Craps Terminology — Complete Glossary

The total amount of money wagered. "A lot of action" means heavy betting. Also used as a verb — "get action on the six" means get a bet working on the 6. Dealers use it to mean any unresolved bet currently at risk.

A single-roll prop bet covering 2, 3, and 12. Pays 7:1. House edge of 11.1%. Often used by Pass Line bettors as a one-roll hedge on the come-out — if craps rolls, Any Craps pays while the Pass Line loses. The hedge costs more than it saves over time.

A single-roll bet that the next roll will be 7. Pays 4:1. House edge of 16.67% — one of the worst bets on the layout. Called "Big Red" partly as superstition: many players believe saying the number seven out loud invites a seven-out, so "Big Red" is the polite form at the table. See Hop 7s for related bets.

The dice combination 1-2, totalling 3. A single-roll proposition bet on this number pays 15:1. Also used as slang for the roll of 3 itself.

The Don't Pass betting area. "Betting the back line" means playing Don't Pass. The term comes from the physical layout — Don't Pass sits behind (back of) the Pass Line on most table designs.

The two dealers standing at the ends of the table, each handling one half of the layout. They manage Place bets, Come bets in the number boxes, Pass Line, and all bet movements on their side. See Table Flow for full crew roles.

The dice result 6-6, totalling 12. Single-roll prop bet pays 30:1. Called "boxcars" because the two 6-pip faces look like train cars. On a standard craps table, 12 is the push on Don't Pass — the "Bar 12" that gives the house its edge over Don't bettors.

The casino supervisor seated at the centre of the table, between the two dealers and opposite the stickman. Does not deal — oversees the game, supervises payouts, manages the chip bank, and resolves disputes. The final authority at the table on close calls.

A variant of a Place bet that pays true odds (2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8) but charges a 5% commission (vig) on the bet. Buy bets on 4 and 10 are mathematically better than Place bets on those numbers because the Place payout (9:5) is worse than 2:1 minus vig. See also: Vig.

A two-unit split bet covering Any Craps (2, 3, 12) with one unit and Yo-Eleven (11) with the other. Each unit is on a different bet. If craps rolls, the craps unit wins at 7:1 and the Yo unit loses. If 11 rolls, the Yo unit wins at 15:1 and the craps unit loses. House edge approximately 11.1% blended.

An informal description of a stretch where shooters are sevening out early and frequently. No mathematical content — dice have no memory. But "cold dice" is often used to describe tables where the mood is sour and Don't bettors are doing well. Contrast with hot table.

A bet placed mid-hand (after the point is set) that works identically to the Pass Line: 7 or 11 wins, 2/3/12 loses, any other number travels to the box. 1.41% house edge. Can be backed with Come Odds (zero house edge). Core mechanism of the 3-Point Molly. See Come Bet guide.

The first roll of a new round — either at the start of a new shooter's turn, or after the previous shooter made their point. The come-out determines whether a point is set (4/5/6/8/9/10) or resolves immediately (7/11 wins Pass Line; 2/3/12 loses Pass Line). Come bets can only be placed after the come-out.

The request to exchange smaller denomination chips for larger ones before leaving the table. Standard practice before heading to the cashier cage — carrying a rack of $1 chips is unnecessary. "Colour me up, I'm leaving" is the traditional phrase.

Any roll of 2, 3, or 12. When called on the come-out, "craps" means the Pass Line loses. During the point phase the word is used as an exclamation when these numbers roll, since they have no effect on Pass Line or Place bets mid-hand (but do resolve single-roll craps bets).

Informal term for Don't Pass / Don't Come betting — betting against the shooter. Not pejorative, just descriptive. See Don't Pass and Don't Come.

The mid-hand version of Don't Pass — placed after the point is set, wins on 2/3 come-out, pushes on 12, loses on 7/11, then travels to a number where you win on 7 before the number repeats. 1.36% house edge. See Don't Come guide.

The "dark side" line bet — you win when the shooter loses and vice versa. 1.36% house edge, marginally lower than the Pass Line. The 12 push on the come-out is where the house edge lives. See Don't Pass guide.

A casino's policy allowing up to 2x the flat bet on Free Odds. A $10 Pass Line bet with 2x odds means up to $20 in Odds. Common at older or smaller casinos. Most contemporary casinos offer 3-4-5x or better.

Rolling a number (4, 6, 8, or 10) with two different die faces. For example, 4 the "easy way" is 1-3 or 2-2... wait — 2-2 is the hard way. The easy ways for 4 are 1-3 and 3-1. For 6: 1-5, 2-4, 5-1, 4-2 (not 3-3). Relevant for Hardway bets, which only win on the matching pair (hard way) and lose to easy ways and 7. See Hardways guide.

The average outcome per wager over an infinite number of trials. A bet with 1.41% house edge has an EV of −$0.141 per dollar wagered. EV doesn't predict any single result — it describes the long-run average. See also: House Edge.

