Craps Stickman Phrases
- Craps Stickman Phrases Play
- Craps Stickman Phrases Free
- Craps Stickman Phrases Game
- Craps Stickman Sayings
- Craps Stickman Phrases Games
My favorite game in the casino used to be roulette, then I learned how to play blackjack. Eventually, craps replaced blackjack as my favorite casino game. One of the many reasons for this is because of the colorful language used at the table.
I’m not talking about swearing necessarily. I’m just talking about all the cool jargon and slang that you might hear while playing craps.
Where else in the casino do you get to hear cool expressions like “box cars,” “muleteeth,” and “snake eyes?” And where do you get to hear most of this colorful language? From the stickman, of course!
When the Shooter is about to roll, all players are expected to keep their hands out of the table. The Stickman will usually call ‘hands high’ to alert players to lift their hands. Common Phraseology. Below are some common phrases used around the Craps table; Ace Deuce – Throwing a 3 (1-2 or 2-1). Craps has different, but simple rules, with a variety of bets, a game table divided into many fields, a lively atmosphere accompanying the process of playing. It can confuse many newcomers. In addition, there are several craps phrases and terms that not everyone knows.
That’s the casino employee at the table with the stick. It’s his job to move the dice around the table using a stick but, more importantly, he announces the action and sells the prop bets that are available.
A good stickman is basically the P.T. Barnum of the casino, selling terrible bets with a high house edge to unsuspecting players. Readers of my blog know that it’s a good idea to never take any of the bets offered by the stickman.
But, even if you skip those bets, you should still understand all the phrases he’s using. It just makes the game more fun.
Keep in mind that these expressions are generations old, and some of them may go out of vogue after a while. I’m pretty experienced, so some of the expressions at the craps table I’m familiar with might be less familiar to you.
2-way – This is when the bettor is placing a bet both for himself and for the dealers. It’s a popular way of tipping the dealers at the craps table.
50-yard line – The center of the table. The dice have to go across the 50-yard line when you roll them.
Action – A measure of how much money is being wagered at the table. Also, if you have money that you’ve bet, that’s called money that’s in action.
Any craps – This is a one-roll bet that wins if the next roll comes up 2, 3, or 12. The odds of winning this bet are 7 to 1, and the house edge is 11.1%.
Any 7 – A one-roll bet that wins if the next roll is a total of 7. The odds of winning this bet are 4 to 1, and the house edge is 16.9%.
Ballerina special – This is when both of the dice show a 2. “Two twos.” Get it?
Big red – This just means 7. It’s considered bad luck to use the word “seven” when you’re at the craps table.
Bones – This is what they call the dice. (And you thought “bones” were dominoes, didn’t you?)
Boxman – This is one of the dealers at the table. He’s in charge of supervising the other dealers, and he’s sitting down instead of standing. You’ll find him at the craps table opposite the stickman.
Boys – The appropriate thing to call the dealers at the craps table is “the boys.” This can be inaccurate when the dealer isn’t male, but that’s just the lingo.
Broke money – This is money the casino will give a player for transportation when he’s lost all his money. I’m not sure how often this practice happens in modern casinos.
Cold – The dice are “cold” when the shooter has been rolling but doesn’t make the point.
Crapless craps – This is a variation of craps where you can’t crap out on the come-out roll. The 2, 3, and 12 are all point numbers. This is an unusual variation that never really caught on.
Garden – This is another name for the field bet.
George – This is what the dealer calls a craps player who tips well.
Hard way – The hard way bets are bets on totals of 4, 6, 8, or 10, but they only win if you roll that number “the hard way,” as doubles. There’s only one combination of dice out of 36 that results in one of these hard totals. A hard way bet loses if the total is rolled the easy way. The house edge for all the hard way bets is high.
Hit a brick – This is when the dice hit a stack of chips and don’t make it across the craps table.
House edge – The statistical difference between the payout odds and the odds of winning. The house edge is expressed as a percentage, and over an infinite number of trials, it represents the average amount of each bet that will be lost based on the math behind the game. The lower the house edge, the better the bet is for the player.
Hot – The table can be running hot and/or the dice can be running hot. This just means that the pass line bet and the corresponding odds bets are winning repeatedly. Usually, it’s when a shooter is doing well at hitting his point often as he rolls.
Little Joe – Another name for the “ballerina special,” or a pair of 2s.
Monster roll – This is when a shooter has been winning for over 20 minutes, which usually means most of the players at the table are winning lots of money.
Muleteeth – This is when both dice show a “6.” The total for this combination is 12, and you have 35 to 1 odds of getting this result. Muleteeth is also sometimes called “boxcars” or “midnight.”
