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The game of craps has plenty of written rules that can be read about and learned. However, there are unspoken rules of etiquette that should be learned as well. They are just as important and knowing them and respecting them can convey your seriousness as a gambler. Being unaware or ignoring them can show your inexperience and be potentially embarrassing. Because of this, you will want to know the etiquette associated with craps.

Remember, experienced craps players sitting at the table next to you will likely consider the etiquette rules to be just important as the written rules.

You should never use more than one hand to roll the dice. It is not acceptable to roll the dice from hand to hand before rolling them and you should never take the dice past the table’s edge. If for some reason you feel the need to change hands before rolling the dice then the only acceptable way to do this is to take the dice and set them on the table. Then, when you have let them go, you can take your other hand and pick them up. Not only does this go along with etiquette of the game of craps but it also improves security that you could not use sleight of hand to switch the dice.

When the shooter throws the dice it is important to throw them hard enough that they bounce off the wall at the far end of the table. When a roll does not hit the far end of the table it may be referred to as a Mellenberg Roll by some casinos. The vast majority of casinos will allow the throw to count as long as the dice went last the table’s middle. However, if the dealer considers the roll to be too short it will be called a “no roll”. This sometimes happens because shorter rolls are easier to control and could increase the players’ chance of winning or rolling specific numbers. The dice must be tossed and they cannot slide across the table. Additionally, you should not throw the dice any higher than the dealers’ eye level.

More rules pertaining to the dice is that they cannot land in the stickman’s bowl, in the boxman’s bank, or in the rail where the players keep their chips. It is allowable for the dice to land on the marker puck, dealer’s working stacks, bets on the table, or with one die on top of another. Should one or both die fly off the table this is called a “no roll” by the dealer. At this juncture the box person must evaluate the dice that landed outside the table and determine if they are able to be played again. If not, new dice must be requested from the stickman’s bowl. The player has the right to request the same dice, or die, but the box person can deny this request if the dice are considered compromised for whatever reason.

Should the dice, or a die, land on something that causes it to not lie flat or for two or more numbers to be visible the way the actual number is determined is to consider what the number would be if the die were lying flat. For example, if the die landed on some chips and was at an angle the number called is the one the die would display if the chips were removed and the die were lying flat.

If a die or both dice hit the dealer or a player and then rolls back onto the table then the roll will count. This is as long as the roll of the dice was not interfered by the individual in any way. Still, some casinos have very strict rules and will call this a “no roll” every time.

When it comes to setting the dice, i.e. placing them in a particular configuration, some casinos have strict rules against this. Others allow it yet ask that it be done quickly so the game is not delayed.
When it comes to chips and players, the dealers cannot touch the players or hand them chips directly. Players can’t touch the dealers or hand them chips directly either. When a player “buys in” at the table, meaning paying cash for their chips, then the cash should be placed on the layout by the player and the dealer will then take the cash. The dealer will then place the player’s chips in front of him. This is for security and fairness.

On the layout of many craps tables there are “No call Bets.” What this means is that without the right amount of chips on the table a player cannot call out his bet. Should the player call a bet and have more chips than the bet, like with a $100 chip and a $25 on 5 and 9 bet, then the dealer will say it is a bet and return the player’s $50 in change.

Remember, too, that for the bet to be valid the dealer does not have to place it in the proper place on the table. This is because the game is fast and furious and it allows the player to change his bet before the dice are thrown. The No Call bet rule also exists to prevent any confusion on the actual bet amount. An example that shows how it could be confusing is a player could say “two fifty” and this could be taken as either $2.50 or $250. If the dealer does not know exactly what the players’ bet intention is then he can push the player’s chips back to him and call “no bet.”

In craps, as in all other table games, any player may be asked to leave the table or even the casino for any reason at all.

