Be clever, play smart, and become versed in craps the correct way!
Dice and dice games goes all the way back to the Crusades, but current craps is just about a century old. Current craps come about from the 12th Century Anglo game called Hazard. No one absolutely knows the origin of the game, although Hazard is believed to have been created by the Englishman, Sir William of Tyre, in the 12th century. It is supposed that Sir William’s horsemen enjoyed Hazard during a siege on the castle Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was derived from the castle’s name.
Early French settlers brought the game Hazard to Nova Scotia. In the 18th century, when banished by the English, the French headed south and settled in the south of Louisiana where they eventually became known as Cajuns. When they left Acadia, they brought their favorite game, Hazard, along. The Cajuns modernized the game and made it fair mathematically. It is believed that the Cajuns adjusted the title to craps, which was derived from the name of the bad luck throw of two in the game of Hazard, recognized as "crabs."
From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi river boats and across the nation. Many acknowledge the dice maker John H. Winn as the father of modern craps. In the early 1900s, Winn built the modern craps layout. He added the Do not Pass line so players could bet on the dice to lose. At another time, he invented the spots for Place wagers and put in place the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.
