What Is the Pass Line in Craps?
What is the pass line in craps? It is the main contract bet that sets the terms for the round. You place a pass line bet before the come-out roll. In the case of the shooter rolling a 7 or 11, the bet wins; 2, 3, or 12 makes it lose.
If you roll any other number, then it will turn into the point. After that, the bet wins if the point repeats before a 7 shows.
Where the Pass Line Sits on a Craps Table
The craps pass line runs along the outer edge of the layout, closest to players on the long sides of the table. Physical and digital casinos print it as a long band labeled “PASS LINE,” usually wrapping the corners. Chips placed on that band stay there until the bet resolves, because the pass line is a contract bet and can’t be taken down mid-round.
Dealers use plain table language tied to this area. A new round starts with “coming out,” the puck is OFF, and pass line bets must be down before the come-out roll. Once a point is set, the crew typically announces it (“point is 6,” for example) and the ON puck marks that a point is active.
At that moment, pass line chips remain where they are, and play shifts to trying to hit the point before a 7 ends the round.
How a Pass Line Bet Works Step by Step
- Place the wager before the come-out roll.The shooter rolls the dice, and pass line bets are accepted only before that first roll of the round.
- Resolve instant outcomes on the come-out. A 7 or 11 wins right away. A 2, 3, or 12 loses. Across 36 dice combinations, the come-out roll produces 8 win ways (7 = 6, 11 = 2) and 4 loss ways (2 = 1, 3 = 2, 12 = 1).
- Set the point. Rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 establishes the point. The round continues with the same shooter.
- Decide the bet after the point. The pass line bet wins if the point number repeats before a 7 appears. A 7 before the point ends the round and the bet loses.
This sequence explains what does pass line mean in craps in practical terms. One wager stays active through multiple rolls, with fixed rules that do not change mid-round.
Pass Line Odds, Payouts, and House Edge
A standard pass line in craps pays even money, meaning a winning bet returns 1:1. The mathematical house edge on the base wager is 1.41%, calculated from all possible dice outcomes on the come-out and point cycles.
That figure is consistent under standard U.S. rules and is commonly cited in established craps math work. Full derivations for pass line and don’t pass edge calculations (including push handling) are available in those models.
Probability helps clarify the value. A pass line bet wins about 49.29% of the time and loses about 50.71%, with no pushes once the point phase is included. The edge comes from the come-out resolution rules combined with the point cycle, which together tilt the long-run result slightly toward the house.
Casinos allow players to back the pass line with odds bets after the point is set. These odds bets pay at true odds, which removes any built-in edge on that portion. The base pass line wager, however, always carries the same 1.41% figure, regardless of table limits or venue; that’s why looking for the casinos with the highest payouts is always a good idea.
Pass Line vs Don’t Pass Line in Craps
The pass line bet and its opposite are often compared since both are contract wagers with similar math. The difference lies in how each one wins or loses once the come-out roll is complete. A side-by-side view helps clarify how the don’t pass line shifts outcomes and slightly adjusts the edge.
Pass Line and Don’t Pass Line Comparison
| Bet Type | Wins On | Loses On | House Edge | Base Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass Line | 7, 11 on come-out; point before 7 | 2, 3, 12 on come-out; 7 after point | 1.41% | 1:1 |
| Don’t Pass Line | 2, 3 on come-out; 7 before point | 7, 11 on come-out; point before 7 | 1.36% | 1:1 |
| Pass Line + Odds | Same as pass line | Same as pass line | 1.41% base; 0% on odds | Varies by point |
| Don’t Pass + Odds | Same as don’t pass | Same as don’t pass | 1.36% base; 0% on odds | Varies by point |
| Pass Line (No Odds) | Fixed rules | Fixed rules | 1.41% | 1:1 |
This comparison shows why players often group these bets together. Both rely on the same dice math, with only a narrow difference in edge.
What Is the Don’t Pass Line in Craps?
It is the pass line’s inverse contract bet, placed before the come-out roll. The practical difference is the come-out resolution: don’t pass wins on 2 or 3 and loses on 7 or 11, while 12 is typically a push (“bar 12” on many layouts).
After a point is set, don’t pass wins on 7 before the point and loses if the point repeats. The small edge difference comes from the 12 push on the come-out rather than an automatic loss.
Odds Bets on the Pass Line Explained With Numbers
Odds bets become available after a point is set on a pass line bet. Casinos allow this extra wager behind the original chips. The payout follows true mathematical odds, which means no built-in edge applies to this portion.
- Point 4 or 10: pays 2:1 Three winning combinations beat six losing ones.
- Point 5 or 9: pays 3:2 Four winning combinations face six losing ones.
- Point 6 or 8: pays 6:5 Five winning combinations compete against six losing ones.
Odds bets pay true odds, so that portion has a 0% house edge under the posted payouts for each point. Table limits vary, often set at 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x odds, depending on casino policy. The original pass line wager still carries its fixed 1.41% figure.
How Odds Caps Change the Combined Edge (Example, Pass Line + Odds):
The base pass line edge stays the same, but adding true-odds backing reduces the combined house edge per total amount wagered.
| Odds Taken | Average Total Bet per Decision (Per $1 Line) | Combined House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| 0x (no odds) | 1.00 | 1.41% |
| 1x odds | 1.67 | 0.85% |
| 2x odds | 2.33 | 0.61% |
| 3-4-5x odds | 3.78 | 0.37% |
| 5x odds | 4.33 | 0.33% |
These combined figures follow the standard pass line edge and true-odds payouts by point.
Real-World Casino Rules That Affect Pass Line Bets
Casino rules shape how a pass line in craps plays out in practice, especially the odds cap. For a concrete live example, El Cortez in Downtown Las Vegas advertises 10x odds on craps, while many other physical tables post lower caps such as 3x–4x–5x (three times odds on 4/10, four times on 5/9, and five times on 6/8).
Digital and live tables can post different odds caps, so the maximum should be verified on the table placard or game rules before assuming the same value profile (2x, 3-4-5x, 10x, and similar caps appear in practice).
Minimum bets matter too. A table with a $15 pass line minimum and 5x odds creates a very different exposure than a $5 table with tighter limits. Reading posted table rules before betting prevents confusion once the point is set.
The Pass Line Is the Bet That Sets the Pace
The pass line holds a steady place at the craps table because it defines how a round unfolds. Its rules are fixed, its math is public, and every other wager spins off the same dice outcomes.
Casino limits, odds caps, and table minimums shape how much weight it carries, yet the foundation stays unchanged. Players who understand how the pass line works tend to read the flow of a game more clearly.
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