Pass Line vs Don’t Pass
Two main line bets on the same dice — one roots with the shooter, one against. Glanceable felt zones and rolls.
Reviewed Oct 11, 2026
Answer first
90s- 01Pass wins on come-out 7 or 11; loses on 2, 3, or 12.
- 02Don’t Pass wins on come-out 2 or 3; 12 is usually a push (bar) — check the felt.
- 03After a point: Pass needs the point before 7; Don’t Pass needs 7 before the point.
- 04Both are low-edge line bets; odds behind either improve the combined price.
- 05You pick one main philosophy for a round — do not fight yourself on both lines.
- 06Table minimum applies to the line bet you place; confirm the sign before you buy in.
Progress
Felt zones (line bets)
- 1
Pass Line
With the shooter
- 2
Don’t Pass
Bar / against strip
- 3
Come-out
No point yet
- 4
Point ON
Puck marks 4–6 / 8–10
- 5
Odds
Behind your chosen line
Pass and Don’t Pass are labeled strips on the layout. Put chips only on the line you mean — dealers will correct an ambiguous drop.
Cheat sheet
Come-out: who wins?
Glance the pips — compare in one second.
1Natural 7
Pass wins · Don’t loses
2Natural 11
Pass wins · Don’t loses
3Craps 2
Pass loses · Don’t wins
4Craps 3
Pass loses · Don’t wins
5Craps 12
Pass loses · Don’t push*
6Point 9
Point on — neither settled
*Most Vegas Don’t Pass bars (pushes) 12 on the come-out — read the wording on the felt. After a point, 12 is just another continuing roll.
Side-by-side after a point
| Event | Pass Line | Don’t Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Point hits first | Win (1:1 + odds) | Lose |
| Seven before point | Lose | Win (1:1 + odds) |
| Other totals | Roll on | Roll on |
| Odds direction | Take odds | Lay odds |
| Come-out 12 | Lose | Usually push (bar) |
| Vibe at the rail | With the table yell | Quieter contrarian |
Neither line is a “cheat code.” Both carry a small house edge; odds behind the line are the usual upgrade.
Your turn
Words on the layout
Pass Line
Bet with the shooter. Come-out 7/11 win; 2/3/12 lose; then point before seven to win.
Don’t Pass
Bet against the shooter. Come-out 2/3 win; 12 usually bars; then seven before the point to win.
Bar 12
Printed on many Don’t Pass strips: a come-out 12 pushes Don’t Pass instead of winning. Confirm your table.
Right / wrong bettor
Rail slang: “right” bets with the shooter (Pass); “wrong” bets Don’t. Social noise, not a rulebook grade.
Come / Don’t Come
Same win/lose logic as Pass / Don’t Pass, started after a point is already on. Learn the main line first.
Sequence
First-timer path
Step 01
Read the minimum
Find an open craps table whose line minimum fits many bets, not one dramatic buy-in.
Step 02
Choose Pass or Don’t
Pass is the louder default. Don’t Pass is fine if you prefer the mirror math — both are standard.
Step 03
Ride one come-out
Watch the puck. Add odds only after a point if you want the true-odds booster.
Step 04
Skip the center at first
Hardways and horns wait until the line feels automatic. You do not need them to play craps.
Watch outs
Common mistakes
01Fighting both lines
Pass and Don’t Pass oppose each other after a point. Hedging both usually pays the vig twice.
02Ignoring the bar 12
Don’t Pass beginners sometimes expect 12 to win on the come-out. Most Vegas layouts push it — read the strip.
03Late chips on the line
Line bets lock before the come-out or as the dealer allows. Past-posting after the roll is called will be killed.
04Taking rail trash talk personally
Don’t Pass can draw groans. The bet is legal. Stay polite, bet your line, ignore the theater.
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s CasinoList page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsRanked lists
Open a shortlist that matches this guide
Same intent, inventory first — tap through for the places we already publish for Las Vegas.
After the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Choosing a line
Is Don’t Pass “betting against the table” allowed?
Yes. Don’t Pass is a standard casino wager printed on the layout. Some rails cheer Pass louder, but the house offers both. Stay courteous, keep hands off other stacks, and let the dice decide.
Which line is better for a complete beginner?
Pass Line is the usual teaching default because the table noise matches the bet. Don’t Pass has similar math with the come-out 12 bar. Pick one, learn odds behind it, and skip center props until the line feels automatic.
02Come-out details
Why does a 12 push Don’t Pass but lose on Pass?
That bar-12 rule is how most Las Vegas Don’t Pass bets are printed — it slightly shapes the edge versus a pure mirror. Pass loses on 2, 3, and 12. Always read the Don’t Pass wording on the felt in front of you.
Can I move from Pass to Don’t Pass mid-point?
Not as a free switch on the same locked line bet. Once a point is on, your Pass or Don’t Pass stays until the point or seven resolves. New bets follow dealer timing — ask before you invent a hedge.
03Where to play
Where can I find craps after comparing the lines?
Use the venues below with published NGCB craps counts. Confirm the live minimum and Don’t Pass bar rule on the layout when you arrive — inventory pages do not freeze nightly limits.
Sources
- Wynn Las Vegas casino (operator page) · accessed Oct 11, 2026Land-based craps layout context; bar rules are printed on the felt.
- Venetian Las Vegas casino (operator page) · accessed Oct 11, 2026