Craps Terms Glossary
If the probability of winning is p, then the true odds are (1-p)/p. For bets which can only win or lose, if the actuall payoff is w, and the true odds are t, then the house edge is (t-w)/(t+1). In the case of the any seven bet in craps the true odds are 5 to 1, and the payoff is 4 to 1, so the house edge is (5-4)/(5+1) = 1/6 = 16.67%. C&E: A one roll bet on both any craps and the eleven. The bet is made in two parts with one unit being placed on the any craps outcome of 2, 3 or 12 and the other unit being placed on the eleven. If the any craps bet wins, the eleven bet loses and vice versa.
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Just like other casino games, Craps has plenty of terms, slang and jargon that can be heard at the Craps table or around it. Knowing these terms makes the game a little easier to understand and play. Don’t be afraid to ask a fellow player or one of the casino employees about any slang terms you hear at the craps table.
Aces – Betting that the next roll will be the total sum of 2.
Any Craps – A bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, or 12.
Any Seven – A bet that the next roll will be 7.
Arm – Term used to describe a player who is skilled at throwing the dice, sometimes even suggesting that the player can alter the result by the way he throws.
Back Line – same as the Don’t Pass Line.
Betting Right – Pass Line and Come bets.
Betting Wrong – Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets.
Big Eight – Even money bet that an 8 is rolled before a 7.
Big Six – Even money bet that a 6 is rolled before a 7.
Big Red – Betting on any 7 being rolled.
Boxcars – Two 6s.
Boxman – The casino employee who sits behind the table between the two dealers and is in charge of the houses’ chips and overseeing all activity on the table
Buffalo – Betting on all the Hard Ways and Any Seven.
Buy Bets- 5% commission paid to the house so that the correct odds are paid
C &E – One time bet that the next roll will be any craps (2, 3, or 12) or 11.
Capped Dice – non standard, crooked dice which are no longer playable.
Center Bets – Also known as proposition bets, they are placed in the center of the table.
Cold Table – Something every Craps player hates! This table is losing often because shooters are not making points.
Come Bet – wager that the shooter will roll his point
Come Out Roll – The first roll by a shooter, either at the beginning of his turn or after he has made a point.
Craps Out – rolling a craps on the come out roll includes loss of pass line bets
Craps – The name of the game as well as a roll of 2, 3 or 12
Dealer 001f- the two casino employees on the sides of the Boxman who handle placing the bets and payouts
Don’t Come – Betting that the shooter will roll a 7 before he rolls his point.
Don’t Pass Bet – Making a bet against the dice before a Come Out roll.
Don’t Pass Bar – opposite of a Pass Line bet
Double Odds – Doubles the initial Pass Line, Don’t Pass Line, Come, Don’t Come bets.
Easy Way – A dice roll of 4, 6, 8, and 10 with each die having a different number.
Edge – The casino’s advantage over the player.
Even Money – 1:1 payout
Field Bet – A bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
Floorman – casino employee who stands behind the craps table, dealers with players and credit
Free Odds Bet – Taken at true odds.
Front Line – Same as the Pass Line.
Hard Way- Betting on a 4, 6, 8 or 10 when both dice are the same number
Hi-Lo – One roll bet that the next roll will be a 2 or 12
Hope Bet – Single time bet that the dice will land on specific numbers.
Horn Bet – A bet on 2, 3, 11 and 12 with the same amount.
Horn High Bet – bet amount is split into five parts. Two parts on the high number 12 and three units for the other numbers 2, 3 and 11.
Hot Table – The best kind to play on! A Hot Table will have shooters making points and lots of money for other players. You can always spot these tables by the crowds around them and the noise coming from them.
Inside Numbers – 5, 6, 8 and 9. Used mostly when placing bets dice
Line Bet – Bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.
Lay Bet – Betting that a point number will not be rolled before a 7 is thrown
Lay Odds – Additional odds bet against the dice
Layout – painted marks on the felt showing all bets that can be made
Little Joe – A Hard 4 or rolling 2 2s
Loaded dice – dice that are weighted, results in specific rolled numbers
MarkerBuck/Puck- A Plastic disk that the dealers use to mark the point on the Craps table; ‘Off’ or ‘On’.
Midnight – One time roll bet on 12.
Natural – 7 or 11 on the come out roll.
Odds – ratio of an event occurring, generally the amount paid out per winning bet
Off – bets will not be active on the next dice roll.
On – active
One Roll Bets – betting on a single dice roll
Outside Numbers – 4, 5 9, and 10.
Parlay – Using winnings to increase a bet, usually double (let it ride/ press the bet).
Pass Line (Bet) – Betting the dice will win or pass.
