Become Versed in Craps – Tricks and Plans: The History of Craps

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Games that use dice and the dice themselves goes back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but modern craps is approximately a century old. Modern craps come about from the ancient Anglo game referred to as Hazard. No one absolutely knows the beginnings of the game, however Hazard is said to have been discovered by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, sometime in the 12th century. It’s believed that Sir William’s horsemen gambled on Hazard during a blockade on the fortress Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was acquired from the fortification’s name.

Early French colonists brought the game Hazard to Canada. In the 18th century, when banished by the English, the French relocated down south and settled in southern Louisiana where they a while later became known as Cajuns. When they left Acadia, they brought their preferred game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns modernized the game and made it mathematically fair. It is said that the Cajuns adjusted the name to craps, which was acquired from the name of the bad luck toss of two in the game of Hazard, recognized as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game migrated to the Mississippi river boats and all over the nation. A few consider the dice maker John H. Winn as the father of modern craps. In 1907, Winn assembled the modern craps setup. He created the Do not Pass line so gamblers can bet on the dice to lose. Afterwords, he invented the spots for Place bets and put in place the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.