Shooter

In craps, the shooter is the player who rolls the dice for the table. Each roll creates results that everyone can bet on, so knowing what the shooter does helps you follow the round and choose a simple starting bet without confusion.

The Shooter’s Responsibilities at the Table

The shooter has two main responsibilities. The first is betting, meaning the shooter needs a qualifying bet on the layout before rolling. The second is rolling, meaning the shooter must throw the dice in the correct way for that table.

Most casinos expect the shooter to throw both dice together in one motion so they reach the far end of the table. The goal is a clear, fair-looking roll that is easy for the table to manage.

A shooter’s turn usually follows this simple flow:

Place a qualifying bet before the first roll.
Roll the come-out roll, which begins the turn.
If a point is established, keep rolling until the point repeats or a seven appears.
When the turn ends, the dice move to the next shooter.

Key Bets the Shooter Must Place

On many tables, Pass Line is the most common qualifying bet for the shooter. Some tables also allow Don’t Pass. These bets match the natural timing of the game, which is why beginners often start here.

Two quick terms help this make sense:

Come-out roll means the first roll of the turn.
Point means a target number set after the come-out roll, and the shooter tries to roll it again before a seven appears.

Common bets connected to the shooter’s turn include:

Pass Line: a basic bet that works with the main flow of the turn.
Don’t Pass: the opposite side of Pass Line, betting against the turn succeeding.
Come: similar to Pass Line, but placed after the come-out roll.
Odds: an optional add-on to Pass Line or Come after a point is set, often with better payout terms than many other bets.

How the Shooter Role Differs in Online, Live Dealer, and Land-Based Craps

The word shooter stays the same, but the experience can look different depending on where you play. The core idea does not change. The shooter is the person whose turn triggers the next outcome.

Here is how the shooter role usually works in each format:

Online craps using an RNG (random number generator): the result is generated by software, so the shooter label mainly marks whose turn it is.
Live dealer online craps: there is a real table on camera, and the shooter is the person designated to throw the dice at that table.
Land-based casino craps: the shooter is a player at the physical table, and the dice rotate from player to player as turns end.