Learn to Play Casino Craps: The Don't Pass Bet

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A Don't Pass bet is almost the exact opposite of a Pass Line bet. Like the Pass Line bet, the Don't Pass bet is a Flat bet made prior to the come-out roll. The Don't Pass section on the table is above the Pass Line clearly marked "Don't Pass Bar 12," typically in black letters. The Don't Pass is sometimes called the "back line."

The rules for table minimum and maximum bets are similar to the Pass Line bet. For example, if you see a red placard defining a $5 minimum and a $2,000 maximum, that means your Flat Don't Pass bet has to be at least $5, but can't be more than $2,000.

For the Don't Pass bet, the come-out roll can produce four possible outcomes (note how they're almost exactly opposite of the Pass Line bet): 1) if a 7 or 11 appears, the Don't Pass bet loses and the game ends; 2) if a 2 or 3 appears, the Don't Pass bet wins and the game ends; 3) if a 12 appears, it's considered a tie and the bet doesn't win or lose, and the game ends; and 4) if a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 appears, a point is established and the game continues until either the point number appears again, in which case the Don't Pass bet loses; or a 7 appears, in which case the Don't Pass bet wins. For the Don't Pass bet, you hope the shooter rolls a craps on the come-out; or if a point is established, that she doesn't make her point and, instead, rolls a 7-out (again, note how the Don't Pass is opposite of the Pass Line bet).

The "Bar 12" part of the Don't Pass label indicates that a 12 on the come-out roll is a tie. Some casinos have "Bar 2," which means a 2 on the come-out is a tie. Whether the bar is 12 or 2 doesn't matter because the odds are the same (i.e., there's only one way to make a 12 and only one way to make a 2). However, some casinos like to stick it to its patrons by having a Bar 3. You probably won't see this because it's so rare, but it does exist. Unlike the 12 or 2 that have only one way to make either number, there are two ways to make a 3. This small difference increases the house advantage from its normal 1.4% to about 4.4%. If I see a Bar 3 in a casino, I immediately turn around, walk out, and go to another casino. The house already has an advantage over the player, so the idea of the casino screwing the player even more really chaps my rear end, so I refuse to give them my business.

Remember, the Don't Pass is basically the opposite of the Pass Line. Therefore, unlike the Flat Pass Line bet, you can remove your Flat Don't Pass bet at any time after a point is established. For the Don't Pass, the come-out roll favors the house but then shifts to the player after a point is established. Therefore, after a point is established, the house actually wants you to remove your Don't Pass bet because you have the advantage.

Unlike the Pass Line, you cannot "put" a Flat Don't Pass bet and you cannot increase your Flat Don't Pass bet after a point is established. Again, for the Don't Pass, the come-out roll favors the house but after the come-out roll when a point is established, the Don't Pass favors the player. Therefore, the house won't allow you to wait until a point is established to "put" a Flat Don't Pass bet. If you want to bet the Don't Pass, the house requires you to go through the come-out roll.

Now you know! Remember, learn how to play casino craps the right way.

W. Enslen is a reliability engineer who routinely works with statistics. Having played and analyzed casino craps for 30 years, he has compiled his winning secrets in a new Ebook, which you can sample at Learn to Play Casino Craps. Be smart, play smart, and learn to play casino craps in reality instead of a Fantasyland of false hope.