If you’re starting your craps journey and don’t know what the pass line craps bet is, we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s in your local casino or playing online craps, the wager, and our strategies for the craps pass line are the same.
We’ll walk you through the fundamentals of the pass line bet in craps, from placing your wager before the come out roll (where 7 or 11 wins and 2, 3, and 12 loses), to entering the point phase.
With clear tips, strategic advice, and insights on the odds and house edge, you’ll be ready to step up and play confidently.
What Is the Pass Line in Craps?
The pass line is the outermost bet on the felt of the craps table. The area on the felt for betting on the pass line is easy to find. Just look for where it says “PASS LINE”.
Before the come out roll, or opening roll of the game, place your chips in this designated space on the felt. By betting on the pass line in craps, you are wagering on three numbers (7, 11, or point) to hit.
To win your pass line bet in craps on the come out roll, the shooter must roll a 7 or 11. However, if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, then the bet is a loss. A new shooter will then be selected for the next come out roll.
Conversely, a point is established if 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 is rolled. The round will continue until the point number or a 7 is rolled. If you have money on the pass line, the last thing you want to see after the come out roll is dice with a combination of 7 on the table.
Following a 7, pass line bets will be paid out and chips collected for losses. However, if the point hits, every player that wagered on the pass line wins their bet.
Pass Line Odds
Wagering on the pass line is one of the better offerings when playing at online casinos. That said, as far as pass line odds are concerned, it does not have the best odds in craps.
The house edge on a pass line craps bet is 1.41%. This is much better than other popular casino games, such as slots, roulette, and blackjack with poor rules.
The odds of winning your pass line bet on the come out roll is 2 in 9. That means players have a 22.2% probability of winning on the first roll and an 11.12% chance of crapping out. However, with the point roll considered, the true odds of winning a craps pass line bet is 49.3%.
Craps Odds Bet Behind Pass Line
Following the come out roll, craps players can place what is known as an odds bet behind the pass line. Before the point roll, players can place chips behind the pass line as an extra bet in addition to the original wager.
The goal is the same for the odds bet as it is for the pass line bet: roll the point number before rolling a 7. What makes this bet special is that the house has no edge on an odds bet behind the pass line.
We will discuss how the odds bet behind the pass line works below. This is our first tip for playing the craps pass line at online craps sites and at land-based casinos.
How To Play the Pass Line Craps Bet
The pass line is played with a couple of basic strategies, and a few combination bets, placing your money at two positions around the board.
The simplest way to play the pass line is to place a bet before the come out roll. Craps rules do not permit betting on the pass line following the first roll. However, the come bet is available after the opening roll.
Tip #1: Make an Odds Bet Behind the Pass Line
The odds bet is a side bet where the shooter rolls the point number before rolling a 7. Laying odds on the pass line can only happen after a point has been established. The odds bet will lose or win with the pass line bet.
However, the odds bet is an EVEN money bet, meaning the house gets no advantages on the wager. Remember, though, casinos have limits to how many multiples of your initial craps pass line bet you can make out of an odds bet.
Tip #2: Couple Your Pass Line Bet With a Field Bet
Some players like to take a field bet when pass line bets have low point numbers. In other words, the shooter rolls a 4 or a 10.
You will have better odds of getting paid on a 6 or 8, so the bet is worth considering. Place a field bet on a 6 or 8 in this instance.
The field bet is only for the next roll, and while you may end up losing more, it could cover your loss on the pass line bet as a small insurance bet. And, there is also a chance that you can win both of your bets if you’re lucky.
Tip #3: Don’t Get Discouraged by Failed Pass Line Bets
Some players lose on a pass line bet and then immediately jump into a sucker bet to try to recoup all of their losses in one wager.
Just because the pass line odds failed you once, doesn’t mean it will happen each time. With a small house edge of 1.41%, it is still one of the better bets in the casino.
If you are on a losing streak at the craps table, consider reducing your bet size. Following some winning bets, gradually increase your bet size as the game progresses. This ensures that your bankroll remains in good standing throughout your craps session.
Ready To Try the Pass Line in Craps?
You’re now familiar with how the pass line craps bet works. We’ve included how to win and lose on the come out roll, how to enter the point phase, plus tips to understanding the odds and house edge, leaving you well-equipped to take your shot at the craps table.
We recommend taking the tips and strategies you’ve learned and checking out the craps tables at Las Atlantis, which is one of our favorite online casinos for craps. Currently, Las Atlantis has an exclusive casino welcome bonus of up to $14,000. Use your favorite deposit method at Las Atlantis to instantly receive a huge cash bonus straight to your account so you can start playing today. Good luck!
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