Craps Terminology – Learn More About Craps Jargon
Are you new to craps and wondering what everyone is going on about? Or maybe you’ve been playing for a while and still haven’t got your head around the jargon. For beginners, it’s all too easy to be completely confused and feel like you’ve got no clue about what’s going on. But for those of you who have found your way here there’s no need to panic any longer. This section of our site has been designed to provide you with a user-friendly explanation of the terms you’re going to encounter. Allowing you to concentrate on your games and play with the confidence of a pro. It’s important for all players to be able to understand what’s going on around the table and become more familiar with the language being used. And this applies whether you’re a newcomer to the game or have already been playing for a while.
The definitive glossary of craps terms and jargon
A
Ace deuce:A wager that the next roll will be a 3 (a two and a one) on the next dice and is a one roll proposition bet.
Aces:A wager that the next roll of the dice will be 2 ( a one and a one). Also called snake eyes, it’s another one roll proposition bet.
Ace deuce:А wager that the next roll will be a 3 (a two and a one) on the next dice and is a one roll proposition bet.
Aces:А wager that the next roll of the dice will be 2 ( a one and a one). Also called snake eyes, it’s another one roll proposition bet.
Action:Тhis term refers to wagers that are active on the table.
Advantage:The same as the edge, it’s the percentage the casino has on a bet.
Against the dice:Betting on the don’t pass and don’t come bets, thereby betting a 7 will be rolled before the point number.
Any craps:A one roll proposition bet on the next roll being a 2, 3 or 12. This particular bet has a huge house edge of 11.1%.
Any seven:Another one roll proposition bet on the next roll being a 7, with a payout of 4:1.
Apron:In a live casino this term is used to refer to the outer perimeter of the table and is normally made of felt.
B
Back line:Also known as the don’t pass line.
Bank craps:Often shortened to just ‘craps’, this is the official name of the game and the variant you’ll find at most casinos.
Bar 12:When the dice are rolled and the outcome is a 12 resulting in a push on the don’t come bets.
Behind the line:Placing odds on a pass/come/don’t pass/don’t come bets. The reason it’s called the line is there is no place marked on the table for the odds bets. They have to be placed directly behind the original bet.
Big 8:Betting that an 8 will be rolled before a 7. Mostly, this pays even money and has a house edge of 9.1%. This bet is the same as a place 8 bet with the difference that a place bet pays 7 to 6 and the house edge is only 1.5%. This makes a place bet a much better option.
Big 6:Betting that a 6 will be rolled before a 7. It pays even money and has a house edge of 9.1%. This bet is also identical to a place 6 bet but less advantageous. The place 6 bet has a house edge of just 1.5%.
Big red:Another term used when placing a bet on any seven
Black:Table lingo for $100 chips because this is the color they are in most casinos
Bones:table lingo for dice
Bowl:This is a container that is placed next to the stickman at a live table for holding the dice.
Boxcars:A bet that two sixes (12 in total) will be rolled on the next roll.
Boxman:This is the name for the casino ‘dealer’who sits in the middle of the table and is in charge of the betting action, the chips and manages the players. It is also the person who sits opposite the stickman.
Box numbers:Place bet numbers of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.
Boys or the Boys:A slang term for the craps dealers that has gone out of common use because of the number of female dealers now employed by casinos.
Buffalo:Placing a 5-unit bet on each hardways number and any seven.
Buffalo Yo:A 5-unit bet on each hardways number and an eleven.
Bump:The break a dealer takes when the craps table has few players.
Buy bet:A wager on the 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, much the same as a place bet. The difference being you give the house a 5% commission in order to get true odds.
C
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.
Center bets:All bets in the middle of the table, which are the one-roll and proposition bets. It’s also referred to as the center field.
Charting a table:This is technique used to keep track of the outcomes of the roll of the dice and is used for casino craps strategies.
Cocked dice:When a dice ends up at an angle it’s called a cocked dice. The result of this happening is decided by the stickman who will look at the natural angle of the die/dice and what number it will land on top if the object it’s leaning against were to be removed.
Cold dice:When all the shooters are sevening out before a point number is matched.
Cold table:When all the shooters at a table are sevening out before a point number is matched.
Color in:cashing out smaller chips for chips of greater value when leaving the table.
Come bet:The same as a pass-line bet but it’s made after the come out roll once a point has been established.
Come out roll:the very first roll of the game.
Corner Red:The corner of the craps table layout that features the big 6 and big 8 bets written in red.
Crapless craps:We’ve looked at this variant of craps in more detail on another page. Basically, it’s a very uncommon version of the game where the 2, 3, 11 and 12 are all point numbers. Because of this it’s impossible to lose on the come out roll and you can’t win with the 11. the only way to win on the come out roll is to roll a 7.
Crap out:When the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 and the round finishes. It’s also called seven out.
Craps:when the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12 on the come out roll.
Craps numbers:2, 3 and 12.
D
Dead:A craps table that has no players.
Dealer:These are casino employees that sit on each side of the boxman and are in control of the payouts for each side of the table.
Dice in the middle:When the stickman places the dice above the proposition bets in front of the boxman. It is an indication to players that they need to place their bets.
Don’t come bet:Made after the come out roll and works like a don’t pass line bet after the point is made. This type of bet pays even money.
Don’t pass bet:Betting that the come out roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. this bet loses if the come out roll is a 7 or 11 but is a push if a 12 is rolled. Any other number rolled will establish the point. The house edge for this bet is 1.35% but it can be reduced by deciding to lay odds on the don’t pass bet.
Double odds:When you place the odds between pass, don’t pass, come or don’t come bets at twice the original amount.
Down or take me down:Players use this term when the want a bet to be removed and returned.
