When a 7 ends a shooter's turn, come bets that are already traveling on a number lose. That surprises nearly every beginner the first time it happens — and it is the single most common source of frustration at the craps table.
What exactly is a seven-out?
A seven-out occurs when the shooter rolls a 7 during the point phase — after a main point has been established. That 7 ends the shooter's turn. The pass line loses. Any come bets sitting on box numbers lose too.
It does not matter how long those come bets have been on the number. A come bet on the 8 that has been waiting ten rolls still vanishes the moment a 7 appears.
So why does a 7 sometimes win a come bet?
Here is where beginners get tangled. A brand-new come bet — one placed in the COME area on this exact roll — wins immediately if a 7 or 11 comes up. That is called a natural.
But a come bet that has already traveled to a box number is in a different phase entirely. It needs its number to repeat before a 7. A 7 at that point kills it.
Two different phases. Two different outcomes. Same roll.
Why can the same 7 win one bet and lose another?
Because each come bet runs on its own independent clock. Think of it as a personal pass line bet. Once your come bet travels to, say, the 6, it behaves exactly like a pass line bet with 6 as the point. A 7 now beats it.
For a fuller picture of why the bet moves in two stages, see our guide on how the come bet works across two rolls and two phases. Understanding that movement removes almost all the confusion.
What about the new come-out roll after a seven-out?
This is a second surprise. After a seven-out, the next shooter starts fresh with a new come-out roll. On that come-out, a 7 is a winner for anyone holding a pass line bet.
But any come bet you place before that roll resolves on the roll it is made. If a 7 comes on the come-out, your new come bet wins as a natural. That is fine. The confusion hits players who had a come bet traveling from the previous shooter — those bets are already gone from the seven-out.
How do I avoid the confusion at the table?
- Watch the white ON puck. When it sits on a box number, a point is live and come bets can be placed.
- Remember that any come bet you place is resolved on its very next roll — a 7 or 11 wins, a 2/3/12 loses, any box number sends it traveling.
- Once traveling, your come bet loses on a 7, full stop.
- Tell the dealer "odds on my [number], please" after your bet travels. Forgetting means you are playing at a higher effective house edge than necessary.
The come bet carries a house edge of 1.41% — one of the best wagers on the table. Adding free odds behind it drops that edge even further. You can find the full ranking of low-edge craps wagers on our page covering the best low house-edge bets at a craps table.
If you want to build a strategy around multiple come bets, the Three Point Molly approach uses a pass line bet plus two traveling come bets, each backed with maximum odds, to cover three numbers at once at minimal combined house edge.
For everything else about how the table is set up and where all bets live, start with craps rules and table layout as a beginner's starting point. Getting the layout clear in your head makes the seven-out rule click much faster.
According to casino.org's come bet explainer, the seven-out confusion is the most common mistake new players make — so if it tripped you up, you are in good company. Must be 21+ to play at real-money craps sites. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.