The Pass Line Bet in Craps: How It Works, Odds, and Why It’s the Best Starting Bet
Jake WilfredEvery craps career starts in the same place: the pass line. It’s the long strip running along the front edge of the craps table, and it’s where roughly 90% of players place their first chip.
The pass line bet carries a 1.41% house edge, pays even money, and follows the simplest logic on the table: bet before the come-out roll, win on a 7 or 11, lose on a 2, 3, or 12, and root for the point to repeat before the 7 shows up. No dealer interaction needed. No math required at the table. Just place your chips on the line and follow the action.
Add free odds behind it, and the combined house edge drops to as low as 0.37% with 3x-4x-5x odds. That’s less than 40 cents per $100 wagered, making the pass line with odds one of the cheapest positions in any casino. This guide covers the pass line bet from every angle: the rules, the math, the point phase, free odds, how it compares to the don’t pass, and the strategies that build on it.
- The pass line bet has a 1.41% house edge and pays even money (1:1)
- On the come-out roll, 7 or 11 wins; 2, 3, or 12 loses; any other number sets the point
- After the point is set, you win if the point repeats before a 7 (seven-out)
- Adding free odds behind the pass line drops the combined house edge to ~0.37% with 3x-4x-5x odds
- The pass line bet cannot be removed once a point is established; it’s a contract bet
- Every major craps strategy (Three Point Molly, pass + place 6/8, pass + max odds) starts with the pass line
How the Pass Line Bet Works
The pass line bet is a multi-roll wager that follows the game’s two-phase structure. If you’re still learning how to play craps, the pass line is your entry point. Place your chips on the Pass Line section of the layout before the come-out roll. You handle this yourself; no dealer needed.
Phase 1: The Come-Out Roll
The shooter throws the dice. Three things can happen to your pass line bet.
Roll a 7 or 11 (natural): You win instantly. Even money. A $10 bet pays $10 profit. The game resets and you can bet again.
Roll a 2, 3, or 12 (craps): You lose instantly. Your $10 is swept. The shooter rolls again for a new come-out. (The shooter keeps the dice unless they choose to pass them.)
Roll a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10: This number becomes the point. The dealer flips the puck to “ON” and places it on that number. Your pass line bet stays on the table. The game moves to Phase 2.
On the come-out, you have 8 winning dice combinations (6 ways to roll 7, 2 ways to roll 11) versus 4 losing combinations (1 way for 2, 2 ways for 3, 1 way for 12). The remaining 24 combinations set a point. The come-out is actually favorable for pass line bettors: you win twice as often as you lose on that first throw.
You bet $10 on the pass line. Shooter rolls an 11. You win $10. Next come-out, shooter rolls a 3. You lose $10. Next come-out, shooter rolls a 6. The point is 6. Your $10 stays on the line and the game enters Phase 2. Two of those three outcomes resolved instantly. The third starts the real game.
Phase 2: The Point Phase
Now the shooter has a mission: repeat the point number before rolling a 7. Every other number is irrelevant to your pass line bet. The shooter can roll 3, 11, 2, 12, 4, 9, or anything else. None of it matters. Only the point and the 7 affect your bet.
Point repeats: You win even money. The puck flips to “OFF.” The game resets for a new come-out.
7 rolls (seven-out): You lose. The dice pass to the next shooter. New come-out begins.
Your probability of winning during the point phase depends on which number is the point. The 6 and 8 are the most likely points to hit (5 ways each vs. the 7’s 6 ways). The 4 and 10 are the hardest (3 ways each vs. 6).
| Point Number | Dice Combinations | Probability of Making the Point |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3 ways | 33.33% (1 in 3) |
| 5 or 9 | 4 ways | 40.00% (2 in 5) |
| 6 or 8 | 5 ways | 45.45% (5 in 11) |
The pass line bet is a contract bet. Once a point is established, you cannot remove, reduce, or turn off your pass line wager. It stays there until the point repeats (you win) or the 7 shows (you lose). This is different from place bets or lay bets, which can be taken down at any time. The inability to remove a pass line bet during the point phase is actually a disadvantage, since the math slightly favors the house once a point is set. That’s why the don’t pass bet (which can be removed but shouldn’t be) has a marginally lower house edge at 1.36%.
