The Origin of the Game of Craps

by CasinoGambler | posted in Casino articles

Game of Craps

Through the ages, people have been shooting dice as a form of entertainment. And, as with all human recreational practices, nobody really knows how the game of craps originated. However, the game of craps as we know it today with its unique rules has been evolving over centuries and there are various versions as to the exact origin of the game. Dice games were played in ancient Egypt in 2600 B.C., although historians find no connection between those games and its present form. Dice games were extremely popular among the Roman nobility as well. What is commonly believed and widely accepted is that Craps originated from Hazard, a dice game that was greatly enjoyed by the British.

The origins of Hazard itself are a topic of much debate. Some say that the game had been invented by an Englishman Sir William of Tyre during the Crusades. The crusaders played this game during their leisure while laying siege to the castle of Hazarth in 1125 A.D. The game was named Hazard after the castle. However, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the word ‘Hazard’ originated from the Arabic term ‘al zar’ which means ‘the dice’ leading to the belief that the game was of Arabic origin. The term ‘al zar’ also means knucklebones in Arabic, and dice were made from shaved knucklebones in those days.

Hazard became extremely popular with the British during the 17th century. It was most popular in taverns as well as the luxurious gambling houses which were the original casinos. Huge fortunes were won and lost at the game of Hazard which was favored by the nobility and the high class society. Simultaneously, the game was taken over by the French, who named it “Crabs”. Perhaps they named it so to mark the losing lowest possible dice throw (two) in Hazard. Some believe that the French named the game “Crapaud” which meant toad.

Again, there is an uncertainty as to who brought the game of Craps to America. It is said that the earliest British settlers brought the game to America. But there are others who confer that credit upon the French. The early French settlers brought the game to the new continent. However, the French colony was conquered by the British, after which the French moved towards the south and of course, carried the game with them. The game spread to the riverboats of Mississippi and from there throughout the United States. This version seems to be a plausible explanation because the French colonists have introduced a number of gambling games to the world; blackjack is one of them. During the early 19^th century, the evolution of the game of Hazard into Craps began in the south. The term ‘craps’ appears to be distinctly American, possibly an alteration of the French term Crapaud.

The creation of the modern Craps table is attributed to the 19^th century American dice maker, John H. Winn, who invented the current layout. Initially it was known as the Philadelphia layout. Winn is known as the father of the modern game of Craps because he initiated the “pass” and the “don’t pass” bets allowing the player to bet in favor of or against the shooter. He also introduced the Big Six and Big Eight bets. This development progressed into the modern day casino game, Bank Craps with the distinctive table layout.

During the Second World War, American soldiers played Craps as a pastime during breaks between battles. Understandably, the American soldiers popularized the game wherever they went. The game of Craps received another boost from the American film industry during the 20^th century. A number of films depicted the game being played at glamorous casinos, thus capturing the attention of the public and taking its popularity to new levels. Simplified versions of Craps are a favorite pastime everywhere, be it street corners, school yards or backrooms even today.

With the establishment of the casino culture during the 1930′s in Las Vegas, Craps became one of the most played games at the casinos. Today, the Craps table is one of the highlights of any brick and mortar casino. Craps is one of the most entertaining table game and one of the biggest in terms of money wagered. Casino Craps may appear to be a little complex initially, but once you get to know the basic rules, there is no looking back.

From its humble beginnings as the game of Hazard, Craps has come a long way. Modern technology and the internet have helped the growth of casino games to unprecedented levels. As the casinos went online, so did the game of Craps.