Thinking about upping your game at the craps table? The come bet is a common move that players use because it’s simple to understand and keeps you involved after the come-out roll.
If you’ve seen others place a come bet and wondered what happens next, this guide explains how it works, the payouts you can expect and practical tips to help you play with confidence.
Ready to see how a come bet fits into the flow of a craps round? Let’s get into it.
What Is a Come Bet in Craps?
A come bet is a wager you can place after the shooter’s come-out roll. It essentially creates a fresh contest for your chips that starts on the next roll. In many ways it parallels a pass line bet, but it can be made once the point for the current round is already established.
When you put chips in the marked “Come” area, the next roll has three possible kinds of results: an immediate win, an immediate loss, or the creation of a new point for your bet. If the roll is 7 or 11 you are paid even money; if it is 2, 3 or 12 you lose; any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10) becomes your personal come point and your chips are moved to that number on the layout. From there, your come bet wins if that number is rolled again before a 7 appears.
How Does a Come Bet Work at the Craps Table?
You place a come bet after the come-out roll by putting chips in the table’s “Come” box. The dealer (or the software in an online game) registers the wager and it applies to the very next roll. If that roll produces 7 or 11, the come bet pays even money; if it produces 2, 3 or 12, the bet is lost.
If the roll shows 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, that number becomes the come point for your bet and the chips are moved to the corresponding box. Once your bet sits on a point number, it stays active until either that number is rolled again (a win) or a 7 is rolled (a loss). This sequence mirrors the pass line bet’s structure, but the come bet creates its own separate point mid-round.
How to Place a Come Bet: Step-by-Step Guide
Placing a come bet is straightforward and applies whether you are at a live table or playing digitally. Here’s how it unfolds from the table’s perspective:
- Wait for the come-out roll to be completed and the point for the round to be in play.
- Place your chips in the “Come” area; online, select the come wager on screen.
- The next roll determines the outcome — an immediate win, immediate loss, or the establishment of a come point to which your bet is moved.
This process keeps your wager active without needing to wait for a new shooter or a fresh round. When your stake moves into a point position it remains on the table and you can, if you choose, take odds behind the come bet to increase potential returns.
1. Wait for the Come-Out Roll
The come bet can only be placed after the come-out roll, once the initial point for the round has been set. You must be sure the table is in the point phase before staking a come bet.
If you place a come bet before the come-out roll it will be treated as a pass line wager on most tables, so make sure to wait until the dealer announces the point is active or the online interface shows the point in play.
2. Place Your Chips on the “Come” Area
At a physical table, place chips in the clearly marked “Come” box; in an online game, select the come bet option on screen. The dealer or the software will register your stake and, at a live table, usually move your chips to show the bet has been accepted.
Make sure your chips are fully inside the designated area so the dealer can see them clearly. Online, double-check the stake shown on the interface before confirming the bet.
3. Wait for the Next Dice Roll
Once placed, your wager is active and the very next roll will determine whether it wins, loses or moves to a point. This means you do not need to wait for a new shooter or a fresh round to start playing again.
If the roll establishes a new come point, your bet will be moved to that number and will remain in play until that number or a 7 is rolled.
4. Watch What Happens
If the next roll is 7 or 11 your come bet wins and pays even money. If the roll is 2, 3 or 12 the come bet loses.
Any other number rolled becomes your come point and the bet stays in play until either that number is rolled again, which pays even money, or a 7 is rolled, which causes the bet to lose. If you wish, you can place odds behind your come bet once it is on a point to increase the potential payout.
Where Can You Place a Come Bet on the Table?
The “Come” area is usually located between the pass line and the number boxes on the table layout. Placing chips there tells the dealer your wager is a come bet. This makes clear that your stake is intended for the next roll rather than the initial come-out roll.
In live games the come area is part of the felt layout and you place physical chips directly on the marked space. Online versions vary in appearance, but they use an equivalent spot on the virtual layout or a dedicated button to indicate a come bet. The function is the same even if the visuals differ.
