Don't Pass Line Bet

Betting on the Don’t Pass Line is almost exactly the same as betting on the Pass Line, but not exactly.

Don’t Pass Line Rules

If we were to take the example we used from our betting the Pass Line article, it would go something like this:

If Barry rolls a 7 or 11 he would immediately lose. If he rolls a 2, 3 or 12 he automatically wins. If a point is made, he wins if a 7 comes up before the point is rolled again.
If this were to be true, he would effectively be betting on the house. As we are well aware the house always has an edge so this would be like being the casino. Because the odds can’t be in favour of the bettor, one part of this process is changed to sway the odds in favour of the house.

The part of the round that is changed is on the come out roll. Instead of winning on the 2, 3 or 12 like the house does on a Pass Line bet, you just win when a 2 or a 3 is rolled. When a 12 is rolled it is a push, which means that you don’t win or lose. Because when a Pass Line bet is made a 12 ends the round, it doesn’t affect the next roll of the dice. The next roll of the dice will be the come out roll regardless.

Don’t Pass Line Odds and House Edge

Even though the odds are still in favour of the house when you bet on the Don’t Pass Line, it is actually the best bet you can make in Craps. It has slightly better odds than betting the Pass Line so it will always be a solid bet when you make it. It has a house edge of 1.40%.

Why This Craps Bet is Unpopular

The reason why you don’t hear about many Craps players betting on the Don’t Pass Line is because in a way they are betting against the shooter. If you are playing at a live casino and you bet on the Don’t Pass Line it can be frowned upon. If you make this bet you are winning when the shooter loses, which can make for a colourful Craps table at times. When you make this bet be sure to keep your emotions to yourself because it is considered to be bad etiquette to celebrate when the shooter loses.