A hop bet is a one-roll craps wager on a specific two-dice combination. “Three-three hopping” wins only if the next roll is 3-3. “Four-two hopping” wins if the next dice show a 4 and a 2 under the table’s booking convention.
The bet is more precise than wagering on a total. A total of 6 can arrive as 1-5, 2-4, 3-3, 4-2, or 5-1. A hop wager names one route—or a defined group of routes—to that total.
Hard hops and easy hops
Craps terminology separates combinations into two types.
| Hop type | Example | Ordered outcomes among 36 | Common net payout in the cited rule set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard hop | 3-3 | 1 | 30 to 1 |
| Easy or mixed hop | 4-2 / 2-4 | 2 | 15 to 1 |
A hard hop uses matching dice: 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, or 5-5. There is one ordered outcome for each pair.
A mixed combination such as 4 and 2 can appear in two orders: 4-2 or 2-4. Casino calls usually treat the named unordered pair as both orders, but players should confirm the local call and layout before the roll. Table terminology and available wagers vary.
The nearby hardway wager is different. A normal hardway can remain working over several rolls and loses if the number arrives the easy way or a 7 appears. A hardway on the hop resolves on the next roll only.
The payout looks large because the event is rare
With two fair six-sided dice there are 36 equally likely ordered outcomes.
For a hard hop:
Probability = 1/36 = 2.7778%
Fair net odds are 35 to 1. If the casino pays 30 to 1, expected value on a $1 bet is:
EV = (1/36 × $30) + (35/36 × −$1)
EV = −$5/36 ≈ −$0.1389
So the house edge is approximately:
13.89%
For a mixed hop with two winning ordered outcomes:
Probability = 2/36 = 1/18 = 5.5556%
Fair net odds are 17 to 1. At a 15-to-1 payout:
EV = (2/36 × $15) + (34/36 × −$1)
EV = −$4/36 ≈ −$0.1111
The house edge is approximately:
11.11%
Those calculations assume the stated payouts, fair independent dice, and no special promotional rule. A casino may offer a different approved paytable, so the layout or posted rules control.
The glossary pages for true odds and proposition bet provide the wider math and category.
What a call means at the table
Consider three calls:
- “Three-three hopping for five.” A $5 hard hop on 3-3.
- “Four-two hopping for five.” A $5 mixed hop on the 4-and-2 combination.
- “Hop the sixes for fifteen.” Potentially a divided wager across 1-5, 2-4, and 3-3, but the exact division and accepted terminology must be confirmed by the crew.
The third call is where misunderstandings begin. “The six” is a total. The hop action may cover several specific combinations with different payouts. If $15 is split as $5 on each route:
- 1-5 is a mixed hop;
- 2-4 is a mixed hop;
- 3-3 is a hard hop.
Only one component can win on a roll. The other two lose.
If 3-3 appears and the hard hop pays 30 to 1, the $5 winning component earns $150, while the two $5 mixed components lose. Net profit is therefore:
$150 − $10 = $140
If 4-2 appears and the mixed hop pays 15 to 1, that $5 component earns $75 and the other $10 loses:
$75 − $10 = $65
This is why the crew must hear the amount and the combinations before the dice settle. A vague call after the outcome cannot be reconstructed fairly.
Covering more combinations does not remove the edge
Players sometimes spread chips across several hops to create a more frequent hit. That changes the chance of collecting something, but each component still carries its own payout gap.
Using the earlier “hop the sixes for $15” example, with $5 on each of 1-5, 2-4, and 3-3:
- the two mixed hops cover four ordered outcomes and each carry an 11.11% edge at 15 to 1;
- the hard hop covers one ordered outcome and carries a 13.89% edge at 30 to 1;
- the group wins on 5 of the 36 ordered dice outcomes.
The weighted house edge is:
Weighted edge = [(2 × $5 × 11.11%) + ($5 × 13.89%)] ÷ $15
Weighted edge ≈ 12.04%
The expected loss per $15 group wager is therefore approximately:
$15 × 0.1204 = $1.81
The broader coverage raises the hit probability to 5/36, or about 13.89%, but it does not turn the group into a low-cost wager. It also produces two different net wins: $65 on a mixed six and $140 on hard 6 under the stated split and paytable. A player comparing wagers should track the total amount booked, not only how often one piece of the group may hit.
One roll means immediate turnover
A hop bet wins or loses on the next roll. It does not wait for a point cycle, and it does not become more likely because the combination has been absent.
The speed changes the cost. Suppose a player makes a $5 mixed hop on 50 rolls at an 11.11% house edge:
Total action = $5 × 50 = $250
Expected loss = $250 × 0.1111 ≈ $27.78
Actual results may include no hits, one hit, several hits, or a profit. Expected loss is the long-run average under the assumptions. The formula reveals why “only five dollars” can become meaningful when the bet is renewed every roll.
Official rules illustrate the distinction
The active Massachusetts rules describe hardway hops and named mixed combinations as one-roll wagers, and list 30-to-1 payouts for hard hops and 15-to-1 payouts for the named mixed hops. See the Massachusetts Craps and Mini-Craps rules. Other jurisdictions or casinos may authorize different wording or payouts, so this should not be treated as a universal paytable.
The rules also demonstrate why “to” matters. A 15-to-1 win returns $15 profit for each $1 wagered, plus the original stake. “15 for 1” would describe a different total return.
Dealer handling and dispute prevention
Hop bets are usually center action handled or directed by the stickperson, though table configuration varies. The operational risk is not the arithmetic alone; it is communication under time pressure.
A clean transaction identifies:
- the exact combination or combinations;
- the amount on each;
- whether the call has been accepted;
- the payout schedule;
- the next roll that resolves the wager.
Chips should be placed where the crew and cameras can associate them with the call. Late wagers require clear confirmation under the property’s procedure. If the dealer cannot book the call unambiguously before the outcome, the correct response is not to guess after the roll.
For a broader ranking of center action, read craps proposition bets ranked.
Hop bet versus nearby craps wagers
| Wager | What must happen | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Hop 4-2 | Next roll shows a 4 and a 2 | One roll |
| Any 6 hop group | One of the specifically booked 6 combinations appears | One roll |
| Hard 6 | 3-3 appears before an easy 6 or 7 | Multiple rolls possible |
| Field | Next total is one of the field numbers | One roll |
| Pass Line | Come-out and point sequence determine result | One or more rolls |
| Odds bet | Established point repeats before 7 | One or more rolls |
The comparison shows why a hop bet is not merely “betting on a number.” It is betting on the route and the immediate timing.
Players seeking lower-edge core craps action generally compare the Pass Line and odds bet rather than treating hop bets as a strategy. A hop can be a deliberate entertainment wager, but its precision, rapid resolution, and payout gap make it expensive to repeat.