Craps Pass Line Bet: Understanding the Rules and Odds

The craps pass line bet is probably the most common bet on the tables. Craps is a popular dice game at casinos, and there are many different types of bets that can be placed on the craps table.

We will cover how the pass-line bet works, whether it is a good bet to place, the odds of winning, and other important information about pass-line bets.

Use the Pass Line Calculator below to calculate payouts for the pass line and odds.

Table layout with the craps pass line bet highlighted

1.41%

House
Advantage

48.59%

Chance to
Win

Good Bet?

★★★★★

How the pass line Bet works

The pass line in craps is where any beginner should start. Not only is it the “safest” bet on the table, but it will also help you understand the flow of the game.

The game starts with a come-out roll. The person with the dice, the “shooter” must have a pass line bet in order to roll.

The pass line bet needs to be at least in the amount of the table minimum, and cannot exceed the table maximum. The bet needs to be placed prior to the come out roll. Always pay attention to where the dice are before making any bet. Bets should be made before the dice are passed to the shooter.

Pro Tip – Never wager more than the minimum on the pass line, any additional money should be taken as odds!

On the come out roll, the pass line wins with a 7 or 11. The pass line loses with a 2, 3, or 12. Any other number becomes the “point”.

Note – The rules are slightly different if you’re playing crapless craps.

Once a point is established, your pass line bet is stuck with that number until the same number is rolled again, or a 7 is thrown, whichever comes first. If your number is thrown, your bet wins. If a 7 is tossed first, your bet loses.

After the point is established, you can place odds on your pass line bet. Odds bets pay true odds, meaning there is no house edge on the odds portion of the bet as the payouts correspond to the number your pass line bet is attached to.

For example, if the point is 10 and you put $10 in odds, that will pay $20. The pass line portion of the bet always pays even money.

If you have a pass line bet and a point is established, you cannot remove the bet. You are able to remove the bet if a point is not established however. For example, if an 11 is thrown and your pass line bet wins, you can choose to pull it down.

If you are new to craps, learn more about how to play craps here.

Odds of Winning a pass line Bet

The chance of winning a pass-line bet is 48.59%.

When placing Odds on your pass line bets, the odds payouts are as follows

4 or 10 pays 2:1
5 or 9 pays 3:2
6 or 8 pays 6:5

Payouts are determined by local gaming commission regulations, most states follow the same payouts as listed above, but these could vary from one jurisdiction to another. The above are from NV.

House Edge on pass line Bets

The house edge on pass line bets is 1.41%. This means that, on average, the casino will make a profit of 1.41% on pass line bets. That is the flat portion of the bet, meaning the initial wager. If you take odds, the house edge can be reduced substantially due to the payouts.

1x Odds – 0.85%
2x Odds – 0.61%
3x Odds – 0.47%
5x Odds – 0.33%
10x Odds – 0.18%
100x Odds – 0.02%

Pass Line Calculator – With Odds

Give the pass line calculator a try, you can add your typical pass line bet amount, then decide how much you’d like to place in odds. As you change the point, you’ll notice the relationships between 4 & 10, 5 & 9, and 6 & 8.

It’s also important to note, casinos establish rules for the max odds at each table individually. It is most common to see 3-4-5 as the maximums, but for this calculator, you can put any amount you’d like. I have seen some casinos allow up to 100x odds, but 10x is a bit more common.

Here is a craps payout calculator cover other bets.

Craps pass line Bets FAQs

Is the pass line a good bet?

The pass line bet is one of the best bets in the casino. It has a very low house edge, which can be significantly reduced by taking odds on the bet.

What is the don’t pass line in craps?

The Don’t Pass is essentially the opposite of the pass line. On a come-out roll, a Don’t bet loses on a 7 or 11 and wins on the 2, 3, or 12. Once a point is established, the Don’t bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the point is rolled again.

This may sound like it would be a better wager, but the payouts are reduced to ensure the house maintains its edge. For example, Don’t pass odds on the 10 will only pay 1 for 2. Meaning you need to bet $20 to win $10.

How much does the pass line pay?

The pass line itself pays even money. When you take odds on a pass line bet, the payouts on those odds are
4 or 10 pays 2:1
5 or 9 pays 3:2
6 or 8 pays 6:5

Why is it called the pass line in craps?

Craps, as we know it today, is a variation of a couple of different games dating back to the 1700’s. The English game of Hazard, and the French game of “Pass”. In the game of Pass, many companion games can be played simultaneously. This is where we see place betting, buy betting, hop betting, and other bets all happening at the same time.

The pass line is the start of the main game and helps players and the house keep track of that particular game, so it is fitting it is called “pass”.

What is the difference between pass line and come in craps?

The two bets are very similar. Think of a come bet as making a “new” pass line bet on any given roll. The come bet becomes its own “game” within the point cycle. You place a pass line bet during a come-out roll only. After a point is established, you effectively do the exact same thing by placing a come bet.

Both have the same payout structure.

Related – Craps Come Bets

Final Thoughts

The pass line bet, when played with odds, is the best bet in the casino. Learning how to bet the pass line and getting familiar with payouts will set you up to play an advanced craps betting system, which can fully take advantage of odds and lower the house edge.

Good luck on the tables!