The Don't Come Bet — Dark Side Mid-Hand

What Is the Don't Come Bet?

The Don't Come bet is the Don't Pass bet placed mid-hand — after the point is set. Just as the Come bet is a mid-hand Pass Line, the Don't Come is a mid-hand Don't Pass. You're betting against the shooter: you want a 7 before the number repeats, not the other way around.

The house edge is 1.36%, marginally lower than the Come bet's 1.41%. Stack Lay Odds on top and the combined edge drops to approximately 0.27% — the lowest of any craps betting approach. On paper, it's the sharpest multi-number strategy at the table. In practice, most craps tables are filled with Pass Line players, which means your wins come at the same moment everyone else loses. That social dynamic is the main reason dark-side play is less common.

How It Works

Like all Don't bets, the Don't Come has a personal come-out roll on the next throw after placement — with one key difference from the Come bet: winning and losing are largely reversed.

Step 1 — Place chips in the Don't Come bar. Available only after a point is established. The Don't Come area is typically above the Come area on the layout, often labelled "Don't Come Bar 12" — that "Bar 12" notation tells you that 12 is a push (not a loss) on your come-out, which is where the house edge lives.

Step 2 — Your personal come-out roll.
Roll 2 or 3 → win 1:1.
Roll 12 → push — your bet is returned. This is the "Bar 12."
Roll 7 or 11 → lose.
Roll 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 → your chip travels to that number box (in the corner, opposite to where Come bets sit).

Step 3 — Wait for the 7. Once traveled, you win if a 7 rolls before that number repeats. The shooter sevens out → you win. The shooter makes the number → you lose.

You can add Don't Come Lay Odds after your bet travels — you lay the larger number to win a smaller amount, reflecting that the 7 is the more likely outcome. Zero house edge on the Odds portion, same as Come Odds.

The Seven Flip: It Goes Both Ways

New players sometimes get confused because the 7 has opposite effects depending on whether a Don't Come bet has traveled or not. Here's the full picture:

The reversal is total: an 11 is a disaster before traveling (instant loss) but irrelevant after. A 7 is a loss before traveling but a win after. Understanding this is the fundamental literacy check for Don't Come betting.

50,000-Roll Simulation

The simulation models Don't Pass betting — mathematically equivalent to the Don't Come. Watch the 1.36% house edge emerge from the noise over many thousands of decisions. Individual sessions can swing widely; the edge only becomes clearly visible over tens of thousands of rolls.

Strategy & Tips

Lay Odds on Everything

Once a Don't Come bet travels, add Lay Odds. Lay Odds pay at true mathematical probability with zero house edge — the same principle as Don't Pass Lay Odds. You put up more to win less (since the 7 is the more likely outcome), but there's no house take. With max Lay Odds, the combined edge on your Don't Come + Lay Odds position drops to approximately 0.27%.

Bankroll Requirements Are Higher

Because Lay Odds require you to put up the larger side, Don't Come + Lay Odds ties up more capital per number than Come + Odds. On a Don't Come traveling to the 4 with 3x Lay Odds on a $10 flat bet: you're laying $60 to win $30. Factor this into your session bankroll — the math is better, but you need more capital on the table.

You Can Remove a Traveled Don't Come

Unlike a traveled Come bet (which is locked), a traveled Don't Come can be taken down at any time. Why? Because once a Don't Come travels, you're the statistical favourite — the 7 is more likely than the point number. The casino lets you surrender a winning position if you choose to. Most experienced dark-side players never take them down, since giving up the edge is self-defeating.

The Social Reality

At a table full of Pass Line bettors, every seven-out means you collect while everyone else groans. There's no rule against celebrating, but keeping it low-key makes for a more pleasant session. The math rewards you; the room doesn't have to know about it.

How It Compares

FAQ

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