Come Bet vs Don't Come Bet
What this guide covers
Come and don't come bets extend the pass line and don't pass logic to any point during a round, letting you effectively start new line-style bets after the table's main point is already set. This guide covers exactly how they work and how they compare to each other. For how they relate to their line-bet counterparts, see pass line vs don't pass bets; for the broader betting menu they belong to, see craps betting guide.
How the come bet works
A come bet can be placed at any point after the table's main point is established. The very next roll after you place it functions as that bet's own personal come-out roll: a natural (7 or 11) wins immediately, craps (2, 3, or 12) loses immediately, and any other number becomes that specific come bet's own point — tracked independently of the table's main point, on its own labeled position on the layout. It pays even money with a 1.41% house edge, identical to pass line.
How the don't come bet works
Don't come mirrors come exactly the way don't pass mirrors pass line: it loses on that first roll if it's a natural, wins if it's craps (with the same barred-number push rule, typically on 12), and then wins during the subsequent phase if a 7 appears before its own established point repeats. It pays even money with a 1.36% house edge, matching don't pass's marginal edge advantage.
The key difference from line bets: timing flexibility
The defining difference between come/don't come and pass line/don't pass isn't the underlying win/lose logic — it's when they can be placed. Pass line and don't pass can only be wagered before a come-out roll; come and don't come can be wagered on any roll once the table already has a point established, effectively letting you start a fresh "personal" point-tracking bet whenever you choose during the point phase.
Why come bets let you cover more numbers
Because you can place multiple come bets across different rolls, each establishing its own independent point, an active player can have several numbers "working" simultaneously — the table's main point (via pass line) plus two or three additional numbers via separate come bets. This is the mechanical foundation of strategies like the 3-point Molly, covered in craps strategy guide, which specifically uses multiple come bets to build broader simultaneous coverage.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Come | Don't come |
|---|---|---|
| When it can be placed | Any roll once a point is established | Any roll once a point is established |
| Wins on its own "come-out" | 7 or 11 | 2 or 3 (12 pushes) |
| Loses on its own "come-out" | 2, 3, or 12 | 7 or 11 |
| Wins in its point phase | Its own point repeats | 7 appears first |
| Payout | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| House edge | 1.41% | 1.36% |
| Can add odds? | Yes | Yes |
A worked example of a come bet
Suppose the table's main point is 6 (from your pass line bet), and you place a $10 come bet. The next roll is a 9 — this becomes your come bet's own personal point, and the dealer moves your $10 wager to the "9" position specifically marked for come bets. The shooter then rolls a 4 (no effect on either your pass line or come bet), then a 9 again — your come bet wins $10 at even money, while your pass line bet (still tracking 6) remains active and unaffected.
Adding odds to come and don't come bets
Once a come bet establishes its own point, you can back it with odds exactly as you would a pass line bet — same payout ratios (2:1 on 4/10, 3:2 on 5/9, 6:5 on 6/8), same zero house edge on the odds portion. This means the "maximize odds" principle from craps strategy guide applies to every active come bet you're running, not just your original pass line wager.
Managing multiple come bets
Because each come bet tracks its own point independently, running several simultaneously requires paying attention to which number belongs to which bet — online interfaces typically display this clearly with each bet labeled by its position, which is considerably easier to track than at a fast-moving physical table where you're relying on memory and the dealer's placement. See how to play craps online for more on how online software handles this bet-tracking clarity.
Why don't come is less commonly used than come
Just as don't pass is less popular than pass line for social reasons, don't come sees less use than come — you're betting against whatever number your own come bet establishes, on top of already potentially betting against the table's main point if you're also running a don't pass bet. Players who prefer don't-side play throughout their session (don't pass plus don't come) are being consistent in their overall table stance, even though it's a less common combination than pass-line-plus-come.
Come and don't come during the come-out roll
An important nuance: you can't place a come or don't come bet during the table's actual come-out roll (before any point is established) — these bets specifically require an already-active point phase to exist, since their entire mechanism depends on treating a subsequent roll as their own "come-out." Once the table enters its point phase, come and don't come bets become available until the next actual come-out roll resets things.
Frequently asked questions
Can I place a come bet before the table's first come-out roll? No — come and don't come bets require the table to already be in its point phase; they can't be placed during an actual come-out roll.
How is a come bet different from just betting pass line again? It functions identically in win/lose logic, but establishes its own independent point separate from the table's main point, letting you track multiple numbers simultaneously rather than being limited to just the current point.
Can I add odds to a come bet the same way as pass line? Yes — once a come bet establishes its own point, it can be backed with odds using the same payout ratios and zero house edge as pass line odds.
Why would I use multiple come bets instead of just one pass line bet? Running multiple come bets lets you have several numbers actively working simultaneously, broadening your coverage across a round at the cost of more total action wagered.
Is don't come as popular as come? No — like don't pass versus pass line, don't come sees less use due to the social dynamic of betting against your own established point, despite carrying a marginally better house edge.
Do come and don't come bets follow the same barred-number rule as pass line and don't pass? Yes — don't come pushes rather than wins on the same barred number (typically 12) during its own personal come-out roll, exactly mirroring don't pass's rule.
