Craps Tips

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Dice and dice games date all the way back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but current craps is approximately one hundred years old. Current craps formed from the 12th Century English game referred to as Hazard. No one knows for certain the birth of the game, although Hazard is believed to have been created by the Englishman, Sir William of Tyre, sometime in the twelfth century. It’s presumed that Sir William’s soldiers wagered on Hazard during a blockade on the fortification Hazarth in 1125 AD. The title Hazard was derived from the castle’s name.

Early French colonists imported the game Hazard to Canada. In the 18th century, when driven away by the English, the French moved south and located refuge in southern Louisiana where they at a later time became Cajuns. When they departed Acadia, they took their preferred game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns modernized the game and made it mathematically fair. It is believed that the Cajuns altered the name to craps, which is acquired from the term for the non-winning throw of two in the game of Hazard, referred to as "crabs."

From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi scows and throughout the country. Most acknowledge the dice builder John H. Winn as the founder of current craps. In the early 1900s, Winn developed the modern craps layout. He put in place the Don’t Pass line so gamblers can bet on the dice to not win. At another time, he created the boxes for Place bets and put in place the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.