Down behind:Used by the dealer to let a don’t bettor know their bet has been lost.
E
Easy way:A term used to describe when a 4, 6, 8 and 10 is rolled and the dice have different numbers on them. For example, a 1 and a 3 for an outcome of 4.
Edge:Also called the house edge it refers to the advantage a casino has on any bets made by the players.
Even money:A bet that pays 1:1. Whether a player wins or loses the will get back the same amount of money placed on the bet.
Eyeballs:Table lingo for a roll of the dice of 2.
F
Fade:A term used in street craps that refers to betting against the shooter up to the amount of his wager.
Field bet:Betting that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 or 12.
Front line bet:The same as a pass line bet.
G
Garden:A slang term used for the field bets.
Green:$25 chips used during a game.
H
Hard way:When you roll a 4, 6, 8 or 10 and the combination of numbers are the same. For example, 2 and 2 when rolling 4, or 5 and 5 when rolling 10.
Hardway bet:Found in the center of the table next to the one-roll proposition bets you’re betting that the hard way of a 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be rolled.
Hi-Lo:A one roll bet that the next roll will be either a 12 or a 2.
Hi-Lo-Yo:A one roll bet that the next roll will be either a 2, 11 or 12.
Hit a brick:When the dice hit a stack of chips and doesn’t roll the length of the table.
Hop bet:A one roll bet that the next roll will be combination of your choosing. It can be any combination, for example, a 2 and a 3, or a 4 and a 1.
Horn bet:A one roll bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 11 or 12, with one unit bet on each number.
Horn high bet:A bet made in units of 5 with one each on the 2, 3, 11 and 12 plus another placed on one of the numbers.
Hot table:When all shooters have been playing for a while without sevening out.
House edge:Another name for the edge.
I
Inside bet:Wagering on a 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Inside numbers:Place numbers 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Insurance bet:Placing two or more bets in an attempt to cover one another should one lose.
L
Late bet:Trying to place a bet when the dice are in the air. The dealer or the boxman will make the decision whether a late bet is valid and will either call out bet or no bet.
Lay bet:Made by a wrong-way bettor that the shooter will roll a 7 before point numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. a 5% commission will have to be paid to get true odds on the bet.
Lay odds:Extra bets placed on the don’t come and don’t pass bet made by wrong-way bettors. This type of bet offers true odds and no house edge.
Line bet:Also known as the pass line or don’t pass line bets.
Little Joe:Table slang for a hard-way 4 (2 and 2).
M
Marker puck:A plastic disc that’s used by dealers to show which points are on and off the table.
Mark the point:When a dealer indicates the point number by putting the puck on the table.
Midnight:A single roll proposition bet on the 12, also known as any twelve.
Multi-roll bet:Any bets that can’t be settled on the next roll of the dice. A few rolls of the dice will be required to determine the bets outcome.
N
Natural:When a shooter rolls a 7 or an 11 on the come out roll.
No roll:When the shooter fails to roll the dice to the end of the table or if the dice slip from the shooters hand, or roll off the table. The roll is invalid.
O
Odds bet:An additional bet that’s placed behind the pass/come/don’t pass/don’t come bets. It has no house edge and true odds are paid. 2 or 3 times the original bet can be placed.
Off:Bets not working on the next roll of the dice.
On:Bets which are in action for the next roll of the dice.
One roll bets:This bet is made on the next outcome only and will no longer be active throughout the game afterwards.
Outside dealer:The stickman standing outside of the pit.
Outside numbers:4, 5, 9 and 10.
P
Parlay:Increasing your bet amount by adding your winnings to the original bet.
Pass line bet:The most common bet in craps. If the come out roll is a 7 or 11 it wins and loses with a 2, 3 or 12. Any other numbers will establish the point.
Pips:The dots on the dice.
Pit:The area in a live casino in which the craps table is located.
Place bet:Betting that a place number of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will be rolled before a 7.
Place numbers:4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.
Point:This is the betting number established for the rest of the round when the come out roll is either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. a right way bettor will place a bet for the point to be rolled before a 7, while wrong way bettors will bet a 7 will be rolled before the point.
Press a bet:Increasing the amount of your bet, usually by doubling it.
Proposition bets:Includes all one roll and hardway bets in the center of the table layout.
R
Right way bettor:A player who bets with the shooter for the point to be rolled before the 7.
S
Seven out:Rolling a 7 before the point number, once a point has been established. It effectively ends the round and changes the shooter.
Shooter:The player rolling the dice.
Skinny Dougan:A slang term for the number 7. There are a number of other names used because it’s considered bad luck to say the number seven at the craps table.
Snake eyes:Rolling a 2 on the proposition bet ‘any 2’.
Stickman:The casino employee who is in charge of handling and calling the dice number.
T
Take odds:Additional bets on the pass and come bets which offer true odds and no house edge.
Three-way craps:A one roll proposition bet on the 2, 3 and 12 made in units of three.
Toke:A slang term for a tip given to the dealer.
Two-way:A bet that’s made by a player and split between the player and the dealer. Usually, this type of bet is made on one roll bets.
V
Vigorish:Often abbreviated to vig, this terms refers to the house commission on certain bets.
W
With the Dice:Playing for the point number to be rolled before a 7. A right-way bettor plays with the dice. Working bet:A bet that is active or on for the next roll. World bet:Betting on the 2, 3, 7, 11 and 12 all at once and made in units of 5.
Wrong-way bettor:A player who bets that a 7 will be rolled before the point number. Also known as betting against the dice.
Y
Yo:the number 11.
You’re probably thinking that’s rather a lot of jargon to understand. But it won’t be long before you’re using it like a seasoned veteran of the game. Try and use the jargon whenever you can because it makes the game more fun.
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