Craps Glossary: Every Term You'll Hear at the Table
The first time you stand at a live craps table, half of what you hear sounds like a foreign language. The stickman is calling out "yo eleven," "boxcars," and "little Joe from Kokomo" while dealers talk about hardways and props and players say things like "press it," "color me up," and "I'm working." None of it is in the rule book.
This glossary translates all of it. Every term you'll hear at a craps table, online or live, organized alphabetically. I've stuck to terms a beginner is actually likely to encounter rather than padding the list with archaic slang. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you hear something that doesn't make sense.
A
Aces. A roll of 2, made by both dice landing on 1. Also called snake eyes. There's a one-roll prop bet on aces that pays 30 to 1, with brutal math behind it.
Ace deuce. A roll of 3, made by a 1 and a 2. The "deuce" is casino-speak for the number 2. Like aces, it has a one-roll prop bet attached, also with brutal math.
Across. A bet covering all six place numbers (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10) at once. "I'm going across for $32" means $5 each on the 4, 5, 9 and 10 plus $6 each on the 6 and 8. Mediocre math but fast action.
Action. Money in play on the table. A player with $100 spread across bets has $100 in action. Casinos track action because it determines comps and ratings.
Any craps. A one-roll bet that the next throw will be a 2, 3 or 12. Pays 7 to 1, with about an 11 percent house edge. Skip it.
Any seven. A one-roll bet that the next throw will be a 7. Pays 4 to 1, with about a 16 percent edge, one of the worst bets in the entire casino.
B
Bar 12 (or bar 2). The notation in the don't pass and don't come areas indicating which number pushes on the come out roll. The push gives the casino its edge on don't bets. More in the don't pass article.
Big 6 and Big 8. A bet that the 6 (or 8) will be rolled before a 7, paying even money, which is worse than a place bet on the same number. Most newer tables have removed them as tourist traps. Place the 6 or 8 instead.
Big red. Slang for the 7, used by players who don't want to say the actual word during a point cycle. From the red 7 displayed for the any seven prop bet.
Bones. Slang for dice, from the days when dice were made of bone. "Roll the bones" is just "throw the dice."
Box numbers. The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10, which appear in the boxes at the top of each end of the table. These can be points and can be place bet on.
Boxcars. A roll of 12, made by both dice landing on 6. Also called midnight. Has a one-roll prop bet paying 30 to 1 with bad math.
Boxman. The casino employee who sits at the middle of the table behind the chip rack, supervising the table, watching every roll and payout, and handling cash. Talk to the dealer first; the boxman is who you escalate to.
Buy bet. A place bet where you pay a 5 percent commission to get paid at true odds. Better math than place bets on the 4 and 10, but more complicated than a beginner needs.
C
Cold table. A table where shooters are sevening out quickly and most bets are losing. Bad for pass line bettors, good for don't pass bettors. Statistically identical to a hot table over the long run, but very different in any given hour.
Color up. To exchange smaller chips for larger denominations before leaving. Say "color me up" to the dealer, then take the higher-value chips to the cashier cage.
Come bet. A bet that works like a pass line bet but is made after a point is established, with the next roll as its personal come out. Same math, same odds option. Full breakdown in the come bet article.
Come out roll. The first roll of a new round, made when the puck is off. Determines whether the round resolves immediately or moves into a point cycle.
Contract bet. A bet that can't be removed once a point is established. The pass line is a contract bet; don't pass is not, even though many players assume it is.
Craps. The name of the game, but also a roll of 2, 3 or 12. "The shooter rolled craps" means one of those three numbers, which loses pass line bets on the come out.
Crew. The casino employees working a table together: usually a boxman, two dealers, and a stickman. Tips are shared among them.
D
Dark side. Slang for betting against the shooter, meaning don't pass and don't come. Dark side bettors are sometimes called wrong way bettors, with a slightly negative connotation that isn't really meant as an insult.
Dealer. The casino employee on either side of the boxman, handling bets and payouts on their side of the table. Players talk to the dealer on their side.
