A Glossary of Terms and Slang Used at the Craps Table

Craps is one of the most exciting casino games you can play today not only in land-based gambling houses but also on various iGaming platforms. In a nutshell, it is a dice game where players place wagers on the outcomes of throwing a pair of dice, and these bets could be against the house or the players involved in the round of play. Like most casino games, it involves deliberate gameplay techniques, both with the dice and the cash, if you are to turn a profit from the high-octane action. Given its popularity, you’ll find plenty of promotions, such as the verde casino no deposit bonus, where you can tap into house money to bring more value to your craps gaming sessions.

However, if you’re new to the game, the lingo can easily confuse you, leaving you feeling clueless about what’s happening around you. Therefore, it’s essential to brush up on the game’s vocabulary. Ultimately, whether you are rolling dice in a brick-and-mortar casino or enjoying the RNG outcomes of any online casino craps title, understanding the terminology can make you comfortable around the table. This comprehensive guide covers the most popular terms so you can always be in the know.

Craps Glossary

Before you start playing, it is necessary to organize your game-related knowledge. Do you know any better way of systematization than alphabetization? If you do, share with us in the comment section; since we didn’t get your ideas at the time of this post publication, we are presenting here the definitions of common craps terms in alphabetical order:

A

Ace – A single die indicating one dot;

Ace Deuce or Three Craps – This is when you land a three;

Any Craps – A proposition at the center of the craps table;

Arm – A player who can shoot the dice well.

B

Base Dealers – These are the two dealers on either side of the betting table who are responsible for collecting wagers, betting on behalf of players, and handling payouts;

Betting Right – This is where you wager on the pass line;

Betting Wrong – Unlike betting right, this situation refers to placing wagers on the Don’t Pass and Don’t Come lines. In essence, you’ll place bets against the shooter;

Bones – Synonym for dice;

Box Numbers – A term referring to the numbers 4 – 10, excluding 7;

Boxcars – Betting on 12 or rolling a 12;

Boxman – This is the casino employee who watches the game for missing bets and ensures fair and legal gameplay. They also watch over chips and exchange players’ cash;

Boys - Base dealers at the table

C

C&E Bets – Wagers on 12, 11, 3, and 2;

Capped Dice – These are bones (dice) that have been tampered with;

Center Field – Slang for when you get a nine as an outcome;

Cold Dice or Cold Table – This is where the table fails to yield winners;

Color Up – Exchanging small-value chips with larger varieties;

Come Line or Come Bet – You can bet on the come box before rolling a seven if you believe the next outcome will be an 11 or 7. Rolling a 12, 3, or 2 is a loss. But if you land another number, it’ll remain your personal point number;

Come Out or Comeout Roll – The first roll in a round;

Craps or Crap Numbers – These are numbers 12, 3, and 2. They cause shooters to crap out on their first rolls;

Crap Out – Throwing a crap number on the Come Out roll.

D

Don’t Come or Don’t Come Bar – Before rolling a 7 or the Point, you can place this type of wager if you believe the next roll will be a crap number. If you get another number other than an 11 or 7, it’ll become your personal point number that doubles your losing or winning chances;

Don’t Pass – The right wager if you believe the shooter will land a crap number;

Down – Reducing or removing a bet on the table.

E

Easy Way – Rolling a 10, 8, 6, or 4 without rolling a pair;

Even Money – A wager awarding pays 1:1

F

Fever - Slang for rolling a five;

Free Odds – A wager that you must play alongside another, such as Don’t Pass, Pass, Don’t Come, and Come. It doesn’t have a house edge;

Front Line – Synonym for Pass Bet Line

G

Garden – A fancy way to call any field wager;

George – Casino staff use this term to refer to rollers who tip well.

H

Hard Number – Any roll resulting in a pair of doubles (4, 6, 8, or 10). For instance:

• The case when a shooter manages to get a result of both dice showing two dots on the front side is known a a Hard 4;

• If the outcome of dice throwing is represented by three and three, this situation is called a Hard 6;

• Landing two 4s translates to a Hard 8;

• Finishing a roll with two fives on the table results in a Hard 10.

