History of Craps
So where did it all start, this game of craps?Well, that depend on who you speak to- games involving dice have been around since Eygyptian times (dice have been found dating back to around 600 B.C).
One theory, is that it took off during Roman Times, but more likely is that it evolved from an ancient game called "Hazard" ("az-zahr" means dice in Arabic).
Hazard was invented or more likely adapted from the locals, by an Englishman, Sir William of Tyre and his knights, during the crusades. The dice game was played in England in the 12th century. The French renamed the game "crabs" (the name for a losing throw of "2" in Hazard) and this later became "craps" when it took off in the US, where the modern version of the game was developed. So craps has its early origins in Arabia.
It is thought that French settlers in the south of the US or The Cajuns took to the game of Hazard and it became popular with African Americans in the early 19th century.
The game spread like wildfire to the gambling river boats on the Mississippi and back out to the rest of the US until a guy called John H Winn developed the game so that you could bet with the shooter or against him. This was to counter the practice of playing with crooked dice, which was prevalent at the time.
John H Winn is the father of modern day Craps and his development became the modern 20th century casino game known as Bank Craps with its familiar layout and tables.
IUn terms of amounts bet, craps is the biggest gambling game in the world and has become the game of choice for all sorts of people from those who want to have a quick flutter, to high rollers who like to play and win big.