This craps glossary covers every term you'll actually hear at a table, in plain language, organized alphabetically so you can jump straight to the one you need. Bookmark it — most players only need to look a term up once before it sticks.
A
Ace Deuce (Acey Deucey)
A roll of 3, made by a 1 and a 2. Also the name of the one-roll proposition bet on that exact combination.
Aces
A roll of 2, made by both dice landing on 1. Also called snake eyes. There's a one-roll proposition bet on it too, paying 30:1.
Across
A single call that places all six numbers 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. Fast action, but a weaker average house edge than betting 6 and 8 alone.
Action
Money currently in play on the table. A player with $100 spread across several bets has $100 in action, and casinos track it since it's what determines comps.
Any Craps
A one-roll bet that the next throw will be a 2, 3, or 12. It pays 7:1, but the true odds make it one of the worse-priced bets on the layout. Full payout and house edge details are on the Every Bet Explained page.
Any Seven
A one-roll bet that the next throw will be a 7, regardless of how it's made. It pays 4:1, and it's one of the worst-priced bets in the entire casino despite being one of the most popular with new players, since 7 comes up so often.
Apron
The flat area of the table behind the pass line, where free odds bets get placed rather than on the layout's printed betting boxes.
Arm
Slang for a skilled, experienced shooter — someone who's been throwing long enough at a table to be recognized by name.
B
Back Line
Another name for the don't pass line.
Bar the 12
The notation in the don't pass and don't come areas showing which number pushes on the come-out roll — almost always the 12. It exists specifically to give the house its edge on don't bets; without it, the don't side would be slightly favorable to the player.
Behind the Line
Where free odds bets physically sit on the layout — placed just behind your pass line or come bet rather than on top of it.
Big 6 / Big 8
An even-money bet that the 6 or 8 rolls before a 7. Same premise as placing the number directly, but placing it pays 7:6 instead — which is why experienced players skip Big 6 and Big 8 and place the number instead.
Big Red
Table slang for the number 7, and the call you'll hear used for an any seven bet. Saying "seven" outright is considered bad luck at the table, so this is the workaround.
Bones
Slang for the dice themselves.
Box Numbers
The six place numbers as a group — 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 — the numbers a shooter can establish as a point.
Boxcars
A roll of two 6s, totaling 12. Also the name of the proposition bet on that exact outcome, paying 30:1.
Boxman
The casino employee seated between the two dealers, supervising the game and the table's money. The boxman doesn't handle bets directly but oversees everyone who does.
Bubble Craps
An electronic version of craps where a real pair of dice tumbles inside a glass dome and a camera reads the result, rather than a live shooter throwing across a felt table. It runs faster than a live game and often at a lower table minimum.
Buy Bet
A bet on a specific number that pays true odds instead of the shortened place-bet payout, in exchange for a 5% commission. See Every Bet Explained for the commission conventions and which numbers make sense to buy.
C
C&E
Short for "craps and eleven." A one-roll bet split between any craps (2, 3, or 12) and yo (11) in a single call.
Change Only
What you tell the dealer when buying in without wanting action on the very next roll — just chips, no bet riding.
Checks
Casino term for chips, used interchangeably at the table.
Cheque Change
Breaking a chip down into smaller denominations, the opposite of coloring up.
Color Up
Exchanging a stack of smaller-denomination chips for an equivalent value in larger ones, usually done on the way out.
Come Bet
A bet that works exactly like a pass line bet, except it's placed after the come-out roll instead of before it. The next roll acts as a mini come-out just for that bet.
Come-Out Roll
The first roll of a new round. A 7 or 11 wins for pass line bets, a 2, 3, or 12 loses, and anything else sets the point. Every round begins here. Full mechanics are on the How to Play page.
Comp
Short for complimentary — free rooms, meals, or drinks a casino offers based on how much and how long you play.
Contract Bet
A bet that can't be taken down once it's working. The pass line is the clearest example — once a point is set, that money is locked in until the round ends. Don't pass isn't a contract bet, even though many players assume it is.
Crap Out
Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll. Loses pass line and come bets outright; the shooter keeps the dice and rolls again.
Crapless Craps
A casino variant where 2, 3, 11, and 12 become points on the come-out instead of resolving instantly — only a 7 wins outright. It sounds friendlier, but the house edge runs considerably higher than standard craps, since 2 and 12 are much harder points to make than 7.
Craps
The name of the game, and also the name for a roll of 2, 3, or 12 — "the shooter rolled craps" means one of those three numbers came up.
Crew
The casino employees running a table together — typically a boxman, two dealers, and a stickman.
D
Dark Side
Slang for betting against the shooter — don't pass and don't come bets. Players on this side are sometimes called wrong bettors, though it's not really meant as an insult.
Dealer
A casino employee stationed on either side of the boxman, handling payouts and bets for their half of the table. Most tables run two dealers plus a boxman and a stickman.