Payoff – winnings on a wager
Pit Boss – Casino employee responsible for all craps tables in one area of casino
Place Bet – betting a point number will be thrown before a 7 comes out.
Place Numbers – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
Point – number established on Come Out roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10
Point Number – One of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 determined on the come out roll.
Press (a Bet) – use winnings to double a bet.
Proposition Bets – Prop Bets – single roll bets and the hardway bet.
Rail – The grooved area along the top of the craps table where chips are kept
Right Bettor – A player who bets that the shooter will make the Point.
Roll- single throw of the dice
Rounding – Payout rounding. Rounding up or down the amount.
Seven Out – When a 7 is thrown after a point has been established and before the point number is rolled again thus ending the shooters turn.
Shooter - The player who is currently rolling the dice.
Snake Eyes – When you roll a two in craps. Each die looks like a snake’s eye
Stickman – A casino employee standing opposite the Boxman who calls out the dice rolls and returns the dice to the shooter, also responsible for the placing and paying the proposition bets.
Toke – A tip given to the dealer usually made on a line or prop bet
The Point – The number established on the come-out roll. Only place numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10) can become the point. The shooter attempts to roll the point number again before throwing a 7 in order to win that round of pass line or come betting.
Three-way Craps – A bet made in units of 3 with one unit on 2, one unit on 3, and one unit on 12.
Craps Terms Glossary Meaning
True Odds- odds a particular number will be rolled on any single dice roll
Unit – bet size used as standard of measurement
Vigorish – or Vig. The casino edge or commission taken by the house.
Working – Bets that are active on any given roll
Whirl Bet – Betting on 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12 with the same amount.
Wrong Bettor – A player betting the dice will not pass. A player who bets the shooter will not make the point and instead he will Seven-Out.
Yo – The number 11. Also called Yo-leven
Craps Glossary
Green means good
Red means bad
Yellow means be cautious
Black means neutral
- 2 ways. A two way bet is a bet for the player and a bet for the crew. It can be of equal or unequal amounts. Dealers need tips from the players and casinos allow bets under the table minimum to be bet for your dealer
- 3 way. A bet of three units on either a group of 3 numbers as in a three way craps bet or a 3 unit bet on a number that has 3 different combinations of the dice that can add up to that number as in a three way seven, or a three way six with one unit bet on each combination. These are one roll bets with a high house advantage and should be avoided.
- any craps.A one roll one unit bet on 2, 3, 12, showing on the next roll. It pays 7 to 1.
- Any seven.A one roll bet that seven will show on the next roll. It pays 4 to 1.
- Apron. The outer perimeter of the craps layout, behind the pass line. Free odds bets go on the apron.
- Bar 12 or 2. A push for bets on the dont pass line and the dont come.
- Behind. Term used to describe the act of establishing a dont come point. When a dont come point is established the cheques go into the box 'behind' that box number.
- Bet. A wager. What the dealer says to acknowledge a wager from a player.
- Big 6 or Big 8.A self service bet in the corner of the lay out that wins when that number shows. It pays 1 to 1 and always works.
- Big red.A term for the number seven. A one roll beton any seven.
- Black. A term used for $100 casino cheques, usually black in color.
- Bowl. The plastic bowl where the stickman keeps the dice. If a thrown die lands in the bowl, no roll is called.
- Bank. The stacks of chips that the casino has on the table during play.
- Buffalo.This is a 5 unit bet which is a slang term and has different meanings in different gaming jurisdictions. This bet is a bet on all of the hardways and the eleven. The bet can be made as a hop bet or an all day bet (all day is the normal hardway bet not the one roll hop bet). This bet can be all the hardways and a big red.
- Boxman. The boxman is the person that is in control of the craps game. His duties are counting the cash and gaming cheques, settle any disputes, and generally supervise the dealers and play in general. He sits on a stool in between the dealers.
- Box number. The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, are the box numbers or point numbers. All other numbers are called naturals since they create a winning or losing roll on come out rolls.
- Buy bet.A bet on any box number that is paid at correct odds using a 5% charge or vig on the amount of the bet to collect the house advantage. Buy bets are paid when the box number shows before the seven as the place bets are.
- C and E. This is a two unit one roll bet, wagering one unit on C or any craps and one unit on E or eleven.
- Change only. Change only is called by a dealer or player when the player puts cash on the lay out, signifying that there is no action on the cash and it will be converted to gaming cheques.
- Cheques. Chips.
- Cocked die or dice. Cocked die describes a situation where on or both dice are laying partly on the lay out and leaning against a stack of cheques, the rubber pyramids or some other obstruction. Procedure requires the boxman or stickman to call the face of the die that would be on top if the obstruction were moved and the die were allowed to rest solely on the layout.