Natural – On the come-out roll, the 7 or 11 wins immediately. Either of these totals is called a “natural.”
Right bettor – A right bettor is betting for the shooter to succeed, placing pass line and come bets. Most of the players at the craps table are right bettors.
Snake eyes – This is when both dice show a “1,” for a total of 2. The dice don’t have numbers on them, just pips, and a “1” has a single pip in the center of it. A snake has two eyes, and that’s what those two pips represent with this result. You can even bet on snake eyes and have a 35 to 1 probability of winning. Sadly, the payoff is only 30 to 1 on such a bet, which means it’s not worth making. The house edge is 13.9%.
Square pair – A hard total of 8, or a pair of 4s, depending on your perspective.
Washing your hands – The dealers are required to clap their hands before leaving the table. This ensures that they’re not palming chips or gambling equipment (like dice).
Winner, winner, chicken dinner! – This just means someone won or you’re rooting for someone to win. The idea is that you can spend the winnings on a chicken dinner.
Wrong bettor – A wrong bettor is someone who’s rooting against the shooter. He bets on the don’t pass and don’t come lines. The house edge for a wrong bettor is 0.05% better than it is for a right bettor, but most people are willing to give up that tiny percentage just for the sake of camaraderie at the table.
Yo eleven, take me to heaven! – This is a bet that the dice will come up with a total of 11. It’s also sometimes just called a bet on “yo.”
Conclusion
These are just some of my favorite craps terms defined. I’m sure you’ve heard others. Would you like to leave a comment with some of the more interesting slang you’ve heard at the craps table?
Every game has its own jargon and gambling is no exception. Naturally, Craps has its own list of terms as well and when a game is as popular as Craps, it’s a whole new language. If you are a Craps newbie and can’t understand what Craps veterans are really saying, maybe what you really need is a comprehensive Craps glossary.
This alphabetized index of craps terms will quickly become your Craps bible because it has almost every term you can think of. So, never again will you get stuck because you didn’t know what a word meant.
A
Aces – A bet that two 1s will show on the next roll.
Any Craps – A one unit one roll bet the next roll will be 2, 3, 12 with the payout usually being 7 to 1.
Any Seven – A bet the next roll will show a 7. Payout is usually 4 to 1.
Apron – The area behind the pass line on the craps table. All free odd bets are placed on the apron.
Arm – Skilled dice throwers who have believably mastered dice control and can manipulate the way the game is played. Known as “an arm”.
B
Back Line – The Do Not Pass Line.
Bank – The stack of chips placed on the craps table by the casino.
Bar 6-6 – Is a standoff with no total wins or losses. In this situation, bets placed may be withdrawn or alternatively, carried over to the next betting roll. Sometimes it’s Bar 1-1 or Bar 1-2.
Bar 12 or 2 – A push for bets on the Don’t Pass Line and the Don’t Come.
Behind – After the Don’t Come point is established, all checks are to go into the box placed “behind” the box number.
Behind the Line – A bet placed after the come out roll, on the Free-Odds.
Big 6 – A bet that a 6 will show before a 7 on the next roll. The payout is 1 to 1.
Big 8 – A bet that an 8 will show before a 7 on the next roll. The payout is 1 to 1.
Big Red – A bet that the next roll will show a 7.
Bones – Another name for the dice.
Black – Colloquial name for a $100 casino check.
Bowl – The container tray in which the spare dice is held by the stickman.
Boxcars – A bet on the number 12.
Box Man – The casino employee who supervises the dealers at the Craps table. He is usually also responsible for counting cash and gaming checks, settlling gambling disputes and general play of the game.
Box Numbers – The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 marked inside “boxes” on the layout are known as box or point number. The remaining numbers are known as natural numbers.
Box Up – The changing of dice for every new set.
Buffalo – A 5 unit bet on every Hard Way and number Eleven.
Buy Bet – When a 5% commission is paid to collect house advantage and to get correct odds. The bet is placed on any of the box numbers and are paid if the number shows before a seven.
C
C and E – A two unit and one roll bet that the next roll will show 2, 3, or 11. One unit is wagered on any Craps or “C” and the other unit is wagered on Eleven or “E”.
Change Only – When the player places cash on the craps table, the dealer or the player must call out “change only” to indicate that there is no action being taken on the cash and it will be used to converted into checks.
Checks – Chips used to play Craps. They are round, plastic tokens and used for placing bets.
Choppy – A game is described as choppy when there are a number of inconsistent passes and misses with none of the players experiencing any good runs of winning throws.
