CRAPS GLOSSARY

A

• Ace-deuce:
  A roll of 3 (a 1 and a 2). Part of the any craps bet. On the come-out, loses the pass line.
• Aces:
  A roll of 2 (two 1s). Same as snake eyes.
• Any craps:
  A one-roll proposition bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, or 12. Pays 7 to 1.
• Any seven:
  A one-roll proposition bet that the next roll will total 7. Pays 4 to 1. Also called "Big Red" to avoid saying "seven" at the table. Worst bet on the layout at 16.67% house edge.

B

• Bar:
  A number on which the don't pass or don't come bet pushes (ties) instead of winning. Usually the 12 on a come-out roll, sometimes the 2. See craps rules.
• Big Red:
  Slang for "any seven" bet. Called "Big Red" instead of "seven" because saying "seven" at the table is considered bad luck.
• Big 6 / Big 8:
  Corner boxes that bet the shooter will roll a 6 or 8 before a 7. Pays 1 to 1 - strictly worse than place bets on the same numbers. Avoid.
• Bones:
  Slang for the dice.
• Box numbers:
  The six numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 - the possible point values and the place bet targets.
• Boxcars:
  A roll of 12 (two 6s). On the come-out, "craps" - pass line loses.
• Boxman:
  The casino employee seated at the center of one long side of the craps table. Supervises the game and settles disputes. See table layout.
• Buy bet:
  A place bet paid at true odds minus a 5% commission. Better than place bets on 4 and 10, same or worse on 5, 6, 8, 9.

C

• Cold table:
  A table where shooters keep sevening out quickly. Pass line bettors are losing, don't pass bettors are winning.
• Come bet:
  A bet made after a point is established. Acts like a personal come-out roll for the next roll. Pays 1 to 1. See come bets.
• Come-out roll:
  The first roll of a new round, made when the puck is "OFF". Determines whether pass line wins immediately, loses immediately, or sets a point. See craps rules.
• Craps:
  (1) The name of the game. (2) A roll of 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out, losing the pass line.
• Crap out:
  To roll 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll and lose the pass line bet.

D

• Dealer:
  The casino employee who handles bets and payouts for one half of the craps table. Different from the stickman and boxman. See table layout.
• Dice control:
  A disputed technique of gripping and throwing the dice to influence outcomes. Also called "rhythm rolling". No method has been scientifically proven to beat the house edge.
• Don't come:
  A bet made after a point is established, mirroring don't pass. Wins on the come-out equivalent of 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, pushes on 12 (or 2).
• Don't pass:
  The "wrong way" bet. Wins on 2 or 3 on the come-out, pushes on 12, loses on 7 or 11. Pays 1 to 1, house edge 1.36%.

E - F

• Eleven:
  A roll of 11 - pass line wins on the come-out, neutral during the point round. Also called "yo" to avoid confusion with "seven".
• Field bet:
  A one-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12. Pays 1 to 1 on most, double on 2 or 12. House edge 5.56%.

H

• Hardway:
  A roll of 4, 6, 8, or 10 made with doubles (e.g., a "hard 8" is two 4s). The hardway bet wins if the hardway is rolled before that number is rolled "easy" or before a 7.
• High roller:
  A player who makes large bets. At a craps table, usually someone betting $100+ per round.
• Hop bet:
  A one-roll bet on a specific two-dice combination (e.g., "5-3 on the hop"). See hop bets. Pays 15 to 1 or 30 to 1.
• Horn bet:
  A four-way proposition bet on 2, 3, 11, 12. Equivalent to four separate one-roll bets.
• Hot table:
  A table where the shooter is on a long roll without sevening out. Pass line bettors are winning repeatedly. Considered lucky.

L

• Lay bet:
  Betting that a 7 will roll before a specific number. The opposite of a buy bet. Pays true odds minus a commission.
• Line bet:
  Generic term for pass line or don't pass bets.

N - O

• Natural:
  A roll of 7 or 11 on the come-out. Pass line wins immediately.
• Odds bet:
  A bet placed behind a pass line, don't pass, come, or don't come bet. Pays true odds with 0% house edge. The only "fair" bet in a casino.
• Off:
  A bet that is not currently working on the next roll. Also the state of the puck before a point is set.
• On:
  A bet that is currently working. Also the state of the puck during the point round.

P

• Pass line:
  The standard "right way" bet in craps. Wins on 7 or 11 on the come-out, loses on 2/3/12, and wins if the shooter makes the point. Pays 1 to 1, house edge 1.41%.
• Place bet:
  A bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) will roll before a 7. Payout depends on the number.
• Point:
  The number the shooter must roll again before rolling a 7 in order for pass line to win. Set by the come-out roll if it is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
• Proposition bet:
  A one-roll bet in the center of the table (any seven, any craps, yo, horn, hardways, hops). Generally high payouts and high house edges.
• Puck:
  The disc the dealer flips between "ON" and "OFF" to indicate whether a point has been set.

R - S

• Right bettor:
  A player who bets the pass line and other "right way" bets. The majority of craps players.
• Seven out:
  Rolling a 7 during the point round. Ends the shooter's turn and loses all pass line bets.
• Shooter:
  The player currently rolling the dice. Each player takes a turn as shooter, rotating clockwise after each seven-out. See shooter rules.
• Snake eyes:
  A roll of 2 (two 1s). On the come-out, "craps" - pass line loses.
• Stickman:
  The casino employee holding the stick. Pushes dice to and from the shooter, calls rolls, manages proposition bets. See table layout.

T - V

• Three-way craps:
  A combined bet on 2, 3, and 12 - three separate one-roll bets at once.
• True odds:
  The actual mathematical probability of a bet winning. The odds bet pays true odds; all other bets pay less than true odds (that difference is the house edge).
• Vig (vigorish):
  The commission charged on buy and lay bets, typically 5%. Also a general term for the house's edge.

W - Y

• Working:
  A bet that is currently in play on this roll. Opposite of "off".
• Wrong bettor:
  A player who bets don't pass and don't come. Called "wrong" because they win when the majority of the table loses.
• Yo:
  Slang for 11. Players call "yo" instead of "eleven" to avoid confusion with "seven" in a loud casino environment.

Frequently asked questions