Pass Line Bet House Edge, Payout, and the Math
The pass line has a house edge of 1.41%. Here’s how that number is calculated.
Across all possible outcomes (combining the come-out probabilities with the point phase probabilities), the pass line wins approximately 49.29% of the time and loses 50.71%. The difference is the house edge: 50.71% – 49.29% = 1.41% (after rounding). For every $100 you wager on the pass line over time, you can expect to lose $1.41.
The payout is even money (1:1) in all winning scenarios. A $10 pass line bet always pays $10, whether you win on a natural 7 on the come-out or by making the point after 20 rolls.
You bet $10 on the pass line at a table averaging 60 decisions per hour. Over 2 hours, that’s 120 decisions at $10 each = $1,200 in total action. Expected loss: $1,200 x 1.41% = $16.92. That’s about $8.50 per hour for two hours of entertainment. Less than a movie ticket. Compare that to proposition bets at 11% to 16.67% house edge, where the same $1,200 in action would cost $132 to $200.
For the complete payout and odds table covering every wager, see our craps payout chart.
Adding Free Odds: How to Turn a Good Bet Into a Great One
The free odds bet is the most important upgrade to your pass line. After a point is established, place additional chips directly behind your pass line bet. This is the only wager in any casino with a 0% house edge. It pays at true mathematical odds, with zero markup.
Free Odds Payouts
| Point | Odds Payout | $10 Odds Bet Pays |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 2:1 | $20 |
| 5 or 9 | 3:2 | $15 |
| 6 or 8 | 6:5 | $12 |
Most casinos allow 3x-4x-5x odds, meaning you can take 3x odds on the 4/10, 4x on the 5/9, and 5x on the 6/8. This structure standardizes the maximum win: a $10 flat bet with full 3x-4x-5x odds always produces a maximum odds payout of $60, regardless of the point.
How Odds Reduce the Combined House Edge
Your flat pass line bet carries 1.41%. Your odds bet carries 0%. The more of your total action that sits in odds, the lower the blended edge.
| Odds Level | Combined House Edge | Expected Loss Per $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| No odds | 1.41% | $14.10 |
| 1x odds | 0.85% | $8.50 |
| 2x odds | 0.61% | $6.10 |
| 3x-4x-5x odds | 0.37% | $3.70 |
| 10x odds | 0.18% | $1.80 |
| 100x odds | 0.02% | $0.20 |
The golden rule of craps: min on the line, max on the odds. Your flat bet carries the house edge. Your odds bet carries nothing. A $10 pass line with $50 in odds costs you less per dollar than a $60 pass line with no odds. Same total risk, dramatically different math. If your bankroll can support it, always take the maximum odds your table allows.
Pass Line vs. Don’t Pass: Which Is Better?
The don’t pass bet is the mirror image of the pass line. It wins on 2 or 3 on the come-out, pushes on 12, loses on 7 or 11, and then wins if the 7 comes before the point. House edge: 1.36%, slightly lower than the pass line’s 1.41%.
| Feature | Pass Line | Don’t Pass |
|---|---|---|
| House Edge | 1.41% | 1.36% |
| Come-Out Win | 7 or 11 (8 combos) | 2 or 3 (3 combos) |
| Come-Out Loss | 2, 3, or 12 (4 combos) | 7 or 11 (8 combos) |
| Come-Out Push | None | 12 (1 combo) |
| Point Phase Win | Point before 7 | 7 before point |
| With 3x-4x-5x Odds | ~0.37% | ~0.27% |
| Social Atmosphere | Bet with the table (popular) | Bet against the table (“dark side”) |
| Can Remove After Point? | No (contract bet) | Yes (but you shouldn’t) |
The don’t pass is mathematically cheaper by 0.05% per dollar. Over thousands of bets, that difference saves a few dollars. The trade-off is social: you’re betting against the shooter and the rest of the table. Some players are fine with that. Others prefer the camaraderie of rooting with the crowd on the pass line. Read our full don’t pass guide for the dark-side breakdown and etiquette considerations.
