Do not step up to a craps table with money that you cannot afford to lose. The only sure thing with any gambling game, craps especially, is that if you cannot afford to lose, you will, absolutely, positively, for sure lose every dime.
That Said: These pages are written for the casual gambler. The guy who has a day job and likes to play craps for the thrill and excitement of it all. The gambler who has expendable income already ear marked for entertainment.
And That Said: Nobody likes to lose weather you can afford it or not. Craps is an exciting and engaging game. The players are all on the same side It is you against the house. You may throw a number and not win any money on it but that does not mean some other craps player is not celebrating. One time I threw a 5 eight times in a row. I did not have a dime on it. Another guy at the table had a $26 Come bet on the 5 and he raked in the dough.
The first roll of the dice is called the Come Out Roll. If a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 is hit, it is game over. You win on the 7 and 11 and lose on the 2, 3, and 12. If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 are hit that number is called The Point. You must roll that number again before you roll a 7 to win the money that you have bet on the pass line. You continue to roll the dice until you roll a seven. If you hit your point you still keep control of the dice and must roll to establish another point.
Suppose you have the dice. On the Come out Roll (Your First Roll) you roll a seven. Cool. You have just won even money for your bet on the Pass Line. You get another come out roll and this time you roll a 2. You lose the money that you have on the pass line but still keep control of the dice. So far you are dead even. You roll again and a 10 comes out. 10 is your point. now, you must roll the 10 again before you roll a 7 to win the money that you have bet on the pass line. Pause here for a second and make some other bets. The easiest and safest bets to make are a Place Bets on the 6 and 8. There is no need to tell the dealer that you wish to make a Place bet on the 6 and 8. They know when you throw the money down and say, "Six and eight please." Since a Place Bet on the 6 and 8 pay 7-6. It is to your advantage to bet in multiples of six dollars. You can ask for your place bet to be returned to you at any time. While craps costs to play you can make a lot of money if you pay attention to the way you bet.