Come and Don’t Come Bets in Craps
Craps becomes much easier to understand once you learn how its different multi-roll bets fit together. Most beginners start with the Pass Line because it introduces the basic idea of a come-out roll and a point. After that, one of the most useful concepts to learn is the Come bet and its opposite, the Don’t Come bet.
These wagers are closely related to the Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets. In fact, a Come bet follows essentially the same mathematical structure as a Pass Line bet, while a Don’t Come bet works similarly to a Don’t Pass bet. The major difference is when the wager is placed. A Pass Line or Don’t Pass bet is made on a come-out roll, whereas Come and Don’t Come bets are normally made after a point has already been established.
Although the terminology can sound confusing, the basic idea is straightforward. A Come bet gives a player another Pass Line-style wager during an existing craps hand. A Don’t Come bet gives the player another Don’t Pass-style wager. Learning these bets can also introduce players to Come Odds and Don’t Come Odds, which are among the mathematically distinctive features of craps.
What Is a Come Bet?
A Come bet is a wager that can be placed after the initial come-out roll.
It works similarly to a Pass Line bet, but it creates its own separate point if the next roll produces 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
Suppose the shooter has already established a point of six for the Pass Line.
A player can then place a Come bet.
The next roll acts as the Come bet’s own decision roll.
If that roll is 7 or 11, the Come bet wins.
If it is 2, 3, or 12, the Come bet loses.
If it is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, the Come bet moves to that number and remains active until that number or seven appears.
This means the Come bet can create a second point while the shooter’s original point is still active.
Why Is It Called a Come Bet?
The name comes from the idea that the wager is made during an existing craps round rather than at the beginning.
A player does not need to wait for the next shooter’s turn or another come-out roll. Once the table is already in the point phase, the player can generally make a Come bet before a subsequent roll.
The wager then receives its own result.
For example, suppose the main point is eight. A player places a Come bet and the next roll is five. Five becomes the Come bet’s number.
The original Pass Line point remains eight, while the Come bet now has five as its separate number.
This can result in several active numbers being associated with different wagers at the same table.
How a Come Bet Works
The easiest way to understand a Come bet is to treat its first roll as a miniature come-out roll.
There are three basic possibilities.
Seven or eleven: Come bet wins.
Two, three, or twelve: Come bet loses.
Four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten: That number becomes the Come bet’s point.
Once the Come bet moves to a number, the next rolls are evaluated differently. The selected number needs to appear before seven for the Come bet to win.
For example, suppose a player makes a Come bet and the next roll is nine.
Nine becomes the Come point.
The shooter then rolls four, six, eight, ten, and five. None of these results resolves the Come bet.
If nine appears before seven, the Come bet wins.
If seven appears first, it loses.
Come Bet Example
Imagine that the shooter’s original point is four.
A player places $10 in the Come area.
The next roll is 6.
Six becomes the Come point.
The shooter rolls 8.
Nothing happens to the Come bet.
The next roll is 10.
The Come bet remains active.
Then the shooter rolls 6.
The Come bet wins because six appeared before seven.
The original Pass Line point of four is still a separate matter. The Come bet does not replace the shooter’s main point.
This separation is one of the most important concepts for beginners.
Come Bet Payout
A standard Come bet pays even money, just like a standard Pass Line bet.
If a $10 Come bet wins, the player receives a $10 profit, with the original $10 wager also returned according to normal casino procedures.
The mathematical house edge of the standard Come bet is approximately 1.41%, the same as the standard Pass Line bet.
The similarity is not accidental. The Come bet essentially recreates the Pass Line sequence after the original come-out roll.
What Happens to a Come Bet on Seven?
Once a Come bet has established a number, seven becomes its opposing result.
Suppose the Come bet moves to eight.
The player wants eight to appear before seven.
If eight appears first, the Come bet wins.
If seven appears first, the Come bet loses.
The same principle applies whether the Come point is four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten.
This makes the Come bet easy to remember once you understand the Pass Line.
What Is a Don’t Come Bet?
