Craps Glossary
We totally understand that when you are standing at a Craps table, it can seem like there is a foreign language being spoken. We want you to feel confident when you get your chips into play, so hopefully, this glossary of the more standard Craps terms will be of assistance!
A
Aces
This is a term used when a player wants to bet that the next roll will be two 1s. Also known as eyeballs or Snake Eyes.
Action
A term that refers to the amount of bets on the table.
Any Craps
This is a bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, or 12. This bet pays 7:1and has a house edge of 11.1%.
Any Seven
As you can probably guess, this is a bet that the next roll will be 7. This bet pays 4:1 and has a house edge of 16.7%.
B
Backline
Another term used to describe the Don’t Pass line.
Ballerina Special
When someone wants to make a bet on the next roll being two 2’s. Get it?
Big 6
A very popular bet, this is when the wager is that the next roll will result in a total of 6 before a total of 7. This bet pays even money and has a house edge of 9.1%. A place bet on 6 pays 7:6 but aside from that is identical. The place bet is preferred, having a house edge of 1.5%
Big 8
Same as the Big 6 bet, this is a bet that a total of 8 will be rolled before a total of 7. This bet pays even money and has a house edge of 9.1%. A place bet on 8 pays 7:6 but is the same in every other way. The place bet has a house edge of 1.5%
Big Red
Another term used to describe a bet on any 7.
Black
A term used to describe the $100 chips in play, which are black in most casinos.
Bones
Another name for the dice.
Boxcars
When a player makes a bet on the next roll being a 12, the bet is known as a Boxcar bet.
Boxman
This is the General of the table; a staff member responsible for overseeing the game and most importantly the flow of money on and off the table.
Buffalo
This term is used for a bet that is placed on any 7 and all the Hard Way bets.
Buffalo-Yo
Slang for the Buffalo bet but adding in a bet on the 11 as well.
Buy Bet
This refers to paying the house a 5% commission to be paid the correct odds for a place bet. The buy bets on 4 and 10 give the player a better chance by lowering the house edge. Some casinos collect the commission only on winning bets, while others collect it at the time the bet is made.
C
C and E Bet
This is a term for the bet on any craps (2, 3, or 12) and the 11.
Cocked Dice
When a shooter throws the dice, sometimes one or both of them can end up touching the side of the table, not landing on any one side. This is considered Cocked Dice and the Boxman has to decide what measure to take or to re-throw.
Come Bet
A bet that is exactly the same as the Pass Line Bet, but takes place after the initial roll.
Come Out Roll
The Come Out Roll is the first roll of the dice made by the shooter in a round. This is the only time you can make Pass or Don’t Pass bets. Pass bets win when the come out roll is 7 or 11, and lose when the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12.”Don’t Pass” bets lose when the come out roll is 7 or 11, and win when the come out roll is 2 or 3. Don’t bets tie when the come out roll is 12.
Crap
The Craps numbers are the 2, 3, and the 12.
Crap Out
If the shooter rolls one of the Crap numbers 2, 3, or 12 on the Come Out Roll, this is called Crapping out.
D
Dime
This refers to the amount of two $5 chips in play.
Don’t Come Bet
The same as the Don’t Pass bet, only it takes place on other rolls than the Come Out Roll.
Don’t Pass Bet
One of the two bets made on the first roll of the dice. It is the opposite of a Pass bet; it is a loser on a Come Out of 7 or 11 a winner on rolls of 2 or 3, and ties on 12. The house edge on this bet is 1.36%. A Don’t Pass bet can be taken down at any time and may be increased by “Laying” odds to the true odds of the dice.
Double Odds
An odds bet that is 2X as large as the original pass/come “Flat” or “Contract” bet. Some casinos allow higher odds bets, such as 5X, 10X, or even100X odds.
E
Eyeballs
A term used for the number being a 2. Same as Snake Eyes.
F
Field Bet
This is a common bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. This bet pays even money for 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11, and usually pays 2:1 for 2 or 12.
Fifty Yard Line
Sometimes the dealer will refer to the middle of a Craps table to be the 50 Yard Line. In most casinos, a throw of the dice isn’t legal unless it passes this spot.
G
Green
A term referring to the green chips in play, with a value of $25.
H
Hard Way
A Hard Way bet is any bet on the roll being a 4, 6, 8, or 10 that wins only if both dice show the same number; For example, a “Hard 6” would be a roll with both dice showing a 3.
Hi-Lo
A bet that the next roll will be a 2 or a 12.
Hi-Lo-Yo
A bet that the next roll will be a 2, 11, or 12.
Horn Bet
If you hear the term Horn bet, it is referring to a bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, 11, or 12, usually made in multiples of four units, so all four options are covered.
I
Inside
5, 6, 8 and 9 are considered the Inside Numbers. They have more combinations available to complete the number.
J
Juice
Juice is a term for the commission paid to the house on any bet.
L
Lay Bet
A Lay bet is one in which a 7 is rolled before a particular number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). The casino takes 5% of the winnings on these bets. The 5% commission is usually taken up front, but some casinos take the commission after the bet wins.
Lay Odds
An Odds bet taken after the player has made a Don’t Pass bet, and a point has been established. The odds bet is paid at the correct odds for the point and is a fair bet with no house edge.
Line Bet
Initial bets placed on the Pass line or the Don’t Pass line. These are all made before the Come Out roll. The shooter must make a line bet to shoot the dice.
Little Joe
This refers to the result of the throw being a four.
M
Marker Puck
The puck is a plastic marker (similar to a dealer button in poker) used to mark the Point Number on the Craps table. The puck has two sides; the “Off” side is used when the Come Out Roll is taking place, and the “On” side is used for all other rolls.
Midnight
This refers to a bet that the next number will be a 12.
Money Plays
Sometimes players will use cash instead of chips to make their bets; if this is allowed, then the dealer will announce “Money Plays” so everyone is made aware.
Mop
A term sometimes used to refer to stick used by the stickman to move the dice.
N
Nickel
A term used by players and dealers to describe the $5 chips.
No Roll
Any roll that doesn’t count for some reason is announced by the dealer as a “No Roll.” No bets are paid or taken and the shooter must re-roll the dice.
Odds
An additional bet made on a Pass or Don’t Pass bet after a point has been established. The bet is paid at true odds and carries no house edge. The amount that players can wager on the odds bet varies from casino to casino, usually “Double Odds,” 3X, 4X and 5X, 10X, or even as much as 100X. This bet is also called Free Odds.
O
Outside Numbers
4, 5, 9, and 10 are considered the Outside numbers.
P
Parlay
When you leave your winnings on the table and bet them all again, that is considered a parlay in Craps.
Pip
Pips are the white dots found on the dice (bet you didn’t know that!).
Place Bet
A bet that a particular number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will be rolled before a 7 comes up. These bets are paid at slightly less than correct odds, giving the house an edge of 1.52% on 6/8, 4% on 5/9, and 6.67% on 4/10.
Player Position
Similar to poker, there are different betting positions at a Craps table. To keep all the bets in order, the staff uses a system of positions starting with the dealer, so it is easier to pay out bets when the roll is complete.
Point
A term used to describe the initial roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 by the shooter. The object of Craps is for the shooter to roll a point then roll it again before rolling a 7.
T
Two-Way Parlay
A parlay bet for the player that also includes a bet for the dealers, which is very common.
Three-Way Craps
When a player makes a bet on the three craps numbers of 2, 3, and 12.
Y
Yo
Another term for the number 11 in Craps.
