Craps Table Rules
Did you know there are rules for playing craps beyond just the bets and the payoffs? Of course you did, but some of the most important rules have to do with how you interact with the other players and the dealers. The smoother everything goes the more fun you will have. You don’t have to be a conformist, but fitting in at the craps table goes a long way and pays plenty of benefits. If there is a problem on the game do you think your chances of having the dealer’s side with you are better or worse if you are a problem player?
The thing with craps is that some players don’t quite know what makes the dealers work harder or get stressed out. Learn those keys and you’ll speed up the game and have more fun!
Finding the Right Game
Finding the right casino game can be an interesting proposition, you’ll want something that fits your personality. If you like action, lots of bets, and people screaming when they are winning, craps is for you. But once you know that, you’ll find there are different craps games too. Large casinos often have eight to a dozen craps tables, so you have plenty of choices. As a general rule, the higher the limit the more serious the players are. And while the players may make some noise, they are less likely to really get into the game.
At the blackjack table the fellow betting $1,000 a hand may make as much noise when they hit a blackjack as the $10 better across the room. Not always the case at craps. And, if you like to take your time making your bets or setting the dice, you might find the $10 craps game a bit more accommodating.
If you have a choice of games with the same limits, choose what fits. You want funny, talkative dealers, or those who are all business. It makes a difference.
Getting Chips
Don’t just toss your cash onto the table to get your chips! If the cash lands in the “Field” it might just be a bet! And, you’ll want to wait until the dice are in the center of the table. Don’t try and get change while the shooter is in the middle of rolling the bones!
When it’s the right time, put your cash down on the layout behind the pass-line, or after the inside dealer looks at you and you can say “Change please,” then you can drop that stack of cash on the come-line.
Help the dealer out by telling them what you want. If you have $200 and want some $5 chips, tell them that. If you want a bet, like a $30 place six out of that buy-in, tell them and they’ll take out the $30 and hand you $170. Don’t worry if you have to wait for you chips until after the dice go out and are rolled, especially if you wanted a bet. As long as you tell the dealer and they repeat the action to you, it’s a bet, even if it isn’t up on the layout yet.
Shooting the Dice
Interrupting the shooter is a big no-no. They are working on their perfect toss, and they are concentrating, so don’t talk to them, and obviously don’t bump them as they shoot. If you do, you’ll get blamed by the whole table if the roll is a seven-out! Is that logical? Of course not, but don’t do it anyway.
When it's your turn to shoot the dice, don't be tricky with them. Keep them in plain site of the stickman. Don't take them off the table or use two hands, just one. When you shoot the dice, don't throw them so hard that they bounce and hit the other players, the dealers, or the mirror on the game. You'll also want to keep to keep them below the stickman's eye-level. If you are going to try setting the dice, you'll have to do it quickly. Boxmen are usually accommodating if you know what you are doing and set them to your numbers right away. If you can't do that, just fire them out and hope for the best!
Getting Proposition Bets
If you didn't know it, the stickman's main responsibility is keeping track of the dice, and taking the proposition bets, like the horn and the hardways. They don't have access to chips, so they can't make change for you and they won't book place bets or buy-bets from you. When you bet with them you can gently toss the chips to them or hand them across the layout to the inside dealer, either of them can book prop bets. At some casinos they really prefer that you give your chips to the inside dealer for props, but you won't know until you are there. Watch and learn!
Inside Dealer Bets
The inside dealers will take care of your place and buy bets, as well as moving your come-bets and odds to numbers. The come-line and the pass and don't-pass line are self-serve areas. You'll have to move any payoffs yourself, just like in the Field. The place bet boxes and the prop bet area are not self-serve. Don't touch any chips in that area. And, try to make your bets all at once.
Ask for the place bets in a manner such as "all the inside numbers" (4, 6, 8, 9) or "all the outside number" (4, 5, 9, 10) and give a unit or total bet, such as $44 inside (2 units on each number). If you want all the place bets without the point of 6, say "$52 across." Don't drive the dealers crazy by saying "I want a $10 five" and then after they book it, saying "Give me a $12 six" etc. They'll help you, so help them out too.
