Learn to Play Craps – Hints and Plans: The History of Craps


Be cunning, play clever, and become versed in craps the right way!

Dice and dice games date back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but current craps is approximately 100 years old. Modern craps developed from the old Anglo game referred to as Hazard. No one knows for certain the origin of the game, but Hazard is said to have been discovered by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, in the 12th century. It’s presumed that Sir William’s horsemen gambled on Hazard amid a siege on the castle Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was acquired from the castle’s name.

Early French colonists imported the game Hazard to Canada. In the 1700s, when exiled by the British, the French moved down south and settled in southern Louisiana where they after a while became Cajuns. When they were driven out of Acadia, they brought their favored game, Hazard, along. The Cajuns streamlined the game and made it more mathematically fair. It’s said that the Cajuns changed the name to craps, which is acquired from the term for the losing toss of snake-eyes in the game of Hazard, referred to as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi scows and throughout the nation. Many think the dice maker John H. Winn as the founder of current craps. In 1907, Winn created the modern craps layout. He added the Don’t Pass line so gamblers can bet on the dice to lose. Later, he invented the spots for Place wagers and put in place the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.

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