Terms | Understanding Craps

We believe that Craps was first played by Crusaders who called the game Hazard. This is a corruption of the castle they were besieging.

Some believe that Hazard is the Arabic word for die. We have explained the craps terms on this page so that you can play the game with more knowledge and better understand the craps game rules.

Aces: Betting that the next roll will total 2.
Any Craps: This is a bet that the next roll will be 2, 3 or 12.
Any Seven: Betting that the next roll will be a 7.
Arm: A player who possesses skills to roll the dice and can change the outcome himself.
Back Line: Also often called the Don’t Pass Line.
Betting Right: Betting that the roll will win on the Pass Line and Come bets.
Betting Wrong: Betting that the village will win on the Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets.
Big 8: Gamble that the 8 is rolled before a 7 is rolled.
Big 6: Betting that the 6 is rolled before a 7 is rolled.
Big Red: Placing a bet on one of the Any Seven.
Bones: Also often called dice (derived from pig bones used to play with).
Boxcar: Two sixes rolled, placing a bet on the 12.
Employees at a Craps table
Boxman: Casino employee who sits between the two dealers at the Craps table and controls the chips.
Broke Money: When a player loses all their money and gives the casino money for transportation.
Buffalo: Placing a bet on “Hardway” or “Any Seven”.
Buy Bet: An agreement between the casino and the player whereby the player pays 5% commission. In return, he wants to get the right odds on a bet.

C and E Bet: This involves rolling the dice only once. The outcome will be 2, 3, 11 or 12.
Capped Dice: Dice that have been messed with. These can affect the outcome.
Cold Table: A period in which many players lose. Often the point is not made.
Come bet: A Pass Line bet, often placed after the Come Out roll.
Come Out roll: The first roll of dice that announces the ‘Point’ for the Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line bets.
Crap: Numbers 2, 3 or 12.
Crap Out: Throwing a total number of eyes of 2, 3 or 12 on the first roll.
Don’t Come: Betting against the dice. In effect, you are saying that a 7 is rolled before a ‘Point’ is made, often after the Come Out roll.
Don’t Pass Bet: Betting against the dice before the Come Out roll.
Don’t Pass Bar: A thin line of felt on which the Pass Line bets are placed.
Easy Way: Dice where a total number of 4, 6, 8 or 10 is rolled.
Edge: The house advantage of the casino over the players.
Field bet: A bet where the next roll will be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12.
Front Line: Also often called the Pass Line.
Hardway: A bet where you think 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be rolled where both dice are equal to each other. For example, 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 or 5-5.
Hi-Lo: Bets where the dice have the total number of pips of 2 or 12.
Hope bet: A bet on a specific combination for one round of play.
Hoping Hardway: A bet on 2-2 for one round of play.
Lay bet: A bet on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 not being rolled before a 7 is rolled.
Line bet: A bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line.
Little Joe: A pair of twos, also called a Hardway of 2-2.
Marker: A plastic disc used by dealers to make the ‘Point’ clear on the Craps table. In doing so, they will place the marker on the ‘Point’.
Midnight: A bet on 12 to be thrown in one round of play.
Natural: A bet where a 7 or 11 is rolled on the Come Out roll.
Parlay: Raising the bet, often double the regular bet.
Point: The Point is the number that is rolled. This will need to be thrown before a roll of 7 is thrown. This will then be called the Point.
Proposition: All bets where you bet on Hardway or specific combinations played in one round of play.
Right: Also often called ‘good’. This is where players bet on the shooter they think will make the ‘Point’.
Seven Out: When a 7 is rolled after a point is made and it is not rolled. Now the next shooter will be designated. This will be to the left of the shooter (clockwise).
Snake Eyes: Throwing a total number of eyes of 2 with one throw.
Stickman: This is a casino employee who hands the dice to the shooter. Often he will have five dice where the shooter can pick two between them. This employee is also the designated person to pay out the Proposition bets to players.
Toke: Tipping the dealer. In other words, rewarding a dealer after you have made a nice profit.
Three Way Craps: A bet where you place a bet on three specific spots. One unit on 2, one unit on 3 and one unit on 12.

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A few terms will go a long way

If you like to play dice, then craps is definitely for you. A little bit of knowledge about the game is of course a plus. Americans are quite fond of throwing terms around. Just read the list above a few times and you will be able to join in the discussions at the tables.