Craps hardways are bets that 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be rolled as a matching pair (2-2, 3-3, 4-4 or 5-5) before a 7 or the same total made any other way. Hard 6 and hard 8 pay 9 to 1, hard 4 and hard 10 pay 7 to 1, and the house edge is 9.09% or 11.11%.
A hardway wins only on a pair: 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 or 5-5.
It loses on any 7 or on the 'easy' way of making the same total.
Hard 6 and 8 pay 9 to 1 (9.09% edge); hard 4 and 10 pay 7 to 1 (11.11% edge).
A £5 hardway costs 45p to 56p per decision on average, against about 7p on the Pass Line.
No pattern of pairs makes the next pair more or less likely.
Hard 6 or 8 pays
9 to 1
Hard 4 or 10 pays
7 to 1
Hard 6 or 8 house edge
9.09% per bet resolved
Hard 4 or 10 house edge
11.11% per bet resolved
Chance hard 6 wins
1 in 11
Chance hard 4 wins
1 in 9
What craps hardways are and how they win
A hardway is a bet on one of four even totals: 4, 6, 8 or 10. Each of those numbers can be rolled as a pair or as two different faces. The pair is the 'hard' way and every other combination is the 'easy' way. Back hard 8 and you need 4-4 to land before either a 7 or an easy 8 (2-6, 6-2, 3-5 or 5-3).
That makes craps hardways a race between one winning combination and several losing ones. They sit in the middle of the layout with the other centre bets, close to the proposition bets, and the stickman or the game's interface handles them rather than the line or come areas. They are multi-roll bets: a hardway stays in action, roll after roll, until one of its deciding combinations appears. Any total that isn't 7 and isn't the bet's own number simply leaves it standing.
If you're new to the table, the craps hub shows the full layout, and how to play craps covers the come-out roll and the point before you add centre bets like these.
Hard and easy combinations for each number
Two dice give 36 equally likely results. Six of them make 7, which is why the 7 ends so many craps bets. The table counts the hard and easy ways for each hardway number.
Hard and easy ways to roll 4, 6, 8 and 10 with two dice
Total
Hard way
Easy ways
Number of easy ways
Ways to roll a 7
4
2-2
1-3, 3-1
2
6
6
3-3
1-5, 5-1, 2-4, 4-2
4
6
8
4-4
2-6, 6-2, 3-5, 5-3
4
6
10
5-5
4-6, 6-4
2
6
Hard 4 and hard 10 face 8 losing combinations (6 sevens plus 2 easy ways) against 1 winning one. For hard 6 and hard 8 there are 10 losing combinations (6 sevens plus 4 easy ways) against 1 winner. Everything else on the dice is a non-event for the bet. Our dice odds page lays out all 36 combinations if you want to check the counts yourself.
Craps hardways payouts against the true odds
Because only the deciding rolls matter, the true odds are simple to read off the table above. Hard 6 wins 1 time in 11 decisions, so the true odds against it are 10 to 1. The casino pays 9 to 1. Hard 4 wins 1 time in 9, true odds of 8 to 1, and pays 7 to 1. The gap between what the bet should pay and what it does pay is the house edge.
Some layouts print hardway payouts as '10 for 1' and '8 for 1'. 'For' includes your stake in the figure, so 10 for 1 is the same as 9 to 1: a £1 bet comes back as £10 in total, made up of £9 winnings and your £1. Read which word the game uses before comparing paytables, because '10 to 1' and '10 for 1' are different payouts.
Working out the hardways house edge
A standard formula from casino mathematics turns odds into an edge: if a bet pays x to 1 and the true odds against it are y to 1, the house edge is (y − x) ÷ (y + 1).
Hard 6 or 8: (10 − 9) ÷ (10 + 1) = 1 ÷ 11 = 9.09%.
Hard 4 or 10: (8 − 7) ÷ (8 + 1) = 1 ÷ 9 = 11.11%.
You can check it another way with £1 bets over 11 decisions on hard 6. On average you win once (+£9) and lose ten times (−£10), a net −£1 across £11 of decisions, which is 9.09%. For hard 4 over 9 decisions: one win of £7, eight losses of £1, net −£1 from £9 bet, or 11.11%. More on the method is on our house edge page.
Why the per-roll figure looks smaller
A hardway often survives several rolls without a decision. Hard 6 is settled on 11 of the 36 combinations, so roughly 3.3 rolls go by per decision on average; hard 4 is settled on 9 of 36, about 4 rolls. Spread the edge across every roll and each hardway works out at 1/36 of the stake per roll, or 2.78%. That's the same money, just divided by more rolls. When you compare bets, use the per-bet-resolved figure consistently, as the craps house edge guide does.
