In our final session of learning the language of craps, let’s look at those that cover the letters S to Y in alphabetical order.  Craps terms beginning with other letters are defined in my other articles.

Self-service = Bets on the layout that the player makes himself without the dealer’s help (e.g., Pass Line, Field, Come).

Seven Out = When the shooter rolls a 7 after a point has been established to end the game.

Shooter = The player who rolls the dice.

Shooter On The Dark Side = A shooter betting the Don’t Pass.

Single Odds = A free Odds or true Odds bet equal to the Flat Pass Line or Flat Don’t Pass bet.

Skinny = The same as Big Red or Any Seven.

Sleeper     = A bet that continues to parlay up because the player has left the table.

Slow Bleed = A player losing his bankroll slowly but steadily.

Snake Eyes = Eyeballs or aces.

Square Pair = Two four’s.  A Hard 8.

Stacks = Cheque stacks that the dealers use to pay off winning bets.

Stickperson = The dealer who uses the mop (stick) and calls the action.

Stiff = A player who doesn’t tip the dealers.

Still Up = What the dealer might say to remind a player that a bet is still live.

Stroker = A player who hustles bets at the table or makes it difficult for the dealers to work the table.

Studio 54 = The number 9.

Sweat The Money = When floor people get nervous because the players are winning big.

Table Sign = A placard on each side of the table defining the table minimum bet, maximum bet, and maximum odds allowed.

Taking Odds = Adding a true Odds bet on the point behind the Pass Line.

Tapping In = When a dealer comes off break and returns to the table, he “taps” the dealer that he’s replacing.

Tidy The Bowl = When the stickman aligns the extra dice in the bowl into a neat row.

Too Tall To Call = What the dealer might say when a die lands on top of the casino’s cheque stack or in the rack.

Toke = A tip for the dealer.

Towel = A player temporary leaving the table (e.g., going to eat or to the bathroom) may request that a cloth be placed over his cheques in the rack to protect them until he returns.  This holds the player’s position at the table and prevents a new player from taking that position.

True Odds = The mathematically correct odds of a number appearing compared to another number.

Tub = A small one-dealer craps table usually in small casinos.  Also called a mini-craps table.

Turn The Dice = When the stickman flips the dice with the mop (stick) to avoid pushing them to the shooter with a particular number showing.

Two-way = A bet for the player and the dealers.  For example, a $2 Two-way Hard 4 bet is a $1 Hard 4 for the player and a $1 Hard 4 for the dealers.

Vigorish = A 5% tax, or commission, the player pays the house for the privilege of getting true odds.  Also called a vig.

Wall = The back wall.

We Need To Feed The Chickens Not Kill Them = What the stickman might say if the shooter throws the dice too hard.

Weaki Weaki = A roll that doesn’t hit the back wall (Hawaiian).

Whip = The mop (stick).

Whirl = A bet in multiples of $5 that the next roll will be a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12.  For each $5 bet, $1 is put on each of the five numbers.  Also called a World bet.

Working = A player’s bet is on, live, or in play.

World = A Whirl bet.

Wrong Bettor = A player who bets against the dice (i.e., that the shooter will roll a 7 before the point number).  A Don’t Pass bettor.

Yellow = A $1,000 cheque.

Yellow Light = When dealers should be careful about hustling tips because floor people may be watching.

Yo = The number 11.

Yo-leven = The number 11.  Same as Yo.  The stickman says “yo” to distinguish “eleven” from “seven” so the players don’t misunderstand the stickman’s call.




By: William Enslen Jr