Discover how to Bet on Craps – Hints and Tactics: the Recorded History of Craps
Posted in Craps on 03/01/2010 09:21 am by Donovan
Dice and dice games date back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but modern day craps is just about 100 years old. Modern craps flourished from the ancient English game titled Hazard. No one knows for sure the birth of the game, but Hazard is said to have been developed by the British man, Sir William of Tyre, in the 12th century. It is alleged that Sir William’s knights enjoyed Hazard during a siege on the citadel Hazarth in 1125 AD. The name Hazard was developed from the fortification’s name.
Early French colonists imported the game Hazard to French North America (the area of Acadia, which is Nova Scotia today). In the 18th century, when driven away by the British, the French relocated south and discovered refuge in the south of Louisiana where they eventually became known as Cajuns. When they were driven out of Acadia, they brought their favorite game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns streamlined the game and made it more statistically fair. It’s believed that the Cajuns changed the name to craps, which was derived from the term for the non-winning toss of two in the game of Hazard, known as "crabs."
From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi river boats and throughout the union. Many see the die maker John H. Winn as the father of modern day craps. In the early 1900s, Winn built the modern craps layout. He put in place the Do not Pass line so individuals could bet on the shooter to lose. Later, he developed the boxes for Place bets and added the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.