The Don’t Pass house edge is about 1.36% when 12 is barred and pushes on the come-out roll. That is slightly better than Pass Line, which is about 1.41%. The edge exists because the casino turns one otherwise favorable come-out result for the Don’t bettor into a push instead of a win.
Quick Facts
- Don’t Pass house edge is about 1.36% with bar 12.
- Come-out 2 and 3 win for Don’t Pass.
- Come-out 7 and 11 lose.
- Come-out 12 usually pushes, not wins.
- After a point is established, Don’t Pass wins if 7 rolls before the point.
- Lay odds behind Don’t Pass have 0% house edge.
- Don’t Pass is mathematically strong but socially unpopular at many tables.
Plain Talk
Don’t Pass is the “against the shooter making the point” line bet. It wins when the shooter fails after a point is established, and loses when the shooter succeeds.
The math is slightly better than Pass Line because once a point exists, the Don’t side has the 7 working for it. Since 7 is the most common total, that matters.
But the casino protects itself on the come-out roll. The 12 is usually “barred,” meaning it pushes instead of winning for the Don’t Pass player. Without that rule, the Don’t side would be too strong.
For basic mechanics, read Don’t Pass Bet Explained. This page is about the edge. The Wizard of Odds craps basics gives common house-edge values, the Wizard of Odds craps appendix shows return math, and the Massachusetts craps rules show how regulated craps procedures handle wagers and dice outcomes.
How It Works
Don’t Pass also has two stages.
Come-Out Roll
| Roll | Combinations | Don’t Pass Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Win |
| 3 | 2 | Win |
| 12 | 1 | Push on most layouts |
| 7 | 6 | Lose |
| 11 | 2 | Lose |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 | 24 total | Point established |
The push on 12 is the key detail. Some casinos may bar 2 instead, but bar 12 is the common version. Either way, one craps number is removed from the player-win column and turned into a push.
After the Point
Once a point is established, Don’t Pass wants 7 before the point.
| Point | Point Combinations | 7 Combinations | Don’t Pass Advantage After Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3 | 6 | Strong |
| 5 or 9 | 4 | 6 | Good |
| 6 or 8 | 5 | 6 | Smaller but still real |
This is why the bet is strong. The Don’t bettor is often on the side with more combinations after the point.
Craps Table Example
You bet $20 on Don’t Pass before the come-out roll.
The shooter rolls 12. You do not win. The dealer calls it barred or push, and your $20 stays up or is returned depending on table procedure.
Next come-out roll is 5. The point becomes 5. Now your Don’t Pass bet wins if 7 appears before 5. There are six ways to roll 7 and four ways to roll 5.
You may lay odds behind the Don’t Pass. If you lay odds against 5, the true-odds price is 2 to 3: you risk $30 to win $20. That lay odds portion has 0% house edge, but the flat Don’t Pass bet still carries about 1.36% edge.
From the Casino Side:
Casinos do not care that some players dislike Don’t bettors. The bet is part of the game and must be protected like any other contract wager.
Dealers care about the exact position of the Don’t Pass bet, whether odds are laid correctly, whether the 12 is barred, and whether a player tries to remove or alter a contract bet improperly. The boxman and floor supervisor care about disputes, especially when new players think 12 should pay.
From a rating perspective, Don’t Pass with lay odds creates the same kind of issue as Pass Line with odds: the flat portion has edge; the odds portion does not. Casinos may rate the flat bet more heavily than the odds amount.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking 12 wins on Don’t Pass at every casino.
- Forgetting that 7 and 11 lose on the come-out roll.
- Calling Don’t Pass “no risk” after a point is established.
- Laying odds without understanding that you must risk more to win less on some points.
- Confusing Don’t Pass with Don’t Come.
- Removing the bet at the wrong time.
- Letting table pressure push you into worse bets.
Hard Truth
Don’t Pass has slightly better math than Pass Line, but the casino still charges for it by turning one come-out winner into a push.
FAQ
What is the Don’t Pass house edge?
About 1.36% when 12 is barred and pushes.
Is Don’t Pass better than Pass Line?
Mathematically, yes by a small amount. Don’t Pass is about 1.36%; Pass Line is about 1.41%.
Why does 12 push on Don’t Pass?
Because without barring one craps number, the Don’t Pass side would be too favorable to the player.
Does Don’t Pass win on 7?
Only after a point is established. On the come-out roll, 7 loses for Don’t Pass.
Do lay odds have a house edge?
No. Lay odds are paid at true odds, but they require risking more money to win a smaller amount on some points.
Is Don’t Pass bad etiquette?
It is legal and part of the game. Some players dislike it socially because it wins when the shooter fails.
Can I remove a Don’t Pass bet?
Rules and house procedure matter. Do not assume you can freely remove it after the point; ask the dealer.
Deeper Insight
The Don’t Pass edge is lower than Pass Line because the point phase favors the Don’t side. But the come-out roll makes the bet less comfortable than beginners expect.
On the first roll, 7 and 11 are bad. That is eight losing combinations. The player wins on 2 and 3, only three combinations. The 12 would add one more winning combination, but the casino usually bars it.
Once a point exists, the bet becomes mathematically attractive because 7 has more combinations than 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 individually.
That split personality is why many players misunderstand Don’t Pass. It can feel ugly early and strong later.
The house edge is commonly rounded to 1.36%. The exact expression depends on the barred number convention, but the standard bar-12 game produces the familiar low-edge result.
Formula / Calculation
House Edge = -Player EV / Initial Stake
Don’t Pass House Edge ≈ 1.36%
RTP ≈ 98.64%
Expected Loss = Total Amount Wagered × House EdgeFor a $20 flat Don’t Pass bet:
Expected Loss = $20 × 1.36% ≈ $0.27 per resolved flat betPoint-phase examples:
Point 4: P(7 before 4) = 6 / (6 + 3) = 66.67%
Point 5: P(7 before 5) = 6 / (6 + 4) = 60.00%
Point 6: P(7 before 6) = 6 / (6 + 5) = 54.55%Formula Explanation in Plain English
After a point, Don’t Pass often has the more likely number because 7 has more combinations. The casino edge survives because the come-out roll is not generous to the Don’t bettor, and the 12 usually pushes instead of paying.
Related Reading
Start with Don’t Pass Bet Explained if you need the table-flow version. Compare it with Pass Line House Edge and craps house edge. Use craps odds for the 36-combination base and the house edge calculator to compare Don’t Pass against place bets, field bets, and proposition bets.