The real reason you came upon this form of craps is that California law prohibits casino game outcomes from being determined by dice (craps). Indian casinos must abide by those same regulations. Most California Indian casinos comply with this law by offering modified versions of craps that use cards rather than dice.

Craps Terms\n\n An even money bet, made on the first roll of the dice (known as the come out roll ). You win if a 7 or 11 roll, or lose if 2, 3, or 12 roll (known as craps ). Any other number that rolls becomes the point  and the point must roll again before a 7 to win.