Hard Way Bet – Betting that the shooter will roll a hard number;

Hi-Lo – Any bet you make on a roll of 12 or 2;

Horn Bet – One of the proposition or center bets on the table. The bets can earn a 16:1 payout with a 12.5% house edge;

Hot Dice or Hot Table – This is where most of the rollers at a table are winning;

House Edge – The casino’s statistical advantage over players typically ranges from 1.52% to 16.90%.

I

Inside Numbers – These are wagers made on 9, 8, 6, or 5.

L

Lay – Betting that the shooter will land a seven before rolling a point number;

Little Joe – Rolling a 4;

Little Phoebe – Rolling a 5.

M

Mechanic - A shooter claiming to have dice control.

N

Natural Numbers – Rolling an 11 or 7 on the Come Out roll;

Nina - Rolling a 9.

O

Odds Bet – An additional wager for an already established point;

Off – A bet that doesn’t identify as a “working” one’ It doesn’t pose any risk for the next dice throwing;

On – A working bet that could pose a risk for the next roll;

Outside Numbers – This term refers to 10, 9, 4, and 5.

P

Parley Bet – This is where you stake a total of your current winnings and original bet against the next roll;

Pass Bet – Here, you’ll put wagers on the shooter passing the Come Out roll and throwing an 11 or 7;

Pass Line – This is where players make pass-line bets;

Payoff – The amount you’ll receive upon a win;

Payout Odds – These are the payouts earned from winning particular bets, and they depend on the house edge and true odds. The odds can range from 30:1 to even cash;

Place Bet – Betting that the shooter will get a 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, and 4;

Place Numbers – These are the numbers comprising the craps table’s place section, comprising 4 to 10;

Point – If your Come Out roll lands a Place Number, the numeral will become the “Point.” Rolling and betting continue until the shooter rolls a 7;

Press – Adding extra chips to your current bet;

Proposition Bets – Wagers made at the craps table’s center;

Puppy Paws – When you achieve the result of a hard 10;

Puck or Marker – A chip variety used by dealers to highlight point numbers;

Push Bet – Wagering on the pass bet line after establishing the point.

R

Rail – The craps table section that holds your chips in a physical casino;

Right Bettor – Synonym for Betting Right, which means placing your bets on the Pass Bet Line.

S

Seven Out – Rolling a 7 before landing a point number;

Shooter – This is the person rolling the dice. Typically, players take turns to roll, with each turn concluding after the shooter sevens out;

Square Pair – When you roll a hard 8, four on each die;

Snake Eyes – When you roll a hard 2, one on each die;

Stickman – The individual who passes the dice to shooters using a long hook and announces each roll’s outcome.

T

Taking Odds – In this option, you’ll bet odds on the Come Box and Pass Line;

The Field – The craps table section where your bets can be related to land 12, 11, 10, 9, 4, 3, or 2 in the next roll;

The Place – The craps table section where you can place wagers that the shooter will land a 10, 9, 8, 6, 5, and 4 before landing a 7;

True Odds – These are the mathematical odds that determine probability. Generally, a casino pays out less Payout Odds than True Odds.

W

Working Bets – Bets awaiting the next roll.

Y

Yo – This is when you roll an 11. The term helps avoid confusion because 11 sounds almost the same as 7. There’s also the term Yo bet, which awards 15:1 if you land an 11 on the next roll.

Learn the Terms and Through the Bones!

The game of craps is more interesting if you understand the gameplay and terminologies. Fortunately, you’re better positioned to enjoy the game with your newfound knowledge. Of course, the list doesn’t end there – you will learn many more terminologies as you dive into the game by yourself. That said, are there any popular craps terms and slang that you think we’ve left out? It’s another question you can answer here in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you!