The don’t pass can technically be removed after a point is set, but doing so is a mathematical mistake. Once the point is established, the don’t pass bettor has the advantage (the 7 is more likely to appear than any specific point). Removing your bet at that moment is giving back your edge. The pass line can’t be removed, which is actually a minor disadvantage since the house has the edge during the point phase. Ironically, the bet you can take down (don’t pass) is the one you should leave, and the bet you can’t take down (pass line) is the one you’d prefer to remove.
Pass Line Strategies That Work
The pass line is the foundation for every serious craps strategy. Here are the three most effective approaches built on it.
Strategy 1: Pass Line + Max Odds (Beginner)
The simplest and cheapest approach. Bet the table minimum on the pass line. Take maximum odds after the point. Combined edge: ~0.37% with 3x-4x-5x odds. One number working. Minimal dealer interaction. Perfect for your first sessions.
Strategy 2: Pass Line + Odds + Place 6 and 8 (Intermediate)
After taking odds, add place bets on 6 and 8 for $12 each (bet in multiples of $6 for clean 7:6 payouts). Now you have 2 to 3 numbers earning money on every roll. Blended house edge across all your action: roughly 0.8%. This is the most popular approach among regular craps players.
Come-out roll: 9. You have $10 on the pass line. You take $40 in odds (4x on the 5/9). You place $12 on the 6 and $12 on the 8. Total at risk: $74. If the 9 hits: $10 (flat) + $60 (3:2 on $40) = $70 profit. If the 6 or 8 hits: $14 each (7:6 on $12). A seven-out costs you the full $74. But the blended cost per dollar is a fraction of what center-table proposition bets charge.
Strategy 3: The Three Point Molly (Advanced)
The Three Point Molly keeps three numbers working at all times: the pass line point plus two come bet points, all backed with maximum odds. When one hits, you replace it. Combined edge: ~0.37%. It requires a bigger bankroll ($400 to $500 per session at a $10 table) but offers the best mathematical position for multi-number coverage.
Before trying the Three Point Molly or the Pass + Place 6/8 approach at a live table, practice the bet placement rhythm on our free craps simulator. The pace at a Vegas table is fast. You don’t want to be fumbling with chips while the stickman is pushing dice to the shooter.
Common Pass Line Mistakes to Avoid
The pass line bet is simple, but three recurring mistakes cost players real money every session. Each one is easy to fix once you spot it.
Not Taking Odds
The biggest mistake in craps. Your pass line bet costs 1.41%. The odds bet behind it costs 0%. Every dollar you don’t put into odds is a dollar earning the casino 1.41% instead of earning you 0%. Even 1x odds drops the combined edge from 1.41% to 0.85%. There’s no reason to skip odds unless your bankroll is too short, and if that’s the case, find a lower-minimum table.
Hedging With Any Craps
Some players put $1 on any craps (11.11% house edge) on the come-out to “protect” their pass line bet against the 2, 3, and 12. The math doesn’t support it. The hedge costs more in expected value than the losses it prevents. Every hedge on a craps table increases your total expected loss. That’s a persistent craps myth worth busting.
Betting Too Much on the Pass Line, Too Little on Odds
A $25 pass line bet with no odds costs $0.35 per decision in expected loss. A $10 pass line bet with $50 in odds costs roughly $0.14 per decision. The $10 approach puts more money in play per roll but costs less per dollar. Always weight your exposure toward odds, not toward the flat bet.
The pass line bet is the cheapest starting bet on the right side of the craps table layout. But it only reaches its full potential when paired with free odds. A pass line bet without odds is like buying a sports car and never leaving second gear. Functional, but you’re not getting what you paid for. For a complete ranking of every bet, see our best craps bets guide.
