NEW.....9/2025
FULL GAME PRACTICE VIDEO
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

The text below explains the bet rules. The videos below the text show you how the bets are played on a live game. 

Before We Begin…
If this is your first time hosting a party game with friends or family who’ve never played craps, keep it simple.
Jumping into the complicated bets too soon can turn a fun night into a confusing mess—and your beginner guests won’t enjoy it.
Too much, too soon.
Start with the basics, just like in the beginner video.
Let everyone get comfortable, have some laughs, and get a feel for the flow. You can always introduce more on their next visit.

6:5 Odds on 6 & 8
Here’s how it usually goes down: the shooter’s on a roll, chips are stacking up, and the newbie decides to press their 6 or 8 to $300. It hits. The dealer pays them even money. 
“Wait...how much should that pay?”

That’s when you, the host, step in with a grin:
"The 6 & 8 place bets - true odds - should pay even money plus 20% ."
​
And then you drop the line: “You want 6:5 odds? You gotta pay that when you deal. I’ll help you.”
Suddenly, 6:5 odds are the hottest thing since free beer.
Bottom Line:
Let them feel the sting of even money first. Once they catch on, they won’t want it any other way. It just clicks. And the best part? You never even had to push it.
Video below covers 6 to 5 odds AND why my party games are $25 minimum bets.

What Is a Field Bet in Craps?
The Field Bet is the party trick of craps. It’s a one-roll bet.
The Payouts:
2 or 12: Pay 3:1. Example: A $100 bet pays $300.
The 3, 4, 9, 10, 11: These pay even money.
$25 Minimum bet
Bet limit = $500 on a $500 limit game and $1000 on a $1000 limit game
 
Bottom Line:
The Field Bet is the junk food of craps quick, satisfying if you hit it, and gone before you know it.
I usually introduce the field bet when beginner(s) visit for the second time. Sometimes however its gets introduced in the second or third round on the first night. Video below incorporates the field bet into the game.

Hardways Bets – 
​The Tough Way to Win (But Not a One-Roll Gamble)

Hardways bets are simple: you’re betting that the dice will land in perfect pairs. It’s like saying, “I don’t want the easy way--I want the show-off version.” Here’s the lineup:
Hard-4: Two 2s (2+2) Pays 8x bet
Hard-6: Two 3s (3+3) Pays 10x bet
Hard-8: Two 4s (4+4) Pays 10x bet
Hard-10: Two 5s (5+5) Pays 8x bet

How You Win (and Mostly Lose):
Win: If the number rolls the hard way--matching pairs.
Lose: If it rolls easy...
Hard 4 loses if the shooter throw a 3-1
Hard 6 loses if the shooter throws a 4-2 or a 5-1
Hard 8 losses if the shooter throws a 5-3 or 6-2
Hard 10 looses if the shooter throws a 6-4
All the Hardways lose if the shooter throws a Seven-Out!

True Odds Home Party Game Rules:
Off on Come Out Roll: Unlike a casino, Hardways are off during the Come Out Roll.
Down: Not feeling it? Call “Hardways Down” and get your chips back--no judgment...well, maybe a little.​
$5 Minimum bet (Each)
Bet limit = $100 on a $500 limit game and $200 on a $1000 limit game
 
Bottom Line:
Hardways are the slow dance--the bet that lingers and teases.
​I usually Introduce the Hardways after the Field bet. Normally second round on second visit. Beginners love the Hardways.
Video below incorporates the Hardways and the field into the game.

HORN BET
(Beginner's Game)

HORN options such as..
STRIGHT UP - SPLITS - HORN HIGH BETS - WORLD - 3 WAYS - HOP BETS- (Yes the 2,3,11&12 one roll - are Hop Bets)
​I personally leave those to casino odds games.
Keep It Simple (For Beginners): In a real casino, the Horn Bet and it's fractionalized betting structure is like trying to explain Wi-Fi to your grandparents--messy and confusing. Way too many options for beginners. But at a True Odds Home Party Game, we keep it stupid simple.

The Horn Bet in a home party game is a one-roll prop bet. You’re betting that the next roll will land on 2, 3, 11, or 12.
Payouts (True Odds Home Party Game)
3 or 11 → 3.5x your bet amount
Example: A $100 Horn bet pays $350.
2 or 12 → 8x your bet amount
Example: A $100 Horn bet pays $800.

$20 Minimum bet - (And you should bet in increments of 10 - 20 - 30- 40 - 50 ...
​Bet limit = $100 on a $500 limit game and $200 on a $1000 limit game.

Bottom line: Pretty easy one-roll bet. 
I introduce this bet after the field and Hardways are understood. Meaning; take and pay is understood. This is where I stop teaching newbies. All the bet offerings below, I only teach when asked. Having said that, the video incorporates the Horn Bet, the Hardways and the Field into the game.