Don't come bet. The don't pass version of a come bet, made after a point is established, with wins and losses flipped from a regular come bet. Covered in the don't come article.
Don't pass bet. A bet against the shooter, made on the don't pass bar before a come out roll. Wins on a 2 or 3, loses on a 7 or 11, pushes on a 12. Slightly better math than the pass line. Details in the don't pass article.
Double odds. A casino rule letting you bet up to twice your pass line bet on free odds. Most casinos have moved to 3x-4x-5x or higher.
E
Easy way. A roll of 4, 6, 8 or 10 that is not a pair. A 4 made by 1 and 3 is an easy 4; a 4 made by two 2s is a hard 4. Used in announcing rolls when hardway bets are in play.
Even money. A bet that pays 1 to 1. Bet $10, win $10 plus your original $10 back. The pass line, don't pass, come, don't come, and most field wins pay even money.
F
Field. A one-roll bet that the next throw will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. Bad math despite covering seven numbers, because the numbers it doesn't cover (5, 6, 7, 8) are the most common. The trap is in our field bets article.
Fire bet. A bonus side bet at some tables that pays if the shooter makes four, five or six unique points before sevening out. Long odds, big payouts, bad math.
Free odds. The bet behind the pass line (or in front of don't pass) that pays at true odds with zero house edge. The best bet in the casino. Always take it. Details in the free odds article.
G
Garden. Old slang for the field, heard occasionally from older players or stickmen with classic patter. Mostly archaic now.
George. Slang for a player who tips dealers generously. The opposite is a "stiff." Dealers prefer Georges.
H
Hardway. A bet that a specific number (4, 6, 8 or 10) will be rolled with both dice showing the same value before a 7 or before that number rolls the easy way. Pays 7 to 1 on the 4 and 10, 9 to 1 on the 6 and 8, with a 9 to 11 percent house edge. Bad bets despite their popularity.
High-low. A combined one-roll bet covering both 2 and 12 in equal amounts, each paying 30 to 1. Bad math, popular with longshot players.
Hop bet. A one-roll bet on a specific dice combination, like "hop 5-3." Pays 15 to 1 for non-pair hops, 30 to 1 for pairs. Bad math. The stickman handles them.
Horn bet. A combined one-roll bet on the 2, 3, 11 and 12 split into four equal parts. Bad math, often called as "horn high" or "horn low."
Hot table. A table where shooters are making points and pass line bettors are winning. The opposite of a cold table, and statistically identical to one over the long run.
House edge. The casino's mathematical advantage on a bet, as a percentage of the amount wagered. Pass line is 1.41 percent, free odds is 0 percent, hardways are 9 to 11 percent.
I
Inside numbers. The 5, 6, 8 and 9, the four place numbers in the middle of the layout. "Inside for $22" is $5 each on the 5 and 9 plus $6 each on the 6 and 8.
Iron cross. A setup combining field bets with place bets on the 5, 6 and 8, designed to win on every roll except a 7. Sounds amazing, has bad math. Covered in the field bets article. Avoid.
J
Juice. Slang for the casino's commission on a buy bet, usually 5 percent of the win. Also used informally for the house edge in general.
L
Lay bet. The opposite of a buy bet. You bet against a number, paying a 5 percent commission for true odds. Used by dark side players, more complex than a beginner needs.
Lay odds. Free odds for don't pass and don't come bets. Same zero house edge as pass line odds, but the mechanics are reversed: you put up more than you win. Details in the free odds article.
Little Joe. Old slang for a roll of 4, sometimes "little Joe from Kokomo." Heard from stickmen with classic patter. Just adds flavor.
M
Marker. Two meanings: the puck that marks whether a round is in the come out or point phase, or a credit line a casino extends to a player.
Midnight. Slang for a roll of 12. Also called boxcars.
N
Natural. A roll of 7 or 11 on the come out roll. Wins pass line bets immediately and ends the round, with the same shooter throwing another come out right after.
O
Odds. Two meanings: the free odds bet behind the pass line, or the general probability of an outcome. "What are the odds of a 7" refers to the second.
