Also Known As the Dice Puck, Dice Buck, Marker Buck or just the Puck
Ok, the game is on. The action is high. People are cheering. The dice are rolling, and the Point has been established…. It is another typical day at the Craps table. With all of this hot action going on, it can be easy to lose sight of the action that is happening right in front of the player (what was the point again? Four? Six?)
Fear not gentle reader! There is a means to make sure that such a thing never happens. There is a little device that is known as a “Marker Puck”, which is basically a disc (usually plastic) that the Craps dealers use to mark the point. The marker puck is easy to recognize on the table as it looks like an oversized hockey puck.
There are two different sides to a Craps Marker Puck. For example, let’s start with the white side of the puck. When the puck is turned to the white side, the number that it is positioned on at the table is now considered the “Point”.
Once that point is made clear on the table, unless the shooter rolls a seven or the number on the point, the marker will not move – the dice may be rolled a hundred times, and unless the point or seven is hit, the game will continue. Players can wander up to the table, take a look at the surface, and know right away what the point is – despite the obvious simplicity, it’s a very effective system.
Whenever the player actually does make the point or roll a “7”, then that particular series ends. This is denoted by the marker puck being turned over to the black side, and the next series of play will immediately begin. And again, someone new coming to the table can then clearly see no point has been established.
As Craps is such a high stakes game where it is easy go get caught up in the thrill of the moment, it is a small comfort to know that in the heat of things, a player does not have to worry about every little detail, and can instead focus on rolling those dice, making those bets, and winning that money. When it comes to gambling, you are generally on your own, but in having a marker puck, the casino makes craps a little easier.
Ok, go make your point (or not, depending on how you bet!) Good luck.
