Put simply, players bet on the outcome of each roll of the dice. But the simplicity stops there - here's why.
To start off, one player, known as the "shooter", rolls both dice simultaneously. The numbers on the two dice are added together, and the total is called the "dice roll". Depending on the dice roll, different bets will either win or lose. The shooter continues to roll until they get a seven or a number that they have already rolled before.
There are many different types of bets in craps, but the most common ones are the "Pass Line" and "Don't Pass Line" bets. On the "Pass Line" bet, players win if the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11 on their first roll, also known as the "come out" roll. If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, also known as "craps", then players lose. Any other number becomes the "point", and the shooter continues to roll until they either get the point number again or a 7. Players win if they get the point number, but if they roll a 7 before getting the point, players lose. Essentially, the player is attempting to enter the betting round.
On the other hand, the "Don't Pass Line" bet is essentially the opposite of the "Pass Line". Players win on a come out roll if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, and lose on a roll of 7 or 11. If the shooter rolls a 12, it is considered a tie or "push". After the come out roll, players win if the shooter rolls a number that they have not rolled before and loses if they get a number that has already been rolled.
Another popular bet in craps is the "Come Bet", which is similar to the "Pass Line" bet but can only be placed after the come out roll. Players win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, and lose on a roll of 2, 3, or 12. The "Don't Come Bet" works just like the "Don't Pass Line" bet, but can only be placed after the come out roll. Players win if the shooter rolls a 2 or 3, and lose on a roll of 7 or 11.