Snake Eyes Gambling Term

Below we’ve listed the most common Craps terms in alphabetical order. Casinos and dealers will often use these phrases when taking bets, so it’s really important to understand what they all mean. At first glance they can seem confusing, but once you read their description they’re not too bad!

Craps Glossary of Common Terminology, Slang, & Jargon

3-way Craps – This is a bet made in units of 3 with one unit on 2, one unit on 3, and one unit on 12. This is simply a horn bet without the bet on 11.

Since my last post was titled “Lucky Seven,” it seemed appropriate to keep with the gambling theme and title this one “Snake Eyes.” For those unfamiliar with the term, a throw of two ones with a pair of dice results in the lowest possible score, and by extension the term is also used to reference bad luck¹. Snake eyes is the outcome of rolling two dice in any gambling game and getting one pip on each die. In most cases, this outcome is very disadvantageous for the player – and since the pair of pips looks just like a pair of eyes, the gamblers have associated it with snakes since they’re considered to be a symbol of treachery and bad luck. Two is 'snake eyes', because the two ones that compose it look like a pair of small, beady eyes. During actual play, more common terms are 'two craps two' during the comeout roll because the pass line bet is lost on a comeout crap roll and/or because a bet on any craps would win. Snake Eyes is a term often used outside of the casino industry and loosely for people who are losers or people with bad luck. However, the term’s association with losing has to do with casino games wherein ‘Snake Eyes’ is the lowest possible roll, which means that the person has lost at least that dice roll and possibly the game.

Aces – This is betting that the next roll will total the number two (snake eyes).

Any Craps – You can bet on craps for the next roll. This means you win if a 2,3 or 12 comes (craps). It pays out 7:1 and the house has a 11% edge.

Any Seven – Betting on the next roll being a 7 i.e. against the run of play. It pays out 4:1 and the house has a 16.7% edge.

Arm – This is a term used in craps to signify a player who is so skilled at throwing the dice that they are able to alter the conventional odds of the game. While many players consider this type of player to be an urban legend, it might just be one of the reasons that casino craps dealers are so insistent that the dice are thrown against the far wall to ensure a fair and completely random outcome.

Back Line – Same thing as the “Pass Line”

Base Dealer – The base dealer is the man who you place most of your bets with. Typically there are 2 base dealers per table, standing on each side.

Buy Bets – You can bet on a Point number after it is established. Basically you are betting on 4,5,6,8,9 or 10 being rolled before the 7. It pays out 1:1, however a commission charge is usually placed by most casinos in order to keep an edge.

Behind the Line – This is a bet on the free-odds after a point has been established on the Come Out Roll.

Betting Right – This is when you bet that the throw will win on Pass Line and Come Bets.

Betting Wrong – This is when you bet that the throw will not pass on Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets.

Big 6 – Big 8 – This means you are betting on a 6 or 8 being rolled before a 7. It pays out 1:1 even money.

Big Red – Betting on 7 to be thrown on the next roll.

Boxcars – Slang for a 12 being rolled. Two 6s look like “boxcar” which is where the name derives from.

Boxman – The dealer who stands in the middle of the Craps table and guards/handles the chips.

Buffalo – This is when a bet is placed on the Hard Way as well as Any Seven.

Buy Bet (Buy and Lay Bet) – This is when the house is given a 5% commission in order to be paid correct odds for a place bet. Buy and lay bets are made the same way as a place bet, but at correct odds. You should also know that the buy bets on 4 and 10 allow the player chance to reduce the house edge from 6.67% to 4% on these bets. You will find that some casinos collect this commission at the time the bet is made, while other casinos collect it only on winning bets.

Capped Dice – This is the same term as crooked dice or non standard dice.

C/E or Craps/Eleven Bet – This is a spot on the table where you can either bet on C (Any Craps) or E (Eleven). It serves no other purpose that is different than the proposition bets; it’s just another way to place these bets.

Cold Table – This is term used when shooters are not making their points or winning at this table at the current moment.

Come Bet /Come Box – A come bet is similar to a Pass Line bet but this is made after a come out roll. The come box is the area on the table where you should place your chips.

Come Out Roll – The shooter’s first roll. It determines the Point and decides Pass Line/Don’t Pass bets.

Crap – Crap includes the numbers 2, 3 and 12. Pass Line bets lose instantly when this is rolled on the Come Out. In Crapless Craps these numbers don’t count.

Crap Out – When Craps is rolled in the Come out.

Dealer – The dealer is responsible for all the bets made on his/her side of the table. You should give the money directly to the dealer when you want to make Free Odds, Place, or Lay bets in a casino and let him/her make the bet for you.

Don’t Come Bet – Opposite of the Come Bet. It is identical to a Don’t Pass Line bet except it is placed after the come out roll i.e. you win with a 7 or 11 and lose with a 2 or 3. A 12 is a push. Any other number becomes the Point, and you win if a 7 is rolled before that point number.

Don’t Pass Bar – Physical area of the craps table where players can place don’t pass bets.