- Color up. This can describe two situations. The first is when a player exchanges smaller denomination cheques for larger ones before leaving the table. The other is when a dealer intentionally begins to pay the player in higher value cheques, either to keep the size of the players stake from having too many small cheques, (customer service) or to run the player out of small cheques to entice them to bet or tip in larger denomination cheques (hustling)
- Come bet.Come bets are exactly like pass line bets, but are made after the come out roll and establish another point number for the player. Come bets win on rolls of 7 or 11, lose on rolls of 2, 3, 12. When a come bet is established and moved to a box number the player can take free odds just like a pass line bet and that number must repeat before the 7 shows to win.
- Come out roll. A come out roll is the first roll starting a new game. On a come out roll the pass line wins with a 7 or 11, and loses with a craps roll. A shooter will continue to make come out roll until a box number has rolled establishing a point for that game.
- Comp.Complimentary food, rooms or other perks given to the player by the casino.
- Crap. The numbers 2, 3, 12.
- Crap out. A misnomer. A player does not crap out, they may roll a crap on the come out roll losing their pass line bet, however the hand continues if the player desires. A player will seven out, rolling a seven to end the hand.
- Crapless craps.A proprietary game offered at a few casinos where a roll of craps is not a losing roll on the come out, but establishes that number as a point. This game has a much higher house advantage than a regular craps game and should be avoided.
- Dealer. A casino employee that works one of the table games. A craps game has 4 dealers that always rotate, from a break to the stick position, and to a base dealer position.
- Dime. A ten dollar bet.
- Dont come.The dont come bet is exactly like the dont pass bet, winning on a roll of 2 or 3, losing on rolls of 7 or 11, and pushes on a roll of 12 ( it pushes on a roll of 2 at some casinos ) and will establish a dont come point for the player on the next roll of the dice. After a dont come point has been established a player can lay free odds against that dont come point. A dont come bet can be removed at any time.
- Dont pass.A dont pass bet must be made during a come out roll, and wins with rolls of 2 or 3, loses on rolls of 7 or 11, pushes or a roll of 12 ( it pushes on a roll of 2 in some casinos ) and will establish a dont pass point for the player on the next roll of the dice. After a dont pass point number is established a seven must roll before the point number for a dont pass bet to win. After a dont pass bet is established a player can lay free odds against the dont pass point. A dont pass bet can be removed at any time.
- Down behind. Down behind is called by the stickman to remind a base dealer to take losing dont come bets.
- Down with odds. A phrase used to describe the act of a dealer converting a players place bet to odds for their come bet that has traveled to a number. The place bet comes 'down' after it is paid and is converted to a free odds bet for the come bet.
- Field.The field is a large area on the lay out and offers the player a self service, one roll bet by placing their chips within the field section. The field bet pays even money on rolls of 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11. The field bet pays two times the bet on rolls of 2 and 12, and sometimes pays triple on a roll of 12 at some casinos. The rules of payment are shown on each layout.
- Fill. The act of replenishing the tables bank.
- Hand in. A tip given directly to the dealers, not wagered for them.
- Hardway.Hardway bets are offered on all even box numbers. It is a wager that the pair, 22, 33, 44, 55, will roll before the number will roll 'easy '(or as a dice combination that is not a pair) and before the seven rolls. Hardway bets on the 6 and 8 pay 9 to 1 and they pay 7 to 1 on bets for the 4 and 10. Hardway bets are controlled by the stickman in the prop section of the lay out and are the last bets paid after the winning roll.
- Hi Low.A two unit one roll bet on 12 (high) and 2 (low).
- High Low Yo. A three unit one roll bet on the 2 11- 12.
- Hook. A players position in the corner of the table midway between the stickman and the base dealer.
- Hop bet. Hop bets are a one roll bet and can be made on any dice combination for the next roll. They must be made on specific combinations announced by the player at the time of the bet. The player will say 'five, four hops for a dollar ', meaning that they are betting the nine will be the next roll showing the 5 and 4. In this instance a roll of nine showing 6 and 3 would be a losing roll for the hop 5, 4 bet. These bets pay 15 to one, on combinations that are not pairs and 30 to one if the hop bet is wagered on a pair showing. Not all casinos allow this bet. Hop bets are a high house advantage bet and should be avoided.
- Horn bet.The horn bet is a 4 unit one roll bet that either the 2, 3, 11, 12 will show on the next roll. The player will have one un it bet on each of these numbers. The horn pays 15 to one if the 3 or 11 rolls and 30 to 1 if the 2 or 12 rolls. Horn bets are controlled and booked by the stickman and are the combination of 4 of the worst bets on the table allowing a player to commit bankroll suicide by combining 4 bad bets into one easy to make bad bet.
- Horn high.Players will often make this 5 unit bet on the horn calling the number that is high and receiving an extra unit wagered on that stated number. The player will say horn high eleven, horn high ace deuce, horn high eleven, or horn high twelve.
