Basic Etiquette in Craps

If you’ve been playing online craps long enough to become a skilled player, you may wish to try it out in a live setting. However, whether you’re familiar with the rules of the game or not, you should take the time to learn proper etiquette before approaching a craps table at a brick and mortar casino.

There are certain things you should and should not do at a live craps table. The following tips will help you to appear both knowledgeable and courteous.

Know the Rules

Obviously, you want to know the rules of the game before approaching a live craps table. You should know which bets can be made before and after the shooter’s come out roll. For example, you will generally start with a Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet on the first roll, progressing to Come/Don’t Come bets afterwards. You will be laughed off the table if you try to place a Come bet on a new shooter’s initial roll.

Hand Placement

Be careful where you put your hands at all times. Do not let your fingers fall below the padded lining of the table’s edge. If the shooter tosses the dice and they bounce off one of your appendages, you have interfered with the roll. Not good!

Don’t Touch Other Chips

There is a large betting diagram and if a lot of players are around the table, there will be quite a few chip piles scattered around the felt. When placing your bets, be extra careful not to touch anyone else’s chips. If you do knock over a chip stack by accident, do NOT attempt to fix it. The croupier will take care of it. You may want to consider tipping him well when your session is over, too.

Being the Shooter

If you don’t know how to be the shooter, you always have the option of passing it on to the next in line. If you do want to shoot the dice, make sure you know what you’re doing. You must toss the dice against the back wall of the table so that they bounce back. If you throw them too short, it is a foul. If you throw them too hard, you will knock over the chips on the table and get nasty looks from the croupier, as well as the other players around you. On your first trip to the craps table, watch as the other shooters get the job done and try to mimic their proper behavior.

Tipping the Croupier

Tips are expected in all live dealer casino games. You don’t have to leave a large tip, unless you had a great run and really want to. The average tip is 3% to 5% of your total bets. If you wagered $100, a $3 to $5 tip would be appropriate.

Show Courtesy to Everyone

Do not be rude or verbally abusive at the craps table. If you placed a large bet on the shooter and he rolls a 7, don’t berate him for it. You can cheer for good outcomes all you want, but belligerence is not acceptable. This behavior is most often seen when a player has had a little (or a lot) too much to drink. Know your limits in the alcohol department and keep your negative emotions in check.