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Magazine Backyard Craps 1 min read

Pass Line and Snake Eyes: Street Craps and the Power of Seven

Did you know?

How two dice against a brick wall created the fairest game in gambling.

The number 7 is the king of dice: with two six-sided dice, there are exactly 6 ways to roll a 7 — higher than any other total. The entire game of Craps is built around this single probability peak.

Craps did not originate in luxury casinos. It was forged in alleyways and on railroad docks across New Orleans and New York. Players needed no dealers or velvet layouts — just a pair of dice and a backstop brick wall to prevent cheating ("Street Craps").

The foundational Pass Line bet remains one of the fairest odds in any casino, carrying a slim house edge of just 1.41%:

  • On the initial "Come-Out" roll, a 7 or 11 wins instantly.
  • Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 is an immediate loss ("Craps"). Rolling two ones is famously called "Snake Eyes" for its resemblance to a serpent's glare.
  • Any other number sets the "Point". The shooter must roll that point again before rolling a 7.

The game became an official casino staple only when John H. Winn introduced the "Don't Pass" bet, allowing players to bet against the shooter and neutralizing the threat of loaded dice.

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