A single-roll bet covering 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12. Pays 1:1 on most numbers, 2:1 on 2, and 2:1 or 3:1 on 12 depending on the casino. House edge of 2.78% at tables paying 3:1 on 12; 5.56% at tables paying 2:1 on 12. See Field Bet guide.

A bonus side bet that pays a large multiple if the shooter makes 4, 5, or all 6 unique point numbers before sevening out. Pays up to 999:1 (profit) for all six. House edge approximately 20–24%. See Fire Bet guide.

The supplemental bet placed behind a Pass Line or Come bet (or in front for Don't bets) after a point is set, paying at true mathematical probability with zero house edge. The only zero-edge bet in standard casino games. Must accompany a flat line bet. Amount limited by the casino's posted odds maximum. See Pass Odds guide.

Informal name for the Pass Line, which runs along the front edge of the layout closest to the players.

Casino slang for a player who tips well. "He's a George" is a compliment from the crew. The opposite is a "stiff" — someone who never tips. Tipping at craps typically takes the form of "betting for the crew" — placing a small bet on the crew's behalf.

Rolling 4, 6, 8, or 10 as a matching pair (2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5). Hardway bets win only on the hard combination and lose to the 7 or an easy way. House edge: 11.1% on Hard 4/10 (pays 7:1), 9.09% on Hard 6/8 (pays 9:1). See Hardways guide.

A single-roll bet split between 2 (snake eyes) and 12 (boxcars). Two units, one on each number. Pays 15:1 if either hits; the other unit loses. Combined house edge approximately 11.1%.

A single-roll proposition bet on a specific dice combination — for example, "hop 3-4" means the dice must show exactly 3 and 4. Pays 15:1 for combinations with two different numbers (two ways to roll), 30:1 for doubles (one way to roll). House edge: 11.1% on easy hops, 13.89% on hard hops. See Hop 7s guide.

A four-unit single-roll bet covering 2, 3, 11, and 12 simultaneously — one unit each. Pays 27:1 net on 2 or 12 (the unit wins 30:1, minus the other three lost), 12:1 net on 3 or 11. House edge approximately 12.5%. See Horn Bet guide.

Informal description of a table where shooters are consistently making points and avoiding seven-outs. No mathematical content. "Hot" tables revert to normal over time — the dice have no memory of recent outcomes.

The casino's mathematical advantage on a bet, expressed as a percentage of the amount wagered. A 1.41% house edge means for every $100 bet, the casino expects to keep $1.41 on average over time. Lower is better for the player. See our Bet Types comparison for all craps edges.

The point numbers 5, 6, 8, and 9 — the four numbers closest to the centre of the number boxes. The $44 Inside strategy places all four simultaneously. "Inside" refers to the physical position on the felt, as opposed to the 4 and 10 which sit on the outside edges.

The dark-side equivalent of a Buy bet — you bet that a 7 will appear before the specified number. Pays true odds (inverse of Buy), minus a 5% vig on the win. Better than Place bets mathematically on 4 and 10 for the Don't side.

The Odds bet placed in front of a Don't Pass or Don't Come bet after the point is set. You lay the larger amount to win less, reflecting that the 7 is more likely than the point number. Zero house edge, same as Pass Odds. See Lay Odds guide.

Any bet on the Pass Line or Don't Pass. "Line bets" are the foundational two-phase bets that define the craps round — as opposed to single-roll props or ongoing Place bets.

The puck that indicates whether the table is in the come-out phase (OFF, black side up) or point phase (ON, with the point number marked, white side up). Also called the "puck" or "buck." Players sometimes refer to "moving the marker" to mean a point has just been established.

Slang for a roll of 12. "Midnight" is one of the stickman's call variants. See Boxcars.

A come-out roll of 7 or 11 — immediate winner for Pass Line bettors. "He threw a natural" means the shooter won the come-out instantly without establishing a point. Also the name of the 7 in old craps slang: a natural 7 was considered good luck.

A declaration by the stickman that the throw doesn't count. Causes: a die left the table, the shooter used two hands, the throw didn't reach the back wall, or a bet was placed after the dice were released. The round re-throws with the same or replacement dice.

In craps context, "number" usually refers specifically to the point numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. "Did the shooter make the number?" means did they roll the point before a 7. A "cold number" is one that hasn't appeared in a while.

A bet that is temporarily inactive — still on the table, but not at risk on the next roll. Players declare bets "off" on come-out rolls to protect them. The dealer marks the bet with a small "OFF" lammer. By default, Place bets are off on come-out rolls at most casinos unless you specify "working."

The point numbers 4, 5, 9, and 10. "Outside" because they occupy the outer positions on the number boxes. The $54 Outside strategy covers all four. Outside numbers have fewer ways to roll than inside numbers (6 and 8), making them less frequent but offering higher payouts when hit.

