Don't Betting Path:

Paths are guided shortcuts around the website teaching different parts of Craps. You can learn more about Paths here. Paths are guided shortcuts around the website teaching different parts of Craps. You can learn more about Paths here.

Betting a Don't Come Bet in Craps

You can think of the Don't Come as mini Don't Pass bets because they work the same way. They win and lose on the same numbers, and just like the Don't Pass, after a Point is rolled, it is betting against that Point. The Don't Come moves behind the Point and you can then Lay Odds. You can only make a Don't Come Bet during the Intermediate Roll, never during the Comeout Roll.

Don't Come - Intermediate Roll
Intermediate Roll Pays Wins Loses
In the Don't Come Even Money 2 or 3 7 or 11
Behind a Point Even Money 7 When Point Rolls
Don't Come - Comeout Roll
Comeout Roll Pays Wins Loses
Behind a Point Even Money 7 When Point Rolls
  • You can only make a Don't Come bet during the Intermediate Roll
  • Don't Come bets are not contract bets
Don't Come
Up close overhead view of the Don't Come betting area.

How Do You Bet a Don't Come Bet in Craps?

Don't Come bets are self-service so if the bet wins while in the DC, it is your responsibility to pick up your winnings. You do not need to tell the Dealer you are making the bet but would be a courtesy to let them know that it belongs to you.

How to bet a don't come bet
Multiple bets sitting in the Don't Come area.

What Are the Two Stages of a Don't Come Bet in Craps?

Stage One - In the Don't Come (DC)

The first stage of a Don't Come bet is the initial bet. This is when you place your bet in the DC and wait for a Point to be rolled. While in the DC the bet wins when the 2 or 3 are rolled and loses when the 7 or 11 are rolled. If the 12 rolls the Don't Come is a push, it doesn’t win or lose. Any other number that rolls must be a Point and the Don't Come bet moves behind that Point.

Stages of a Don't Come - Don't Come
$10 sitting in the Don't Come. The puck is on a point you cannot see.

Stage Two - Behind a Point

The second stage is behind a Point. The Don't Come is then betting the 7 will be rolled before the Point it is behind. If the Point rolls, your Don't Come Bet loses.

Once behind a Point, the Don't Come bet has the advantage because it wins on a 7 which is the most commonly rolled number. Regardless of which Point you move behind, you shouldn’t take it back.

Stages of a don't come bet - behind point
$10 sitting behind the point five. The puck is on a point you cannot see.

What Does "No Action" Mean at the Craps Table?

Some players don’t like their Don't Come bets to move behind certain Points, like the 6 or the 8, because they are the most commonly rolled Points and players think they’re likely to lose their bet. If a player doesn’t want a Don't Come bet to move behind a Point they can say “No Action”. This means if a Point rolls but they don't want their bet to move behind that Point, they could instead leave it in the DC. They are allowed to do this because none of the Don't bets are contract bets. If that bet moved behind a Point they could take it down and put it back in the DC. Saying “No Action” is used to save the time of the dealer moving the Don't Come bet behind the Point and then moving it back to the DC when a player doesn’t want it there.

Where Is Your Don't Come Bet on the Craps Table?

The boxes behind Points aren’t big enough to hold bets for eight players. Most of the time you wouldn’t have more than three or four Don't players at any given time so it's usually not a problem but there is still a general rule for where players bets are supposed to be placed.

Placement of a don't come behind a point
Up close view of the boxes behind the points and of the craps table rail. There are 16 bubbles corresponding with each other on betting area and the craps table rail.

What Does the Don't Come Bet Pay in Craps?

Regardless of weather or not a Don't Come bet is in the DC or behind a Point, it's going to win even money.

Don't Come Payment - In the Don't Come (DC)
$10 paid $10 in the Don't Come. Two purple dice 1-1 and another set show 1-2.
Don't Come Payment - Behind the Point
$10 paid $10 behind the point ten. Two purple dice show 2-5.

Don't Come Payment Calculator

Check the payment for a Don't Come Bet.

Check the payment for all the bets on the craps table here.

Don't Come Bets Are Always Working

Once behind a Point, the Don't Come is always betting against that Point. You cannot turn it “Off”. Even if a new Comeout Roll begins the Don't Come still wants a 7 to roll before the Point that it is behind. If you don’t want you Don't Come Bet behind a certain Point because you think it may roll, your only option is to take it back.

Don't come bets are always working
$25 sitting behind the point four. The puck is off and in the Don't Come.

How Can You Bet a Don't Come Bet for the Dealers?

You can make a Don't Come bet for the dealers just like the any of the other bets. You only need to place it in the DC and let the dealer know you are making a Don't Come bet for them. If a dealer sees random dollars sitting in the DC, they’re usually not going to assume it's a bet for them.

Dealer don't come
$1 sitting in the middle of the Don't Come.