A hop bet is a prime offering available at many casinos. Essentially, they are used when someone has developed a signature roll, and you need to keep the dealer in the loop with what you are doing.
A hop bet can also be described as proposition bets, and they can be split into easy hops or hard hops. Generally, they will serve up more than two ways to win. For example, an easy hop bet will see you wager on the dice landing on two numbers from one play. Combinations such as 3-2, 4-3, or 6-3 would all be considered to be place bets that are also easy hops.
Whereas, if both numbers from the roll bet are the same, then these will be considered a hard hop. So, a hard hop would entail the same number being rolled at the table, such as 6-6 or 5-5. The only difference between these two types of hops when playing craps, is that with a hard hop, there is only one way to win. Also, with hard hops, the payout is 30/1, while with easy hops, the odds are halved (15/1).
How to bet in number craps hop bets
All wagers will be resolved within a single bet at the craps table, but unlike the pass line bet or don’t pass bet, you can’t just make a hop bet without letting the dealer know what you are doing. Therefore, it is a type of secret bet, and the same principle applies for 1 hopping.
To illustrate how hop bets work playing craps, let’s use an example. So if you placed your chips on the table layout, then you might tell the dealer to do so on a 4-4 or a hard eight dice combination. The payout for a hard eight might stand at 9/1 while the true odds for hop bets are 30/1.
You might also jump on a hop with a 5-3 bet from a single roll, and the dealer will pay if you win your wager, while the house will keep your money if you lose. Hop bets can be made before rolls, but to do so on a come out roll is quite rare. Remember, once the shooter has the dice, the dealer will put a stop to more bets at the table. You should also check that the casino you wish to play at has payout odds of 30/1 for hard way hops, as some have a policy of paying out at 15/1.
HOP BET STRATEGY
If you want to master a few hop betting strategies, the following should stand you in good stead.
Go for a hop bet if you want a big score
A hop bet will suit those who like to score big on more than one dice. As we have seen, winning place bets on a 6 and 8 will have a 7/6 chance of coming off. Pass, come, and don’t pass won’t provide value as they are available at even money if you win with this bet. As such, those who have a hunch while wagering will count hop bets among their favourite type of bets at casinos even if they want a long-term win that won’t come from just one roll of the dice.
Use the Fibonacci progression system
While hop betting has many combinations, a good way for a shooter to get ahead is to aim to wager on a hard eight (4,4). Or if you want to hop on 7s, you can add to your previous bets when you wager on the total. Although you should always consider the house edge before your next roll, by adding to your two bets, this will suit VIP players who have a more dispensable bankroll and they can cushion the blow if they lose on hardway hops.
Craps hop bets odds and payouts
If you look closely at the craps table layout, some easy hops will pay well on two combinations, such as 1-3 or 4-5. Our chart below shows what you stand to win on a particular combination, in this case, landing hard hops when you roll the dice. And compared to a horn bet, for example, a hop bet might be a more attractive proposition.
Easy hop bets
| Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 15 | 2 | 0.055556 | 0.833333 |
| Loss | -1 | 34 | 0.944444 | -0.944444 |
| Total | 36 | 1.000000 | -0.111111 |
Easy hop bets, as we see can be quite profitable in a game, although be aware that it comes with a house edge of 11%, and the same would apply to an 11 bet, which is also common in the game. Note above that if you wish to place a horn bet, then you should do it little and often if you wish to experiment as a hop bet is arguably more reliable.
Differences between single and multi-roll hop bets in craps
With a hop bet, bets are quick fire and so players must be decisive when they are betting in the game. Craps can be divided into single rolls and multi hop rolls. A multi roll type of bet, for example, offers more than two possible combinations. So, you could indulge in some place bets that consist of payouts odds equal to 9/5 for a four, and 10 or 7/5 for five and nine, or payout odds of 7/6 for 6 and 8.
Place bets can be removed from the table at the casino, but this can’t be declared “off” by the player. This can also consist of a buy bet. This type of place bet will see a player pay a 5% commission on top of the value staked to make a place bet where any wins will be paid out at true odds. There is also a lay bet, which we discussed earlier, and they will be made before the come out roll.
In contrast, the single roll bet is the outcome of the next roll, which will be determined by the shooter. With this kind of hop bet, the requirements will be laid out clearly at the table for your next roll.
These kinds of bets come in many guises — the field, for example, will be the outcome of the next throw of the dice. The numbers usually contained in a field will be two, three, four, or nine, 10, 11, and 12, and you should be aware of the house edge. The actual odds are as low as 0% if the field bet pays at 3/1 on both the 2 and 12.
Or, you will also notice that a whirl/world bet is a type of betting method used for craps at a casino. This involves the fifth unit of the bet with a seven being tossed with two dice. This has a payout of 26/5 for two and 12 if successfully wagered by the shooter or a combination of three and 11, which has an 11/5 chance.
A single roll style of bet can also involve 1 hopping, and this is drilled down further into hard and soft hops. However, remember, that wins may be gathered more quickly with soft hops, as the house edge provided by the casino swings more in your favour.
Advantages and disadvantages of hop bets in craps.
While you can lose heavily playing this game, some players can reap the benefits from using hops at the casino, and there are also some downsides when you make a dice roll, which we have addressed in this section.
Pros
- Can hedge your bets – With a hop bet, you can bide your time and the actual chances for making easy hops can be quite appealing, usually 15/1. As such, if you have a limited bankroll, this type of wager will be good for use on only one dice, and the point is that you can do so with confidence once you have wagered. And you can gain a big win along the way too with number rolls.
- Payout more generous than easy way wagers – Hops can help garner more wins at a casino, and they will give players more of a profit compared to easy way style of wagers. Look at your previous two bets before diving straight in.
Cons
- Single roll bet isn’t so lucrative for all players – This isn’t necessarily what it is all cracked up to be. With a house edge of over 10%, they can quickly drain the bankroll of a player. As such these types of one roll bets will mean you will have more success playing other casino games, such as roulette. They are not built for players looking to build up a reasonable strategy when they roll the dice.
- House edge a major setback – With hard hops, the house edge is a big drawback. Trying to hit one combination can be harder, and you may find it easier to win with another type of bet.
Summary
Hops aren’t designed to be easy, but if you are the sort of player that likes a challenge or likes to hit two different numbers on the board, then you will certainly see the point in them. There are a variety of ways to win, especially if you get the right combination, and if you wish to venture from the norm, then maybe a hardway hop could be up your street.