The foundational craps bet — you win with the shooter on the come-out (7/11 wins, 2/3/12 loses) and during the point phase (point made wins, 7 loses). 1.41% house edge. The most bet-on position in craps. See Pass Line guide.

The casino floor supervisor overseeing multiple tables in a section (the "pit"). Not the same as the boxman, who supervises a single table. The pit boss handles larger disputes, credit decisions, and player ratings. Rarely visible at the table itself.

A bet on a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) that wins if that number rolls before a 7, active on any roll during the point phase. Unlike Come bets, Place bets don't have their own come-out. Pays 7:6 on 6/8 (1.52% edge), 7:5 on 5/9 (4% edge), 9:5 on 4/10 (6.67% edge). See Place 6 & 8 guide.

The number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) established on the come-out roll. Once a point is set, the shooter must roll that number again before a 7 for the Pass Line to win. "Making the point" means the shooter succeeds; "seven-out" means they fail.

To increase a bet, typically by doubling it or adding one unit from a payout. "Press the six" means take the winnings from the 6 and add them to the existing bet rather than collecting. A "full press" doubles the bet entirely. Pressing is a common management technique on Place bets after a hit.

All single-roll bets in the centre of the table: Any Craps, Any Seven, Yo, Snake Eyes, Boxcars, Horn, Whirl/World, C&E, Hardways, and Hop bets. Handled by the stickman. Generally carry high house edges and are often called "sucker bets" by math-focused players.

The disc that shows whether the table is in the come-out phase (OFF, black side visible) or point phase (ON, white side visible, sitting on the point number). Moving the puck to a number officially establishes the point. See Marker.

Placing a Pass Line bet after the point is set — skipping the come-out roll entirely. Only mathematically justifiable when backed with large Odds, since you surrender the favorable come-out probabilities. See Put Bet guide.

The padded edge surrounding the table where players stand. Your chips rest in the rail groove in front of you when not in play. "Stay in your rail" is an informal reminder to keep your chips in your designated spot and not crowd other players' chip stacks.

A player who bets with the shooter — Pass Line, Come, Place bets. The majority of craps players. Opposite of a wrong bettor. The terms are historical, not judgemental.

The shooter rolls a 7 during the point phase before making the point. Ends the shooter's turn. Pass Line and all active Come bets lose; Don't Pass and traveled Don't Come bets win. The stickman calls "seven out, line away." The dice pass to the next player.

The dice result 1-1, totalling 2. Single-roll prop bet pays 30:1. Called "snake eyes" because the two single-pip faces resemble eyes. One of only six combinations that can only be rolled one way.

The dealer standing at the centre of the table, controlling the dice with a curved stick. Calls results, handles all centre proposition bets, sets the pace and energy of the game. The stickman's delivery ("Yo-leven! Winner winner!") is the signature sound of a craps table. See Table Flow guide.

A tip for the dealer crew. Standard craps practice is betting "for the boys" — placing a small bet in the proposition area on behalf of the dealers. If it wins, they collect it. See Table Flow guide for customs detail.

The mathematically correct payout ratio based solely on probability, with no house margin. Free Odds / Lay Odds pay true odds — hence "zero house edge." Most craps bets pay slightly less than true odds; that shortfall is the house edge.

The statistical spread of outcomes around the expected value. High-variance bets (like the Fire Bet) produce infrequent but large swings. Low-variance bets (like Pass Line) produce steadier, smaller movements. A player can run well above expectation in the short term due to variance; over many sessions, results converge toward the house edge.

The casino's commission on a bet. On Buy and Lay bets, typically 5% of the bet amount, charged on wins only. "No vig" promotions (charging vig only on winning bets, not on placement) significantly reduce house edge on those wagers — worth asking about at any table offering Buy/Lay bets.

A five-unit bet: Horn (2, 3, 11, 12) plus Any 7. When a 7 rolls, the Any 7 wins and the four horn units cancel — it's a push on 7 rather than a loss. House edge approximately 13.3%. Mostly used as a come-out hedge by heavy Don't Pass players.

A bet that is active and at risk on the next roll. "All bets working" means every bet on the table will be resolved if its relevant outcome occurs. The opposite of "off." Come Odds are working by default in the point phase; Place bets are off by default on come-out rolls. You can override either with a verbal call to the dealer.

A player who bets Don't Pass, Don't Come, or Lay bets — betting against the shooter. The term is historical, originating when back-alley dice cheats would bet Don't to profit from rigged dice. At modern tables there's nothing actually wrong with it; the math is marginally in the wrong bettor's favour compared to right betting. See Don't Pass guide.

The roll of 11. Called "yo" or "yo-leven" at the table because "eleven" sounds too much like "seven" in a noisy casino, which could cause confusion about the result. A single-roll prop bet on Yo pays 15:1 with an 11.1% house edge. On the come-out, 11 is a natural winner for Pass Line bettors.