Most of what stops people from playing craps isn't the math - it's the fear of doing something wrong in front of a packed table. I get it. The good news: the etiquette is short, the dealers want you to succeed, and once you know five or six small things, you'll look like you've done this before.
There's no shame in standing at the rail for a minute before you buy in. A craps round has a rhythm - come-out, point, then a race to repeat the point before a 7 - and watching one cycle live is the fastest way to sync up with it. If the marker puck is ON a number, a round is already in progress; wait for it to flip OFF before you jump in. (New to the rhythm itself? Start with how to play craps.)
When there's a break between rolls, lay your cash flat on the felt and say "change, please." Here's the part that trips people up: you don't hand money directly to the dealer. Casinos require cash to be placed on the table where the overhead cameras can see it, so the dealer won't take it from your hand. They'll pull it in, count it out loud, and slide your chips over. Take your time stacking them.
Pick any open spot at the rail and you're set - there's no assigned seating. Three people run the table: the two dealers on either side handle your chips and payouts, the stickman in the middle pushes the dice around with a stick and calls the rolls, and the boxman sits behind the chips watching the money. When you need anything, talk to the dealer on your side. They place the bets you can't reach yourself, and you tell them what you want.
The dice move around the table, so eventually they'll land in front of you. When they do:
Tipping is normal and optional. The easy move: when you're winning, toss the dealers a small bet of their own - "$5 on the line for the boys" puts them on your side of the round. You don't owe a tip on every hand, and nobody expects a windfall. A little, when you're up, is plenty.
Etiquette isn't a test you can fail - it's a set of small courtesies that keep a fast game moving. The dealers deal with first-timers all day and will quietly steer you right if you ask. Tell them it's your first time; most will look out for you. The table isn't judging you nearly as hard as you're judging yourself.
No signup, no money. Get the rhythm down so the etiquette is the only new thing at the table.
Between rolls, set your cash flat on the felt and say "change, please." Don't hand it to the dealer — casinos require money on the table for the cameras. The dealer converts it to chips and slides them to you.
Superstition, not a rule. Once a point is set, a 7 ends the round and most of the table loses, so players treat saying it as bad luck. Nobody enforces it, but it marks you as new.
One hand only, keep them over the table, and throw hard enough to hit the back wall (required for the roll to count). Don't switch hands or slide them. You can also decline to shoot and just bet.
Put your Pass Line bet down before the come-out roll while the marker is OFF. Once the dice are out, keep your hands clear of the table until the roll resolves.