What is a hop bet in craps

A hop bet lets you call the exact dice combo you think will hit on the next roll. You won't find hop bets marked anywhere on the table. You just tell the dealer what you want.

What is a hop bet in craps?

Hop bets are all about picking one exact dice combo. You're not betting on a total like 8 or 10. Instead, you're calling out the exact numbers you want each die to land on, like 5-3 or 4-4. If the next roll matches your call, you win. If it doesn't, you lose. That's it.

Hop bets are weird. They're not even printed on the table. You won't find a marked spot for them like you would for the pass line or field bet. You place a hop bet by telling the stickman (that's the dealer running the dice in the middle).

Three things make hop bets different:

• One-roll wager: Your bet wins or loses on the next throw. No waiting for a point to hit or a seven-out.
• Exact combination: You're picking both dice numbers, not just what they add up to. Betting on a 9 means choosing 6-3 or 5-4, not just "nine."
• Verbal request: Nothing's marked on the felt, so you just call it out and toss your chips to the middle.

Hop bets settle right away, which is perfect if you want fast results. You pay for that speed with a bigger house edge. More on that in a bit.

Hard hop vs easy hop explained

Hop bets are split into two types: hard and easy. It depends on whether both dice match or show different numbers.

A hard hop means both dice show the same number. Rolling a hard 8, for example, requires both dice to show 4. There's only one way for that to happen: 4-4. Easy hops have two different numbers. An easy 8 could be 6-2 or 5-3, and since each of those combinations can also appear reversed (2-6 or 3-5), you have more ways to win.

• Hard hop: Doubles only. Like 3-3 for a hard 6. There's just one way to hit it.
• Easy hop: Mixed numbers. Like 4-2 for an easy 6. You've got two ways to win, since 4-2 and 2-4 both work.

That difference in odds changes what you get paid. Hard hops pay more because they're tougher to hit. Easy hops are easier to roll, which means smaller payouts.

Hop bet payouts and craps odds

Payouts match how hard each combo is to roll. Hard hops only have one way to hit. Easy hops have two. So the hard bet pays better.

Easy hop payouts

Easy hops typically pay 15 to 1. You're betting on something like 5-2, and it counts whether the dice show 5-2 or 2-5. Two shots instead of one. Still a long shot, but twice as likely as a hard hop.

Hard hop payouts

Hard hops pay 30 to 1 at most tables. Double 4s or double 5s? There's only one way to roll those, so the payout is bigger to match those long odds. Some casinos pay 29 to 1 instead, bumping the house edge up a bit.

Craps hop bet payout chart

Payouts aren't the same everywhere. You might see 14 to 1 on easy hops or 29 to 1 on hard hops, and that shifts the house edge. Check what they're paying before you bet, especially at a new spot.

How to place a hop bet at the craps table

Hop bets aren't on the table layout, so you can't just drop chips on a spot. Live tables and online games handle it a little differently.

Placing hop bets at a live casino

At a physical table, you call out your bet to the stickman before the shooter releases the dice. Something like "hop the 3-2" or "hopping hard 8" tells the dealer exactly what you want. Toss your chips to the middle, and the stickman puts them down for you.

Timing matters here. If you call your bet after the dice leave the shooter's hand, the dealer will likely wave it off. Win, and the stickman calls it out. Dealer pays you right there.

Placing hop bets at an online casino

Not every online craps game offers hop bets. If the game has them, look in a side menu or prop bet section. They're not on the main layout. The game does the talking for you. Just click the combo you want.

Crypto craps tables at JB display all proposition options clearly before each roll, making it easy to place hop bets without hunting through menus. Shopping for online hop bets? Find tables that list all the one-roll options upfront.

Hop bet house edge compared to other craps bets

Hop bets have a way bigger house edge than most craps bets. That's the cost of chasing a 15-to-1 or 30-to-1 payout on a single roll.

Here's what that looks like next to other bets:

Pass line and odds bets are still your best shot math-wise. Hop bets are on the other end. You're trading better odds for a shot at a big single-roll payday.

But house edge isn't everything. Some people enjoy the volatility, and a 30-to-1 payout on a lucky call can make a session memorable. Just know what you're giving up when you place one.

Is the hop bet worth it?

Hop bets make sense if you're after big, fast action. Don't expect to grind profits with hop bets. They're high-variance wagers that either hit big or miss entirely.

• Upside: Big payouts when you hit.
• Downside: House edge is 5 to 10 times worse than the pass line.
• Best fit: You like long shots now and then, not steady grinding.

Treat hop bets like entertainment, not strategy, and they're fine for mixing things up. Just don't expect them to carry your bankroll over time.

When the hop bet makes sense

Some experienced players use hop bets in certain spots instead of throwing them around randomly. The most common scenario is hopping the 7 as a hedge.

Say you've got money on several place bets and you're worried about a seven-out. Hopping 6-1, 5-2, or 4-3 cushions the hit if it comes. You're essentially betting that if the 7 does come, at least you'll collect something on the hop.

Some players hop numbers based on 'signature roll' ideas. They think certain shooters hit specific combos more often. Does it work? Who knows. But it's why you'll see hop bets during hot rolls.

Just understand the trade-off. Every hop bet costs you more edge than a regular bet. Use them sparingly, and only if you're actually into high-variance action.

FAQs about hop bets in craps

How much does hopping the 7 pay in craps?

Hopping the 7 pays 15 to 1 because you're betting on an easy hop. Combos like 6-1, 5-2, and 4-3 can each hit two ways (6-1 and 1-6, for example), so they pay like other easy hops.

Can you hop any number in craps?

Yes, you can hop any dice combination from 2 through 12. But you're calling exact dice faces, not just the total. Hopping a 9 means choosing 6-3, 5-4, or another exact pairing rather than just saying "nine."

What is the difference between a hop bet and a hardway bet?

A hardway bet keeps going for multiple rolls until it hits or loses. A hop bet wins or loses on the next throw. Both can target doubles like 4-4. But hop bets are one-roll only, pay more, and can't survive if the same total hits the soft way.

Do all casinos offer hop bets in craps?

Not every casino offers hop bets, and payouts change from place to place. Some pay 30 to 1 on hard hops, others pay 29 to 1. That shifts the house edge. Ask the dealer or check the rules before betting, especially online.