Craps Terminology

A

• Ace

Ace refers to a single die showing 1 dot.

• Ace Deuce / Three Craps

Rolling an ace deuce means that you have rolled a 3.

• Any Craps

This is a type of proposition or center bet found in the middle of the craps table. This is a one-roll bet on the next roll landing one a 2, 3 or 12. You could win 8:1 if the right number lands but the house edge is 11%.

• Arm

A player who is good at shooting (rolling) the dice.

B

• Base Dealers

Brick and mortar casinos typically have two dealers operating each side of the craps table. They are the ones who collect the wagers, place the bets for players and handle the craps payouts.

• Betting Right

Placing wagers on the pass line is called betting right as you are betting with the shooter. Also known as ‘right bettors’.

• Betting Wrong

This is the opposite of betting right. Here you place wagers on the don’t pass or don’t come lines, meaning you are betting against the shooter. Also known as ‘wrong bettors’.

• Big 6

Place a bet on the big 6 if you think the shooter will roll a 6 before landing a 7.

• Big 8

Place a bet on the big 8 if you think the shooter will roll an 8 before a 7.

• Big Red

Big red is a slang term for rolling a 7.

• Bones

This is another name for the dice.

• Box Numbers

This is an alternative term for the place bet numbers – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

• Boxcars

This is where you bet on 12 being the next roll, or where a 12 is rolled.

• Boxman

The boxman is a casino employee and is responsible for keeping an eye on the whole game to ensure that no bets are missed and that gameplay remains fair and legal. They also oversee the chips and exchange cash for players.

• Boys

This is another name for the base dealers on the craps table.

C

• C&E Bets

These are bets on 2, 3, 11 or 12 and can be found in the middle of the craps table. Unlike other bets in the center, these are not one-roll bets. The C stands for craps and the E stands for 11 (eleven).

• Capped Dice

This is not what you want to hear around a craps table as it refers to dice that have been tampered with to roll specific numbers.

• Center Field

Center field is slang for rolling a 9.

• Cold Dice / Cold Table

If you hear this, it means that the craps table is yielding no winners.

• Color Up

To color up, you exchange your small value chips for larger ones.

• Come Bet / Come Line

Before the point or a 7 is rolled, you can place bets on the come box if you think the next roll will be a 7 or 11. If a 2, 3 or 12 is rolled, you lose but if another number appears (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), this becomes your personal point number and can give you double chances of winning or losing.

Read our guide to craps bets >

• Come Out / Comeout Roll

This is the first roll of a craps round.

• Craps / Crap Numbers

The craps numbers are 2, 3 or 12 and would cause you to crap out on your first roll as the shooter.

• Crap Out

To crap out is to throw a 2, 3 or 12 on the comeout roll.

D

• Don't Come / Don’t Come Bar

Before the point or a 7 is rolled, you can place bets on the don’t come box if you think the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12. If another number appears (other than a 7 or 11), this becomes your personal point number and can give you double chances of winning or losing.

• Don't Pass

Place wagers in the don’t pass bar if you think the shooter will roll a 2, 3, or 12.

• Down

This is when you want to remove or reduce a bet on the craps table.

E

• Easy Way

The easy way is to roll a 4, 6, 8 or 10 without rolling a pair.

• Edge

This is another name for the house edge.

• Even Money

This is where a bet will pay you 1:1.

F

• Fever

A fever is a slang term for rolling a 5.

• Free Odds

This is a bet that must be played alongside another bet on the craps table such as pass, don’t pass, come or don’t come, and has no house edge attached to it.

• Front Line

This is another name for the pass bet line.

G

• Garden

This is slang for a field bet.

• George

If you hear the casino staff calling you a George, it means you tip well!

H

• Hard Number

A hard number is a roll that results in a pair of doubles. For example, seeing two 4s means you’ve rolled a hard 8.

• Hard Way Bet

This is a bet that you can make on the shooter rolling a hard number (4, 6, 8 or 10).

• Hi-Lo

The hi-lo is a bet that is made on a roll of 2 or 12.

• Horn Bet

This is one of the center bets or proposition bets available on the craps table. It’s a one-roll bet on the next roll being a 2, 3, 11 or 12. For certain numbers, the payout can be 16:1 but the house edge is 12.5% on these bets.

