Point

Definition

In the game of Craps, the “Point” is the number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) established by the shooter on the come-out roll. Once a point is set, the shooter must roll that same number again before rolling a 7 for the “Pass Line” bettors to win.

In context

The shooter tosses the dice and rolls a 9. The dealer shouts, “Nine is the point!” and moves a plastic disc (the “Puck”) to the number 9 on the layout, turning the “ON” side up. Now, every player who bet on the Pass Line is waiting for another 9. If the shooter rolls a 7 next, the “puck” is turned to “OFF,” and the Pass Line bets are lost.

Why it matters

The establishment of a point changes the entire “state” of a Craps game. It is the moment when “Odds” bets—the best bets in the casino—can be placed. For the player, the point defines their goal; for the casino, the point is the start of the “grind” where the house edge begins to work against the players on the layout.

Related terms

• Come-Out Roll
• Pass Line
• Seven Out

In detail

The “Point” is the heart of a Craps round. Without a point, Craps would just be a simple game of rolling a 7 or 11 to win and a 2, 3, or 12 to lose. The point is what creates the “drama” and the long “rolls” that people associate with a loud, exciting Craps table.

How a Point is Established

Every round of Craps begins with a Come-Out Roll.

• If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win immediately.
• If the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12, Pass Line bets lose immediately (this is “Craps”).
• If the shooter rolls any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10), that number becomes the Point.

The dealer marks the point using a “Puck.” When the puck is in the “Don’t Come” area and says “OFF,” no point has been established. When the dealer moves it to a number and flips it to “ON,” the game has entered the “point phase.”

The “Odds” Bet: Why the Point is Your Friend

The moment a point is established, players are allowed to make a “Free Odds” bet. You place these chips behind your Pass Line bet.

• The “Truth” about Odds: This is the only bet in the entire casino that has zero house edge. The casino pays you the “True Mathematical Odds” of rolling the point before a 7.
• Because there is no house edge, casinos limit how much you can bet in “Odds” (e.g., “3x-4x-5x Odds”).
• If you don’t have a point, you can’t place these bets. Therefore, a Craps player wants a point to be established so they can put their money where the house has no advantage.

The Difficulty of Different Points

Not all points are created equal. The math of Craps is based on the combinations of two six-sided dice.

• The 6 and 8: These are the “easiest” points to make. There are 5 ways to roll a 6 or 8, and 6 ways to roll a 7. Your chances of winning are relatively high (5 to 6).
• The 5 and 9: There are 4 ways to roll these. Your chances are 4 to 6 (or 2 to 3).
• The 4 and 10: These are the “hardest” points. There are only 3 ways to roll a 4 or 10. Your chances are 3 to 6 (or 1 to 2).

Because the 4 and 10 are harder to hit, the “Odds” bet pays out more (2-to-1). If the point is 6, the “Odds” bet pays less (6-to-5).

What Happens When a Point is Hit?

If the shooter rolls the point, the Pass Line bettors win. The dealer pays the bets, flips the puck to “OFF,” and moves it back to the center of the table. The same shooter then starts a new come-out roll. They keep the dice until they “Seven Out” (roll a 7 after a point has been established).

The “Off” During Come-Out Rule

A common source of confusion is what happens to other bets when a point is hit. If you have “Place Bets” (bets on other numbers) and the shooter hits the point, those bets stay on the table. However, during the next come-out roll, those bets are “Off” by default. This is because the come-out roll is designed for the Pass Line, and players don’t want to lose their Place Bets to a “Front Line Winner” 7.

Psychological Impact

The “Point” is a rallying cry. When a table has been “stuck” on a point of 4 for ten minutes, and the shooter finally hits it, the energy in the casino spikes. Conversely, when a point is established and the very next roll is a 7 (a “Point Seven”), the energy dies instantly. This is the “variance” of Craps, and it all revolves around that single number marked by the white “ON” puck.