Off. A bet status meaning it doesn't win or lose on the next roll. Place bets are off by default during the come out roll. The puck on the off side means a come out roll is about to happen.
On. The opposite of off. An active bet that will win or lose on the next roll. The puck on the on side means a point is established and the round is in the point cycle.
Outside numbers. The 4, 5, 9 and 10. "Outside for $20" is $5 each on those four numbers.
P
Pass line. The most popular bet in craps, a bet that the shooter will win the round. House edge 1.41 percent. Details in the pass line article.
Pit. The area where table games are clustered, usually with a central walkway between rows of tables.
Pit boss. The employee overseeing a section of the pit, including multiple tables. Higher rank than the boxman. Players sometimes interact with them for comp questions.
Place bet. A bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) will be rolled before a 7. House edge varies by number, with the 6 and 8 best at 1.52 percent. Details in the place bets article.
Point. The number a shooter is trying to roll again before sevening out, set on the come out roll. The puck flips on and goes on the point's box.
Press. To increase an existing bet, usually after a win. "Press the 6" adds to your place bet on 6.
Proposition bet. Shortened to prop bet. The bets in the center of the table, run by the stickman: hardways, hop bets, the horn, any seven, any craps. Almost all have terrible math. Avoid.
Puck. The round black-and-white disc on the layout, with an "on" and "off" side, telling everyone whether the round is in the come out or point phase.
R
Rail. The padded edge of the table where players lean and chip racks are built in. Drinks should not go on the rail; use the holders or shelves underneath.
Right way bettor. A player who bets the pass line and come, betting with the shooter. Most players are right way bettors. The opposite is a wrong way or dark side bettor.
RNG. Random number generator, the software that simulates dice rolls in online craps. Reputable sites have their RNGs independently audited.
S
Sevening out. Rolling a 7 during a point cycle, which ends the round. Pass line bets and most others lose, and the shooter gives up the dice.
Shooter. The player whose turn it is to throw the dice. The dice rotate clockwise, and players can pass on shooting. Full breakdown in the being the shooter article.
Snake eyes. A roll of 2, made by both dice landing on 1. Same as aces.
Stickman. The employee who handles the dice with the long curved stick, calls out each roll, and runs the proposition bets in the center. Usually the most talkative member of the crew.
T
Take down. To remove a bet from the table. "Take down the 8" gives back your place bet on 8. Most bets can be taken down at any time; pass line bets cannot once a point is set.
Take odds. To make a free odds bet behind your pass line or come bet. The opposite is "lay odds" for don't pass and don't come.
True odds. The actual mathematical probability of an outcome. Free odds pays at true odds; most other bets pay slightly less, the difference being the house edge.
Two-way bet. A bet that includes a tip for the dealers. "Two-way hardway 8" is a hardway bet for you and a smaller one for the dealers on the same number.
U
Unit. Your basic bet size. If you bet $5 on the pass line, your unit is $5. The size of your bankroll relative to your unit determines how long you can play. More in bankroll management.
W
Working. A bet that is on and will win or lose on the next roll. By default, place bets and most numbered bets are off during the come out roll. Tell the dealer "working" or "off" to change the status.
Wrong way bettor. A player who bets don't pass and don't come, betting against the shooter. Same as a dark side bettor. Slightly better math, socially less popular.
Y
Yo. Slang for a roll of 11, from "yo eleven," which stickmen call so it isn't confused with "seven" in a noisy room. Also the name of a one-roll prop bet on 11, paying 15 to 1 with bad math.
One Last Thing
The slang at a craps table is part of the culture, built up over a hundred years of players, dealers, and stickmen. Some of it is functional, like "yo" replacing "eleven" so the number isn't confused in a noisy room, and some is just colorful for its own sake, like "little Joe from Kokomo" for a 4. Memorizing these terms isn't necessary; recognizing them is enough, and after a few sessions the language becomes natural. If you hear something not in this list, just ask the dealer, who's usually happy to explain during a quiet moment.
That's the whole guide: eighteen articles covering every part of a beginner's introduction to craps. Read them in order, jump around to whatever interests you, or use this glossary as a quick reference. Back to How to Play.