Craps Glossary

Craps Glossary

Advantage	The advantage (or edge) a casino has over a player on a particular bet on the craps layout. Also know as House Edge or Casino Advantage.

Any Craps	A one roll bet that the next dice roll will be a craps (2, 3 or 12).

Any Seven	A one roll bet that the next dice roll will be a 7.

Bar the 12	Shown on the craps layout in the Don't Pass Line and Don't Come Box areas. A 12 is a standoff in these areas to ensure the casino has an advantage over the wrong bettors.

Behind the Line	A bet on the free-odds after a point has been established on the come out roll.

Betting Right	Betting that the dice will pass; with the dice.

Betting Wrong	Betting that the dice won't pass; against the dice.

Big 6	A bet at even-money that the 6 will be rolled before a 7 is rolled.

Big 8	A bet at even-money that the 8 will be rolled before a 7 is rolled.

Box Numbers	The box areas around the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, which is used to mark the point, and to put place, come and buy bets.

Boxcars	A slang term for the roll of the 12.

Boxman	A casino employee who supervises the game of craps, and remains seated behind all the casino chips during the play.

Bring Out	A term used by dealers and players when betting on the hardway of a point,to "bring out" the point.

Buy Bets	A 5% commission is paid to the casino in order to be paid the correct odds on a bet (usually the 4 and/or 10).

Casino Advantage	The advantage (or edge) a casino has over a player on a particular bet on the craps layout. Also know as House Edge. See Tables of Odds for what the Casino Advantage is on all bets.

Center Bets	The bets located in the center of the layout; also called Proposition Bets.

Chips	The common term for tokens, issued by a casino in place of money, and having the equivalent of cash.

Cold Dice	Dice which consistently don't pass.

Color Change	The changing of chips to a higher or lower denomination.

Come Bet	A bet with the dice that they will pass, made after the come out roll.

Come Box	The area on the layout where a come bet is made.

Come Out Roll	The initial or first roll of the dice before a point has been established.

Coming Out	A term to designate that a new come out roll is about to happen.

Correct Odds	The mathematical likelihood, or probability, that a bet will be made a winner (usually the odds a point will be made prior to a 7 rolled).

Craps Out	To throw a craps on the come out roll, an automatic loser for Pass Line bettors.

Craps	The term for a roll of a 2, 3 or 12. Also the name of the game.

Crew	Four casino employees that staff a craps table, includes a boxman, a stickman, and two dealers.

Dealer	A casino employee who works directly with the player and handles the monetary transactions, bets and payoffs.

Dice	A pair of cubes, each with six sides and each numbered from 1 to 6, whose combinations, when rolled, determine payoffs and losses in the game of craps.

Die	A single cube, singular of dice.

Don't Come Box	The area on the layout where a Don't Come bet is made.

Don't Come Bet	A bet made after the come out roll, that the dice won't pass; betting against the dice.

Don't Pass Line	The area on the layout where a Don't Pass bet is made.

Don't Pass Bet	A bet made on the come out roll that the dice will not pass; betting against the dice.

Double Odds (2X)	A free-odds bet made at double (2X) the amount of the original bet.

Easy Way	The roll of a 4, 6, 8 or 10 where the dice are not matched as a pair, "the hardway", such as 5-5, but other combinations.

Even-Money	A payoff at 1 to 1.

Field Bet	A bet that the next roll of the dice will come up 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.

Five-times Odds (5X)	A free-odds bet made at five-times (5X) the amount of the original bet.

Floorman	A casino employee who stands behind the craps table, checking on the players and authorizing credit for players.

Free-Odds Bet	Another term for any odds bet where the house has no advantage. Either taken (or laid) on a Pass, Don't Pass, Come or Don't Come bet after the point is established.

Front Line	Refers to the Pass Line.

Hardway	The term for the dice coming as a pair for the 4, 6, 8 or 10, such as 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 or 5-5; as opposed to the easy way.

Hardway Bet	A bet that the dice will come up as an even pair on either a 4, 6, 8 or 10 before they come up the easy way or a 7 is rolled.

High Roller	A player or bettor who wages large sums of money at a craps table.

Hop Bet	A one roll bet on a number not in the center layout.

