The Complete Glossary of Craps Terms
As you delve into the world of craps, you'll discover a rich vocabulary—terms, calls, expressions—that you'll need to get to grips with to truly grasp the nuances of the game. Let’s break them down for you.
A List of All Craps Terms
Aces – When the dice show two dots each, we call it aces; gamblers often fondly refer to this as ‘snake eyes’.
Arm – Here’s an interesting one: being an 'arm' doesn’t involve luck. It’s a knack some players have for throwing dice in a way that seems to tip the odds in their favor.
All the Spots We Got – This phrase rings when players are hopeful the next roll will yield a twelve, courtesy of double sixes.
Any Craps – Bet on this, and you’re wagering the roll will show 2, 3, or 12. It’s a risk with high reward.
Any Seven – A straightforward bet predicting the roll will land on seven, no matter the dice configuration.
Advantage – When folks mention advantage, they're usually talking about the house's edge, inherent in the casino games.
2 Way – Fancy a shared bet? This is when you place a wager covering both you and the dealer’s interest.
3 Way Craps – Here, you're betting on a trio: numbers 2, 3, and 12 are all in play.
Black – Those sleek $100 chips you see? That’s what we call black. It’s often the dealer enlightening players with this term.
Back Line – This spot on the craps table is where strategic players place their ‘Don’t Come’ bets.
Behind the Line – This is simply the area where your chips can safely find their place.
Betting Right – A common practice that sees a bettor placing faith in the ‘Pass Line’ or backing a ‘Come’ bet.
Betting Wrong – When one dares to venture against the odds, betting against the dice by wagering in the ‘Don’t Pass’ and ‘Don’t Come’ spaces.
Big Eight – Hopeful bettors place this call when they believe an eight will appear before the ominous seven.
Bix Six – Very much like its counterpart the Big Eight; here the bet is on rolling a six before chancing upon a seven.
Bones – A casual name for dice that you'll hear echoing on the casino floor.
Big Red – Betting big on any combination that brings about the fabled seven.
Box Numbers – This refers to any throw that results in the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
Boxman – Critical to every craps game, this is the person in command, overseeing the action.
Boxcars – A call for 12 inspired by the image of railroad cars, with ‘midnight’ being another popular moniker.
Boys or the Boys – A nickname players affectionately give to the ever-present dealers at both physical and live online craps tables. gambling websites .
Buffalo – One for the adventuresome, placing wagers on each hardway amidst any 7 roll.
Buy Bet – Involves handing a 5% commission to the house, likely for better odds on numbers ranging from 4 to 10.
Bring Out – A classic call that you’ll only hear issued by the stickman in craps.
Colour In – When you’re thinking of heading out, you might opt to cash in your smaller chips for ones of greater worth.
Cold Dice – The term captures the disappointment when lady luck isn’t gracing your dice throws with favorable results.
Capped Dice – Suspicion is in the air with this expression, indicating dubious weighted dice at play.
Center Bets – These are high-risk propositions resting center-table, some deem them the costliest kind around.
Come Out Roll – The momentous first roll that sets the stage in a round.
Crap Numbers – Numbers 2, 3, and 12, altogether known as crap numbers, often strive to crash the party.
Craps Check – Often utilized during the ‘Come Out’ roll, this bet mainly hedges your ‘Pass Line’ wager.
Cold Table – A phrase murmured when points seem elusive and bets fall flat.
Colour Up – Another phrase that players will use when rolling smaller-value chips into higher denominations.
Crap Out – Met with groans, it signals a 2, 3, or 12 on the initial ‘Come Out’ throw.
Don’t Come Bet – Place your chips here if you’re betting that a 7 will emerge before an established point.
Don’t Pass Bet – A twin to ‘Don’t Come’, and just as skeptical of the dice gods.
Double Odds – Challengers double down on their money with this follow-up to ‘Pass Line’ or ‘Come’ wagers.
Easy Way – It’s about letting luck play out, landing numbers without mirror image pairs.
Edge – Feel the house's edge, as it slightly narrows the gap, maintaining its lead across various iterations of Roulette. live casino and classic Craps online titles.
Even Money – When every dollar you put offers you an even return.
Field Bet – A nimble choice with a broad range, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, or 12, each roll catering slightly different odds.
Front Line – The bustling heart of the craps table, inhabited by ‘Pass Line’ devotees.
Free Odds Bet – Doubling your stakes with a carefree bet, aligning with your Pass or Don’t strategies.
Garden – A nod to the ‘Field’ bet, it's slang with a touch of whimsy.
George – Pay heed if the crew calls you George, it’s a nod to your generous tipping habits.
Green – A shoutout to the $25 chips, easily spotted among the stacks in casinos.
Hardway – When luck favors doubles, this bet rides on 4, 6, 8, or 10 appearing as pairings.
Harway Bet – Betting that certain numbers, via identical doubles, will appear before less fortunate seas.
Hi-Lo – This daring single-roll bet centers on the dice landing on 2 or 12.
Hi-Lo-Yo – A variant where your roll might gift you 2, 11, or 12.
Hop Bet – When a player casts their lot on a particular number rolling next.
Hoping Hardway – Take a leap with a bet that the next roll comes in pairs.