Don't Come
The come bet's opposite — a bet placed after the come-out roll that works against the shooter the same way a don't pass bet does.
Don't Pass
The pass line's mirror image, betting against the shooter instead of with them. Wins on a come-out 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, and pushes on 12.
Down
To remove or reduce a bet. Players tell the dealer "take it down" to pull a bet off the layout entirely.
E
Easy Way
Rolling a 4, 6, 8, or 10 with anything other than a matching pair — the opposite of a hardway, and the far more common way those numbers show up.
Even Money
A bet that pays 1:1, returning exactly what you wagered on top of your original bet.
Extremes
Table slang for 2, 3, 11, and 12 — the hardest totals to roll, since each has only one or two dice combinations that produce it. Sometimes called the extreme outside numbers, since they sit at the far ends beyond the regular outside numbers of 4 and 10.
F
Fever Five
Old-school table slang for the number 5.
Field Bet
A one-roll bet you can make on any roll, point phase or not. Wins if the next roll is a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12; loses on anything else, including 7. Payouts on 2 and 12 vary by casino.
Fire Bet
A side bet on how many different point numbers a single shooter makes before sevening out. Payouts climb steeply the more points they string together in one turn with the dice.
Floorman
A casino employee who oversees a section of the pit, tracking play across several tables and stepping in for anything the boxman can't resolve alone.
For the Boys
A bet placed on behalf of the dealers as a tip — commonly a hardway or any craps bet made in their name rather than handing over cash directly.
Free Odds
Also just called odds. The only bet on the layout with zero house edge, placed behind a pass line, don't pass, come, or don't come bet after a point is set. Pays exactly true odds, no more, no less.
G
George
Table slang for a player who tips the dealers generously.
H
Hardway
A bet that a number (4, 6, 8, or 10) rolls as a matching pair — two 2s for a hard 4, two 4s for a hard 8 — before it rolls the easy way or a 7 shows up.
Hi-Lo
A two-way bet split between the 2 and the 12 in a single call — the two hardest single-roll totals to make.
Hi-Lo-Yo
The same idea as Hi-Lo, with a third unit added on the 11. Three numbers, three units, one call.
Hop Bet
A one-roll bet on a specific dice combination that isn't otherwise on the layout, called out directly to the stickman — for example, betting a 2 and a 4 come up on the next roll.
Horn Bet
A bet that splits your wager equally across four numbers — 2, 3, 11, and 12 — in one call to the stickman. Whichever number hits pays out; the rest of the bet is lost.
Horn High
A horn bet with an extra unit added to one number of your choice — "horn high 12" puts additional weight on the 12 while still covering all four horn numbers.
Hot Table / Cold Table
A hot table is one where shooters keep making their points; a cold table is the opposite, with shooters sevening out before much else happens.
House Edge
The average percentage of every dollar wagered on a bet that the casino keeps over the long run. A 1.41% house edge on the pass line means the casino keeps about 1.4 cents of every dollar wagered on it, on average, across a very large number of bets — it says nothing about any single roll. The House Edge Chart ranks every bet on the layout from best to worst.
I
Inside Numbers
The numbers 5, 6, 8, and 9 — the four place numbers clustered toward the center of the layout, generally carrying a better house edge than the numbers toward the ends.
J
Juice
Slang for vig — the commission the house charges on certain bets, most commonly buy and lay bets.
L
Lay Bet
A bet that a 7 rolls before a specific number, the mirror image of a buy bet. You risk more to win less, since you're backing the more probable outcome, and a 5% commission applies.
Lay Odds
Free odds bet behind a don't pass or don't come bet. Since you're backing the more likely outcome, you risk more than you stand to win.
Little Joe
Old table slang tied to the number 4 — used at different tables for either a point of 4 or a hard 4, so usage varies.
Lock It Up
What a dealer or player says as a reminder to collect chips after a bet is paid, rather than leaving winnings exposed on the layout.
M
Mechanic
Slang for a shooter who claims to control the dice. See dice setting for the full technique and the research on whether it works.
Midnight
Table slang for 12, used mainly when calling the boxcars proposition bet.
N
Natural
A 7 or 11 rolled on the come-out roll — an immediate win for pass line bets.
Nina
Table slang for the number 9.
O
Odds Bet
Another name for a free odds bet — placed behind a pass line, don't pass, come, or don't come bet after a point is set, paying exactly true odds with no house edge at all.
Off
A bet that's paused and not live for the current roll — it can't win or lose until it's turned back on. Also used for the come-out roll itself, when no point is established.
On
A bet that's live and working, able to win or lose on the current roll. Also used for a point that's been established.
Outside Numbers
The numbers 4, 5, 9, and 10 — the place numbers toward the ends of the layout. The 4 and 10 in particular carry a noticeably higher house edge than the inside numbers.
