Back Line

The Back Line in craps is another name for the Don’t Pass Line. It is one of the main bets on the craps table and represents betting against the shooter. Instead of hoping the shooter wins, you are wagering that they will eventually lose the round.

This type of bet is popular with players who prefer lower risk and a smaller house edge. While it may feel unusual to bet against the shooter, the Back Line is a standard and well-known option in both land-based and online craps games.

What Is the Back Line Bet?

A Back Line bet is placed before the shooter rolls the dice for the first time in a round, known as the Come Out roll. By placing this bet, you are predicting that the shooter will either lose immediately on the Come Out roll or fail to make the point later in the round. In simple terms:

Pass Line bet: you want the shooter to win
Back Line bet: you want the shooter to lose

How the Back Line Works

To understand the Back Line, you need to know how it behaves during different stages of the game.

Come Out Roll Results

The Come Out roll is the first roll of a new round. Here is how the Back Line bet is settled at this stage:

Roll of 2 or 3: Back Line bet wins
Roll of 7 or 11: Back Line bet loses
Roll of 12: usually a push, meaning the bet is returned
Roll of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10: a point is established

After a Point Is Set

Once a point is established, the shooter continues to roll until they hit the point number again or roll a 7\. For Back Line bettors, the objective is straightforward: you win if a 7 appears before the point number. If the shooter hits the point first, the Back Line bet loses.

Odds on the Back Line

Once a point is established, players can usually add odds to their Back Line bet. Odds bets pay true odds and have no house edge. The allowed size of the odds bet depends on the casino and may range from 1x to very high limits.

House Edge and Value

One of the biggest advantages of the Back Line is its low house edge. The house edge on a standard Back Line bet is about 1.36%, which is slightly lower than the Pass Line bet. For beginners, this means the Back Line is one of the safer long-term bets in craps, especially when combined with odds.

FAQ

What happens after a point is established?

After a point is set, the Back Line bet wins if a 7 is rolled before the point number. If the shooter rolls the point first, the bet loses.

Can you take odds on the Back Line?

Yes, once a point is established, you can usually add odds to a Back Line bet. Odds bets pay true odds and have no house edge, making the bet more favorable.