A base dealer works one side of the craps table. The base dealer takes player instructions, places dealer-controlled bets, pays winning bets, collects losing bets, handles odds and place bet changes, and protects the layout from unclear action. For most players, the base dealer is the main person they actually talk to.
Quick Facts
- A full craps table usually has two base dealers.
- Each base dealer controls one side of the layout.
- Players should speak clearly to the dealer on their side.
- Base dealers place most place, buy, lay, odds, and come-number bets.
- They pay and collect after the stickman calls the roll.
- They watch hands, late bets, and unclear chip stacks.
- Dealer errors often begin with unclear instructions or rushed payouts.
Plain Talk
The base dealer is the working dealer on your side of the craps table. If you want a place 6, odds behind your pass line, a come bet moved with odds, or a bet taken down, your base dealer usually handles it.
The dealer’s job is not to teach you a system. The job is to turn your bet instruction into the correct chip position, then settle it correctly when the dice decide it.
Rules such as the Massachusetts Craps and Mini-Craps rules define permissible wagers and when they win or lose. The dealer converts those rules into fast chip work. Broader documents such as the Nevada table games internal control standards show why chip movement, table fills, credits, and accountability matter on the casino side.
How It Works
A base dealer’s side has a memory map. Each player position has a spot for bets. The dealer must remember who owns which chips, which bets are working, and which bets are off.
| Player request | Dealer action | Player should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| ”$18 six and eight” | Places $18 each on 6 and 8 | Correct amount and position |
| ”$10 odds” | Places odds behind line or come point | Correct point number |
| ”Take me down” | Removes eligible bets | Contract bets cannot always be removed |
| ”Press my 6” | Increases the 6 after a hit | New bet amount |
| ”Off on the come-out” | Marks eligible bets off | Which bets are off |
| ”Same bet” | Leaves or restores prior bet | Dealer heard clearly |
A base dealer must also know table state. A place bet may be off on the come-out unless called on. A pass line bet is a contract bet. A come bet travels after a point is established. A lay bet pays differently than a place bet.
Craps Table Example
You are standing stick right and give the dealer $44.
You say, “$22 inside.” The dealer sets $5 on the 5, $6 on the 6, $6 on the 8, and $5 on the 9, often with the proper unit structure for clean payouts. The next roll is 6. Your $6 place 6 pays $7.
If you then say “press it,” the dealer may turn the $6 into $12 and give you $1. If you say nothing and the dealer assumes, that is bad procedure. Good craps dealers do not build mystery bets.
From the Casino Side:
Base dealers are judged on speed, accuracy, and layout cleanliness. A dealer who pays correctly but leaves messy stacks creates future problems. A dealer who is fast but misses off buttons creates disputes. A dealer who talks too much while booking action can lose track of the point.
Supervisors watch whether base dealers repeat bets, cut payouts cleanly, size odds correctly, and keep hands out when dice are moving. Surveillance cares whether chip placement can be reconstructed on camera. The table does not need pretty dealing; it needs readable dealing.
Common Mistakes
- Tossing chips into the layout without saying the bet.
- Giving instructions to the wrong side dealer.
- Saying “same bet” when the previous bet was not clear.
- Thinking the dealer can remove a contract bet whenever you want.
- Forgetting that odds, place bets, and come bets sit in different areas.
- Reaching into dealer-controlled areas to fix your own bet.
- Blaming the dealer after giving vague instructions.
Hard Truth
If your bet cannot be explained clearly before the dice move, do not expect the table to rescue it after the roll.
FAQ
What is a base dealer in craps?
A base dealer is one of the dealers standing on the side of a full craps table. They handle player bets and payouts on that side.
Should I hand chips directly to the base dealer?
Usually you place chips on the layout in front of you and clearly say the bet. Follow the dealer’s instruction if the house uses a specific procedure.
Can the base dealer advise me what to bet?
Dealers may explain rules and payouts, but they should not sell you fake winning systems. Use craps house edge for the real cost.
Who pays place bets?
The base dealer on the player’s side normally pays place bets after the stickman calls the result.
Who handles center prop bets?
The stickman usually handles or announces many center prop bets, though the base dealer may pass player chips or calls to the center.
What happens if a dealer makes a mistake?
The crew may correct it before the next roll. If disputed, the boxman, floor, or surveillance may be involved.
Deeper Insight
Base dealing is difficult because the dealer has to build a live ledger without a screen. Every chip position is information: player, bet type, amount, working status, point number, and payout obligation.
That is why experienced players keep instructions short. “$30 six and eight” is cleaner than a speech about what happened three rolls ago. The dealer can help a beginner, but the player should not add confusion by changing bets while dice are moving.
Formula / Calculation
A clean dealer payout check is:
Winning payout = bet amount × posted payout ratio
Example for place 6:
$18 × (7 / 6) = $21
For expected loss, the player cost remains:
Expected Loss = Total Amount Wagered × House Edge
Formula Explanation in Plain English
The base dealer pays the posted ratio, not the player’s feeling about the roll. If $18 on the 6 pays $21, that is because place 6 pays 7 to 6. Over time, the expected loss calculator shows the cost of repeatedly putting that money into action.
Related Reading
Begin with the craps guide if the layout still feels crowded. For bet prices, read craps payouts and craps odds. For cost, use craps house edge and the house edge calculator. For the difference between bets players place themselves and bets the dealer controls, read self-service bets and dealer-controlled bets.