Cocked Die/Dice – When either or both dice are rolled and they land partly on the craps layout and lean partially against some other obstruction on the table. The boxman is then required to call the number on the die that would land face up if the obstruction were to be removed.
Cold Table – When shooters do not have much luck making their points or naturals.
Color Change – When a player exchanges playing chips for different denominations.
Color Up – Is applicable either when a player exchanges smaller denomination checks for larger ones; or when the player is intentionally handed larger checks as part of better customer service.
Come Bet – A bet placed after the come out roll that the dice, Payouts are on rolls of 7 or 11 and losses incurred for 2, 3 and 12.
Come Out Roll – It is the first roll when a new game is being started.
Comps – Complimentary drinks, room, food, etc provided by a casino to valuable players.
Craps – Numbers 2, 3 and 12 on the come out roll.
Crapless Craps – A type of Craps game offered at some casinos. When playing this version of craps, a roll of craps is not a loss at the come out. The number is instead marked as a point. House advantages on this game are much higher than regular versions of Craps and most experienced players tend to avoid Crapless Craps.
Crew – The collective name for all the casino employees running a Craps table.
D
Dealers – The casino employees in charge of a Craps table. There are usually 4 dealers for every craps game and they rotate positions. It is the dealer’s responsibility to pay out as well as place Free Odds and Lay bets.
Die In the Wood – When a die is rolled and it lands in a rack of chips.
Craps Stickman Phrases Play
Dime – A bet for $10.
Don’t Come Bet – When the player bets that the dice will not pass after the come out roll. Winnings are on a roll that shows 2 or 3 and losses are based on a 7 or 11. This bet can be easily removed at any time.
Don’t Pass Bet – This bet must be placed during the come out roll. Losses are on 7 and 11 with wins on 2 and 3. The role of 12 establishes a don’t pass point and once this is done, a 7 must show on the next roll for the bet to be a winner. throw of craps, or a 7 instead of the point.
Down Behind – This is usually called by the stickman, serving as a reminder to the dealer at the base that they must take losing Don’t Come bets.
Down with odds – A phrase used to describe the act of a dealer converting a player’s place bet to odds for their come bet that has traveled to a number. The place bet comes “down” after it is paid and is converted to a free odds bet for the come bet.
E
Easy Way – A roll of the dice with 4,6,8 and 10 and each die is different.
Edge – The advantage held by the casino over any wager made by a player.
E.T Bet – A bet that 11 or 12 will show in the next roll.
F
Fade – When a player meets an opposing player’s bet in a private game rather than playing against the casino.
Field – The large area on the lay out with the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Field Bet – When a bet is placed on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Pays twice the amount of the bet if 2 and 12 are rolled .
Free Odds Bet – A bet paid at the correct/true odds. Usually wagered with another bet that has a house edge.
Front Line – Another term for the Pass Line.
G
H
Hardway – These bets can be placed on all boxes with even numbers. It is a bet that pairs 22, 33, 44, 55 will roll (made up with 4, 6, 8 or 10) before the 7 comes out. Bets are controlled by the stickman.
Hi / Lo – Two unit bet laid on the high 12 and the low 2.
Hi-Lo-Yo – Variation of the Hi/Lo bet with bets laid on three units, 2, 11 and 12.
Hook – When a player is positioned at the crap table between the base dealer and the stickman.
Hop Bet – One roll bets and can be wagered on any combination of dice numbers for the next roll. For example, the player will say “two, three hops for a dollar”. This means they are betting the 5 will be the next roll with the dice showing 2 and 3. Hop bets are a high house advantage bet and therefore best avoided.
Horn Bet – A 4 unit bet with 1 unit each on 2, 3, 11, and 12. The payouts for this bet are 15 to 1 when a 3 or a 11 rolls and 30 to 1 when a 2 or a 12 rolls. This bet is popularly considered an amalgamation of the worst craps bets and experts advise players not to use this bet.
Horn High Bet – 5 unit bet on 2, 3, 11 and 12 and the player calls a fifth number that is high.
Horn Numbers – 2, 3, 11 and 12.
Hot Table – A table where almost all the shooters are making the point.
I
Inside Bet – When a bet is placed on 5, 6, 8, or 9.
Inside Numbers – 5, 6, 8, or 9.
Insurance Bet – Two or more bets made in an attempt to cover each other.
J
Juice – Another term for vig (vigorish). The house edge.
K
L
Lammer – A plastic disc used by the dealers to designate, different bet situations.
Lay Bet – A bet that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 (point numbers) will only roll after a 7.
Layout – The base of a Craps table clearly marked with the various bets available to players.
