Stand near a busy craps table and you’ll see what looks like a small, well-rehearsed production — four casino employees moving in choreographed patterns, chips sliding across felt, bets being placed and paid with a speed that seems impossible to follow. Understanding who does what, and where players fit into all of it, makes the game dramatically easier to navigate and eliminates the embarrassment of not knowing where to stand or who to hand your money to.
The Boxperson: The One Watching Everything
The boxperson (historically “boxman”) sits at the center of the table on the casino side, directly behind the chip rack. This is the supervisor of the game. The boxperson oversees all chip transactions, resolves disputes, monitors dice handling, and watches for irregularities in play and payouts. They don’t move chips to players — that’s the dealers’ job — but nothing significant happens at the table without the boxperson’s awareness. If you have a dispute about a payout or a ruling, the boxperson makes the final call at table level.
The Stickperson: Voice of the Game
The stickperson stands across from the boxperson on the players’ side, using a long curved stick to retrieve and deliver dice. They’re also the table’s announcer — calling out dice results in the traditional craps patter (“winner winner, seven front-line winner” or “point seven, line away”) and managing the proposition bets in the center of the table. Proposition bets (Any Seven, Hardways, Horn bets) are placed by tossing chips to the stickperson and calling your bet verbally. The stickperson also controls the pace: they push the dice to the shooter when everything is ready, not before.
The Two Base Dealers
One dealer stands at each end of the table, managing the bets on their respective side. They pay winning bets, collect losing ones, place Come and Don’t Come bets into position, and handle Odds bets behind the line. When you want to make a Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet, you place it yourself in the marked section. But for Place bets and Odds, you pass chips to the dealer and announce your bet — the dealer positions them correctly in the numbered boxes. Tipping the dealers (known as “tokes”) is common at craps; many players make a “dealer bet” by placing a chip for the crew alongside their own wager.
Where Players Stand: Position Matters
A standard craps table accommodates around 12-14 players. The prime real estate is next to the dealers — you get faster service and more personal attention. The ends of the table (near the stickperson) are the farthest from the dealers and can make certain bets awkward. Shooters must be within reach of the dice, so the stickperson will push them toward whoever is at the shooting position. Players who don’t want to shoot simply pass — there’s no obligation.
The Shooter’s Responsibilities
The shooter must make a Pass or Don’t Pass bet before throwing. When the stickperson pushes several dice toward you, you pick exactly two — typically the ones that feel right to you — and throw them toward the far wall. The dice must hit the back wall; a throw that falls short is called “no roll” and doesn’t count. You continue shooting through the come-out, and then until you either hit your point (making the point) or roll a 7 (sevening out). After sevening out, the dice move clockwise to the next shooter.
Buy-In Protocol
To buy chips, wait for a pause between rolls — never hand money to the dealer mid-roll. Place your cash flat on the table (not in the dealer’s hand) and announce the denomination you want. The dealer slides it to the boxperson for verification, then passes you chips. This process is consistent across virtually every casino. Never hand cash directly to a dealer’s hand; it’s a security rule, not personal preference.
Calling Bets and Getting Paid
Some bets at craps are “self-service” — you place them yourself in marked areas (Pass, Don’t Pass, Field, Big 6/8). Others require dealer assistance: Come, Don’t Come, Place bets, Odds, and all center props. When calling a bet to the dealer, be clear and direct: “Ten dollars on the six to Place” or “Odds on the five.” After a winning roll, wait until the dealer pays before picking up chips — touching bets during payout can cause confusion and delays.
Reading the Table State
A black or white disk sits near the point box. When it shows “OFF” (black side up, placed to the side), the game is in the come-out phase — no point has been set yet. When it shows “ON” (white side up) placed on a number, that’s the current point. This disk, called the puck, is your instant reference for where the hand stands. Come-out vs. point phase determines which bets are active, which are working, and what various players are hoping the next roll will be.
Fitting In Quickly
Most craps dealers are happy to help new players navigate — but a busy Saturday table isn’t the time for a tutorial. Learn the buy-in protocol, know where to place your Pass Line bet, and understand what “working” and “off” mean before you sit down. Everything else you’ll pick up within a few hands. The table hierarchy is there to keep 14 simultaneous bettors organized, not to intimidate; once you see how each role fits together, the whole operation suddenly makes sense.