Steve Buck | May 10, 2023 | Updated on: May 10th, 2023
Discover the jargon of craps with our glossary of common terms. Whether playing craps at a casino or playing online craps, understanding the language is essential to feel confident at the table. Acquiring knowledge of craps gameplay is just the first step; familiarizing yourself with the terminology used in the game will facilitate communication with other players and enable you to grasp the game’s intricacies.
To help you sound like a seasoned player in your next craps game, we’ve compiled a comprehensive A to Z list of all the essential craps terms you need to know. Let’s dive in! So, look at the craps glossary and expand your craps knowledge!
Play Online Craps Here
Craps Glossary of Terms
A
Ace
The face value of one on a single die.
Aces
A bet on the next roll being two aces.
Ace Deuce
A roll of the dice that results in a total of 3.
Any Craps
Bet that the next roll of the dice will result in a total of 2, 3, or 12.
Any Seven
Wagering on the next roll of the dice resulting in a total of 7.
Arm
A skilled shooter who has developed a consistent and accurate throwing technique when shooting dice.
B
Base Dealers
Land-based casino tables are typically divided into two ends, each managed by a pair of dealers. Base dealers manage the bets and payouts on one end of the craps table.
Betting Right
Placing bets on the pass line and come bets are the most common and popular bets in the game.
Betting Wrong
Placing bets on the don’t pass and don’t come bets. Betting wrong essentially involves placing a bet against the person rolling the dice.
Big Eight
Bet that the next roll of the dice will result in an 8. It is essentially the same as the “Place Bet” on the number 8, except that the Big Eight bet is a one-roll bet, and the Place Bet can be kept up throughout the game.
Big Six
Bet that the next roll of the dice will result in a 6. It is essentially the same as the “Place Bet” on the number 6, except that the Big Six bet is a one-roll bet, which can be kept up throughout the game.
Bones
The dice used in the game. The term comes from the original materials used to make dice, often made from animal bones.
Box Cars
A slang term refers to a roll of the dice that results in a total of 12. The term comes from the fact that the number 12 looks like two boxcars placed next to each other on a train.
Box Numbers
The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. These numbers are called box numbers because they are placed inside the “box” on the craps table where bets can be made.
Boxman
The casino employee responsible for supervising the game from a seated position on the opposite side of the table from the stickman.
Boys
A slang for base dealers at a craps table.
C
C & E Bets
Craps bet that is a combination of two separate bets: the “Craps” bet and the “Eleven” bet. The name “C & E” stands for “Craps and Eleven.”
Capped Dice
Dice that have been altered in some way to produce a non-random outcome. Specifically, capped dice have had the edges of one or more sides shaved or modified to favour certain numbers when rolled.
Cold Dice/ Cold Table
A situation where the shooter has a streak of bad luck and is failing to make their point or hit any winning numbers.
Colour Up
Exchanging smaller denomination chips in exchange for larger chips.
Come Bet
Bet that is made once a point has been established. It is similar to pass line bet in that it is a bet on the shooter to win, but it is made after the come-out roll.
Come Out Roll/ Come Line
The first roll of the dice in a new betting round. The roll determines whether the game will continue or whether a new round will need to begin.
Comp
Short for complimentary and refers to a free or discounted item or service provided to a player by the casino.
Craps Check
Placing a wager on any craps during the come out roll.
Craps Numbers
The numbers 2, 3, and 12. These are the numbers that can cause a pass line bet to lose on the come out roll.
Crap Out
A roll of the dice that results in a loss for the shooter and any players who have placed bets on the pass line. This occurs when the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come out roll.
D
Don’t Come Bet
It is the opposite of the “Come” bet. It is a bet against the shooter and is placed after the come out roll.
Don’t Pass Bet
A bet against the shooter. It is placed before the come out roll and is essentially the opposite of the pass line bet.
Double Odds
A term used to describe a betting strategy in which a player can bet up to twice their original bet amount on the odds of a point number being rolled.
Down
When you wish to decrease or eliminate a bet on the table, this can also be referred to as ‘taking down’ the bet.
E
Easy Ways
Different combinations of dice rolls that result in a particular number without any duplicates on the dice.
F
Fever
A slang term used to describe a hot streak, a run of successful rolls by the shooter, or simply rolling a 5. This would usually depend on the pronunciation.
Free Odds
Additional wager that can be placed by a player after a point has been established in the game of craps. They are free odds because they do not have a house edge.
Front Line
Another term used to describe the “pass line” bet.
G
Garden
Slang term refers to the area of the craps table where the bets on the “field” are placed.
George
A term used to describe a generous tipper or a player known for giving large tips to the dealers.
H
Hard Way
Bet that a player can wager on the shooter rolling a specific pair of numbers: 4, 6, 8, or 10 in a “hard” configuration, meaning that both dice will show the same number (e.g., two 4s instead of a 7 or a 6 and a 5).
Hi-Lo
A simple one-roll bet that a player can make on the next roll of the dice resulting in a 2 or a 12.
Hi-Lo-Yo
A single-roll bet that combines three separate bets on the next dice roll results in a 2, 12, or 11.
Hop Bet
A proposition bet that allows a player to bet on a specific combination of numbers appearing on the next roll of the dice.
Horn Bet
A one-roll proposition bet in the game of craps that combines four separate bets on the numbers 2, 3, 11, and 12.
