Casino & Table Games
Pass line craps
The pass line is the core bet in craps. You win even money if the shooter rolls 7 or 11 on the come-out, lose on 2, 3, or 12, and if any other number appears it becomes the point — you then win if that point repeats before a 7.
Key points
- The pass line is the main wager in craps; optional odds bets placed behind it pay at fair odds with no house edge.3
- A come bet is made after the come-out roll and works on a separate roll sequence, while the pass line bet is placed before the come-out.56
- In crapless craps, the pass line wins on 7 or 11 on the come-out but does not lose on 2, 3, or 12 — instead those become points, altering the house edge.
How the pass line works
- Place your bet on the pass line before the come-out roll.2
- If the shooter rolls 7 or 11, you win even money. If 2, 3, or 12, you lose.28
- Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the point.28
- The bet wins if the point repeats before a 7 appears; otherwise it loses.12
Common questions
What is the pass line in crapless craps?
In crapless craps, the pass line wins on 7 or 11 on the come-out, but 2, 3, and 12 are not immediate losses — they become points. This removes the automatic loss on those numbers but increases the house edge compared to standard craps.
What is the pass line in bubble craps?
In bubble craps, the pass line works exactly as in table craps: it wins on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12, and otherwise wins if the point repeats before a 7. The only difference is the electronic interface.
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Come vs pass line craps — a come bet is made after the come-out roll and follows its own roll sequence, while the pass line is placed before the come-out
- Pass line craps odds — the odds bet is an optional supplemental wager made after a point is set, paying fair odds with no house edge
Related terms
Sources
- Craps en.wikipedia.org Provides the basic rules of the pass line bet in craps.
- Craps wizardofodds.com Explains how the pass line bet works step by step.
- Craps (version 2) – Part 1 of 5 - Wizard of Odds wizardofodds.com Gives the payout and odds for the pass line and odds bets.
- Craps Part 3 - Dark Side Playing - Wizard of Odds wizardofodds.com States the house edge for the pass line bet.
- Craps - Other Bets wizardofodds.com Distinguishes the come bet from the pass line bet.
- Craps - FAQ wizardofodds.com Further clarifies the difference between come and pass line.
- House Edge for all the Major Craps Bet on Both a Per ... wizardofodds.com Provides the house edge figure for the pass line.
- arXiv:0906.1545v2 [math.PR] 11 Dec 2009 arxiv.org Supports the rules and expected outcomes of the pass line bet.
- Testing for dice control at craps arxiv.org Gives the exact expected gain per unit for the pass line.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.