In craps, the don’t come is one of the most misunderstood bets on the layout. It acts like a don’t pass bet made after the table point is already established, letting you bet that 7 will appear before a new number repeats. If you understand how it travels, how lay odds work, and what happens on 12, the bet becomes much easier to follow.
What don’t come Means
Definition: In craps, the don’t come is a wager made after the shooter’s point is already established. It mirrors a don’t pass bet for a later roll: 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, 12 usually pushes, and box numbers travel to a point that wins if 7 appears before that number repeats.
In plain English, a don’t come bet says: “Give me a new number, and I want a 7 before that number comes again.”
It matters in craps because it is one of the game’s core “dark side” bets. Unlike flashy proposition wagers, the don’t come is part of the main betting structure of the table, and many players use it to build multiple bets against different box numbers at once.
How don’t come Works
A don’t come bet can only be made after the table already has a point. If the puck is OFF and the table is on its main come-out roll, the comparable wager is the don’t pass, not the don’t come.
Step by step
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A point is on – Example: the shooter has already established 6 as the table point.
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You place a don’t come bet – Your chips go in the Don’t Come area.
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The next roll acts like a personal come-out roll for your bet – This roll does not change the table point unless it happens to be 7-out or the point is made. – For your don’t come bet, the result is:
| Next roll after placing the bet | Result for the don’t come bet |
|---|---|
| 2 or 3 | Wins |
| 7 or 11 | Loses |
| 12 | Pushes on most standard tables |
| 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 | Becomes your don’t come point |
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If a box number appears, the bet “travels” – The dealer moves your bet from the Don’t Come bar to that number. – That number is now your personal don’t come point.
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From there, 7 is your friend – If 7 appears before your number repeats, your bet wins. – If your number repeats before 7, your bet loses.
What “travels” means at the table
On a live craps table, the dealer physically moves your chips behind the number box once your don’t come point is established. That is why players say the bet “travels.”
This often confuses beginners because the table can now show two different ideas at once:
- the main table point for the shooter
- your individual don’t come point
Example:
- Table point: 8
- Your don’t come bet travels to: 5
Those are separate. Your don’t come bet is now rooting for 7 before 5, even while the shooter is trying to roll the table point.
Lay odds on a don’t come bet
Once your don’t come bet has traveled to a number, you may usually add lay odds behind it. This is the opposite-side version of taking odds on a pass or come bet.
Because 7 is more likely than any single box number, you risk more to win less:
| Don’t come point | Typical lay odds relationship | Example lay amount to win $10 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or 10 | Lay 2 to win 1 | Lay $20 to win $10 |
| 5 or 9 | Lay 3 to win 2 | Lay $15 to win $10 |
| 6 or 8 | Lay 6 to win 5 | Lay $12 to win $10 |
If 7 appears first:
- your flat don’t come bet wins even money
- your lay odds win at true odds
If the number repeats first, both the flat bet and the odds lose.
Odds limits vary by casino, table, and jurisdiction. One property may allow modest multiples, while another may allow much larger odds.
Why some players use it
Players use the don’t come for a few common reasons:
- to make a low-house-edge-style bet within standard craps rules
- to add multiple positions against different box numbers
- to mirror a don’t pass approach after the point is established
- to avoid higher-edge proposition bets in the center of the layout
None of that makes it a guaranteed winner. Craps is still volatile, and long runs against the “dark side” happen.
How dealers and casino staff treat it
Operationally, the don’t come is a routine core bet, but it requires accurate handling:
- the dealer must resolve the first roll correctly
- a traveling bet must be moved to the proper number
- lay odds must be set at the right ratio
- payouts must be correct if 7 appears first
Because of that, don’t come action is one of the places where dealer training and table accuracy matter. A missed travel or wrong odds amount can cause disputes quickly.
Where don’t come Shows Up
Land-based casino craps tables
This is the main setting for the don’t come bet. On a standard live craps table:
- you place the bet in the Don’t Come area
- the dealer moves it when a box number appears
- odds are placed behind the flat bet after it travels
- posted table limits and odds rules apply
The social feel also matters. Betting the don’t side is completely legitimate, but some players dislike seeing others root for a 7. Good etiquette helps: keep it quiet, avoid celebrating a seven-out at someone else’s expense, and let the dealer manage the action.
Stadium, hybrid, and electronic craps
Electronic and stadium craps versions usually include a don’t come option on the interface. The mechanics are similar, but the system may:
- auto-move the bet for you
- calculate odds buttons automatically
- show your active don’t come numbers digitally
This can be easier for beginners because the layout state is clearer than on a crowded live table.
Online casino craps
Where online craps is legal and offered, the don’t come may appear in:
- live dealer craps
- RNG or virtual craps
- hybrid remote table products
The rule flow is generally the same, but availability varies a lot by operator and jurisdiction. Some online casinos do not offer craps at all, and some offer only limited table-game versions.
Why It Matters
For players
The don’t come matters because it teaches an essential part of craps structure: not every bet follows the main shooter point in the same way.
If you understand the don’t come, you also understand:
- how personal points work
- why 7 can be good for some bets and bad for others
- how odds differ on the right side versus the dark side
- why table layout reading matters in live craps
It is also one of the more practical bets for players who want to stay within the main framework of the game instead of chasing center-table action.
For operators and dealers
For casinos, the don’t come is important because it is a standard rules bet that must be handled cleanly and consistently. It affects:
- dealer training
- payout accuracy
- speed of game
- dispute prevention
- layout usability
A table with several active don’t come bets can become more complex to track, especially when multiple players have different numbers working at the same time.