- Inside. The numbers 5, 6, 8, 9.
- Juice. Slang for vig.
- Lammer. A plastic disc used by the dealers to designate, different bet situations. The lamer is placed on the players bet to designate, on, off, buy and lay.
- Lay bet.A bet against any box number that is paid at correct odds, in return for a 5% charge or vig paid on the amount of the winning pay off. Lay bets win when the seven shows before the box number that has been layed.
- Lay out. The surface with graphics on which the game is played.
- Lay odds. The act of betting on a favorite, where the wager is larger than the win.
- Line bet.A bet on the pass line.
- Little Joe. Slang term for the number four.
- Marker. A draft for funds, either from a credit line or funds on deposit made at the table.
- Midnight. The number twelve.
- Money plays. Announced by the base dealer acknowledging cash in action on the lay out.
- Nickel. Slang for a $5 chip.
- No bet. Announced by the dealer indicating that the bet offered by the player is not accepted, either because it was bet too late, perhaps when the dice were out, was not understood, or was not of correct value.
- Off. Bets are not in action, indicated by a lamer being placed on the bet showing 'off'. Called by the dealer responding to a player request to remove their bets from action, indicating that in fact whatever bet the player called of is no longer in action or at risk.
- Off an on. Stated by the dealer indicating the players come bet was won by another of their established come bets repeating, meaning that the established come bet was won when there was another bet in the come box. The established bet wins, comes off, and the new bet is back on the number. None of the bets are actually moved, the winnings are set beside the come bet that remains in the come box, and off and on is announced.
- On. Bets are in action, indicated by a lammer placed on the bet, showing 'on'.
- Outside numbers. The outside numbers are 4, 5, 9, and 10.
- Parlay.The act of taking the winnings from a bet and adding the winnings to that bet and letting it all ride.
- Pass line.The most common bet in craps. The bets wins when the 7 or 11 show on the come out roll, loses when the 2, 3, 12, shows on the come out roll. When a box number is thrown it must be repeated before the seven for the pass line bet to win.
- Past posting. The illegal act of placing, or adding to a bet that has already won.
- Pips. The spots on the dice.
- Pit. The enclosed area of table games.
- Place bet. A bet on a box number that goes directly to a number of the players choosing, with out having to be established through the pass line or come. Place bets do not pay correct odds, but pay place bet odds. Those odds are 9 to 5 on the 4 and 10, 7 to 5 on the 5 and 9, and 7 to 6 on the 6 and 8. The casino takes a higher percentage of these wagers for the privilege of placing the number directly.
- Point. Point numbers can be any of the box numbers. The point is the box number that has been established by the come out throw. The point number is indicated by the puck being placed on it by the dealer with the puck showing the 'on' side as it sits in that numbers box on the layout
- Press. The act of increasing a bet. A player will tell the dealer to press indicating they want to increase the bet usually by a factor of 2. A press can be made in any increments that the player chooses. They just need to instruct the dealer how much they want to 'press' their bet.
- Proposition bet.Bets that are in the center of the craps layout. These include hop and hardway bets.
- Purple. Slang for $500 cheques.
- Put bet.A put bet is a come bet that some casinos allow players to 'put' directly to a box number with odds without having to go through the come. Put bets have quite a bit higher house advantage because there is no opportunity to win the flat portion of the bet since they are never in the come.
- Quarter. Slang for a $25 cheque.
- Seven out. The stickmans call on the losing roll of seven that ends a shooters turn with the dice.
- Skinny Dugan. Slang for the number seven. This and other terms for the number seven are used so that 'seven' is never said on a live Game.
- Snake eyes. Slang for the roll of 2.
- Square pair. Slang for the hard eight. Ozzie and Harriet.
- Stacks. Called working stacks. The stacks of chips that the dealers have in front of them to pay bets.
- Stickman. The dealer in the front of the table that calls the number and controls the dice.
- Toke.A tip.
- True odds. The correct odds of an event happening, as per the dice probabilities chart.
- Vig or vigorish. Juice. The tax that the casinos collect on some true odds bets to ensure that they make a profit. The vig is their margin.
- Whip. Slang for the stick. A dealer that is on the whip is working at the stickman position.
- Working. Working bets have action and are at risk. Bets that are not working are off. The stickman says 'hardways work unless called off' to warn players that their bets work if they dont call them off during the come out cycle.
- Whirl / world bet.A 5 unit one roll bet on 2, 3, 11, 12, and any seven. A very convenient way to make the 5 worst bets on a craps lay out with one single bet.
- Yo. Stickmans call for a roll of eleven. Since eleven sounds like seven the stick calls yo to avoid confusion.