Introducing Craps Terminology
The layout of a craps table and the game’s terminology can be particularly intimidating for newbies. If you are new to the game or simply looking to understand some of the terms used in craps, you should find the glossary below quite useful.
Some of the more commonly used craps terminology:
3-Way Craps – Betting in three units, one unit on each of the following numbers: 2, 3, 12.
Any Craps – Betting on 2, 3, or 12 for the next roll.
Any Seven – Betting on 7 for the next roll.
Betting Right – Betting on Pass Line and Come bets. The throw must pass in order to win.
Betting Wrong – Betting on Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets. The throw must not pass in order to win.
Big Eight – Betting that an 8 will be rolled before a 7.
Big Six – Betting that a 6 will be rolled before a 7.
Big Red – Betting on Any Seven.
Buy Bet – A bet in which the player gives the house a 5% commission in order to be paid correct odds for a place bet.
Capped Dice – Refers to non-standard or illegal dice
Cold Table – For the moment, players aren’t winning at the table.
Come Bet – This is the same as the Pass Line bet. However, the Come bet is made after the Come Out roll.
Come Out Roll – This is the first roll in a betting round. It determines the point for Pass and Don’t Pass Line bets.
Correct Odds – The mathematical likelihood, or probability, that a bet will be made a winner (usually the odds a point will be made prior to a 7 rolled).
Crew – Four casino employees that staff a craps table; includes a boxman, a stickman, and two dealers.
Don’t Come – When a player bets against the dice after the come out roll. Note that a 7 will surface before the point is rolled again.
Don’t Pass – A bet against the dice prior to a Come Out roll.
Double Odds – Doubles the following: initial Pass Line, Don’t Pass Line, Come, Don’t Come bets.
Easy Way – Rolling 4, 6, 8, 10 when each die is different from the rest.
Even-Money – A payoff at 1 to 1.
Field Bet – Betting on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
Floorman – A casino employee who stands behind the craps table, checking on the players and authorizing credit for players.
Free Odds Bet – A bet taken at true odds.
Hardway – Betting on a 4, 6, 8 or 10 that will be thrown as pairs, i.e., 3-3, 4-4, before trhe dice are rolled easy or before a 7 comes out.
Horn Bet – Betting the same amount on 2, 3, 11 and 12.
Horn High Bet – A bet in which the wager is split into five separate parts. Two units on the high number 12, and three units for 2, 3 and 11.
Hot Roll – Dice that are continually passing, and that are held by a shooter for a long time before a seven-out.
Insurance Bet – Just what it sounds like… two or more wagers made to partly cover each other.
Lay Bet – Betting that a point number will not appear before a 7 is thrown.
Lay Odds – These are additional odds that a player can use to bet against the dice.
Loaded Dice – Dice that have been weighted to tamper with their roll.
Line Bet – Beting on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.
Marker Puck – A plastic disk used by dealers to mark points on the table either “on” or “off”.
Off – Implies that on the next dice roll, certain bets will be safe.
One Roll Bet – Bets with outcomes determined by the following dice roll.
Parley – To increase a bet; typically doubling the bet.
Pass Line Bet – A bet stating the dice will win or pass.
Pit Boss – A casino employee in charge of all the craps tables in one area of the casino.
Payoff – The payback received by the player for a wager.
Place Bet – A bet stating a place number will be thrown before a 7 comes out.
Place Numbers – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
Point Number – One of the following numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 determined on the come out roll.
Pressing a Bet – Doubling a bet.
Proposition Bets – Refers to all one-roll bets as well as the Hardway bet.
Right Bettor – Any player who bets the dice will pass or win.
Sequence Bet – A bet whose outcome is not necessarily determined on the following roll but may take a succession of rolls to be determined.
Seven Out – The moment after a point has been established when a 7 is thrown out. The next player in line then becomes the shooter.
Shooter – The player currently rolling.
Stickman – A casino employee whose responsibilities include: Calling out dice rolls and returning the dice to the shooter Placing and paying the proposition bets.
Wrong Bettor – Any player who bets the dice will not pass.
Yo-leven – A slang term for the 11.
Other Craps terminology:
Boxcars – Betting on the 12.
Buffalo – Betting on each of the Hardway and Any Seven.
Hope Bet – This is a one roll bet on a given dice combination.
Hoping Hardway – This is a 2-2 hope bet.
Little Joe – Getting a Hard 4, meaning 2-2.
Midnight – Placing a one roll bet on 12.
Vigorish – The charge taken on bets
Working – The next dice roll will cause certain bets to be at risk.
Whirl Bet – Betting the same amount on 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12.