Craps slang and lingo: a beginner’s guide
If you're new to the world of craps, one of the things you'll quickly realize is that there is a lot of slang and lingo used by players and dealers. If you don't know the difference between "snake eyes" and "boxcars," you might feel a little left out at the craps table. Don't worry, though. In this beginner's guide, we'll go over all the craps slang and lingo you need to know to feel like a pro.
First, let's start with the basics. Craps is a dice game where players make bets on the outcome of a roll, or series of rolls, of a pair of dice. It's played on a table with a layout that shows all the possible bets and their payouts. The game can be played by multiple players at once, with everyone betting against the house or casino. Now, let's dive into the lingo.
Boxcars: This is a bet on rolling double sixes (a total of 12) on the dice.
C and E: This is a one-roll bet that the next roll will be a combination of craps (2, 3, or 12) or 11. The "C" stands for craps, and the "E" stands for eleven.
Come Out Roll: This is the first roll of a new round. It determines whether the pass line bettors win, lose, or continue playing.
Craps: This term can refer to the dice game itself or a roll of 2, 3, or 12.
Hardways: This is a bet on rolling a pair of dice with the same value (2-2, 3-3, 4-4, or 5-5) before rolling a seven or the easy way version of the same number.
Hi-Lo: This is a one-roll bet that the next roll will be a 2 or a 12.
Horn: This is a one-roll bet on the combination of 2, 3, 11, and 12.
Lay Bet: This is a bet that a 7 will be rolled before the number bet on (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10).
Little Joe: This is a bet on rolling double twos (a total of 4) on the dice.
Marker: This is a plastic disc that is used to indicate the point number during a come-out roll.
Odds Bet: This is a secondary bet made after a pass line bet. It's a bet that a point number will be rolled before a seven.
Point: This is the number established by the come-out roll. It can be any number on the dice except for 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12.
Proposition Bet: This is a one-roll bet on a specific combination of numbers.
Seven Out: This is when the shooter rolls a seven after the point is established, which ends the round.
Snake Eyes: This is a bet on rolling double ones (a total of 2) on the dice.
Yo: This is a one-roll bet on the number 11.
Now that you know the basic lingo, let's talk about some other terms you might hear at the craps table:
Big Red: This is a term for the seven.
Coloring Up: This is when a player exchanges lower denomination chips for higher denomination chips.
Crapping Out: This is when a shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll.
Inside Bet: This is a bet on the numbers 5, 6, 8, or 9.
Outside Bet: This is a bet on the numbers 4, 5, 9, or 10.
Pass Line Bet: This is a bet that the shooter will win on the come-out roll (rolling a 7 or 11) or establish a point number and roll it again before rolling a 7.
Shooter: This is the player who is currently rolling the dice.
Now that you know all the craps slang and lingo, you're ready to hit the craps table with confidence. Just remember to always follow proper etiquette, and don't be afraid to ask the dealer or other players for clarification if you're unsure about something. With a little practice, you'll be speaking craps slang like a pro in no time. Good luck!