How Craps Became Craps
There is some slight controversy as to the actual origins of craps, some saying it can be traced all the way back to the Romans who played a similar game with bones carved into small squares. All controversy concerning the origins of craps aside, this much we know for sure:
The game of craps evolved from a dice game that was created in the 1700’s known as Hazard. Hazard was often played by rich aristocrats throughout Europe and eventually made its way to America, where it became popular in many colonies in Louisiana.
Sometime in the early 1800’s a man by the name of Mandeville simplified the game, and the earliest version of craps was born. Craps began to gain popularity in America and spread across the land via the Mississippi. However, the game had a major flaw in that players could not bet against the shooter. As a result, the first game of craps was very vulnerable to loaded dice, and this flaw was often taken advantage of.
Eventually a man named John Winn came along to revolutionize the game by changing the layout of the craps table as well as the betting rules. He introduced a space on the table for the “don’t pass” bet allowing players to bet against the shooter. This was a major improvement, which earned John Winn the title, “The Father of Craps.” His modifications to the game are what evolved the game of craps played by millions today.
Craps began to lose popularity among gamblers in the 20th century as poker began to take its place with the high rollers, but has begun to make a comeback since the dawn of the new century. With modern technology came the internet, which led to the natural progression of online gambling. Since the spike in the popularity of online casinos, we have seen a major increase in the number of people playing online craps.
Today thousands of people are shooting craps on a daily basis, either playing in online casinos, live casinos, or making use of free apps available on several websites with which players may play learn and play craps for free. Wherever it is played, there is no denying; craps is back in a big way.