A Don’t Come bet is essentially the opposite of a Come bet.
Instead of betting that a number will appear before seven, the player is betting that seven will appear before the established Come point.
It is similar to the relationship between Don’t Pass and Pass Line.
The Don’t Come bet is normally placed after the initial come-out roll. Its next roll acts as a decision roll for the wager.
If the next roll is 2 or 3, the Don’t Come bet wins.
If it is 7 or 11, the Don’t Come bet loses.
A 12 is normally a push under standard U.S. rules.
If 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 appears, that number becomes the Don’t Come point, and the wager continues until either seven or that number appears.
Why Does Twelve Push on a Don’t Come Bet?
This is one of the rules that can confuse new craps players.
On the Pass Line, twelve is a losing come-out result.
On the Don’t Pass, however, twelve is generally a push, meaning the wager is returned without a win or loss under standard rules.
The same basic treatment applies to the Don’t Come wager.
Therefore, if a player places a Don’t Come bet and the next roll is twelve, the wager normally comes back rather than winning or losing.
Some regional rules can differ. For example, standard references note that Reno and Lake Tahoe have historically used two rather than twelve as the push number on Don’t Pass.
Players should therefore check the specific table rules if playing in a jurisdiction with unusual craps variations.
Don’t Come Bet Example
Suppose the main point is six.
A player places a $10 Don’t Come bet.
The next roll is nine.
Nine becomes the Don’t Come point.
The player now wants seven to appear before nine.
The shooter rolls four, five, and six.
The Don’t Come bet remains active.
If seven appears next, the Don’t Come bet wins.
If nine appears first, the wager loses.
This is the reverse of a standard Come bet.
Come vs Don’t Come
The easiest way to compare the two is to focus on what the player wants to happen.
A Come bet wants the Come point to appear before seven.
A Don’t Come bet wants seven to appear before the Come point.
Their initial decision rolls are also opposites.
For a Come bet:
7 or 11 = win
2, 3, or 12 = lose
For a Don’t Come bet:
2 or 3 = win
7 or 11 = lose
12 = push under standard rules
After a point is established, the Come bet wants the point, while the Don’t Come bet wants seven.
Come Bets Can Create Multiple Numbers
One of the interesting features of Come betting is that multiple Come bets can be active at the same time.
Imagine that the original Pass Line point is six.
A player makes a Come bet and rolls nine.
Nine becomes the Come point.
Later, the player makes another Come bet. The next roll is five.
Now the player can have:
Pass Line point: 6
First Come point: 9
Second Come point: 5
Each wager is tracked separately.
This is why the craps table can quickly become complicated. A single shooter can have multiple active points associated with different wagers.
Can You Make Multiple Don’t Come Bets?
Yes, multiple Don’t Come bets can also be active, subject to the table’s betting rules.
Each wager can establish its own number.
For example, one Don’t Come bet could be sitting on five while another sits on nine.
The player is then effectively betting that seven will arrive before each of those numbers.
If seven appears, the relevant active Don’t Come wagers can win at the same time.
If one of the numbers appears first, the corresponding Don’t Come wager loses while the others remain active.
Come Odds Explained
Once a Come bet has moved to a number, a player can generally add an Odds bet behind it.
The Odds wager predicts that the Come point will appear before seven.
The standard Odds payouts are:
4 or 10: 2 to 1
5 or 9: 3 to 2
6 or 8: 6 to 5
The Odds portion has a mathematical house edge of zero because it pays the true odds of the point appearing before seven.
The Come bet itself still carries its normal house advantage.
Example of Come Odds
Suppose a player places $10 on Come.
The next roll is eight.
Eight becomes the Come point.
The player adds $20 in Come Odds.
The shooter eventually rolls eight before seven.
The Come bet wins $10 at even money.
The Odds wager on eight pays 6 to 5, producing a $24 profit.
Both wagers therefore win.
If seven appears first, both lose.
The Odds wager does not change the probability of eight appearing before seven. It simply adds more money to that outcome at fair odds.
Don’t Come Odds
A player can also lay Odds behind a Don’t Come bet after a number has been established.