What hardway bets cost in pounds
Expected loss is stake × house edge. These are long-run averages: any single hardway either wins the full payout or loses the stake, and short sessions swing widely either side.
Average cost of hardway bets per decision
Stake
Hard 6 or 8 (9.09%)
Hard 4 or 10 (11.11%)
Pass Line for comparison (1.41%)
£1
About 9p
About 11p
About 1.4p
£5
About 45p
About 56p
About 7p
£10
About 91p
About £1.11
About 14p
£25
About £2.27
About £2.78
About 35p
Say you keep £5 on all four hardways and each is replaced after it's settled. Over 40 decisions in total (about 10 on each), the average cost is roughly 20 × 45p + 20 × 56p, which is about £20. The same 40 decisions at £5 on the Pass Line would cost about £2.80 on average. That gap is the real price of the bigger payout.
How to bet the hardways online or at a table
Placing a hardway is quick. The steps below follow the usual online layout; land-based tables work the same way except you hand chips to the dealer.
Open the game's help screen and confirm the hardway payouts (9 to 1 and 7 to 1, or 10 for 1 and 8 for 1).
Check whether hardways are working on the come-out roll. Many tables switch them off by default until a point is set; the help screen says how the game handles it.
Choose your chip and tap the hard 4, 6, 8 or 10 box in the centre of the layout.
Watch the result. The bet wins on the pair, loses on a 7 or the easy way, and stays up on any other total.
After a win, decide whether to take the winnings and the bet down or leave the bet in place. Online, the bet usually stays unless you remove it.
Hardways against one-roll 'hop' bets
Don't confuse a hardway with a one-roll bet on a specific pair. A hop bet on 3-3 wins only if the very next roll is 3-3, and it is priced separately. Hardways keep going until they're settled. Check the label carefully on busy layouts, and see our proposition bets guide for the one-roll options.
Hard 6 and 8 against other bets on the same numbers
Players often bet hard 6 or hard 8 because they 'like' the number. If you want action on 6 or 8, the layout has much cheaper ways to get it. A place bet on 6 or 8 wins on any 6 or 8 before a 7, hard or easy.
Ways to back 6 or 8 in craps
Bet
Wins on
Pays
House edge per bet resolved
Place 6 or 8
Any 6 or 8 before a 7
7 to 6
1.52%
Buy 6 or 8 (5% commission on wins only)
Any 6 or 8 before a 7
True odds less commission
2.27%
Big 6 or Big 8
Any 6 or 8 before a 7
1 to 1
9.09%
Hard 6 or 8
3-3 or 4-4 only, before a 7 or easy way
9 to 1
9.09%
Hard 6 carries the same 9.09% edge as Big 6 and Big 8, but with a far lumpier result: you win 9 to 1 rarely rather than evens often. Place 6 costs about a sixth as much per decision. Neither choice is 'right'; the table just shows what the extra payout costs.
Hardway myths and common mistakes
'Pairs come in streaks.' Each roll is independent. A run of 4-4 doesn't make another one more likely, and a long gap doesn't make one overdue. See the gambler's fallacy.
'Hard 6 is better value than place 6 because it pays more.' It pays more because it wins far less often, and its edge is about six times higher.
'The hardway loses only on a 7.' It also loses on the easy way, which is the most common mistake new players make.
'Pressing the bet after a win improves the odds.' Raising the stake raises the cost; the 9.09% or 11.11% stays the same.
'All hardways cost the same.' Hard 4 and 10 cost more (11.11%) than hard 6 and 8 (9.09%).
No staking pattern or reading of past rolls changes the edge on a hardway. Treat any hardway money as entertainment spending.
Craps hardways in live and online games in the UK
The maths is the same whether a random number generator, an animated table or a live dealer produces the roll, because two fair dice always give 36 equal combinations. What can differ is the paytable, so read the help screen before betting. Our live craps UK guide covers the live and First Person versions.
Gambling Commission rules affect how you play rather than the odds. Autoplay is banned for all online casino games, so each bet is your own choice (a re-bet button is allowed). Non-slot casino games must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle under the RTS 14 product design standard (opens in a new tab), and you can't play several games at once. The £5 and £2 online stake limits apply to slots, not craps; table limits come from the game itself. Our game speed rules page has the detail.
If you find yourself raising hardway bets to win back losses, stop and take a break. GamCare (opens in a new tab) runs the free National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, 24 hours a day.
