Craps Information

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Dice and dice games date back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but current craps is only about 100 years old. Modern craps formed from the 12th Century Anglo game called Hazard. No one absolutely knows the birth of the game, although Hazard is said to have been created by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, around the twelfth century. It is theorized that Sir William’s soldiers wagered on Hazard through a blockade on the castle Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was derived from the citadel’s name.

Early French colonists brought the game Hazard to Canada. In the 18th century, when driven away by the British, the French headed down south and discovered sanctuary in southern Louisiana where they a while later became Cajuns. When they departed Acadia, they took their favorite game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns simplified the game and made it mathematically fair. It’s believed that the Cajuns altered the name to craps, which is acquired from the term for the bad luck toss of snake-eyes in the game of Hazard, referred to as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi barges and throughout the country. Most acknowledge the dice maker John H. Winn as the founder of modern craps. In 1907, Winn built the current craps setup. He added the Don’t Pass line so players can wager on the dice to not win. At another time, he designed the spots for Place wagers and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.