• Hot Dice / Hot Table

Unlike a cold table or cold dice, a hot table with hot dice is where the majority of the players around the craps table are winning.

• House Edge

The house edge is the statistical advantage the casino has over the players for any bet they choose to wager. In craps, the house edge can range from 1.52% to 16.90%.

I

• Inside Numbers

The inside numbers are bets made on 5, 6, 8 or 9.

L

• Lay

The lay bet is a wager placed on the shooter to roll a 7 before the point number is rolled.

• Little Joe

Throwing a little Joe means you’ve rolled a 4.

• Little Phoebe

Little Phoebe is slang for rolling a 5.

M

• Mechanic

A mechanic is a shooter who claims they have dice control.

N

• Natural Numbers

You’ve rolled a natural number if you roll a 7 or 11 on the comeout roll.

• Nina

This is a slang term for rolling a 9.

O

• Odds Bet

This is an additional bet that you can make after the point has been established.

• Off

An off bet is one that isn’t a ‘working bet’ and therefore not at risk for the next roll

• On

An on bet is one that is a ‘working bet’ and could be at risk during the next roll.

• Outside Numbers

4, 5, 9, and 10 are referred to as the outside numbers.

P

• Parley Bet

To make a parley bet, you add all your current winnings to your original bet and stake it all against the next roll.

• Pass Bet

The pass bet is one of the simplest and best wagers to make with a house edge of 1.41%. Here you want to bet that the shooter will ‘pass’ the comeout roll and throw a 7 or 11.

• Pass Line

The pass line section on the craps table is where the pass line bets are made.

• Payoff

This is the amount you will receive if you win your bet.

• Payout Odds

The payout odds in craps are determined by the true odds and the house edge, and refer to the payouts offered when winning particular bets. They can range from 30:1 all the way to even money.

Learn more about craps payouts >

• Place Bet

The place bet is a bet on the shooter rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 before they land a 7.

• Place Numbers

The place numbers are 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. These make up the place section on the craps table.

• Point

If the comeout roll lands on a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the number then becomes the 'point' on the craps table. The shooter will keep rolling and other players will keep betting until the point number or a 7 is rolled.

Discover our guide to craps rules >

• Press / Press a Bet

Pressing a bet is where you add additional chips to a current bet.

• Proposition Bets

The proposition bets are made in the center of the craps table.

• Puck / Marker

The puck or marker is another type of chip the dealers use to highlight the point number on the craps table.

• Puppy Paws

This is slang for rolling a hard 10 (5 on each die).

• Push Bet

A push bet is a wager made on the pass bet line after the point has been established.

R

• Rail

In physical casinos, this is the section of the craps table where you keep your chips.

• Right Bettor

This is another term for 'betting right' where you place your wagers on the pass bet line.

S

• Seven Out

A seven out is where the shooter has rolled a 7 before the point number.

• Shooter

This is the person who rolls the dice. The players around the table take it in turns (usually going clockwise) to roll the dice. Your turn at being the shooter can end when you choose but normally it’s only after you sevens out (roll a 7 after the point has been established).

Read our guide on how to play craps >

• Snake Eyes

Snake eyes is slang for rolling a hard 2 (1 on each die).

• Square Pair

This is slang for rolling a hard 8 (4 on each die).

• Stickman

The stickman is usually accompanied by a long hook that he uses to pass the dice to the shooter. They also announce the outcome of each roll.

T

• Taking Odds

This is a bet where you bet odds on the pass line and come box.

Find out more about side bets and craps strategies >

• The Field

A section of the craps table where players can bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.

• The Place

A section of the craps table where players can bet on the shooter landing a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 before they land a 7.

• True Odds

True odds are the mathematical odds surrounding probability. The payout odds that a casino will pay out are usually less than the true odds. See House Edge for more info.

W

• Working Bets

These refer to bets that are in place for the next roll.

• Wrong Bettor

This is another term for Betting Wrong and is used when players place wagers on the don’t pass or don’t come lines, essentially betting against the shooter.

Y

• Yo

Yo is slang for rolling an 11 and is used to avoid confusion over hearing a 7. There is also the Yo bet which pays 15:1 if the next roll lands on an 11.