Understanding how to Compete in Craps – Tips and Schemes: the History of Craps
Dice and dice based games date back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but modern craps is just about 100 years old. Modern day craps developed from the archaic English game titled Hazard. No one is certain of the origin of the game, but Hazard is considered to have been made up by the British man, Sir William of Tyre, in the 1300’s. It’s alleged that Sir William’s soldiers wagered on Hazard during a siege on the fortification Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was developed from the citadel’s name.
Initial French settlers brought the game Hazard to Canada (the area of Acadia, which is now Nova Scotia). In the 18th century, when driven away by the English, the French relocated south and located sanctuary in the south of Louisiana where they a while later became known as Cajuns. When they departed Nova Scotia, they took their preferred game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns modernized the game and developed it to be more mathematically honest. It is said that the Cajuns amended the name to craps, which was developed from the term for the non-winning throw of two in the dice game of Hazard, called "crabs."
From Louisiana, the game migrated to the Mississippi riverboats and across the country. Many think the dice maker John H. Winn as the founder of current craps. In 1907, Winn created the current craps layout. He included the Don’t Pass line so players could bet on the shooter to not win. Later, he developed the boxes for Place wagers and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.