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 modern craps is approximately a century old. Current craps developed from the 12th Century Anglo game called Hazard. No one knows for sure the origin of the game, although Hazard is believed to have been made up by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, in the 12th century. It is believed that Sir William’s soldiers played Hazard amid a blockade on the fortification Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was derived from the fortification’s name.
Early French settlers brought the game Hazard to Canada. In the 18th century, when expelled by the English, the French moved south and located sanctuary in southern Louisiana where they eventually became Cajuns. When they were driven out of Acadia, they brought their best-loved game, Hazard, along. The Cajuns modernized the game and made it more mathematically fair. It is believed that the Cajuns adjusted the name to craps, which was gotten from the term for the bad luck throw of snake-eyes in the game of Hazard, known as "crabs."
From Louisiana, the game moved to the Mississippi river boats and across the nation. A good many consider the dice maker John H. Winn as the creator of current craps. In the early 1900s, Winn designed the current craps layout. He put in place the Do not Pass line so players can wager on the dice to lose. Later, he developed the boxes for Place wagers and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.