Craps Lingo

by Frank Scoblete

Craps Lingo is the focus for this lesson at Gambling Teachers, Learn to Play Craps program.
Yes, we are talking craps as casino players like to state who enjoy the language of the casino.
As with all great languages, craps has its own dictionary and after this lesson, you will be able to speak the language of craps.
Let’s begin your linguistic enlightenment with familiar craps lingo.
Almost all players know that snakes eyes refer to the number 2 or wagering that the next roll will be a 2.
The same goes for yo as in Rocky’s classic comment after he suffered serious brain damage. However, when asked what he had actually done, he could not quite remember. So he said, yo-eleven which he thought was the round he had been knocked out in. And that is how yo-eleven became part of craps speak.

Little Joe is another way to say four. Additionally, you could also say Tutu.
The popular, Rosemary Clooney song, You Give Me Fever became fever or five, so when you put your bet down for a five, just say, I got a fever for you.
If the dealer does not know what that craps lingo means, he might think you are coming on to him or he might get upset because he thinks you have some rare tropical disease or both.
Not a whole lot of lingo for the number six, except for this one connecting 6 to 7 as with Six-Ace that is a bet that the next roll will be a 7.  

The seven is the most feared number in craps, particularly after the shooter has established the point that he’s shooting for. The 7 is referred to as the Devil and Big Red. When a shooter rolls the seven, it can take a player to hell=“do” bettors or to heaven=“don’t” bettors.  It is well known amongst craps players that if you say the word seven out loud at the table, bad luck naturally follows.
The eight has several colorful appellations. Craps lingo for the placing the eight goes like this: Give me a square pair! I want two windows. Make that block fours. When the shooter’s number is eight and he makes it, dealers can say, He eight it!

Or, a dealer might say, Meet Ada from Decatur.
When the nine is your point and you make it, the dealer can shout: Nina from Pasadena! as Nina in craps lingo also means nine. Alternatively, a nine can be referred to as a Jesse James, as he was shot with a 4-5 equaling nine.   
The Brits jump in with their special linguistic abilities for the number ten.
They labeled 10 with Big Ben, The Ripper, The Queen’s Crown, Sunflowers, Double Nickels and Venus and Mars.
Lastly, there is the famous Box Cars or twelve, which can also be called: Midnight, The Apostles, Six-Packs and Muleteeth.

You will find many religious and moral sayings related to the language of craps like Come on, baby needs a new pair of shoes!
Whereas with, Peace on earth, good will to men, the craps equivalent is much easier to understand: Dice--be nice!
Lastly, the most feared of all craps calls: The devil jumped up! means that dreaded seven just ended a shooters roll.

For more Craps Lingo, Gambling Teachers recommends Craps Table Talk  and Craps Terms to expand your craps vocabulary and become a citizen of Crapsylvania.

Craps Lingo is followed by Craps Dealers: The Good and Bad
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Return to Learn to Play Craps Program

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