Pass Line Bet in Craps Explained
The Pass Line is the core craps bet placed before the come-out roll. It wins immediately on 7 or 11, loses on 2, 3, or 12, and moves to the point stage when 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 appears. Canada players see it in RNG and live dealer craps where provincial rules allow online table games. The flat wager pays even money and carries a 1.41% house edge, while optional odds behind the line can reduce the blended edge when used correctly.
How the Pass Line Bet Works in Online Craps
The Pass Line follows a two-stage craps sequence: the come-out roll first, then the point cycle if needed. A 7 or 11 pays 1:1 straight away; 2, 3, or 12 ends the wager as a loss. When 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 becomes the point, the shooter must repeat that number before rolling 7. After a point is set, many tables allow an odds bet behind the Pass Line. That odds portion pays at true mathematical odds: 2:1 on 4 or 10, 3:2 on 5 or 9, and 6:5 on 6 or 8.
Pass Line House Edge and Odds Bet Value
The flat Pass Line bet has a 1.41% house edge, calculated from all come-out and point outcomes over the full dice cycle. The optional odds bet has 0% house edge because it pays true odds, but it increases the amount at risk on each resolved point. With the common 3-4-5x odds structure, using the maximum permitted odds lowers the combined house edge to about 0.37% relative to the total amount wagered. For Canada players, that makes the Pass Line a technically efficient craps wager, not a guaranteed profit strategy.
| Come-Out Roll | Result | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| 7 or 11 | Immediate win | 1:1 on flat bet |
| 2, 3, or 12 | Immediate loss | No payout |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 | Point established | Resolves later at 1:1 |
