Playing the Don't Bets in Craps

Gambling.com Editor

October 2nd, 2013

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The 'Don’t Pass' and 'Don’t Come' bets are usually frowned upon by casino players, and are unlikely to win you friends when you make them. But, if you’ve been tempted to make these bets in the past – either to try out something new, or because you like going against the norm - here’s what you need to know.

What Happens When You Bet 'Don’t Pass' or 'Don’t Come'

The 'Don’t Pass' bet is effectively the opposite of the 'Pass Line' bet. So all the rules that usually mean the player/shooter wins will cause the 'Don’t Pass' bet to lose, and wherever the player/shooter loses, the 'Don’t Pass' bettor wins. Specifically, this means on the 'Come Out' roll (the first roll), 'Don’t Pass' wins on 2 or 3, and loses on 7 or 11 (and is usually a push if the roll is a 12). After the point is set, the 'Don’t Pass' plays until either the point or a 7 is rolled. 'Don’t Pass' wins on a 7, and loses if the point is hit.

'Don’t Come' plays the same way, and you can set a 'Come' number during any point (or it can be set by another player). With the 'Come' as a separate point, the 'Don’t Come' plays against it with the same rules as 'Don’t Pass'.

Why Most Players Don’t Play 'Don’t'

'Don’t Pass' and 'Don’t Come' bets are considered taboo at the Craps table. They are referred to as betting on the ‘wrong side’, or simply as ‘wrong’ bets – considering the 'Pass Line', and betting on the point, are the ‘right side’ bets. This is because the 'shooter', and the 'point' bet, are considered 'player' bets, whilst the 'Don’t' bets, those that make the shooter lose, are considered house bets, as that is when the casino wins.

If you play Craps in a real life casino, betting on the 'Don’t' bet should be done discretely, as you are effectively betting against everyone else. Betting 'Don’t Pass' or 'Don’t Come' generally takes you away from the group play and camaraderie that makes Craps so popular. You won’t be rooting for the same win as other players, and you’re likely to be excluded from rolling the dice.

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Why Play 'Don’t Pass'

Like a good Disney fairytale, a story needs a villain - in its simplest form, it can be good entertainment to bet 'Don’t Pass' and add a bit of competition to the game. You may feel like the underdog, or that you are playing against the odds, making the game more exciting.

There is a logical reason to bet on 'Don’t Pass', though: the odds are in your favour. The 'Pass Line' bet in Craps is one of the best in the casino, with a normal house edge of only 1.41%. The 'Don’t Pass' bet has an ever-so-slightly lower house edge of 1.36%. Betting on the numbers alone, 'Don’t Pass' makes sense.

If you're still nervous about attracting the ire of other players in a casino, you can still gamble on 'Don't' bets by heading online to sites such as Bet365 Casino.