This is the opposite of taking Come Odds.
Suppose a Don’t Come bet moves to six.
The player lays Odds against six, effectively betting that seven will appear before six.
Standard Lay Odds pay:
4 or 10: 1 to 2
5 or 9: 2 to 3
6 or 8: 5 to 6
The Odds portion is mathematically fair when structured according to the standard rules.
The amount that can be laid depends on the casino’s Odds limits.
Come Bets vs Pass Line Bets
The Come and Pass Line bets are closely related.
A Pass Line bet is made on the come-out roll.
A Come bet is made after the game has already entered the point phase.
Once placed, however, the two wagers operate in essentially the same way.
For both:
Seven or eleven on the initial decision roll wins.
Two, three, or twelve loses.
A 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 establishes a point.
The point then needs to appear before seven.
This is why the Come bet is often described as a Pass Line bet made during the hand.
Don’t Come vs Don’t Pass
The same relationship exists on the opposite side.
A Don’t Pass bet begins with the come-out roll.
A Don’t Come bet begins after that initial stage.
Once the Don’t Come point has been established, the wager behaves similarly to Don’t Pass.
The player wants seven before the number.
This makes Don’t Come particularly useful for understanding how the “dark side” of craps works without having to wait for a new come-out roll.
House Edge of Come and Don’t Come Bets
The standard Come bet has a house edge of approximately 1.41%.
The standard Don’t Come bet has a mathematical structure equivalent to Don’t Pass and has a house edge of approximately 1.36%, although the exact calculation can account for the push on twelve.
The small difference does not mean that one wager is guaranteed to outperform the other in a short session.
House edge describes long-term mathematical expectation, not the outcome of an individual hand or casino visit.
Come Bets and the Come-Out Roll
A common beginner mistake is confusing the table’s come-out roll with the Come bet’s own decision roll.
Suppose the main craps game has a point of eight.
The shooter continues rolling.
A player makes a Come bet.
The next roll is seven.
That seven can end the existing Pass Line point, but it also acts as the Come bet’s own winning or losing result.
The Come bet loses or wins according to its own rules. It is not simply another Pass Line wager attached to the shooter’s original point.
The best way to avoid confusion is to think of each Come bet as having its own miniature game state.
What Happens on a Come-Out Roll to Existing Come Bets?
This is an advanced point that can matter when multiple Come bets are active.
When the shooter eventually rolls the original point and completes the Pass Line cycle, the next roll becomes a new come-out roll.
Existing Come bets remain separate from the Pass Line.
Under standard rules, Odds behind Come bets are generally off during a new come-out roll. If the come-out roll is seven, the Come bet can lose while the associated Odds are returned rather than losing.
This can seem complicated at first, but the principle is simple: the main Pass Line game and each Come wager have their own status.
Why Come Bets Are Useful for Learning Craps
Come bets teach an important concept in craps: multiple independent point cycles can exist simultaneously.
Once a player understands one Come bet, it becomes easier to understand why a table can have numbers such as four, five, six, eight, nine, and ten occupied at the same time.
Each number can represent a separate wager rather than a single universal point.
This is one reason dealers carefully position Come and Don’t Come bets in designated areas.
Common Come Bet Mistakes
One common mistake is placing a Come bet before understanding the first-roll rules.
Another is forgetting that the Come bet’s next roll acts as its own come-out-style roll.
Some beginners also confuse the shooter’s main point with their Come point. They are separate.
Another mistake is assuming that a Come bet automatically moves to the shooter’s original point. It does not. Its own next roll determines whether it wins, loses, or establishes a separate number.
Players can also become confused when multiple Come bets are active. Keeping track of each wager’s number is important.
Finally, some players take Odds without understanding the additional amount of money being placed at risk.
Common Don’t Come Mistakes
The Don’t Come bet has its own set of beginner pitfalls.
The biggest is forgetting that seven or eleven loses the wager on its initial decision roll.
Another is forgetting the twelve push under standard rules.
Players can also confuse the direction of the bet after a number is established.