Line Bet – Bet placed on the Pass or Don’t Pass Line
Long and Strong – This is said by the stickman when the dice needs to be thrown hard so it hits the back wall of the table.
Little Joe – Slang for a hard 4 (2-2)
M
Marker – An IOU agreement signed by a player owing credit at a casino.
Marker Puck – The plastic disc used by dealers to indicate the ‘Off’ and ‘On’ points on the Craps table.
Maximum/Minimum – The limits on the maximum or minimum amount that can be wagered on a single craps bet.
Midnight – Single roll bet on the number 12
Miss – The outcome of craps or the show of a 7 before the point.
Craps Stickman Phrases Free
Money Plays – Dealer announces it when acknowledging the cash is being used on the craps table lay out.
N
Natural – When there is a throw of either a 7 or an 11 on the come out roll. Also known as natural seven or natural eleven.
Nickel – Used to describe a $5 chip.
No Bet – Announced by dealer when a player’s bet is not accepted at the table either because it was too late, incorrect value, improper dice throw etc.
O
Odds Bet – A bet with not house advantage and is paid at its true odds. However, such a bet is usually made in conjunction with a bit that does have a house edge.
Off – When a bet is designated as inactive or not working for the next roll. Called by the dealer, usually in response to a player’s request.
On – When a bet is designated as active.
One Roll Bet – When the outcome of the bet is entirely dependent on the next roll of the dice.
Outside Numbers – 4, 5, 9 and 10.
P
Pass Bet – A bet that the shooter will throw the point or a natural.
Craps Stickman Phrases Game
Parlay – Taking the winnings from one bet and adding the winnings to a bet and betting all the money.
Pass Line – This is the most common Craps bet. A winning bet is when either a 7 or an 11 show on the come out roll. A losing bet is when a 2, 3 or 12 shows.
Past Posting – This is an illegal act where a gambler places or adds to a bet that has already won.
Payoff – The paycheck received by the player for placing a wager.
Pips – The spots on the dice.
Pit – The casino area that contains the Craps tables.
Pit Boss – The designation of the casino employee in charge of supervising and overseeing the “pit”.
Place Bet – A bet that states a place number i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will show before a 7 rolls.
Point – Any box number can be a point number and is established when the dealer places the puck on the number.
Press – Increasing a bet. The player informs a dealer that they want to “press” and the bet is usually increased by a factor of 2. The increments can be chosen at the discretion of the player.
Proposition Bet – Bets placed in the center of the craps table including both hardway and hop bets.
Purple – Slang term used to describe $500 checks.
Put Bet – Some casinos allow players to place this bet where the bet is “put” directly on a box number without worrying about going through the come. They have a high house advantage due to the flat portion of the bet never being in the come.
Q
Quarter – Slang term for a $25 check.
Craps Stickman Sayings
R
Rail – The area running along the top of the perimeter of the craps table where the players place their chips.
Right Bettor – The player who bets that the dice will win or pass.
Rounding – Rounding off of the payout amount to a whole number
S
Seven Out – Rolling a seven before making the point. It is called by the stickman and is the end of a shooter’s turn with the dice.
Sequence Bet – A bet that is not necessarily determined by the next roll.
Shooter – The player currently rolling the dice.
Skinny Dugan – Slang term used for the number 7. According to Craps superstition, the number “7” should never be said in a game to avoid bad luck and hence slang terms should be used.
Slow Bleed – When a player loses all their money, slowly and steadily.
Snake Eyes – A slang term used for a roll of 2.
Square Pair – Slang term used for a hard eight.
Stacks – Also known as working stacks, is the stack of chips that the dealers place in front of themselves and are used to pay bets.
Stickman – The casino employee responsible for handling of the dice with a long stick.
T
Take the Odds – Making a Free-Odds bet as a right bettor.
Three Way Craps – Betting in multiples of` 3 with 1 unit each on the 2, 3 and 12.
Toke – A tip given to the dealer or other craps crew.
True odds – The right odds of an event happening depending on the probabilities of the dice as per the chart.
Craps Stickman Phrases Games
U
V
Vigorish or abbreviated as Vig – Originally a term used to refer to the percentage charged by a craps operator on bets. It is now sometimes used to refer to the House edge.
W
Whirl Bet – A 5 unit bet the next roll will be a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12. Also known as the easiest way to make the 5 worst bets in the game.
Wrong Bettor – When a player bets that a dice will not pass.
Working Bet – A bet that is currently live or active and has not been called off by its player.
X
Y
Yo (Yo-leven) – The slang term used for the number eleven. Since it sounds like seven, eleven is called as yo –leven or simply yo to avoid confusion.
Z
Zuke – Casino slang for a toke or tip.