Master Craps – Tips and Techniques: The History of Craps

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Dice and dice games date all the way back to the Crusades, but current craps is approximately one hundred years old. Modern craps evolved from the 12th Century Anglo game referred to as Hazard. No one knows for sure the beginnings of the game, but Hazard is believed to have been discovered by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, sometime in the 12th century. It is supposed that Sir William’s horsemen played Hazard amid a siege on the fortification Hazarth in 1125 AD. The title Hazard was acquired from the fortress’s name.

Early French colonizers brought the game Hazard to Acadia. In the 18th century, when exiled by the British, the French headed down south and settled in southern Louisiana where they eventually became known as Cajuns. When they were driven out of Acadia, they brought their best-loved game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns simplified the game and made it mathematically fair. It is said that the Cajuns adjusted the name to craps, which is derived from the term for the bad luck toss of two in the game of Hazard, known as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game moved to the Mississippi scows and across the nation. A great many think the dice builder John H. Winn as the creator of current craps. In 1907, Winn built the current craps layout. He added the Don’t Pass line so gamblers can wager on the dice to not win. Afterwords, he developed the spots for Place bets and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.