Horn Bet	A one roll bet on the 2, 3, 11 and 12.

Hot Roll	Dice that are continually passing, and that are held by a shooter for a long time before a seven-out.

House Edge	The advantage or edge a casino has over a player on a particular bet on the craps layout. Also know as Casino Advantage.

Inside Numbers	The numbers 5, 6, 8 and 9. Usually designated as inside numbers when making a place bet on these numbers.

Lay Bet	A bet by a wrong bettor, that a 7 will be rolled before the number; a 5% commission is paid for making such a bet.

Lay the Odds	A free-odds bet by a wrong bettor against a number, based on the potential winnings rather than the bet.

Layout	An imprint on felt surface showing all bets that can be made in a craps game, with areas for those bets.

Line Bet	Another term for a Pass Line and/or Don't Pass bet.

Loaded Dice	Dice that have been weighted to tamper with their roll.

Marker	An IOU signed by a player with established credit at a casino.

Marker Buck (Puck)	Plastic round disk used to mark either the point or to indicate that no point is yet established; "OFF" on one side, "ON" on the other side.

Maximum Bet	The maximum bet a player can make in a game of craps.

Minimum Bet	The minimum bet a player can make in a game of craps.

Natural	Another term for a 7 or 11 rolled on the come out roll.

Odds	The ratio or probability of an event occurring in the game of craps.

Odds Bet	Another term for any odds bet where the house has no advantage.

Off	A designation that a bet is not working on a particular roll.

On	A designation that a bet is working on a particular roll.

On Base	The term for a standing dealers who is not the stickman.

On the Stick	The term to signify that a dealers is now working the stick, and is the stickman for a designated time.

One Roll Bet	A wager whose outcome is determined by the next throw of the dice.

Outside Numbers	The numbers 4, 5, 9 and 10. Usually designated as outside numbers when making a place bet on these numbers.

Parlay	To increase a bet, usually by double; same as "Press".

Pass	A winning decision on the dice; the 7 or 11 is rolled on a come out roll and/or the point is made.

Pass Line	The area on the layout where a Pass Line bet is made.

Pass Line Bet	A wager that the dice will pass; betting with the dice.

Payoff	The casino pays and the player collects a winning bet.

Pit Boss	A casino employee in charge of all the craps tables in one area of the casino.

Place Bet	A wager on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 in the box numbers area of the layout.

Player	Another term for gambler or bettor.

Point	The number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 when rolled on the come out roll.

Press	To increase a bet, usually by doubling; same as "Parlay".

Proposition Bets	The bets located in the center of the layout; also called Center Bets.

Rails	A grooved area at the craps table where players place their chips when they aren't being bet.

Right Bettors	Players who bet that the dice will pass; with the dice.

Roll	A single throw of the dice. Also, a complete series of throws until the shooter sevens-out.

Sequence Bet	A bet whose outcome is not necessarily determined on the following roll but may take a succession of rolls to be determined.

Seven-Out	To throw a 7 after a point has been established, ending the roll and losing with the dice.

Shoot	A term for a complete series of rolls before a seven-out.

Shooter	The player who rolls the dice, and whose throws determine all payoffs and losses at the craps table.

Single Odds (1X)	A free-odds bet made at equal the amount of the original bet.

Snake Eyes	A slang term for the number 2.

Standoff	A situation where no decision results from a throw of the dice on certain bets.

Stickman	A casino employee who calls the game and handles the stick at a craps table.

Take the Odds	To make free-odds bet as a right bettor, thus getting better than even-money on a winning bet.

Ten-times Odds (10X)	A free-odds bet made at ten-times (10X) the amount of the original bet.

Toke	A gratuity or tip given to a dealers by a player. Usually made on a Line bet or Proposition bet.

Triple Odds (3X)	A free-odds bet made at triple (3X) the amount of the original bet.

True Odds	The odds a particular number will be rolled on any single roll of the dice.

Unit	Bet size used as a standard of measurement.

Working	A signification that bets are on, and payoffs will be made on the next roll of the dice.

Wrong Bettors	Players who bet Don't Pass, betting against the dice.

Yo-leven	A slang term for the 11.