Craps

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Dice and dice games date back to the Crusades, but modern craps is just about a century old. Current craps formed from the 12th Century English game called Hazard. Nobody knows for certain the beginnings of the game, however Hazard is believed to have been created by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, around the 12th century. It is believed that Sir William’s horsemen played Hazard amid a blockade on the citadel Hazarth in 1125 AD. The title Hazard was acquired from the castle’s name.

Early French colonists imported the game Hazard to Nova Scotia. In the 1700s, when exiled by the English, the French relocated south and settled in the south of Louisiana where they eventually became Cajuns. When they departed Acadia, they brought their preferred game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns modernized the game and made it fair mathematically. It is said that the Cajuns altered the name to craps, which is derived from the term for the bad luck toss of two in the game of Hazard, known as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game migrated to the Mississippi river boats and all over the nation. Many think the dice builder John H. Winn as the father of current craps. In 1907, Winn built the modern craps layout. He created the Do not Pass line so gamblers can bet on the dice to lose. At another time, he developed the spots for Place wagers and put in place the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.