Pass Line Bets

Pass line bets are bets made by craps players who want to side with the dice. Don’t Pass bets are bets made by players who want to oppose the dice. Pass line wagers are very popular with craps bettors because they give the casino an edge of less than 1.5%, making them one of the best bets available.

In craps, preceding the come-out roll, most players make either one of these two craps bets, placing chips on the "Pass line" or on the "Don’t pass bar." Though you are not obligated to make either of these wagers, almost all players do.

Because the Pass line bettor is siding with the dice, he is often referred to as the "right bettor", and because the Don’t Pass bettor is opposing the dice, he is often referred to as the "wrong bettor."

The more popular of the two wagers is the "Pass line" bet, despite the fact that the "Don’t Pass" bet gives slightly better odds (the house edge is 1.40% for the "Don¹t Pass" bet and 1.41% for the "Pass line" bet). This is probably because most of us feel more comfortable siding with the dice (and cheering on the shooter) than we do opposing the dice and shooter.

When you place a Pass line bet, one of the following three things will occur:

• The shooter will roll a 7 or 11. In this case your bet will be paid off at odds of even money.

• The shooter will roll a 2, 3, or 12. In this case your bet will immediately lose.

• The shooter will roll a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. This becomes the shooter’s point and yours as well. If the shooter repeats the point on an ensuing roll, your bet will win and you will be paid off at odds of even money. If a 7 is rolled before the point is rolled again, your Pass line wager will be lost.

With a house edge of just 1.41%, even at online casinos, craps bettors who ignore Pass line bets could really be missing out on something special.

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