Horn High Bet
A variation of the horn bet in the game of craps. Like the horn bet, the horn high bet combines bets on the numbers 2, 3, 11, and 12. However, in a horn high bet, one of the numbers is bet more heavily than the others.
Hot Dice or Hot Table
A situation where the shooter is rolling the dice and hitting their point or making other favourable rolls more often than not.
House Edge
The advantage that a casino or gambling establishment has in a particular game or on a certain bet.
I
Inside Numbers
The term “inside numbers” in craps refers to the numbers 5, 6, 8, and 9 on the craps table layout. These numbers are located in the middle of the layout, surrounded by the field and the other bets.
L
Lay Bet
A lay bet refers to a type of wager that predicts the occurrence of a 7 before the point number.
Little Joe
The roll of a total of four that can be achieved with different combinations of dice rolls.
Little Phoebe
The roll of a total of five that can be achieved with different combinations of dice rolls.
M
Mark the Point
A phrase used in the game of craps to indicate that a point number has been established. In craps, a point number is set when the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 on the come-out roll.
Mechanic
A mechanic refers to players who believe they control the dice roll.
Also refers to a skilled cheat who uses sleight of hand, manipulation, or other tricks to gain an advantage over other players or the house.
Midnight
Craps slang used for the roll of 12, also referred to as box cars.
N
Natural
A term used to describe the outcome of rolling an 11 or 7 on the first roll of the dice, also known as the come-out roll.
O
One-roll Bet
A wager on the outcome of the next roll of the dice. As the name suggests, these bets are resolved in a single roll of the dice and do not involve multiple rolls or a series of rolls.
Odds Bet
A type of bet that can be made after a point has been established on the come-out roll. An odds bet is a wager on the likelihood of the point number being rolled before a 7.
Off & On
A type of bet that can be temporarily turned off or on by the player.
An off-and-on bet is typically placed on the come-out roll, allowing players to turn their bet on or off between rolls.
Outside Numbers
The numbers 4, 5, 9, and 10. These numbers are located on the outer edges of the craps table and are usually grouped together in a separate section of the table known as the “field.”
P
Parlay
Parlaying is a strategy where a player adds their immediate winnings to their original bet for the next roll, effectively increasing the size of their bet.
Pass bet
This is a wager placed on the shooter to pass the come-out roll by rolling an 11 or 7.
Pass line
The pass-line betting area is a designated section on the table where players can place their pass-line bets.
Payout odds
The payout is the money players receive when they win a craps bet, with odds ranging from 1:1 to 30:1.
Place bet
This type of wager is placed on the shooter to roll a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 before rolling a 7. It is known as a place bet.
Place numbers
The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 in craps are called place numbers. These numbers are significant because they are the only numbers that can establish a point during the come-out roll.
Point
If the come-out roll in craps lands on a place number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes the “point”. Once a point is established, the shooter must roll that point number again before rolling a 7 to win on their pass line bet. If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point number, they lose their pass line bet.
Proposition bet
Placing bets in the centre of the craps table layout is commonly called a “prop bet.” These types of bets usually have higher payouts but lower odds of winning. Some examples of prop bets include betting on specific numbers, hard ways bets, and one-roll bets like “any craps” or “any seven.” Prop bets can add excitement and variety to the game of craps but are generally riskier than other types of bets.
Press a Bet
To increase the size of a bet after a win. For example, if a player wins a pass line bet, they may “press” the bet by increasing the amount of their next wager. T
Puck
A small plastic disc that is used to indicate the point number during the game. The puck is usually white on one side and black on the other and is flipped over by the dealer to indicate whether the point has been established or not.
Push Bet
A type of wager placed once the point has been established in craps
R
Rack/ Rail
The area around the craps table designated for players to store their chips. A rack is typically a wooden or plastic tray with slots for holding chips, while a rail is a long, narrow ledge that runs along the edge of the craps table.
Right Bettor
A player who is betting on the pass line, which means they are betting that the shooter will win.
S
Seven Out
The end of a round when the shooter rolls a seven once a point has been established.
Shooter
A person responsible for rolling the dice at that particular time.
Snake Eyes
This is a roll of two 1s or simply a two.
Square Pair
A term used to describe a bet that is considered to be a fair or even bet, while “pair” generally refers to a bet that involves rolling a pair of dice.
Stickman
A casino employee who stands at the centre of the table and is responsible for handling the dice with a long stick called a “mop” or “whip.” The stickman also announces the results of each roll and calls out the various bets available to players. Additionally, the stickman is responsible for controlling the game’s pace and ensuring that the dice are properly returned to the shooter for each roll.
T
Taking Odds
Placing an additional bet on the pass line, don’t pass line, come, or don’t come bet once the point has been established.
The Field
A section on the craps table designated for players to place a bet on the upcoming dice roll resulting in a specific set of numbers, including 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12.
The Place
A type of bet that can be made on specific numbers, including 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. To place a bet on a specific number, the player must place their chips in the designated area on the table corresponding to the number they want to bet on.
True Odds
Refer to the mathematical probability of a specific bet winning without including the house edge.
W
World Bet
A bet on the horn numbers, along with any seven. (2-3-11-12)
Wrong Bettor
A player placing a bet against the shooter.
Yo or Yo-leven
The word used for rolling an eleven so as to not confuse it with “seven.”
Other Craps Guides