Any Craps (below the Horn Bet) is a one-roll bet on rolling a 2-3 or 12. It is generally bet as in insurance bet to protect the PASS LINE bet on the come-out roll. True Odds game - Pays 8 to 1 (Bet $10 - Win $80)

Any Seven - is yet another one-roll bet. Obviously betting the 7 will roll. True Odds payoff is 5:1 (Bet $10 - Win $50)
$5 Minimum bet (Each)
Bet limit = $100 on a $500 limit game and $200 on a $1000 limit game
​
​Bottom Line: Those two bets I don't offer unless players ask about them.

THE DARK SIDE

Don't Pass: The opposite of the Pass Line. You're betting the shooter will lose--

Come out roll: Bet wins on 2 or 3, push on 12, (Casinos "BAR" the 12 from winning on the Come out roll) 
Bet will lose on 7 or 11.

After the point, you win if a 7 is rolled before the point.

Don't Come: The opposite of the Come Bet. You bet the shooter will lose after a point is set. Win on 2 or 3, push on 12, lose on 7 or 11. After it's placed, you win if a 7 rolls before that number.
TRUE ODDS GAMES DO NOT BAR 12

Lay Bets: A bet that a specific number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) won’t roll before a 7. It’s the opposite of a Place Bet. On the Craps Mat, Lay Bets pay 
Bet 2 Win 1 on 4 or 10
Bet 3 Win 2 on 5 or 9
Bet 6 Win 5 on 6 or 8

Bottom Line: The DON'T player isn’t betting against the shooter personally…(but they totally are!) And let's be honest, in a home game, the Don't Come bet is like that dusty bottle of Zima in the back of your liquor cabinet--technically there, but nobody's touching it. Most folks go straight for the Lay bets, and the crowd favorite? Laying the 4 or 10. Nothing like rooting for a 7 while pretending you're just "playing the odds."
The video below only shows the host how players can bet against numbers rolling. It does not incorporate all the bets discussed on this page because we are saving that for the final video below where the 'dark side' player will show their evil style of play...lol

These two dice combination videos explain the game in true odds

This video below comes from my Casino Dealers Website. Very informative. You only need to watch the first 3 minutes.

This video is a simulated live 'Practice Game' dealing to eight players

THE BETS BELOW ARE RESERVED FOR CASINO ODDS GAME (IN MY HOUSE) I GENNERLY DO NOT PLAY THESE BETS IN TRUE ODDS PARTY GAMES. JUST SAY'IN

See those small numbers below the logo on top of the Craps Mat? Those are called HOP BETS--they’re a bit more advanced and best left for casino odds play not home party games where players are, lets say, ....happy. 
Hop Bets are single-roll shots where you’re not just betting on a number--you’re betting on the exact combination of the dice. It’s like calling “5-3 Hop!” and hoping the dice land exactly that way. When it hits, it’s magic. When it doesn’t...well, that’s why it’s for the bold.
 
Why Not for Beginners?
Because Hop Bets are a little tricky to understand at first. You’re calling exact combinations, not just totals. It’s easy to mix it up if you’re still getting the hang of things.
 
If you’re just starting out, it’s best to stick to the basics--Field Bets, Hardways, maybe the Horn bet and simple place bets.
 
Bottom Line:
Hop Bets are for when you’re ready to kick things up a notch. For now, just watch the action, learn the flow, and when the time’s right, you’ll be ready to call your shot. Definitely not for first time players.

​Last but not least...The COME Bet
The COME Bet is a classic casino move. It’s placed after the game point is set and works just like the Pass Line Bet--except it’s like jumping into a side quest in the middle of a main mission. The dice decide where your bet goes, unlike a Place Bet where you call your own shots. It’s craps on autopilot.
Great in a Casino...But at Home? Meh.
In a casino, the COME Bet is the go-to for the frugal gambler chasing True Odds behind the Pass Line--no fluff, no house edge padding. But in the True Odds Home Party Game? Everything’s already True Odds. You’re already playing with the best shot in the house.
That’s why the COME Bet doesn’t get much love at home. Why bother playing a game within a game when the main game is already as pure as it gets?
Bottom Line:
At the casino, the COME Bet is a smart play. At a home party? It’s like bringing sand to the beach. You’re already swimming in True Odds.

I introduce the FIELD & HARDWAYS first—because let's face it, they’re like the appetizers of craps. Easy, quick, and they don’t require much commitment. Then I bring out the HORN bet for those feeling a little spicy. As for everything else? I wait for the guests to ask. I’m not gonna be that guy pushing bets like a blackjack dealer offering insurance. If they're curious, they’ll ask about them. Otherwise, I let them enjoy their drinks and their dignity...for now. 

Player Positioning