Are you a new craps player? Learning the game’s lingo is a great place to start because it will help you understand how to play craps and communicate during games. Here’s an A to Z list of all the craps terms you need to sound like a veteran player in your next online craps game.
A to Z Craps Terminology
Here is a beginner-friendly glossary of useful craps terms for people playing craps online or in land-based casinos. And once you’re done getting your lingo up to scratch, you may want some beginner tips for craps to help you better understand the game.
Aces
A bet that the next roll will b
Ace Deuce
Rolling a 3.
Any Craps
A one-roll bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12.
Any Seven
A bet that the next roll will be a 7.
Arm
A player who is skilled at rolling or shooting the dice.
Base Dealers
In land-based casinos, there will usually be two base dealers on each side of the craps table. Live games in online casinos also have real dealers.
Betting Right
If you make a wager on the pass line, you are betting with the shooter or the person rolling the dice. This type of bet is called a right bet or a pass-line bet.
Betting Wrong
When a player bets against the shooter.
Big Six
A wager that the shooter will roll a 6 before a 7.
Big Eight
A wager that the shooter will roll an 8 before a 7.
Big Red
A slang term used for a 7. Craps players don’t like to say the number 7 out loud because it would violate craps table etiquette.
Bones
Another name for dice.
Box Numbers
In craps, players can wager on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. These place bet numbers are called box numbers.
Box Cars
This means 12. Box cars can also refer to a bet that the next roll will total 12.
Boxman
A person who supervises the craps game and sits between the two dealers.
Boys
Another name for the base dealers.
C&E Bet
C and E in craps is a two-in-one wager where a player combines a craps bet on 2, 3 or 13 with a bet on 11. The bet has two split payouts.
Center Field
Slang for rolling a 9.
Cold Dice or Cold Table
These expressions are used when none of the players are making their point at a table.
Come Bet or Come Line
A bet made by a player after the point has been established or the dice have been rolled.
Come Out
The first roll in a craps round.
Craps
A gambling game where players bet on the results of a player rolling a pair of dice.
But why is it called craps? There’s much debate on the matter, with some theorizing that it’s influenced by the French word crapaud, which means toad. This word was used to describe the position players took when playing, as they often squatted when rolling the dice. Another theory is that it simply evolved from the English word crabs, which was the slang name for two rolls in hazard (the predecessor of craps), which resulted in an instant loss on the first roll.
Craps Check
When you bet on craps numbers during the first roll of the round.
Crapless Craps
Crapless Craps removes the crap out numbers, converting all the numbers (except the 7) to potential point numbers.
Craps Numbers
These are the numbers 2, 3 and 12.
Crap Out
To crap out, you need to throw one of the crap out numbers on the first roll in the round. If you do, anyone who bets with the shooter loses, and anyone who bets against them wins.
Don’t Come Bet
The opposite of a come bet. Don’t come bets win on the first roll of 1, 2, 3 and 12. They lose if the point is rolled before a 7.
Don’t Pass Bet
A bet that the shooter will not make their point and will roll a 2, 3 or 12.
Double Odds
An odds bet that doubles the original pass or come bet.
Down
Reducing or removing a bet from the table.
Easy Way
Rolling a 4, 6, 8 or 10 without rolling a pair.
Fever
Slang term for rolling a 5.
Free Odds
A bet with no house edge. The bet must be placed with another bet.
Front Line
A pass line bet or a bet that the shooter will win.
Garden
A field bet or a one-roll bet.
George
A good tipper.
Hard Way
A bet on 4, 6, 8 or 10 that only wins if it’s rolled as a pair.
Hi-Lo
A one-roll bet on a 2 and a 12.
Hi-Lo-Yo
A one-roll wager on 2, 11 and 12.
Hop Bet
A bet that the next roll will have a particular combination. For example, a 3 and a 5.
Horn Bet
This is a one-roll center bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 11 or 12 made in the multiple of four.
Inside Numbers
Bets made on the numbers 5, 6, 8 or 9.
Lay Bet
A bet that a 7 will be rolled before the number you are placing.
Layout
The printed area on the table where bets are placed.
Lay Odds
After a point has been established and players can make additional bets.
Little Joe
Slang for a pair of 2s.
Low
A single-roll bet for a 2.
Little Phoebe
Slang for rolling a 5.
Marker
A plastic disc used to mark a point.
Mark the Point
When a dealer puts the marker on the layout to show players the point number.
Mechanic
A shooter who believes they can control the dice.
Natural
Rolling a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll.
Nina
Slang for rolling a 9.
One-Roll Bet
A bet that is lost or won after a single dice roll.
Odds Bet
An additional wager after the pass-line bet.
Off
What players say when they aren’t placing any bets on the next roll.
Off and On
Dealers paying off come bets when a new come bet on the same number is made
On
Your bets are active.
Outside Numbers
Place bets on 4, 10, 5 and 9.
Parlay
Parlaying is adding all your current winnings to your bet for the next roll.
Pass Bet
A bet that the shooter will pass the come-out roll and roll a 7 or 11.
Pass Line
A section on the craps table where pass-line bets are made.
Payout Odds
The payout offered when players win a craps bet. The odds start at ±100 and go up to +3,000.
Place Bet
A bet that the shooter will roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 before a 7.
Place Numbers
The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 on the craps table.
Point
If the come-out roll lands on a place number, it becomes the point on the craps table.
Press
What does press mean in craps? Adding your winnings from a successful place bet to the existing place bet on a number. It is a craps’ strategy to build your winnings during a hot streak. But there are more advanced approaches to pressing in craps, such as power pressing and using press on other types of bets.
Proposition Bet
Wagering on a bet in the center of the layout.
Puppy Paws
Puppy paws in craps is slang for rolling a hard 10 or two 5s.
Rail or Rack
The part of the table where players keep their chips.
Seven Out
When the shooter rolls a 7 before the point number.
Shooter
The player rolling the dice.
Shooting Dice
Shooting dice is slang for playing craps but is usually associated with street craps and is played in informal settings.
Snake Eyes
Slang for rolling two aces.
Square Pair
Slang for rolling a hard 8 or two 4s.
Stickman
A dealer who uses a stick to push dice to the shooter.
Toke
Another word for a tip.
Working Bet
Active bets on the next roll.
Yo
Slang for rolling 11.
Yo Bet
A high-paying bet that the next roll will be 11.
Roll the Dice and Take Your Shot With BetMGM
Now that you know how to speak like a true craps expert, it’s time to test your craps strategy at a craps table and play craps online. BetMGM has a vast selection of online casino games and live table games with real dealers. For a complete casino experience at your fingertips, register with us.