P
Parlay
Taking the full payout from a winning bet and riding all of it on the next one, rather than pocketing any of it.
Pass Line
The foundational bet in craps, placed before the come-out roll. Wins on a natural 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12, and otherwise rides on the point repeating before a 7 shows up.
Pit Boss
The casino employee overseeing multiple tables in a section of the floor, ranking above the boxman. Players typically only deal with the pit boss for larger issues like comps or disputes.
Place Bet
A bet on a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) hitting before a 7, placed directly through the dealer at any time, point phase or not.
Player Control
Another name for dice control or controlled shooting — the contested idea that a practiced, consistent throw can influence which numbers come up. The dice setting page covers the technique and the research on both sides in full.
Point
The number a shooter is trying to repeat before rolling a 7, established when the come-out roll lands on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Marked by flipping the puck to "on" and placing it in that number's box.
Press
To increase the size of an existing bet, usually right after it wins. "Press the 6" tells the dealer to add more to an existing place bet on 6.
Proposition Bets
The one-roll bets in the center of the table, run by the stickman — includes any seven, any craps, the horn, hop bets, and hardways. As a group, these carry the highest house edges on the layout.
PSO
Short for "point-seven-out" — sevening out on the very first roll after the point is established, with no other numbers rolled in between. It's tracked separately because it's the worst-timed loss for a pass line bet backed with odds, since the odds bet never gets a chance to win.
Puck
The plastic disk the dealer uses to mark the point, black side up and reading "OFF" when no point is set, flipped to white "ON" and placed in the point's box once one is established.
Push
A tie — neither a win nor a loss. The 12 on a don't pass or don't come bet is the most common example.
Put Bet
A bet placed directly on a box number without going through a come bet first. It skips the more favorable come-out phase entirely, which is why it carries a notably worse house edge than a comparable come bet.
Q
Quarters
Casino slang for $25 chips.
R
Rail
The grooved edge running around the outside of the craps table where players keep their chips when they're not in action.
Rated Player
A player whose action is being tracked by the casino, usually through a player's card, in order to calculate comps.
Regression
A betting adjustment where a player reduces the size of a place bet, usually after it wins, to lock in some profit while staying in action with less money exposed to the house edge.
Rhythm Roller
Another term for a shooter attempting dice control — someone throwing with a deliberate, repeatable rhythm rather than a casual toss.
S
Same Bet
Keeping a winning bet exactly as it was rather than increasing it. Telling the dealer "same bet" is the alternative to pressing.
Seven-Out
Rolling a 7 before the point repeats. Ends the round, loses every pass line and place bet on the table, and passes the dice to the next shooter.
Shooter
The player currently rolling the dice. The role rotates around the table clockwise after every seven-out.
Skinny Dugan
Old-school slang for the number 7, used to avoid saying the word itself at the table.
Small, Tall, and All (ATS)
Three linked side bets, together sometimes called ATS. Small wins if the shooter rolls every number from 2 to 6 before a 7; Tall wins if every number from 8 to 12 shows up before a 7; All wins if all ten non-7 totals show up before a 7. Payouts vary by casino — commonly 30:1 or 34:1 for Small and Tall, and 150:1 to 175:1 for All — with the house edge landing anywhere from about 7.8% to over 18% depending on which paytable a casino uses.
Snake Eyes
A roll of 2, made by both dice landing on 1. Same thing as aces, just the more colorful name for it.
Stickman
The casino employee who calls the roll, retrieves the dice with a long wooden stick, and runs the proposition bets in the center of the table.
T
Toke
A tip given to the dealers, either handed over directly or placed as a small bet made on their behalf.
True Odds
The exact mathematical payout ratio that matches a bet's actual probability, with no house cut built in. Free odds bets are the only wager on the layout that pay true odds.
V
Vig
Short for vigorish — the commission a casino charges on certain bets, most commonly the 5% charged on buy and lay bets.
W
Working Bets
Bets that are live for the current roll. Pass line, come, and odds bets are always working. Place, buy, lay, and hardways bets default to "off" during the come-out roll unless you tell the dealer to leave them working.
World (Whirl) Bet
A horn bet with a fifth unit added on any seven. The combined payout works out to 26:5 on the 2 or 12, 11:5 on the 3 or 11, and a push if a 7 rolls — the seven-bet portion cancels out the horn losses in that case.
Wrong Way Bettor
Another name for a don't pass or don't come bettor — someone betting against the shooter rather than with them.
Y
Yo
Table slang for 11, used specifically so the call doesn't get confused with "seven" in a loud room. You'll often hear it called out as "yo-leven."
That covers the terms you'll actually run into at a real table. If a bet mentioned here needs more detail than a glossary entry allows, the Every Bet Explained page has full payouts and house edge figures, and How to Play covers the full sequence of a round. Come back to this craps glossary any time a new term catches you off guard — most of them only need looking up once.