A craps table looks chaotic at first glance. Two mirrored sets of betting areas, a center section full of weird-looking boxes, and a dozen people shouting around it. Strip away the chaos and the layout is actually well-organized. This page walks through every section of a standard craps table and explains what each one is for.
Overall shape and orientation
A craps table is a long rectangle with rounded ends, roughly 12 to 14 feet long and 4 to 5 feet wide. The table is recessed - you stand around the outside edge and place chips on the felt below rail level. Each long side is mirrored: if you stand on one side and look across, the player opposite you sees the same betting areas in the same positions relative to them.
This mirroring is why craps tables can feel disorienting at first. You are looking at double the layout you will actually use - the pass line closer to you, the come and don't come closer to you, the place numbers closer to you - and ignoring the other side's copy.
Here is a simplified top-down view of one half of a standard layout (the other half mirrors this):
+-----------------------------------------------------------+ | CENTER SECTION | | (proposition, hardways) | | | | Stickman | +-----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+--------+ | | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | | | BIG | | +----+----+----+----+----+----+ | COME | | 6/8 | | | Place / Buy / Lay | +------+ | | | +------------------------------+ | | | | | FIELD: 2 3 4 9 10 11 12 | +-DON'T COME| | | +------------------------------+ +-----------+ | | | | | | PASS LINE | | | DON'T PASS BAR 12 | +-----+------------------------------------------------------+
The pass line and don't pass bar
The pass line is the curved band that runs along the outer edge of the layout, closest to where players stand. It is usually the largest single area on the table and is marked clearly with the words "PASS LINE". This is where you place the most common bet in craps - the pass line bet.
Immediately inside the pass line is a thinner band marked "DON'T PASS BAR" with a "12" (or "2") inside a small square. This is the don't pass area, the mirror bet to pass line. The number inside the square is the "barred" number - the come-out roll value that causes a don't pass bet to push instead of win (see the rules page for details).
Come and don't come
Above the pass line, on both sides of the table, is a large rectangular area labeled "COME". This is where come bets go. When you place a chip in the come box and the next roll establishes a number for your personal come bet, the dealer moves your chip to the matching numbered box.
A smaller rectangle labeled "DON'T COME" sits next to the come box, usually near the dealer. Don't come bets work the same way as come bets but mirror the don't pass logic.
The place number boxes
Above the come and don't come areas, running along the top of each half of the layout, are six rectangular boxes labeled 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 (in order). These are the place number boxes. When you make a place bet, buy bet, or lay bet on a specific number, your chip is placed in the corresponding box (the dealer usually does this for you).
These boxes also double as the point markers. When the shooter sets a point, the dealer flips the "on" puck to show the number and places it on top of the corresponding box. That tells every player at the table what the current point is.
The field
Below the place boxes and above the come area is the "FIELD" - a rectangular area listing the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12. The field is a one-roll bet: whatever the shooter rolls on the very next roll, if it matches one of those numbers, you win.
Two of the numbers in the field usually have special payout markers - a circle around the 2 and 12 (or just the 12) indicates that those numbers pay double or triple instead of 1 to 1. Check the text inside the field box on your specific table.
The center section (proposition bets)
The center of the table - between the two mirrored halves - is the "proposition" area. It contains a variety of higher-payout, higher-house-edge bets managed directly by the stickman. The typical contents:
- Hardways (4, 6, 8, 10): Four boxes showing the hardway combinations (pairs of 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s). Pays 7 to 1 or 9 to 1 depending on the number.
- Any seven (Big Red): A one-roll bet that the next roll will total 7. Pays 4 to 1 with a massive 16.67% house edge.
- Any craps: A one-roll bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, or 12. Pays 7 to 1.
- Yo (eleven): A one-roll bet on 11. Pays 15 to 1.
- Horn bet: A four-way bet that includes 2, 3, 11, and 12 all at once.
- Hop bets: Specific combinations for the next roll (e.g., "5-3 on the hop"). Sometimes not printed on the layout but available verbally.
You place proposition bets by tossing a chip into the center and telling the stickman what you want. They place the chip correctly for you. Never reach across the table to place a proposition bet yourself - it is considered rude and can interrupt the shooter.
Big 6 and Big 8
In the corners of some craps tables, near the pass line, you might see boxes labeled "BIG 6" and "BIG 8". These are bets that the shooter will roll a 6 or 8 before rolling a 7, paying 1 to 1.
Never bet Big 6 or Big 8. They are the same bet as Place 6 and Place 8 but with worse payouts - place 6 and place 8 pay 7 to 6, which is better than 1 to 1. The Big 6/Big 8 areas exist on the layout as a trap for beginners who do not know the place bet option.
Many modern casinos have removed Big 6/Big 8 entirely, so you may not see it on every table.
Dealer positions
A standard craps table is run by four casino employees who stand on the opposite long side from the players:
- Stickman: Stands in the middle of one long side. Holds a long curved stick to push dice to and from the shooter. Calls out every roll. Manages the proposition bets in the center.
- Boxman: Sits at the center of the table opposite the stickman. Supervises the entire game. Watches for cheating. Settles disputes. Confirms payouts.
- Dealers (two): Stand on either side of the boxman, one managing each half of the table. They handle bets, move chips, pay winners, and collect losers.
Players stand around the curved ends and opposite long side, with up to about 16 players at a full table.
The rail
The outermost edge of the table - the part you lean against - has a padded rail with small grooves or racks for holding chips. This is where you keep your chips between bets. Use the rail rather than stacking chips on the felt; it is the standard practice and keeps the betting area clear.
Some casinos also have drink holders built into the rail. Do not set drinks on the felt itself - spills on the betting area will get you quickly asked to leave.
Next steps
Now that you can read the layout, the next move is to understand the bets themselves:
- Craps Bets Explained - every bet type, one at a time, with examples
- Craps Odds and Payouts - the house edge and payout of every bet
- Craps Strategy Guide - how to use the layout to make smart bets
Frequently asked questions
Why is the craps table mirrored?
The craps table is long, and players stand on both sides. To give every player equal access, the layout mirrors itself. Both sides see the same bets in the same positions relative to them.
What is the curved line running along the edge of the craps table?
That is the pass line - the most important area on the table. It is where you place the pass line bet, the simplest and lowest-house-edge bet in craps.
What are the boxes with 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 on them?
Those are the place number boxes. You put chips there to bet that a specific number will roll before a 7. The 6 and 8 are the best place bets.
What is in the center of a craps table?
The center is the proposition bet area, managed by the stickman. It contains one-roll bets and multi-roll proposition bets like hardways, any seven, yo, and any craps. Higher payouts but worse house edges.
Where do the dealers stand?
A standard craps table has four casino employees: the stickman in the middle, the boxman across from the stickman, and two dealers flanking the boxman.