Betting the Pass Line in Craps
If you want to know how to play Craps, you're gonna have to learn the Pass Line. Lucky for you it's not hard to understand.
To sum it up quickly, the Pass Line bets that the shooter will establish a Point and roll that Point again before a 7. If they roll the Point first, you win. If they roll the 7 first, you lose. No other rolls matter.
The best part of the Pass Line is that everyone on the Pass Line wins and loses together, and it's the joy and pain felt together that builds camaraderie among the players.
| Stage | Pays | Wins | Loses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comeout Roll | Even Money | 7 or 11 | 2,3, or 12 |
| Intermediate Roll | Even Money | When point rolls | 7 |
- Contract bet during the Intermediate Roll.
- During the Comeout Roll you're twice as likely to win on the Pass Line than lose.
- Put the table minimum on the Pass Line and if you want to bet more, wait for the puck to turn ON and put that extra money in the back as odds.
How Do You Bet the Pass Line in Craps?
When you bet the Pass Line, put your money on the bar marked Pass Line in front of where you are standing. If the puck is ON when you are ready to buy in, then a Point is established, and you should wait until the following Comeout Roll, when the puck is OFF, to bet the Pass Line.
Some casinos will allow you to bet the Pass Line during the Intermediate Roll, but you don't want to do that. When the puck is OFF, the Pass Line is twice as likely to win than to lose. When the puck is ON, the Pass Line becomes more likely to lose.
If you want to bet the number the Pass Line represents, you can always Place it instead.
What are the Stages of the Pass Line in a Craps Game?
Stage 1 - The Comeout Roll
There are two stages to the Pass Line. The first is when the puck is OFF. This is called the Comeout Roll and is where the game starts, and one of three outcomes can happen: you win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, you lose if they roll 2, 3, or 12, or they roll a Point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). If they roll a Point, they move on to Stage Two of a Craps game, the Intermediate Roll.
Stage 2 - The Intermediate Roll
Stage 2 is called the Intermediate Roll, when the Point must be rolled again before the 7 to win. If they roll the 7 before the Point, you lose. No other rolls matter. If the shooter makes their Point, the puck will be turned OFF, and a new Comeout Roll will begin. The same shooter will establish another Point, and the game repeats. If the Shooter doesn’t make their Point, the puck will be turned OFF, and the dice will be passed to the next shooter.
During the Comeout roll, you can add and subtract from the Pass Line but keep in mind that the Pass Line is a contract bet during the Intermediate Roll.
What Does the Pass Line Pay in Craps?
The Pass Line always wins even money. You bet $10; you win $10. Even though the Pass Line pays even money, it allows you to bet the Odds bet, which has no advantage for the casino.
Pass Line Payment Calculator
Check the payment for a Pass Line Bet.
Should You Bet the Pass Line After the Comeout Roll?
No. In some casinos, you can only bet the Pass Line during the Comeout Roll. In others, you can make or add to it at any time. The only reason you'd want to add to the Pass Line during the Intermediate Roll is to increase the amount of you have behind it. In almost all cases, it will be better for you to use the money you wanted to put down on the Pass Line after the Comeout Roll and use it as a Place Bet on that number. In most cases, you'll get paid more money for the same risk.
How Can You Bet the Pass Line for the Dealers?
Putting the dealers on the Pass Line is common. The players and dealers win and lose together. Just like a player's bet, a dealer's Pass Line bet is a contract bet, so once a Point is established, a dealers’ Pass Line bet must stay there until a decision has been made.
