Craps is one of the simplest casino games available to players, with very little equipment needed to play a game.
The game of Craps developed from a simplification of the early British game of ‘hazard’. The origins of the game are convoluted and complex and are suggested to date back to the Crusades, being later influenced by French gamblers.
Craps was first known by players as ‘crapaud’ the French word for ‘toad’ and was named about the original way players played – crouched over a floor or sidewalk.
The modern version of craps that we all know today was brought to New Orleans by Bernard Xavier Phillipe de Marigny de Mandeville. He was a politician descendent and a gambler from rich colonial landowners in Louisiana.
During World War II, street craps were popularised amongst soldiers who would play it using an army blanket as a shooting surface. However, with no backboard or sidewalk curb to hit against, dice control became essential with soldiers developing new techniques through play.
The game spread throughout the US much in the same way as with other gambling games, on the riverboats of the Mississippi River. It was around this time that the 6, 8, win, and field bets were present. Further down the line, John H. Winn changed the game by introducing the ‘don’t pass’ which gave bettors the ability to bet with the shooter or against him. This began to stop the house from cheating by using loaded dice.
While the game might not be as widespread as it once was, Craps is still a very popular and exciting game. The internet has brought many casinos online, letting many play these games for the first time. Thanks to this technical advancement, Craps becomes popular once again. There is no doubt that Craps will grow in popularity once more as new generations are introduced to it.
Whether you have played Craps before or were considering playing the game, there is no denying the rich and colorful history the game has had to making it to casinos around the world. The game has retained its popularity because of the great fun it brings, and it shows no signs of slowing down.