What’s the pass line in craps?

A pass line bet is the standard wager in craps. It wins on 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, loses on 2, 3 or 12, and otherwise sets a point.

After a point is set, the bet wins if the point repeats before a 7 appears. The pass line is placed in front of the “pass line” area before the come-out roll.

What Is the Pass Line in Craps Pass Line Bet?

Alignment with the shooter is why the craps’ pass line often draws the most chips at the table. When a point is established, the bet remains active until that point repeats or a 7 ends the hand.

From a probability standpoint, the structure is straightforward. For players learning how to play craps, the pass line serves as the rulebook in action. It shows how the game transitions from anticipation to resolution without side conditions or bonus triggers.

The wager’s clarity has made it the reference point for explaining what does “pass line” mean in craps across casinos worldwide.

Probability and Payouts

The pass line pays even money; a $10 pass line win returns $10 profit, before any odds bet placed behind the line. After a point is set, the chance to win depends on the point, because the point must repeat before a 7 appears.

Despite these fixed probabilities, many misconceptions persist around streaks and timing. 

Gambling analyst Michael Shackleford has addressed this directly, noting, “The biggest gambling myth is that an event that has not happened recently becomes overdue and more likely to occur. […] Thousands of gamblers have devised betting systems that attempt to exploit the gambler’s fallacy by betting the opposite way of recent outcomes.”

Shackleford’s Wizard of Odds lists the pass line house edge at 1.41 percent. A 7 is always 6/36, even if the last five rolls were all box numbers. Understanding that principle keeps expectations grounded and reinforces why the pass line bet remains a foundational wager, rather than a speculative one.

What Is the Pass Line in Craps During the Come Out Roll?

The come-out roll determines whether a pass line bet resolves immediately or advances into a longer hand.

Winning and Losing Outcomes on the Come Out Roll

On the come-out roll, specific numbers settle the pass line at once. A roll of 7 or 11 produces an immediate win and pays even money. These results account for eight of the 36 possible dice combinations, which explains why early wins feel frequent during busy tables. By contrast, rolling 2, 3 or 12 results in an immediate loss for the pass line bet.

All other totals move the game forward by setting a point. When 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 appear, the dice do not resolve the wager. Instead, that number becomes the target the shooter must repeat before rolling a 7.

This structure answers the question of what the pass line in craps is at its most practical level. It’s a wager that either finishes quickly or transforms into a rolling contest between a point and a 7.

Point Establishment and Resolution Rules

When a point is established, the pass line stays active across multiple rolls. The shooter continues until either the point repeats or a 7 appears, at which point the hand ends.

The probability of success depends entirely on the point number. A point of four or ten has three winning combinations against six losing ones. A point of five or nine improves to four winning combinations. A point of six or eight offers the most favorable ratio, with five winning combinations versus six for seven.

The table below summarizes how the pass line behaves on the come-out roll and how outcomes are categorized.

Learning these transitions clarifies what the pass line in craps is beyond surface definitions. It also explains why many players pair this wager with a deliberate table strategy, rather than chasing rapid outcomes.

These rules are typically the same in live dealer games and RNG versions at the best online casinos.

What Happens to a Pass Line Bet After a Point?

Once a point is set, the pass line shifts from an opening wager into a sustained position that follows the shooter’s hand.

Rolling the Point Versus Seven

After a point is established, the objective is simple and unchanging. The shooter must roll the point number again before a 7 appears. Any roll that is neither the point nor a 7 keeps the wager active.

Probability varies by point; if the point is six, five combinations produce a six and six combinations produce a seven. That gives the pass line a 45.45 percent chance of winning during this phase.

On a point of four, the odds shift to three winning combinations versus six losing ones, dropping the chance of success to 33.33 percent. These figures explain why some points resolve quickly, while others stretch across long rolls.

What is the dont pass line in craps?

The dont pass line is the direct counterpart to the pass line. On the come-out roll, it wins on 2 or 3, loses on 7 or 11 and pushes on 12 under standard rules. After a point is set, the bet wins if a 7 appears before the point.

Shooter Hands, Casino Rules and Dice Control Data

The pass line remains active for the entire shooter’s hand, meaning one successful roll can resolve multiple wagers across the table. Some properties allow three times odds on 4 and 10, four times on 5 and 9 and five times on 6 and 8. Others extend this to 10 times or more, which affects the overall expected value when using odds.

Odds limits can differ by operator, including at the best offshore casinos, so check the posted max odds before you size your odds bet.

A 2025 paper titled “Testing for Dice Control at Craps” treats dice control as a hypothesis-testing question and focuses on the sample sizes needed to detect shooter influence, instead of claiming proof of real-world advantage.

This framing reinforces the idea that the pass line is governed by fixed probabilities, rather than the shooter’s influence. While long hands can occur, they do not change the underlying math. The pass line bet remains a consistent wager shaped by fixed probabilities, not physical influence or perceived streaks.

Why the Pass Line Is Considered a Strong Craps Bet

The pass line has earned its reputation for combining clear rules with a comparatively low house edge. It also opens the door to odds betting, which changes the expected value without adding a casino advantage.

House Edge and Odds Behind the Line

The standard house edge on the pass line bet is about 1.41 percent, which places it among the lowest on a traditional craps table. This edge is calculated before any odds are taken and remains constant regardless of the point.

When odds are added behind the line, the casino pays true odds based on the point number, meaning no additional house advantage applies to that portion of the wager.

For example, with a point of six, true odds pay six-to-five; a $10 odds wager returns $12 if the point hits. When combined with the flat pass line bet, the blended house edge drops below one percent.

The table below shows the true odds payouts by point.

The aforementioned Wizard of Odds lists the pass line house edge as 1.41 percent and taking odds as zero percent. That is why increasing odds reduces the blended edge per dollar: not because the pass line gets “better,” but because more of your money is on a zero percent edge bet.

Accessibility for New and Experienced Players

The pass line is simple because one wager covers the entire hand and pays even money. It also scales well when you can add odds, including at instant payout casinos to bet on where limits may be posted clearly.

Place Your Pass Line Bet Today

The pass line is the core craps wager, as it ties a hand to the come-out roll, the point and a clear even-money payout. Its structure rewards patience and supports informed odds play.

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