Craps Glossary

A one-roll bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, or 12. Pays 7:1.

A one-roll bet that the next roll will be 7. Pays 4:1. The worst bet on the table.

A shooter who claims to control the dice with their throw. No peer-reviewed evidence supports dice control under casino conditions.

The total amount of money a player brings to the table for a session. Proper bankroll sizing depends on your bet size, odds multiple, and acceptable risk of ruin.

An even-money bet that 6 or 8 will roll before a 7. Pays 1:1 instead of the 7:6 you get from a Place bet. Always Place 6/8 instead.

Slang for the dice.

A roll of 12 (double sixes). One of the two least probable outcomes with only 1 way to roll it out of 36 combinations.

The point numbers: 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Called box numbers because they appear in boxes on the table layout.

A bet on a specific box number where you pay a 5% commission (vig) to receive true odds payouts. Can be better than Place bets on 4 and 10 depending on when the vig is collected.

A table where shooters are rolling 7s frequently. Every roll is independent. Past results have zero predictive value for future rolls. A "cold table" is pattern recognition, not probability.

Identical to the Pass Line but placed after a point is established. The next roll is your personal come-out. Carries the same 1.41% house edge.

The first roll of a new round. On the come-out, Pass Line wins on 7 or 11 and loses on 2, 3, or 12. Any other number sets the point.

Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll. Pass Line bets lose. The shooter keeps the dice unless the casino uses different rules.

The opposite of the Come bet. Wins if the next roll is 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, pushes on 12. After a point is set, wins when 7 rolls before the point.

The opposite of the Pass Line. Wins on come-out 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11, pushes on 12. After a point, wins when 7 rolls first.

Rolling a 4, 6, 8, or 10 without doubles. For example, 3-3 is Hard 6 but 2-4 or 1-5 are Easy 6.

See House Edge.

The average amount you expect to win or lose per bet over the long run. Calculated as: (probability of winning x payout) minus (probability of losing x bet). Every craps bet except free odds has negative EV.

A one-roll bet that the next number will be 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Looks like it covers most numbers, but 5, 6, 7, and 8 account for 20 of 36 combinations.

A betting system where you wait for a shooter to roll five times before placing bets. Reduces your exposure by betting less often, but does not change the house edge on any individual bet.

An additional bet behind the Pass Line, Don't Pass, Come, or Don't Come. Pays at true mathematical odds with zero house edge. The single best bet in any casino.

A bet that a specific even number (4, 6, 8, or 10) will be rolled as doubles before it rolls the easy way or before a 7. Hard 6/8 pay 9:1, Hard 4/10 pay 7:1.

A one-roll bet on a specific dice combination (e.g., 3-2). Pays 15:1 for non-pairs and 30:1 for pairs. High house edge, rarely worth placing.

A one-roll bet split across 2, 3, 11, and 12. Effectively four proposition bets in one. The combined house edge varies but always sits well above 10%.

A table where the shooter has been rolling points without sevening out. Like cold tables, this is pattern recognition. The dice have no memory. The next roll is always independent.

The percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long run. A 1.41% house edge means the casino profits $1.41 for every $100 wagered on average. Lower is better for the player.

The place numbers 5, 6, 8, and 9. Called inside because they sit between 4 and 10 on the layout.

A system placing Field plus Place 5, 6, and 8 to cover every number except 7. Covers 30 of 36 outcomes but carries a combined negative EV. The 7 wipes all bets simultaneously.

Betting that a 7 will roll before a specific number. You pay a 5% commission. Essentially the "wrong" side version of a Buy bet.

Taking free odds on a Don't Pass or Don't Come bet. You risk more to win less, but the payout is at true odds with zero house edge.

The puck (ON/OFF disc) the dealer uses to show whether a point is established and which number is the point.

A betting system where you double your bet after every loss. Does not change the house edge. A 6-loss streak requires 64x your base bet and happens about 1.56% of sessions.

Rolling a 7 or 11 on the come-out roll. Pass Line wins, Don't Pass loses.

See Free Odds.

The place numbers 4 and 10. Called outside because they sit at the edges of the number boxes on the layout.

The most fundamental bet in craps. Wins on come-out 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12. After a point is set, wins when the point rolls before a 7.

A bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) will roll before a 7. Each number has a different house edge. Place 6/8 at 1.52% are the best of the group.

The number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) established on the come-out roll. The shooter must roll the point again before rolling a 7 for Pass Line bettors to win.

High-edge one-roll bets in the center of the table. Includes Any 7, Any Craps, Horn, and Hop bets. House edges range from 9.09% to 16.67%. Built for impulse, not strategy.

Rolling a 7 after a point is established. All Pass Line and Come bets lose. Don't Pass and Don't Come bets win. The shooter passes the dice.

The player currently rolling the dice. Every player at the table gets a turn to shoot, though you can decline.

A roll of 2 (double ones). The least probable roll alongside boxcars, with only 1 way to roll it out of 36 combinations.

The dealer who controls the dice with a hooked stick, calls the rolls, and manages the proposition bets in the center of the table.

The mathematical measure of how much your results swing around the expected value. High-variance strategies produce bigger wins and bigger losses. Low-variance strategies (like Pass plus odds) keep results closer to the expected loss.

The commission charged by the casino on certain bets, typically 5%. Applied to Buy and Lay bets. Some casinos collect vig only on wins, which lowers the effective house edge.

A bet that is active and eligible to be resolved on the next roll. Odds on Come bets are typically "off" (not working) during the come-out roll unless the player requests otherwise.

A one-roll bet on 11. Called "yo" to avoid confusion with "seven" in a loud casino. Pays 15:1 with true odds of 17:1.