Common differences you may notice include:
- physical chips placed by the player in brick-and-mortar casinos versus automatic chip placement in online games,
- slightly different artwork or labelling between casinos, and
- touch or click controls on mobile and desktop versions that substitute for a dealer’s action.
Knowing where to place a come bet helps avoid confusion at the table and ensures the dealer or system recognises your intention for the next roll. Remember to gamble responsibly and within limits you can afford.
What Are the Payouts and Odds for Come Bets?
A come bet that wins immediately on a 7 or 11 pays even money (1:1). When your come bet moves to a number and that number is rolled again before a 7, it also pays even money. There is an additional choice to place odds behind your come bet once your personal come point is established; those odds pay at true mathematical rates:
- 4 or 10: pays 2:1
- 5 or 9: pays 3:2
- 6 or 8: pays 6:5
Taking odds increases the potential return because the additional wager has no house margin; the initial come bet remains subject to the casino’s built-in house edge. Whether to take odds depends on your bankroll and how you prefer to manage risk.
What Is the Difference Between Come Bets and Pass Line Bets?
Functionally, come bets and pass line bets behave the same once a point has been set. Both can win immediately or establish a point that must be rolled again before a 7. In other words, after a point exists, the resolution and basic math for the bet are identical.
The main difference is timing and how the bet is initiated. A pass line bet is placed before the come-out roll and follows the shooter’s opening outcome. If the shooter rolls a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on the come-out, that number becomes the table point for the pass line bet. A come bet, by contrast, is placed after the come-out roll and creates its own separate point on a subsequent roll.
Other distinctions to note include:
- Placement: pass line bets must be made before the come-out roll; come bets are placed any time after the come-out roll.
- Point linkage: a pass line bet is linked to the table point set by the come-out roll; a come bet establishes its own individual point independent of the original come-out point.
- Behaviour on subsequent rolls: a come bet only begins to act like a pass line bet once its own point is established on a later roll.
Both bet types allow you to back the main wager with odds, improving the expected return on the portion that is backed by odds. This does not change the house edge on the initial bet, but the additional odds wager pays at true odds and therefore reduces the overall casino advantage on the combined stake.
Remember to play responsibly and within your limits.
Common Myths About Come Bets Explained
Several misconceptions circulate about come bets. One frequent idea is that they offer better chances than other bets; in truth, their structure and payouts mirror the pass line bet, so they don’t provide a superior edge. Another misconception is that precise timing or particular betting patterns change outcomes; since each roll is independent, timing does not alter the mathematical probabilities built into the game. Finally, adopting or avoiding come bets as a blanket rule does not transform the house edge — it only changes the way your stakes are arranged across the table.
If you’re weighing these points, remember that knowing how the bets work helps you choose the style of play that suits you, rather than seeking a mechanical advantage.
Tips for New Players Making Come Bets
For those new to craps, come bets are a low-complexity way to stay engaged during a round. Start with smaller stakes to observe how come bets move into points and how odds interact with them. Decide on a session budget in advance and treat any losses as the cost of entertainment rather than an investment; walk away once you reach your limit.
Ask the dealer questions if you’re unsure how your chips will be moved on a live layout, and take advantage of practice modes in online games to see the mechanics in action without financial pressure. Avoid betting systems that promise to eliminate the house margin — none exist — and focus on understanding the flow so you can make choices that match your comfort level.
Where to Play Craps in the UK
Craps is available both in some brick-and-mortar casinos and online. In casinos, larger venues in major cities are more likely to host live tables; check ahead to confirm availability. Online, many casino platforms offer digital and live-dealer versions of the game for different preferences.
When choosing where to play, prefer operators that are regulated and provide clear information about game rules, payout tables and player protections. If you ever feel gambling is becoming a concern, support and self-exclusion options are available through national helplines and charities that offer confidential advice.
Craps can be fast-moving and social, and the come bet is a straightforward way to join the action after the come-out roll. Play with rules you understand, manage your stakes sensibly, and enjoy the experience for what it is.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.