Betting on the Pass Line After the Come-Out
You can place a pass line bet after a point is already established. This is called a put bet at some tables. It’s technically allowed, but it’s a bad idea.
Here’s why. On the come-out, the pass line wins on 8 combinations (7 and 11) and loses on 4 (2, 3, 12). You have a 2:1 advantage on that first roll. By placing a pass line bet after the point is set, you skip that advantageous come-out phase and jump straight into the point phase where the house has the edge.
If you want a new number working after the point, use a come bet instead. The come bet gives you the same mechanics as the pass line (including a fresh come-out for your bet) without skipping the favorable opening roll. It’s the same 1.41% house edge with the full benefit of the come-out phase included.
Not all casinos allow put bets (post-point pass line bets). Those that do typically require you to take minimum odds alongside the put bet to make it worth offering. Even then, the come bet is always the better option since you get the full come-out advantage. For the complete breakdown, see our craps bets explained guide.
- 1.41% house edge, one of the lowest on the table’s right-side bets
- Even money payout (1:1), simple and easy to track
- You handle placement yourself; no dealer interaction required
- Foundation for every major craps strategy (Molly, pass + place, pass + max odds)
- Free odds behind it drop the combined edge to 0.37% or lower
- Favorable come-out roll: 8 winning combos vs. 4 losing combos
- Contract bet: can’t be removed once a point is set, even though the house has the edge during the point phase
- Only one number working at a time (until you add come bets or place bets)
- Don’t pass (1.36%) is technically cheaper by 0.05%, though the social trade-off is significant
- Without odds, the 1.41% edge is higher than it needs to be; odds are essential to unlock the pass line’s full value
The Pass Line Bet: Where Every Smart Craps Session Begins
The pass line is the heartbeat of craps. Every come-out roll starts there. Every winning strategy is built on it. At 1.41% house edge, it’s one of the cheapest bets in any casino. Add maximum free odds behind it, and you’re playing at 0.37%, a number that most table games can’t touch.
Start here. Master it. Then build outward toward come bets, place bets on 6 and 8, and the Three Point Molly. The entire game flows from this single strip of felt along the front edge of the table. Practice it on our free craps simulator until the rhythm is second nature, then bring it to a live table and feel the crowd roar when the point hits.
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Pass Line Bet FAQs
On the come-out roll, 7 and 11 win the pass line bet instantly. After a point is established (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), the pass line wins when that point number is rolled again before a 7. The 7 and 11 only help you on the come-out; after the point, a 7 loses. See our dice combinations guide for the exact probability of each number.
The pass line has a house edge of 1.41%. Adding free odds reduces the combined edge: 0.85% with 1x odds, 0.61% with 2x, 0.37% with 3x-4x-5x, and 0.02% with 100x odds. The full math is in our craps payout chart.
The pass line pays even money (1:1) in all scenarios. A $10 bet returns $10 profit whether you win on a natural 7 during the come-out or by making the point. The free odds bet behind it pays at true odds: 2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8.
No. The pass line is a contract bet. Once a point is established, your wager is locked until the point repeats (win) or a 7 rolls (lose). This differs from place bets and lay bets, which can be taken down at any time. The free odds bet behind your pass line can be removed at any time, though doing so isn’t recommended.
The don’t pass has a marginally lower house edge (1.36% vs. 1.41%). With max lay odds, the combined edge drops to approximately 0.27%, slightly better than the pass line with max odds (0.37%). The trade-off is social: you’re betting against the shooter and the rest of the table. Both are excellent bets. Choose based on your comfort with the table dynamics.
Bet the table minimum on the pass line and take maximum free odds after the point is set. Then optionally add place bets on 6 and 8 or come bets with odds for additional number coverage. The Three Point Molly (pass + 2 come bets, all with max odds) is the most efficient multi-number strategy at approximately 0.37% combined edge. See our craps strategy guide for the complete framework.