If a Don’t Come point is five, the player wants seven before five, not five before seven.
The easiest memory rule is:
Come = number before seven.
Don’t Come = seven before number.
Do Come and Don’t Come Bets Affect the Shooter?
No.
The shooter’s dice are not affected by whether players are betting Come, Don’t Come, Pass, or Don’t Pass.
These wagers simply determine how different players are paid based on the same dice results.
A shooter cannot reliably influence a Come bet by changing throwing style, and players cannot make a number appear by placing a particular wager.
The dice outcome remains random under standard casino conditions.
Can Come Bets Be Made on Every Roll?
A Come bet can generally be placed before a roll during the point phase, subject to table rules.
It does not need to wait for a new shooter.
This is one of its biggest differences from the Pass Line.
However, the exact timing for placing or changing wagers can vary slightly between casinos. Players should make their bets before the dealer or stickperson closes betting for the upcoming throw.
Come Bets and Place Bets
Come bets and Place bets can both target numbers such as four, five, six, eight, nine, and ten, but their mechanics are different.
A Come bet begins with a decision roll. Seven or eleven can win it, two, three, or twelve can lose it, and another number can become its point.
A Place bet directly targets a selected number.
For example, a Place 6 is simply betting that six will appear before seven.
The Come bet therefore has a more complicated path to resolution but also provides access to Odds after a point is established.
Come Bets and Proposition Bets
Proposition bets are generally one-roll wagers.
A Come bet is different because it can remain active across several rolls after establishing a number.
This means Come betting is part of the main multi-roll structure of craps rather than the one-roll center-table proposition area.
Understanding this distinction can help beginners decide which part of the table they are looking at.
Are Come Bets Better Than Don’t Come Bets?
There is no universal answer based simply on which side is “better.”
The standard Come bet and Don’t Come bet have slightly different house-edge calculations, but both involve risk.
The Come bet follows the same basic structure as the Pass Line.
The Don’t Come follows the opposite structure, with a small rule difference involving the push on twelve.
Players should choose based on understanding the wager rather than assuming one side will produce guaranteed short-term results.
Do More Come Bets Improve Your Chances?
Making additional Come bets does not change the probability of any individual dice outcome.
It simply creates more wagers.
For example, having three Come bets active means three separate wagers can be affected by the next rolls.
A seven may therefore resolve several of them at once.
This can produce a large win or loss, but the additional wagers do not alter the underlying dice probabilities.
Players should consider their total amount at risk rather than focusing only on the amount of each individual Come bet.
Are Come Numbers “Due”?
No.
If a Come bet has moved to six and six has not appeared for several rolls, that does not make six more likely on the next roll.
Likewise, if seven has appeared several times recently, that does not make seven less likely.
Each roll is an independent event.
Craps can produce noticeable streaks, but streaks should not be treated as reliable predictions.
Come and Don’t Come Bets Online
Online craps games generally display Come and Don’t Come betting areas clearly on the digital table.
The interface may automatically move a Come bet to its number after the qualifying roll. It can also display the associated Odds area.
This can make the mechanics easier to follow than a crowded physical table.
However, online craps variations can differ in minimums, Odds limits, and other rules. Players should read the specific game’s paytable and rules before wagering.
Come and Don’t Come Bets in Live Dealer Craps
Live dealer craps combines the traditional physical table with an online betting interface.
A player can place Come or Don’t Come wagers through the interface while watching a real dealer conduct the game.
The basic rules are generally the same as traditional craps, but players should still verify the particular game’s betting limits and available options.
The live format can be useful for beginners who want to see how dealers position Come bets and explain their movement.
A Simple Way to Remember Come Bets
New players can use a short memory system.
For Come:
7 or 11 = win
2, 3, 12 = lose
4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 = establish Come point
Then:
Come point before 7 = win
For Don’t Come:
2 or 3 = win
7 or 11 = lose
12 = push under standard rules
Then:
7 before Don’t Come point = win
This simple comparison covers most of the basic mechanics.
