Learn to Play Craps – Hints and Tactics: The History of Craps
Be smart, play smart, and learn how to play craps the right way!
Dice and dice games goes back to the Crusades, but modern craps is approximately a century old. Current craps come about from the ancient English game referred to as Hazard. No one absolutely knows the origin of the game, although Hazard is believed to have been discovered by the Englishman, Sir William of Tyre, around the 12th century. It is believed that Sir William’s horsemen played Hazard through a siege on the fortification Hazarth in 1125 AD. The title Hazard was derived from the fortress’s name.
Early French settlers brought the game Hazard to Canada. In the 1700s, when displaced by the English, the French relocated south and settled in the south of Louisiana where they eventually became Cajuns. When they were driven out of Acadia, they took their best-loved game, Hazard, along. The Cajuns streamlined the game and made it mathematically fair. It is believed that the Cajuns changed the name to craps, which was acquired from the term for the losing throw of 2 in the game of Hazard, recognized as "crabs."
From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi river boats and throughout the nation. A great many consider the dice builder John H. Winn as the father of modern craps. In 1907, Winn created the modern craps layout. He added the Do not Pass line so gamblers could bet on the dice to lose. At another time, he invented the spots for Place bets and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.