Don’t Pass Bet – Opposite of the Pass Line bet. It involves betting against the run of play. A 2, 3 or 12 means you win on the Come Out, a 7 or 11 means you lose. If a Point is established you win if a 7 is rolled before the Point number. It pays 0.01% better odds than a Pass Line bet.

Double Odds – This is an odd bet that is just about twice as large as the original Pass/Come bet. You will find that some casinos might even offer higher odds. Some will offer 5 times, or even 10 times the odds.

Easy Way – This is a dice roll of 4, 6, 8, 10 where each die has a different number on it.

Field Bet – You can bet on a single number rolled including 2,3,4,9,10,11 or 12. A Field bet pays out 2:1 from 2-12 and 1:1 for everything else.

Floor Men – These are the people who are responsible for the games in the casino. You will see them spend their time behind the tables watching over the games. Like a Pit Boss or Box Man.

Free Odds Bet – These are the best bets in the casino. By placing lots large free odds bets as you can reduce the house edge to virtual 0%. Normally in casinos you can only wager these bets in multiples of your Pass/Don’t Pass Line bets e.g. 1x/2x/5x.

Front Line – Slang word for the pass line

Hard Way Bet – A bet that a hard 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 is rolled before a 7 or soft number. For example, a Hard 4 would be 2,2, a Soft 4 would be 3,1.

Hope Bet – This is bet made on specific or particular dice combination.

Horn Bet – This is a bet that the next roll of the dice will add up to Craps i.e. 2, 3, 11 or 12.

Horn High Bet – This is a bet amount split into 5 parts. Two units on the ‘high’ number (which is 12), and three units for the other numbers 2, 3, and 11.

Insurance Bet – This is when there are two or more bets in an attempt to partially cover each other.

Lay Bet – The Opposite of a Buy Bet. You can lay 4,5,6,8,9 or 10, and win if a 7 comes up before the number chosen. Because it pays 1:1 even a 5% commission is paid to the house.

Lay Odds – The opposite of a Free Odds Bet. It also pays out true odds, meaning there is no house edge. It is one of the best bets in any casino game.

Line Bet – This is a bet on the Pass Line or Don’t Pass line. These bets are placed at the beginning of the game before the Come Out roll. A shooter has to make a Line Bet in order to be able to shoot the dice.

Little Joe – This is the Hard 4 roll. A pair of twos.

Snake Eyes Gambling Term Memory Loss

Marker Puck – This is the plastic disk dealers use to mark the point on the table. Basically, if the puck is turned to the ‘off’ side, then you know all the Free Odds Bets have no action on the next roll.

Midnight – This is a bet placed that the next roll will be a 12.

Off (or Odds Off) – This means that certain bets will be safe on the next roll.

One Roll Bet – These are bets that expire after one roll of the dice e.g. betting the next roll is a 6.

Parlay – This is when you leave your winnings in action. Also know as letting it ride.

Pass Line Bet – The most common bet in Craps. This can only be made before the Come Out roll and pays 1:1. You win straight away if a 7 or 11 and lose for any Craps (2,3 or 12). Any number outside this range becomes the Point and if the Point number is rolled again before a 7 you win. The house edge is 1.41%.

Payoff – This is the payback or return a player gets for his/her bet.

Place Bet – You can bet on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 at any time. You can win if this number is rolled before a 7.

Pit – This is the area in the middle of all the craps tables in a casino. This is where you will see the Floor Men walking around keeping their eye on play and the dealers.

Point (or Point Number) – This is one of the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 that is determined on the Come Out roll.

Press a Bet – This is a jargon term for “double or nothing” after you have won a previous bet.

Proposition Bets – These are one roll bets on the next outcome of the dice. They have the worst odds as the House edge can be up to 14%.

Puck (Disk) – The puck is the market on the table that indicates “On/Off” when a Point has been established.

Puppy Paws – This is when the shooter rolls a pair of fives. This slang term is used based on the belief that many players think this roll looks like actual paws.

Right Bettor – This is a player that bets the dice will pass/win.

Seven Out – When a Point is established any 7 rolled will end the round. This is known as “Seven Out”.

Shooter – Anyone who rolls the dice.

Single Odds – This is an odd bet that is just about as much as the original Pass/Come wager. You will find that some casinos allow ‘double odds’ or even bigger odds bets.

Snake Eyes – This is betting on the number two, or when the dice are rolled and they show a pair of ones. This phrase comes about because many players think they actually look like a pair of eyes, and they are a bad roll for the shooter.

Stickman – The stickman is one of the four dealers at the table. His duty involves collecting the dice after each roll, reading out the totals and collecting proposition or field bets.

Snake Eyes – Craps jargon for Hard 2 (two 1s).

Snake Eyes Gambling Term Meaning

Taking Odds – The act of making an odds bet.

Vigorish – Common jargon for the commission that must be paid to the house on buy bets, lay bets and other types of bets.

Whirl Bet – This is a bet that the next roll will be 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, with the same amount being bet on each number.

Working Bets – These are live bets currently in play.

Snake Eyes Gambling Term Definition

Wrong Better – This is a player that bets the dice will not pass.

Snake Eyes Gambling Terms

Yo – Craps jargon for the number 11. If you are betting on “Yo”, then you would be wagering on rolling an 11.