Tipping at the Craps Table
You can tip the craps crew by tossing a few chips to any of the dealers, and saying please and thank-you goes a long way. You can also put the "Boys" on the line (pass line bet) and then take odds. They like that. They also like two-way bets. If you are going to bet a hardway, why not make a two-way once in a while. If it hits, the "Boys" get half and you get half. Enjoy!
The thing with craps is that some players don’t quite know what makes the dealers work harder or get stressed out. Learn those keys and you’ll speed up the game and have more fun!
Finding the Right Game
Finding the right casino game can be an interesting proposition, you’ll want something that fits your personality. If you like action, lots of bets, and people screaming when they are winning, craps is for you. But once you know that, you’ll find there are different craps games too. Large casinos often have eight to a dozen craps tables, so you have plenty of choices. As a general rule, the higher the limit the more serious the players are. And while the players may make some noise, they are less likely to really get into the game.
At the blackjack table the fellow betting $1,000 a hand may make as much noise when they hit a blackjack as the $10 better across the room. Not always the case at craps. And, if you like to take your time making your bets or setting the dice, you might find the $10 craps game a bit more accommodating.
If you have a choice of games with the same limits, choose what fits. You want funny, talkative dealers, or those who are all business. It makes a difference.
Getting Chips
Don’t just toss your cash onto the table to get your chips! If the cash lands in the “Field” it might just be a bet! And, you’ll want to wait until the dice are in the center of the table. Don’t try and get change while the shooter is in the middle of rolling the bones!
When it’s the right time, put your cash down on the layout behind the pass-line, or after the inside dealer looks at you and you can say “Change please,” then you can drop that stack of cash on the come-line.
Help the dealer out by telling them what you want. If you have $200 and want some $5 chips, tell them that. If you want a bet, like a $30 place six out of that buy-in, tell them and they’ll take out the $30 and hand you $170. Don’t worry if you have to wait for you chips until after the dice go out and are rolled, especially if you wanted a bet. As long as you tell the dealer and they repeat the action to you, it’s a bet, even if it isn’t up on the layout yet.
Shooting the Dice
Interrupting the shooter is a big no-no. They are working on their perfect toss, and they are concentrating, so don’t talk to them, and obviously don’t bump them as they shoot. If you do, you’ll get blamed by the whole table if the roll is a seven-out! Is that logical? Of course not, but don’t do it anyway.
When it's your turn to shoot the dice, don't be tricky with them. Keep them in plain site of the stickman. Don't take them off the table or use two hands, just one. When you shoot the dice, don't throw them so hard that they bounce and hit the other players, the dealers, or the mirror on the game. You'll also want to keep to keep them below the stickman's eye-level. If you are going to try setting the dice, you'll have to do it quickly. Boxmen are usually accommodating if you know what you are doing and set them to your numbers right away. If you can't do that, just fire them out and hope for the best!
Getting Proposition Bets
If you didn't know it, the stickman's main responsibility is keeping track of the dice, and taking the proposition bets, like the horn and the hardways. They don't have access to chips, so they can't make change for you and they won't book place bets or buy-bets from you. When you bet with them you can gently toss the chips to them or hand them across the layout to the inside dealer, either of them can book prop bets. At some casinos they really prefer that you give your chips to the inside dealer for props, but you won't know until you are there. Watch and learn!
Inside Dealer Bets
The inside dealers will take care of your place and buy bets, as well as moving your come-bets and odds to numbers. The come-line and the pass and don't-pass line are self-serve areas. You'll have to move any payoffs yourself, just like in the Field. The place bet boxes and the prop bet area are not self-serve. Don't touch any chips in that area. And, try to make your bets all at once.
Ask for the place bets in a manner such as "all the inside numbers" (4, 6, 8, 9) or "all the outside number" (4, 5, 9, 10) and give a unit or total bet, such as $44 inside (2 units on each number). If you want all the place bets without the point of 6, say "$52 across." Don't drive the dealers crazy by saying "I want a $10 five" and then after they book it, saying "Give me a $12 six" etc. They'll help you, so help them out too.
Tipping at the Craps Table
You can tip the craps crew by tossing a few chips to any of the dealers, and saying please and thank-you goes a long way. You can also put the "Boys" on the line (pass line bet) and then take odds. They like that. They also like two-way bets. If you are going to bet a hardway, why not make a two-way once in a while. If it hits, the "Boys" get half and you get half. Enjoy!
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