For risk and procedure
The don’t come is not a compliance-heavy term like a payment or KYC rule, but there is still operational risk:
- wrong first-roll resolution
- incorrect travel placement
- mistaken lay odds ratios
- confusion between the table point and personal don’t come points
That is why experienced dealers repeat calls clearly and position chips carefully. On digital or online versions, the software has to mirror these rules correctly.
Related Terms and Common Confusions
The don’t come is often mixed up with several other craps bets. Here is the cleanest way to separate them.
| Term | What it means | How it differs from don’t come |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t Pass | A dark-side bet made before the table’s main come-out roll | Don’t pass starts the round; don’t come is placed only after a point already exists |
| Come Bet | A pass-line-style bet made after the point is on | Come wants the number to repeat before 7; don’t come wants 7 before the number |
| Lay Odds | Extra odds placed behind a don’t pass or don’t come point | Lay odds are an add-on after the don’t come travels; they are not the flat bet itself |
| Lay Bet | A direct bet against a specific number, usually through the dealer | A lay bet goes straight onto a number; don’t come first has its own resolving roll and then travels |
| Put Bet | A bet placed directly on a point number without waiting for a come roll | A put bet skips the travel process; don’t come does not |
| Come-Out Roll | The opening roll for a pass/don’t pass decision | A don’t come creates its own mini come-out roll after the table point is already set |
The most common misunderstanding
The biggest mistake is thinking a don’t come bet is just “the same as laying a number.”
It is not.
A lay bet goes directly against a chosen number. A don’t come bet first faces its own roll:
- 2 or 3 can win immediately
- 7 or 11 can lose immediately
- 12 usually pushes
- only then can it travel to a number
That first-roll feature is what makes the don’t come its own distinct craps bet.
Practical Examples
Example 1: A don’t come bet travels and wins
- Table point is 6
- You place $10 in the Don’t Come area
- Next roll is 9
Your bet now travels to 9.
You decide to lay odds and put $15 behind the bet, which is the standard true-odds lay amount to win $10 against 9.
Then the rolls go:
- 4 — nothing happens to your bet
- 7 — your don’t come bet wins
Your result:
- Flat don’t come bet wins $10
- Lay odds win $10
- Total profit: $20
Example 2: Immediate win on the first roll
- Table point is 5
- You place a $25 don’t come bet
- The next roll is 3
Because 2 and 3 win for the don’t come on its first roll, your bet wins immediately.
Your result:
- Profit: $25
The bet never travels to a number.
Example 3: Don’t come loses after traveling
- Table point is 8
- You place $10 don’t come
- Next roll is 6
Your bet travels to 6.
You lay $12 odds behind it to win $10.
The next roll is 6 again.
That means your don’t come point repeated before 7 showed.
Your result:
- Flat bet loses $10
- Lay odds lose $12
- Total loss: $22
Example 4: Multiple don’t come bets at once
A more advanced but common live-table scenario:
- Table point is 4
- On one roll, your first don’t come bet travels to 9
- On a later roll, you make another don’t come bet, and it travels to 6
Now you have two separate dark-side positions working:
- one wins if 7 before 9
- one wins if 7 before 6
This is one reason craps can look confusing from the rail. Different players may have different bets with different preferred outcomes on the same roll.
Limits, Risks, or Jurisdiction Notes
Rules and availability for craps can vary by operator and jurisdiction, so players should verify the exact table rules before betting.
Key variations to check
- Push number on the first roll: most standard US tables bar the 12, meaning 12 pushes on don’t pass and don’t come, but some variants may differ
- Odds limits: casinos may allow different maximum odds behind a don’t come bet
- Game format: live table, stadium craps, and online versions may display and process the bet differently
- Availability: online craps is not legal or offered everywhere
Common mistakes
- placing a don’t come bet when the puck is OFF
- forgetting that 12 usually pushes, not wins
- confusing the table point with the don’t come point
- laying the wrong odds amount
- assuming a don’t come bet behaves exactly like a direct lay bet
Practical risks
The biggest non-rules risk is bankroll spread. A player can build several don’t come positions in a relatively short span, especially on a busy table. That can increase total exposure faster than expected.
It is also worth remembering the social side of live craps. Betting against the shooter is allowed, but reacting loudly to losing rolls for other players can create tension. Good table manners matter.
Before acting, check:
- the posted table minimum
- maximum lay odds
- whether bets are working by default in that game format
- any house-specific instructions from the dealer
FAQ
What is the don’t come bet in craps?
The don’t come is a dark-side craps bet made after the table point is established. It works like a don’t pass bet for a later roll: 2 or 3 wins, 7 or 11 loses, 12 usually pushes, and box numbers become a don’t come point that wins if 7 comes first.
When can you place a don’t come bet?
You place a don’t come bet only after a point is already on. If the puck is OFF and the table is on its main come-out roll, the comparable wager is the don’t pass.
Does 12 win on a don’t come bet?
Usually no. On most standard craps tables, 12 pushes on the first roll of a don’t come bet. Some rule sets vary, so it is smart to confirm the layout or ask the dealer.
Can you take odds on a don’t come bet?
You can usually add lay odds after the bet travels to a number. The amount you can lay depends on the number and the table’s odds limits.
Is the don’t come better than the come bet?
Not universally better, just different. The come bet supports the shooter; the don’t come bets against the number repeating. Many players prefer the don’t come because it stays within the main craps structure and usually carries a lower built-in edge than many proposition bets, but outcomes still depend on the dice.
Final Takeaway
The don’t come is best understood as the after-the-point version of the don’t pass. You place it once a point is on, survive its own first-roll rules, and then hope 7 shows before your assigned number repeats.
If you remember the three key ideas, you will avoid most beginner mistakes: 2 and 3 win, 7 and 11 lose, 12 usually pushes, and any box number travels. For anyone learning craps strategy, layout reading, or basic table etiquette, understanding the don’t come is essential.
