How to Buy In at the Craps Table
It is hard not to get caught up in the excitement of a Craps gaming when passing by one of the Craps gaming tables. With the excited cheers and plenty of movement going on, sometimes you just feel the need to get involved and get a piece of that action yourself. The most logical choice at this point is to sidle up and “Buy in”.
So what does buying in entail, exactly? In the most basic sense the player is basically exchanging money for chips in order to play. Once the player produces the cash that they want to use in play, the dealer will take the funds and give the chips equivalent so that the play session can begin.
“Is that all there is to it”, you may ask? When it comes to the actual money exchange, yes, that’s it. But there is also a certain time and place when it comes to that initial buy in. For starters, a player should wait to start buying in until the dice have been returned to the center of the table. The secondary thing to wait for is for the point to be established, or the current shooter “sevens out”. That’s just good etiquette. Once all the action has been settled, the dealer will give the player a nod of acknowledgement to let them know that it is time to put the money on the table. Make sure to be courteous to the dealers. A little “please” and “thank you” goes a long way in this game.
Also, make sure not to be “THAT guy” when buying in: The one who is throwing money down as the dice are rolling? Other players aren’t too keen on having their dice rolls deflected by falling dollar bills. Also don’t “squeeze” the shooter. Give them plenty of throwing space, and don’t bump their throwing hand. Also, it’s important to keep track of your bets. Confirm with the dealer that your bet has been placed. You may swear up and down that you called it, but if the dealer didn’t hear it, it’s a moot point.
As a player, buying in is the start to a fast paced game of good sportsmanship and potential big wins. When you walk up to that Craps table for the first time, be patient. It won’t be long before you get to join in on the action.
Best of luck to you!
