The point in craps is the number established when the come-out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. Once the point is set, Pass Line players want that number to roll again before a 7. Don’t Pass players want the 7 before the point repeats.
Plain Talk
In casino language, the point is the target number for the current craps round.
Before the point exists, the table is in the come-out phase. After the point is made, the dealer turns the puck to ON, places it on the point number, and the round changes. Now the shooter is trying to repeat that number before rolling a 7.
This glossary page defines the term. For the full game explanation, read Craps and the Glossary.
| Term | Plain-English meaning | Where it appears | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| The point | The target number after the come-out roll | Craps layout and dealer calls | It decides how Pass Line and Don’t Pass bets resolve |
| Point number | 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 | Number boxes on the layout | These numbers can become the point |
| ON puck | Dealer marker showing the point is active | On the craps table | It tells players the round is no longer in come-out mode |
| Seven out | A 7 after the point is established | End of shooter’s hand | It ends the round and clears many bets |
Where You See It
You see the point on the craps layout when the dealer places the puck on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.
You hear it in dealer calls such as “point is six,” “six is the point,” or “point made.” You also see it in rules explanations from casinos and math sites. For example, Wizard of Odds explains that the point is established after a come-out roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, while casino rule pages such as The Venetian’s craps rules describe the same basic sequence for Pass Line play.
Why It Matters
The point changes the whole state of the game.
Before the point, 7 and 11 are good for the Pass Line. After the point, 7 becomes the losing number for Pass Line bets. That switch is where many new players get lost.
The point also opens the door for Odds Bet behind the Pass Line or Don’t Pass. Those odds bets are paid at true odds, which is why they are discussed separately from the base line bet.
Example
A shooter rolls a 9 on the come-out roll.
The dealer marks 9 as the point. Pass Line bets do not win yet. The shooter must roll another 9 before a 7 for Pass Line bets to win. If the shooter rolls a 7 first, the shooter sevens out and Pass Line bets lose.
From the Casino Side:
From the casino side, the point is not just a vocabulary word. It tells dealers, the boxperson, surveillance, and the table system what phase the game is in.
It affects:
- which bets are working
- whether odds may be taken or laid
- which player bets should be paid, moved, or cleared
- how the result is called and tracked
Craps is busy because one roll can affect many bets. The point is one of the main anchors that keeps the procedure organized.
Common Misunderstanding
Players often think a 7 is always good because it wins on the come-out roll for Pass Line bettors.
That is only true before the point. After the point is established, a 7 is the number Pass Line players fear. The same number can be good or bad depending on the phase of the game.
Hard Truth
The point does not make the dice “due.” It only defines the bet condition. The math does not care how long the shooter has been rolling.
Related Terms
- Craps — the full dice game where the point system appears.
- Come-Out Roll — the roll that can establish the point.
- Pass Line — the main bet that wants the point repeated before 7.
- Don’t Pass — the opposite main bet after the point is established.
- Odds Bet — the true-odds wager available after a point.
- Seven Out — what happens when 7 appears before the point repeats.
FAQ
Is the point always 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10?
In standard craps, yes. Those are the numbers that establish the point on the come-out roll.
Can 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12 be the point?
Not in standard craps. On the come-out roll, 7 and 11 win for the Pass Line, while 2, 3, and 12 lose. Crapless craps changes this, so always read the table rules.
What happens when the point is made?
Pass Line bets win, Don’t Pass bets lose, and the next roll becomes a new come-out roll.
What happens if 7 rolls before the point?
That is a seven out. Pass Line bets lose, Don’t Pass bets win, and the shooter’s hand ends.
Is the point a good bet by itself?
The point is not a separate bet. It is the number that controls existing line bets and related odds.
Deeper Insight
The point matters because craps has two phases. The first phase is the come-out roll. The second phase is the point cycle.
Once the point is established, each later roll is a race between the point number and 7. The exact chance depends on which point was established because different totals have different dice combinations.
Formula / Calculation
| Point | Ways to roll the point | Ways to roll 7 | Pass Line condition after point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | 3 | 6 | Harder to repeat before 7 |
| 5 or 9 | 4 | 6 | Medium point |
| 6 or 8 | 5 | 6 | Best common point for Pass Line players |
Basic probability after a point is established:
Chance point is made = Ways to roll the point / (Ways to roll the point + Ways to roll 7)
For a point of 6:
Chance 6 repeats before 7 = 5 / (5 + 6) = 5 / 11
Formula Explanation in Plain English
After the point is set, rolls that are not the point or 7 do not settle the Pass Line bet. They only extend the round. That is why the real comparison is the number of dice combinations for the point versus the number of combinations for 7.
The 6 and 8 are better points than 4 and 10 because there are more dice combinations that make 6 or 8. But 7 still has six combinations, which is why the casino edge remains built into the line bet.
Related Reading
Start with Craps for the full game flow, then read Pass Line and Don’t Pass to understand the two main sides of the point. For the casino-side view of how table crews control complex live bets, continue with Casino Operations and Table Game Protection. For a direct player explanation, read Ask a Veteran.