Responsible Come Betting
Come bets can be tempting because they allow players to add new wagers while the shooter continues rolling.
However, several Come bets can quickly create a large amount of money in action.
Adding Odds increases that exposure even further.
Players should therefore consider the total amount that could be lost if seven appears rather than looking only at the original Come bet.
Setting a gambling budget before playing can help prevent the pace of the game from encouraging larger wagers than intended.
No Come or Don’t Come strategy guarantees a profit, and previous rolls do not determine the next outcome.
Final Thoughts
Come and Don’t Come bets are important parts of the craps game because they allow players to create additional Pass Line-style or Don’t Pass-style wagers after the initial come-out roll.
A Come bet wins immediately with seven or eleven, loses with two, three, or twelve, or moves to a number when four, five, six, eight, nine, or ten appears. Once a number is established, the Come bet wants that number before seven.
A Don’t Come bet takes the opposite position. Two or three wins on its initial decision roll, seven or eleven loses, and twelve is normally a push. Once a number is established, the wager wants seven before that number.
Both wagers can also be backed with Odds once their respective numbers are established. Standard Come Odds pay the true odds of the number appearing before seven, while Don’t Come Odds can be laid against the established number.
The most important lesson for beginners is that Come and Don’t Come bets create their own individual point cycles. They do not simply copy the shooter’s original point.
Once that idea becomes clear, even a busy craps table with several numbers occupied becomes much easier to understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Come bet in craps?
A Come bet is a wager made after the initial come-out roll that works similarly to a Pass Line bet.
2. When can you make a Come bet?
A Come bet is normally made during the point phase, before a subsequent dice roll.
3. What happens if a Come bet rolls seven?
If seven appears as the Come bet’s initial decision roll, the Come bet loses.
4. Does eleven win a Come bet?
Yes. Seven and eleven are winning results for a Come bet’s initial decision roll.
5. What happens if a Come bet rolls two, three, or twelve?
The Come bet loses on two, three, or twelve during its initial decision roll.
6. What happens if a Come bet rolls six?
Six becomes the Come bet’s point. The wager then remains active until six or seven appears.
7. What is a Don’t Come bet?
A Don’t Come bet is essentially the opposite of a Come bet. It bets that seven will appear before the established Don’t Come number.
8. What happens to a Don’t Come bet on seven?
Seven wins a Don’t Come bet once its number has been established.
9. What happens to a Don’t Come bet on eleven?
Eleven loses a Don’t Come bet on its initial decision roll.
10. What happens if twelve is rolled on a Don’t Come bet?
Under standard rules, twelve is normally a push, meaning the wager is returned without a win or loss.
11. Do Come bets have a house edge?
Yes. A standard Come bet has a house edge of approximately 1.41%.
12. Do Don’t Come bets have a house edge?
Yes. A standard Don’t Come bet has a house edge of approximately 1.36% under standard rules, with the exact calculation reflecting the push on twelve.
13. Can you take Odds on a Come bet?
Yes. Once a Come bet establishes a number, players can generally take Odds behind it.
14. Do Come Odds have a house edge?
Standard Come Odds have a zero house edge because they pay the true mathematical odds.
15. Can you lay Odds on a Don’t Come bet?
Yes. Once a Don’t Come bet establishes a number, the player can generally lay Odds according to the table’s limits.
16. Can multiple Come bets be active?
Yes. Players can generally have multiple Come bets active at different numbers, subject to table rules.
17. Can multiple Don’t Come bets be active?
Yes. Multiple Don’t Come bets can also establish separate numbers.
18. Is a Come bet the same as a Pass Line bet?
The two bets have essentially the same mathematical structure, but a Pass Line bet is made on the come-out roll while a Come bet is made during the point phase.
19. Is a Don’t Come bet the same as a Don’t Pass bet?
They work similarly, but the Don’t Pass is made on the come-out roll while the Don’t Come is made after the initial come-out stage.
20. What is the easiest way to remember Come and Don’t Come?
Think of Come as betting for the number before seven, while Don’t Come means betting for seven before the number.
