common guideline is to bring at least 20 to 30 times your total bet per roll for a session and to set a stop-loss before you start. Practice any of these on our free bubble craps table, or read more in craps strategies.
Bubble craps vs live table craps
| Bubble craps machine | Live craps table | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum bets | Often $1 to $5 | Often $10 to $25+ |
| Dice | Real dice tumbled by machine | Real dice thrown by a player |
| Dealers and tipping | None | Crew of dealers; tipping customary |
| Odds limits | Often 2x or 3-4-5x | Often 3-4-5x up to 10x or more |
| Pace | Steady, timed betting windows | Varies with the crowd |
| Atmosphere | Quiet, beginner friendly | Loud and social |
For beginners the machine is the gentler place to learn; experienced players sometimes prefer live tables for higher odds limits and the social energy. If you want that social side for free, try multiplayer craps with friends.
Crapless bubble craps
Some casinos run crapless versions of the machine. In crapless craps only a 7 wins on the come-out, and 2, 3, 11 and 12 become points instead of losing or winning immediately. It sounds friendlier, but losing the instant 11 win and having to make tough points like 2 and 12 lifts the Pass Line edge to about 5.38%. Try it risk-free with free crapless craps.
Bubble craps glossary
- Come-out roll: the first roll of a round, before a point is set.
- Point: the number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) that must repeat before a 7 for Pass bets to win.
- Seven-out: rolling a 7 after a point is set, ending the round.
- Odds: an extra bet behind a line or come bet paid at true odds.
- Easy way / hard way: a number rolled without / with a matching pair.
- Prop bet: a proposition bet in the center of the layout, usually a one-roll bet.
Practice on a free bubble craps game
Bluff Craps gives you a free online bubble craps table with realistic 3D dice, plus crapless craps and multiplayer craps to play with friends. Read our game instructions and FAQ, or the history of bubble craps.
Bubble craps FAQ
What is bubble craps?
Bubble craps is an electronic craps machine. Two real dice sit inside a sealed clear dome (the "bubble"); a burst of air or a mechanical shaker tumbles them, a camera reads the result, and every player bets from a touchscreen. The bets and rules are the same as table craps, but there is no dealer and no stickman.
Can I play bubble craps online for free?
Yes. Bluff Craps lets you play a free bubble craps game in your browser with play chips. There is no real money involved, no download, and chips cannot be cashed out.
Is bubble craps the same as regular craps?
The rules and bets are the same: Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, odds, place bets, the field, hardways and proposition bets. Differences are the format (touchscreens, lower minimums, no tipping, a steady roll pace) and that some machines use different payouts or lower odds limits, so always check the machine's pay table.
What is the best bet in bubble craps?
Mathematically, Pass Line or Don't Pass with as much odds behind it as the machine allows. Pass has a house edge of about 1.41%, Don't Pass about 1.36%, and odds bets have no house edge. Place 6 and 8 at 7:6 cost about 1.52%. One-roll proposition bets carry edges of roughly 11% to 17%.
What is the minimum bet on a bubble craps machine?
It depends on the casino, but bubble craps minimums are usually far lower than live tables, commonly $1 to $5 per bet. Odds limits vary too, often 2x or 3x-4x-5x, and occasionally higher.
Who rolls the dice in bubble craps?
The machine does. On many machines one station is designated the shooter and presses the roll button when betting closes, but the dice are tumbled by the machine, so nobody can influence the throw.
Is the bubble craps machine rigged?
Licensed casino machines are tested by gaming regulators and roll physical dice, so each roll is independent. The house advantage comes from the payouts, not from controlling the dice. Bluff Craps is a free simulator for practice and does not reflect any specific casino machine.
Is there crapless bubble craps?
Yes, some casinos run crapless versions where 2, 3, 11 and 12 become points. It is more action but the Pass Line edge rises to about 5.38%. You can try free crapless craps on Bluff Craps.
Do betting systems beat bubble craps?
No. Every roll is independent and no progression or pattern changes the house edge. Systems can only change how your results swing, which is why practicing with free chips is the safest way to try them.
Can I win real money on Bluff Craps?
No. Bluff Craps is a free social casino. Chips are for entertainment only, have no cash value and cannot be redeemed. Success in a social casino does not mean future success at real-money gambling.
Bluff Craps is a free social casino for entertainment and practice. Chips have no cash value, there is no real-money gambling and nothing can be won or withdrawn. For adults 18+ only.