Where to play craps hardways: partner offers
Our partner offers below aren't craps offers. Our checked data doesn't confirm a craps table at any of them, so look in each casino's game lobby first. 18+ and terms apply.
Casumo: new customers who opt in get a 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of at least £20. Wager the bonus 10x within 7 days, with a £5 maximum bet while it's active; game, play and payment restrictions apply.
10bet: new UK customers who choose the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and deposit within 7 days get a 100% match up to £25, wagered 10x on slots within 3 days. Maximum bonus winnings are £1,000, and Skrill and Neteller deposits are excluded.
Coral: new players who deposit and bet £10 or more on slots between 1 October 2026 and 1 February 2027 get 100 free spins at 10p on selected games, to accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days, with no wagering on spin winnings. Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards don't qualify.
Table and live games such as craps are often excluded from bonus wagering or count for less, so read the terms. The wagering requirements guide explains how this works.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only. Opt-in required. 50% deposit bonus up to £100 on first deposit. Minimum deposit £20. 10x wagering on the bonus amount. Maximum bet or spin £5. Bonus valid for 7 days. Game, play and payment method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers only. Select the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and make your first deposit within 7 days. 100% bonus up to £25. Wager the bonus 10x on slots within 3 days. Maximum bonus winnings £1,000. Skrill and Neteller deposits do not qualify. Bonus is not redeemable. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our 10bet reviewLicence: Blue Star Planet Limited, Gambling Commission account 43173. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does hardways mean in craps?
Hardways are bets that 4, 6, 8 or 10 will be rolled as a pair before a 7 or before that total is rolled any other way. Hard 8, for example, needs 4-4; it loses to any 7 and to 2-6, 6-2, 3-5 or 5-3. The bets stay in play over several rolls until one of those outcomes appears. Our craps hub explains the rest of the layout, and the proposition bets page covers the other centre bets.
What do hardways pay in craps?
The usual payouts are 9 to 1 on hard 6 and hard 8, and 7 to 1 on hard 4 and hard 10. Some layouts print these as 10 for 1 and 8 for 1, which is the same thing because 'for' includes your stake. A £5 hard 8 win returns £45 profit plus the £5 stake. Always confirm the figures in the game's help screen. The true odds vs payouts page explains the difference between the two ways of quoting.
What is the house edge on hardways?
The house edge is 9.09% per bet resolved on hard 6 or 8 at 9 to 1, and 11.11% on hard 4 or 10 at 7 to 1. That means a £10 hard 6 costs about 91p per decision on average, and a £10 hard 4 about £1.11. Over many rolls the edge spreads to 2.78% per roll, but that's the same cost divided differently. See the full list on our craps house edge page.
What are the odds of rolling a hard 8?
On any single roll, the chance of 4-4 is 1 in 36, or about 2.8%. As a bet that runs until settled, hard 8 wins 1 time in 11 decisions, because only the 6 sevens and 4 easy eights can beat it. The true odds against it are 10 to 1, while the bet pays 9 to 1. Our dice odds guide counts every combination, and probability basics shows the method.
Which hardway bet is best?
The cheaper hardways are hard 6 and hard 8, with a 9.09% house edge against 11.11% on hard 4 and hard 10. None of them is good value next to the line bets, though: the Pass Line costs 1.41% and a place bet on 6 or 8 costs 1.52%. If you want a hardway for fun, keep the stake small. The best bet in craps page ranks every option.
Are hardways working on the come-out roll?
It depends on the table. Many tables treat hardways as off during the come-out roll unless you ask for them to be working, while some online games keep them active on every roll. The game's help screen or rules page will say which applies. If a bet is off, a 7 on the come-out roll won't lose it and a pair won't win it. Our how to play craps guide explains the come-out roll.
Is a hard 6 bet better than placing the 6?
No, not on cost. A place bet on 6 wins on any 6 before a 7 and pays 7 to 6, with a 1.52% house edge. Hard 6 needs 3-3 specifically and costs 9.09%, about six times as much per decision. Hard 6 pays more per win because it wins much less often. The place bets guide covers the cheaper option in full, including the 7 to 6 payout.
Can you predict when a hardway will roll?
No. Every roll of fair dice is independent, so the chance of 4-4 is 1 in 36 on each throw regardless of what came before. Online RNG dice and live dice follow the same probabilities, and UK rules ban games that adjust results to make up for past outcomes. Tracking pairs gives no useful information. Read about independent events and the hot hand fallacy.
We use no tracking cookies. We store one item in your browser to remember this notice. Casino sites may set their own cookies after you follow an advert link. Cookie policy