When it comes to placing your bet you should always set them on the board, don’t toss or throw them. When you toss chips they could potentially knock over other stacks of chips or roll away from the dealer. If you want to make a center bet and can’t reach then place them on the table and the nearest dealer will past them to the stickman. When this must be done you should get the dealer’s attention first and then pass as few chips as necessary to cover the bet. For example, if you are betting $25 pass one $25 chip rather than 5 $5 chips.

When a player is offered the dice he may take them and offer them to the next player without any questions or offense. However, there must always be a shooter betting on either the don’t pass line or the pass line in order for the game to go on.

When it comes to tipping the dealers the most acceptable way to do so it to toss a few chips on the table and either say “for the boys” or “for the dealers.” Many times the craps dealers will be women, but either saying is acceptable regardless of the dealers’ sex.

Another commonality in poker is to place a bet for the dealers. Should the bet be one that is a place bet, proposition bet, or another dealer handled bet, then the chips should be tossed and called out a “dealer bet”. An example could be a “dealer’s hard eight” A ‘two way bet” is a bet that can be placed part for the dealer and part for the player. In this case, the bet for the player is usually larger than the dealer’s bet.
Nevertheless, the dealers appreciate it.

The dealer’s part of the bet is called a “toke” and this comes from the tokens that are occasionally used in casinos to place bets for dealers. On winning bets for the dealer the casino expects the dealer to pick up his winnings as well as the original tip. This is to avoid a “let it ride” situation. The player may allow his winnings to ride, but not the dealer. If the player wants the original bet to remain on the table then he msut state that he controls the bet and one of the dealers should acknowledge this before the dealer bet is made. This means that any of the bet’s winnings will be taken by the dealers and the original bet will remain on the table until it loses.

After the come out roll no player should every say the word for 7. This is considered bad luck and players should say either “Red” or “Big Red.”

In the middle of a roll you should not change dice as this is considered bad luck. If one die or both dice leave the table and the player does not want new dice then he is required to say “same dice” loudly and immediately so all are aware. After the boxman has retrieved and inspected the dice then he will return them to the player to shoot. Most casinos assume that the player wants the same dice so they routinely inspect them and return them to the player unless new dice are requested.

The bets in the table’s center are known as proposition bets and they are made by calling out the bet that is intended while tossing the chips to the center of the table. The stickman will take over and properly place the player’s bet. Always be careful when tossing chips because this could cause embarrassment! Players furthest away from the stickman should have the nearest dealer really their chips for them to avoid any problems with tossing the chips.

Do not make “late bets” because this is considered poor craps etiquette. Late bets are considered to be any time after the dice are no longer in the middle of the table. It is permissible to make late bets, but considered rude, and if you bet consistently late then you will probably receive a warning from the dealer.
The pit boss, or dealer, may choose to ignore a bet made after the dice have left the center of the table so watch out for this.

Players should never have their cigarettes, food, drinks, or any other item over the table or along the chip rail.

After the come out roll is successful it is considered bad luck for the shooter to leave the table. Generally, a shooter is expected to continue shooting until he/she sevens out. If a shooter does leave the table before a decision on a point has been reached then the next player will take over and continue shooting where the shooter left off. Once a decision is made the boxman will decide whether the current shooter can continue shooting as would have happened if the previous shooter didn’t leave early for a come out roll or pass the dice to the next shooter.

Other players should keep their hands away from the table area when the shooter is about to throw the dice. This is important to avoid interfering with the roll of the dice. To keep players aware of this the stickman will frequently shout “dice are out, hand high’ or else “Hands high, let’em fly.”

When a player bets on Big 6 or Big 8 or in the field it is his responsibility to keep track of it. The dealer will track the Come Line bets and Place bets and will pay the player directly. Proposition bets like the hardaway and others will be tracked by the stickman and the stickman will instruct the dealer how to pay the player.

When the player prepares to leave the table he may “color up” but not at other times. Sometimes, players may “color Up” and then choose to stay another round. Coloring up multiple times at the same table is considered rude.