The History of Craps
By Rebecca Bryant

In one form or another, the game of craps has probably been with us since civilization began. From rolling knucklebones to try to divine whether or not there will be a good harvest, to shooting dice in a downtown alley, to risking millions on a hard eight in Monte Carlo, craps is a game with a storied history that has evolved tremendously over the years. Here’s a bit more about the history of craps.

Craps History-Hazard

The game we know today as craps has its origins in a 12th century English game known as Hazard, named after a castle captured by the English during the Crusades. In Hazard, players chose a number between 5 and 9, which was called the main. If he rolled the main, he won. If he rolled a 2 or 3, he lost. If he rolled an 11 or 12, he would lose if the main were 5 or 9; lose on 11 but win on 12 if the main were 6 or 8; and win with 11 but lose on 12 if the main were 7. If he rolled any other number, that would be the chance, similar to the point in today’s craps. If he rolled the chance again before rolling the main, he would win.

Craps Evolution

By the 18th century, the game was popular enough that the French discovered it and decided to put their own spin on the game. They changed the rules so that it was more like the craps we know today, and changed the name to craps, an alteration of “crabs” which is what a roll of 2 in Hazard was called.

Modern Craps

By the 19th century, the game had come to America, and game designer John H. Winn created the standard craps layout, as well as adding additional bets. Winn’s version was immensely popular, and it is this version that is the type of craps found in casinos all over the world today. One interesting feature that Winn added was the “Don’t Pass” option. Since players could bet against the shooter, this created an internal defense against cheating by slipping in loaded dice. Today, the game is enjoyed all over the world, both live and in playing online craps as well.

Rebecca Bryant is an expert casino strategist, who has written articles on blackjack strategies, online craps strategies, and much more.

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