| Updated: September 25, 2025Played at a very fast pace and often surrounded by loud crowds in brick-and-mortar casinos, craps can seem quite intimidating at first. The game includes several phases, a wide range of bets, and multiple dealers and casino staff members who operate the table and pay out winnings. What might look like a chaotic jumble of people and chips around the craps table is actually well organized, making craps one of the most engaging casino games available today.
This article provides beginners with the information they need to start playing craps – how the table is laid out, where and how chips are placed, how many casino employees are stationed around the table, and more. Note that while craps is usually played by many people in land-based casinos, it is played solo online. Players must also follow strict etiquette, as there is a strong sense of community and the game is steeped in superstition.
The Craps Table and Betting Layout
In brick-and-mortar casinos, craps is played on a large, wooden table – the exact size can vary significantly from one venue to another, but in most cases it is about 12 feet long and 3.5 feet wide. The table is a stadium-shaped rectangle with oval ends and a high edge that keeps the dice on the surface when they are rolled.
The padded rail runs along the top edge of the bed, and its thick cushioning provides a comfortable place for players to lean. Next to the rail is the chip rack – a wooden section divided into smaller compartments where players store their chips. The main part of the craps table is the betting layout, which is the lowest section and is covered with felt. The chips for each bet are placed on the printed chart on this felt.
Usually, each end of the craps table features an identical betting layout and accommodates up to 8 players. The two long sides of the table have special cut-out edges for the dealers and other staff who manage the game. The blank area along the perimeter of the layout is called the apron, while the inside wall at each end of the table is lined with a rubber rail studded with small spikes called pyramids. Their purpose is to make the dice roll as randomly as possible.
Center Section
The center section of the craps layout features a square grid where chips for the so-called proposition bets are placed. This area is shared by players from both ends of the table and is serviced by the staff. Players are not allowed to place chips in the center section themselves, so whenever they wish to make such a wager they must signal one of the dealers or the stickman.
Side Areas
The areas positioned on either side of the center section are identical. This is where the main bets are placed, including the Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets, Come and Don’t Come bets, the Field bet, and the Big 6 and Big 8 wagers. It is a self-service area, which means players can place their own chips rather than ask for assistance. However, each participant is allowed to use only the side area closest to them.
The two side areas also contain small betting grids displaying the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10. Each of these small fields is called a point box. Once the point has been established, the dealers place a small disk marked “On” on the corresponding number. This plastic disk is called a puck and has two sides: one showing “On” and the other showing “Off”. Although the point boxes sit within the side areas, they are considered the dealer’s territory, so players are not permitted to handle any bets there on their own.
Mini-Craps Tables
Typically, standard craps tables measure 8, 10, or 12 feet in length, but some casinos have introduced smaller versions. These mini-craps tables accommodate fewer players and are operated by only two dealers. Instead of featuring two identical layouts – one on each side – the mini-craps table offers a single betting layout for the main wagers and another for proposition bets.
Casino Chips and Additional Equipment
When playing in a live, land-based casino, craps players should understand the importance of the equipment used during the game. Obviously, the dice rolled in each round are essential, but there are a few other items that deserve attention.
Casino Chips
Players should recognize the different chip denominations they are wagering to avoid betting the wrong amount. In most casinos, chips follow a standard color scheme by denomination – $1 chips are white, $5 chips are red, and $25 chips are green. The $100 chips are usually black, and if the casino offers $500 chips, they may be brown or gray. In some venues, the highest-denomination chips are oversized.
Of course, these colors can vary, and additional denominations may also be available. Cash can be exchanged for chips at the casino cashier or directly at the craps table.
Marker Puck
The marker puck – also called the “buck” or simply the On/Off button – is a white, two-sided disk that shows whether a point number has been established. If the button is On, a point was set with the previous roll and the second phase of the round begins. To win, players now need the dice to land on the number indicated by the puck. When the button is Off, they need a 7 or 11 to win. This is, of course, a simplified overview; the actual rules involve many additional details.
- Craps History: How Craps Evolved from Ancient Times to 21st Century
- How to Play Craps: Basic Rules
- Dice Combinations and Probabilities in Craps
- Understanding the Game of Craps: Odds and House Edge
- The Line Bets: The Basic Wagers in Craps
- Multi-Roll Bets in Craps
- Craps Proposition Bets
- Basic Craps Strategy
- Craps Variations
- Craps Side Bets
- Advantage Play and Cheating in Craps
- Online Craps: Top Software Providers
- Betting Patterns and Tactics to Win in Craps
- Progressive Betting Systems for Craps
- Bankroll Management Tips for Craps Players
Personnel at the Craps Table
Because craps is a multiplayer game played on large tables, it is typically staffed by several casino employees. The exact number varies among casinos, but there are usually up to four people operating a single table. Each has distinct responsibilities, and the dealers rotate positions every 20 to 30 minutes.
