If you’ve ever walked through a casino, you’ve probably seen a craps table, but have you ever wondered what a craps table really is? What does it include, what are its components?
The biggest and most obvious part of the table is the bed. Casino craps tables are generally available in 8, 10, or 12 foot lengths. Along the top edge of the bed is a continuous padded rail that players can lean on. Standing at a craps table for long periods of time can be exhausting for the player, so the padded rail allows players to rest or change body positions to relieve stress. After all, the casino doesn’t want players to leave simply because their feet and knees hurt. Obviously, the casino wants players at the table for as long as possible.
Adjacent to the padded rail is the Wood Chip Rack, which is typically two shelves deep with dividers every 12 to 16 inches. Dividers separate the token rack into individual sections for the players.
Along the outer perimeter is a small shelf called the Drink Bar. As the name implies, this is where players place their drinks. Glasses and bottles are not allowed on the padded rail due to the risk of spillage in the design. Not only do spills make a big mess in the design (which the casino has to pay to clean up), but spills slow down play, affecting the casino’s winnings. Cigarette ashtrays are also placed on the drink rail.
Inside the bed is the design of the table with all the numbers and boxes in which the players’ chips are placed. The felt can be any color depending on the casino’s specifications. Common colors are green, blue, and sometimes red. Special designs and patterns can be incorporated into the layout to match the casino theme. The area on the outer edge of the design is called the Apron.
The rubber material lines the inside wall of the bed and is called Rail Rubber. Under the rail rubber at each inner end of the table is a 6 to 8-inch wide pyramid rubber piece. This is the part of the table with all the little pyramids or spikes that are specially designed to randomly deflect the dice. Casinos have a rule that a player must “hit the back wall” when rolling the dice. This rule ensures that the dice hit the pyramid rubber, thus preventing someone from controlling the result of a dice roll. Regardless of what you hear, read, or see at a live craps table, no one (NOBODY!) Can constantly monitor the outcome of a dice roll when the dice hit the pyramid rubber. They just can’t. (Read my other articles on the silly notion of “dice control” or “dice setup”).
On the inner side of the bed in front of the dispensers and boxman there is a mirror approximately 8 inches wide that runs the length of the table. The mirror allows the dealers and the boxman to see the palm side of the player’s throwing hand. The boxer can easily see if a player is cheating by “slapping” the dice, trying to introduce a crooked pair into the game.
Cut out in the table layout in front of the boxman there is a money slot for the money delivery box. The money slot is about 3/8 inch wide and about 3 inches long, which is the right size to push bills down into the mailbox. The boxer uses a paddle to push the money through the slot into the money box that is attached to the bottom of the bed. (That’s where the term “boxman” comes from).
The stickman controls a small bowl that rests on the table against the wall directly in front of the stickman. This Dice Bowl (or Dice Boat) simply contains the additional dice that are not in play. When a new game begins, the stickman throws the unused dice on the table and uses his stick (or whip) to push them all (usually 6 or 8) to the next shooter. The shooter then selects two that he thinks are lucky, and then the man rolls the remaining dice and places them in a bowl. The bowl is usually made of clear acrylic or wood.
Puck and Buttons are also considered part of a dice table. The ON / OFF dial (white for the ON side, black for the OFF side) is used simply to indicate if a new game is in progress. If a new game is about to start, the puck is turned to the OFF side. If a game is in progress, the puck is turned to its ON side and placed in the appropriate number box on the layout to indicate the “point” for the current game. Small buttons the size of a quarter are used to indicate whether a player’s bets are on or off, or whether a certain type of bet is “buy” or “place.” Each button has a word engraved on it, be it OFF, ON, BUY, or OFF. The buttons help the dealer, boxman, and eye in the sky to keep track of players’ bets.
Now you know all the components of a craps table! The more you know, the more confident you will be when approaching a table. The more confident you are, the less likely it is that dealers will lead you down the wrong path by enticing you to bet with high house odds.