This craps glossary explains the words players hear at a live craps table: shooter, come-out roll, point, pass line, don’t pass, odds, place bets, hardways, horn bets, proposition bets, seven-out, and more. Learn the language first. Craps becomes much less intimidating when the table stops sounding like a private dealer code.
Quick Facts
- Craps language mixes dice totals, bet names, dealer calls, and table procedure.
- The same number can mean different things depending on the bet.
- “Odds” can mean probability, or it can mean the separate odds bet behind a line bet.
- “Point” is a game state, not just a dice total.
- “Hard” means a pair: 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, or 5-5.
- Proposition bets are usually dealer-controlled, high-house-edge bets.
- Knowing terms helps prevent wrong bets, late bets, and payout confusion.
Plain Talk
Craps looks harder than it is because the vocabulary arrives all at once.
A beginner hears “come out,” “point is six,” “press my eight,” “hard ten down,” “yo,” “horn high,” “take the odds,” and “seven out” within a few minutes. That can make the game feel like a secret club.
It is not secret. It is just dense.
The first terms to learn are the table-flow terms: shooter, come-out roll, point, and seven-out. Then learn the main bet families: pass line, don’t pass, come, don’t come, odds, place, field, hardways, and props.
For the underlying dice math, two six-sided dice create 36 total combinations. Seven appears in six ways, making it the most common total. Probability references such as the Wizard of Odds dice probability page help explain why the table is built around the 7.
The glossary below is practical. It explains what the term means at the table, not just what a dictionary would say.
How It Works
Use this glossary in layers.
First, learn the flow:
| Term | Plain Meaning |
|---|---|
| Shooter | The player rolling the dice |
| Come-out roll | The first roll of a new pass/don’t pass cycle |
| Point | The number the shooter tries to repeat before 7 |
| Seven-out | A 7 after the point is established, ending the shooter’s hand |
| Natural | 7 or 11 on the come-out roll for pass line bets |
| Craps | 2, 3, or 12 on the come-out roll for pass line bets |
Then learn the bet types:
| Term | Plain Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pass Line | Basic “with the shooter” line bet |
| Don’t Pass | Basic “against the shooter” line bet |
| Come Bet | A pass-line-style bet made after a point exists |
| Don’t Come | A don’t-pass-style bet made after a point exists |
| Odds Bet | Extra wager behind a line/come bet, paid at true odds |
| Place Bet | Bet that a box number rolls before 7 |
| Field Bet | One-roll bet on 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 |
| Proposition Bet | Usually a center-table bet, often high edge |
The Wizard of Odds craps appendix is useful for deeper payout and house-edge references once you know the words.
Craps Table Example
A new player buys in for $200.
The dealer says, “Coming out.” That means a new round is starting. The player puts $10 on the pass line.
The shooter rolls 5. The dealer says, “Point is five.” Now the shooter is trying to roll 5 again before 7. The player adds $20 odds behind the pass line.
Another player says, “Place the six and eight for twelve each.” That means the dealer puts $12 on the 6 and $12 on the 8 for that player.
The stickman calls, “Yo, eleven.” That means the dice total is 11.
Later, the shooter rolls 7. The dealer calls, “Seven out.” The pass line loses, place bets lose, don’t pass wins, and the dice move to the next shooter.
Once you understand the words, the table becomes readable.
From the Casino Side:
Craps vocabulary is part of game control.
Dealers use short calls because the game moves quickly. The stickman announces dice totals and proposition results. Base dealers repeat bets, correct amounts, and pay winners. The boxman or supervisor listens for disputes and unclear instructions.
Clear language prevents mistakes. “Give me odds” is not the same as “press my six.” “Any craps” is not the same as “crapless craps.” “Hard eight” is not the same as “place the eight.”
A sloppy verbal call can create a dispute. A clean verbal call lets the crew book the bet, pay it, or refuse it before the dice move.
Regulated craps rules, such as the Massachusetts craps and mini-craps rules, show how formal procedure sits behind the table language players hear.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking “odds” always means the odds bet rather than probability.
- Confusing a hardway with the total number itself.
- Saying “craps” when they mean the entire game, not the 2/3/12 come-out result.
- Calling late bets after the dice are already moving.
- Saying “same bet” when the previous bet was not clear.
- Mixing up pass line, come bet, and place bet mechanics.
- Treating dealer slang as strategy advice.
Hard Truth
Craps language sounds intimidating because it is fast, not because it is deep. Learn the twenty words that control the table and most of the mystery disappears.
FAQ
What does seven-out mean?
Seven-out means a 7 rolled after a point was established. The shooter’s hand ends, pass line loses, and the dice pass to the next shooter.
What is the point in craps?
The point is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 established on the come-out roll. The shooter tries to roll it again before 7.
What does hardway mean?
A hardway is a paired total: hard 4 is 2-2, hard 6 is 3-3, hard 8 is 4-4, and hard 10 is 5-5.
What is a yo bet?
A yo bet is a one-roll bet on 11. Dealers say “yo” to avoid confusion with “seven.”
What is a horn bet?
A horn bet is a split proposition bet covering 2, 3, 11, and 12.
What does press mean?
Press means increase the bet, often using some or all of the winnings from the previous hit.
What does off mean?
Off means a bet is not working for that roll. Some bets are automatically off on the come-out unless the player says otherwise.
What does working mean?
Working means the bet is active and can win or lose on the next roll.
Deeper Insight
Craps terms fall into four useful groups.
Flow terms describe the state of the game: come-out roll, point, seven-out, shooter, puck on, and puck off.
Bet terms describe where the money is: pass line, don’t pass, come, don’t come, odds, place, buy, lay, field, hardways, horn, and hop.
Payout terms describe how money is returned: even money, true odds, 7-to-6, 7-to-5, 9-to-5, 30-to-1, and 15-to-1.
Dealer terms control procedure: booked, no roll, late bet, working, off, press, same bet, down, and payoff.
Beginners usually try to learn every term at once. That is the hard way. Learn flow first, then bets, then payout language, then dealer procedure.
Formula / Calculation
P(event) = favorable dice combinations / 36
Examples:
P(7) = 6 / 36 = 16.67%
P(11) = 2 / 36 = 5.56%
P(12) = 1 / 36 = 2.78%
Formula Explanation in Plain English
Many craps terms are just nicknames for dice results. A yo bet means the total 11, which has two possible dice combinations. Boxcars means 12, which has one possible combination. The language changes, but the dice math stays fixed.
Related Reading
For a full beginner path, start with the craps guide, then use craps terms explained and craps bets explained to connect the language to real wagers. For numbers behind the terms, read craps odds and craps house edge. To check bet cost, use the craps odds calculator or house edge calculator.