Horn Bet – Covering bases with 2, 3, 11, or 12, its fate intertwined with lady luck’s whims.
Horn High Bet – The horn bet’s adventurous cousin, with a bit more skin in one number’s game.
Hot Roll – Treasured streaks where every throw aligns with your favor.
Hot Table – When you feel the table is gifting fortune and turns with each roll.
Insurance Bet – Buffering against bad luck through a constellation of bets, assuring victory one way or another.
Inside Numbers – Those cozy figures like 5, 6, 8, and 9 bring a smile to bettors’ faces.
Lay Bet – Confidently placing chips that luck will spin a seven before another number appears.
Lay Odds – When secure in your ‘Don’t Pass’ success, increase your stake with this strategic afterthought.
Line Bet – Firmly placing bets along the ‘Pass’ or ‘Don’t Pass Line’.
Layout – The expanse of felt on which every craps decision is mapped.
Loaded Dice – A seed of doubt that skilled dice rolls have been tainted.
Little Joe – A whimsical term for rolling two twos.
Marker – This essential disk deftly marks which numbers are still in play.
Mark the Point – The ceremonial moment when the dealer designates the game’s next focal point.
Midnight – At midnight may the next roll reveal your 12.
Natural – This is the term used when a player’s first roll of the dice, called the ‘Come Out’ roll, results in a 7 or 11. It's a celebrated moment for players at the table.
Odds Bet – Often referred to as ‘Free Odds’ bets, these are additional wagers you place after initiating a ‘Don’t Pass’ or ‘Pass Line’ bet. They offer pure odds with no house edge.
One Roll Bet – A bet that lives for just a single roll of the dice; its fate is sealed instantly on the very next toss.
Off – When a player decides they’re unsure about winning on the upcoming roll, they might call their wager ‘off’. Also, on the ‘Come Out’ roll, it indicates that a point is yet to be made.
Off and On – This phrase is the dealer’s signal when they need to settle ‘Come’ bets on existing points, keeping the chips in play.
On – This is the status of a bet when it's valid and active for the next roll, or when a ‘Come Out’ roll successfully sets a point.
Outside Numbers – On a craps table, the numbers 4, 5, 9, and 10 are known as the ‘outside numbers’. They offer a unique strategic angle for players.
Out 7 – A term for when a player hits a 7 after establishing a point, signaling the end of their roll as the shooter passes the dice to the next player.
Pass Line – Refers to the designated section on a craps table where ‘Pass Line’ bets are placed, a fundamental area for most players.
Parley – This is when a player decides to take their winnings from a successful bet and wager it all again on the next roll. It’s a high-risk, high-reward strategy.
Pay Off – The moment of truth where winnings are distributed to a player. It’s the ultimate thrill of craps when the bet pays out.
Pay Out – The action of giving the player their winnings after they finish their game session, often in the form of a check.
Proposition Bets – Also dubbed ‘Center Bets’, these encompass some of the riskiest wagers on the craps table, found smack dab in the table's center.
Place Bet – This type of wager is made when a player bets on specific numbers — 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 — either as single numbers or in combinations.
Rack – Essentially a rail on the craps table used by players as a temporary home for their chips, keeping things tidy and within reach.
Right Bettor – A player who favors ‘Pass Line’ and ‘Come’ bets, commonly seen as betting alongside the shooter for positive outcomes.
Rail – The section on the player’s side of the craps table, a strategic vantage point for staking and observing.
Seven Out – Used to describe the moment a player rolls a 7 after the point has been made, leading to a shift in the dice to the next player.
Shooter – The individual responsible for rolling the dice, often the center of attention, as their throws dictate the flow of the game.
Snake Eyes – A term meaning double 1s.
Square Pair – A cute term for rolling a pair of 4s, which equates to a hard 8, and is often greeted with cheers.
Stickman – The member of the casino staff armed with a long stick to manage the dice, ensuring the flow of the game is effortless and honest.
Skinny McKinney – The nickname given to the act of rolling a 7, often bringing mixed reactions depending on the game’s stage.
Toke – The classic term for the tip, or gratuity, offered to dealers and other casino staff as a thank you for good service.
Up Pops the Devil – A quirky slang expression suggesting a belief that a 7 (comprising 5+2) is about to be rolled.
Working Bets – A description of all wagers on the table that are currently active and subject to the crucial upcoming roll of the dice.
Winter on the Dark Side – A playful way to guess that the next roll will yield a 3. A bit cheeky, yet surprisingly grounded prediction.
World Bet – Placing a bet that not only covers the ‘Horn Number’ but includes the 7 too, casting a wider net of possibilities.
Wrong Bettor – A player who places their bets against the flow, typically wagering on the ‘Don’t Pass’ line, opposing the shooter.
Yo or Yo Eleven – This colloquial term affectionately denotes the number 11, often shouted out for its memorable and mellifluous sound.
Conclusion
Craps is a game teeming with excitement, and part of that thrill is diving deep into the jargon. Understanding this colorful lingo not only enhances your gaming experience but is almost essential for truly embracing the craps culture. online casino Craps Learning these expressions is a pathway to mastering the game, positioning you to engage confidently at the craps table and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with seasoned players. best online casinos .