Craps

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Dice and dice games date back to the Crusades, but modern craps is only about one hundred years old. Current craps evolved from the old English game called Hazard. No one absolutely knows the birth of the game, but Hazard is believed to have been made up by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, in the twelfth century. It is believed that Sir William’s paladins played Hazard during a blockade on the fortification Hazarth in 1125 AD. The title Hazard was acquired from the fortification’s name.

Early French colonists imported the game Hazard to Nova Scotia. In the 18th century, when displaced by the English, the French headed south and located safety in southern Louisiana where they a while later became known as Cajuns. When they were driven out of Acadia, they brought their preferred game, Hazard, along. The Cajuns broke down the game and made it mathematically fair. It is believed that the Cajuns adjusted the title to craps, which was derived from the name of the losing throw of snake-eyes in the game of Hazard, recognized as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game migrated to the Mississippi scows and across the nation. A great many acknowledge the dice maker John H. Winn as the founder of current craps. In 1907, Winn built the current craps setup. He added the Don’t Pass line so players can bet on the dice to lose. At another time, he created the spaces for Place wagers and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.