As an energetic game with many highs and lows, and a crowd winning and losing as a
community, craps is surrounded by many unique superstitions. These superstitions do not pop up
at random. Each one is tied into the wants, needs, and worries of the players, and builds a
significant piece of the culture.
If there is one piece of craps culture that everyone needs to know, it’s that everyone picks the
pass line, and no one touches the don’t pass line. When a seven comes up, everyone loses. This is
true to such a degree that even the word, “seven,” is toxic. Just the sound of the word makes the
players shiver. Saying “seven” is a major taboo. Many players have the heartfelt belief that
uttering the number is a jinx, and may even walk away from the table if it is uttered.
Just like certain words seem to jinx a situation, certain situations seem to do the same. A lot of
the dialogue is surrounding the idea of virginity. A male who has never played the game before
setting his chips on the table is said to bring terrible luck. It’s not just the betting choices he
might make, it’s the feeling that comes to the people around the table when they find out
someone might not know what they are doing. Because everyone is betting on the same pair of
dice, dreading the same malevolent seven, a newbie at the table is not something anyone wants to
see.
This jinx has a catch, however. While a man who doesn’t know what he’s doing may not go
well, women with the same level of experience are thought to bring a lot of luck to a craps game.
There are a few different explanations for this. One is that a young woman lifts everyone’s spirits
and the group plays together. It can also be said that women who are new to the game have some
sort of woe over the dice.
Finally, there is one last jinx just for sticklers. When the dice bounce, especially if they bounce
their way off the table, this is called bad luck. From the perspective of some, the bad luck only
lasts for this single throw. For others, the back luck continues to stack up every time a die hits
the floor.
Looking for good luck for your next craps game? Bring along a woman who hasn’t tried it out,
and always tip well.