The Floorman
The floorman is the casino employee who manages and supervises all tables. He authorizes credit for certain players and watches for any form of cheating or inappropriate behavior. Although he oversees the action, the floorman is not considered part of the crew at any particular table.
The Boxman
A standard craps table crew includes a boxman and four additional dealers. The boxman, typically a senior employee, is in charge of the game. He sits in the middle of the table in front of the casino’s chips. His duties include monitoring the game, overseeing the dealers’ actions, and verifying the payouts they deliver to winners.
He also watches for signs of cheating and resolves any disputes that may arise between dealers and players. At some casinos, the boxman is responsible for exchanging chip denominations as well.
The Stickman
The stickman stands directly across from the boxman – in the center area on the opposite side of the table. His role is essential; he moves the dice from one shooter to the next with a long, wooden L-shaped stick called a mop or whip. Additionally, the stickman calls out each roll of the dice, announcing the numbers and the resulting outcomes for certain bets.
This crew member also handles the chips for proposition bets in the center section. Whenever players wish to make a proposition bet, they throw their chips into the center of the table and call out their wagers. The stickman then places the chips in the appropriate betting fields and, when any of these bets win, tells the dealers how much to pay.
The Dealer
There are always two dealers standing on either side of the boxman. They interact with players the most: answering questions, keeping bets organized, and paying out winnings. The dealers must work quickly and accurately, as they also assist the boxman with exchanging cash for chips.
Etiquette of the Game
Craps is a game of pure chance, and although it was scientifically and mathematically analyzed long ago, it remains one of the most superstitious casino games. Traditionally, 10 to 20 people play at once, and most of them bet together. This creates a sense of community – a feeling of shared risk and reward. That shared experience fosters beliefs not always grounded in fact, such as the notion that simply uttering the word “seven” at the table brings bad luck.
Naturally, there is also a set of etiquette rules to follow when playing craps in a brick-and-mortar casino. These spoken and unspoken guidelines have developed over the years to prevent both the disapproval of fellow players and any suspicion of cheating.
Craps Talk
Craps is a fast-paced game, and the stickman usually speaks quickly as well. To a novice, the table talk may sound foreign because of the many specific terms and slang expressions used. For this reason, inexperienced players should first try to learn the craps lingo, or at least the basics – such as understanding that “sevening out” after the come-out roll means the shooter has rolled a 7, causing everyone who bet on the Pass Line to lose immediately.
Because of this superstition, it is considered bad luck to say the word “seven,” and players prefer nicknames such as the Big Red, the Devil, the S-word, and so on. In fact, most numbers in the game have whimsical nicknames: 2 is often called Snake Eyes, 3 is Ace-Deuce, 4 is Little Joe, 11 is Yo, and 12 is known as Boxcars or Midnight.
Tipping
Players who win a bet are expected to tip the dealers in craps. This is usually done by tossing a few chips onto the table and announcing that they are for the dealer (“For the crew,” “For the boys,” etc.). Another tradition is to place a bet on behalf of the dealers. A two-way bet, for example, is placed for both the player and the dealer; if it wins, the proceeds are shared between the two parties.
Things to Avoid
When playing craps, whether in a brick-and-mortar or online casino, players should not rely on the myths and superstitions that surround the game. Nevertheless, certain words and actions are considered rude, or are thought to bring bad luck to other players, so they should be avoided in a live-casino setting.
- Players should never touch the rolling dice, even accidentally, because many believe that doing so will cause a 7 to appear. This most-feared number is also thought to roll when the dice strike any chips or when a player says – or even thinks about – it. Additionally, players should not talk to the shooter while he or she is preparing to toss the dice, and touching the shooter is likewise considered bad luck.
- It is frowned upon if you pass your turn as shooter more than once.
- Avoid eating or drinking at the craps table. Although the casino may allow it, accidents happen. Spilled cocktails and greasy dice are never appreciated by dealers or players.
- Players who bet “against” the dice and the shooter should refrain from celebrating their wins. Everyone else is probably losing, and openly displaying satisfaction is considered rude.
- For security reasons, players must pick up the dice and throw them with the same hand instead of switching or using both hands.
- Players should never try to hand dealers cash or chips. Instead, they should place the chips on the table so the dealers can pick them up.