Craps History

There are numerous theories as to where, when, and how the game of Craps originated. Some trace the use of dice like objects back to the Roman Empire, where soldiers would carve pigs knuckles into cubes and toss them for entertainment. This is believed to be where the phrase "roll the bones" comes from.

Later, the Arabs played a game which they called azzhar (die or dice). This game was introduced to the Europeans by traveling merchants in the early 16th century. It is commonly accepted that it is an adaptation of an English game called Hazard which dates back to the early 18th century. The game of Hazard was played mostly by European nobility prior to being introduced to America via the French Louisiana colony of Arcadia in 1813.

Bernard de Mandeville of New Orleans is credited with adapting the game of Hazard into the game called Craps. This name was chosen based on the French pronunciation of the nickname they had given Hazard - "crabs". Mandeville's game became very popular up and down the Mississippi river valley and spread throughout the United States.

The new adaptation presented a few issues, most notable was the vulnerability to the use of fixed dice during game play. A man named John H. Winn introduced new rules which prevented this issue by adding a "don't pass" betting - this version of craps still exists today.Winn's adjustments to Mandeville's game revolutionized the game eliminating the benefit of fixed dice and enabling the potential for players to bet for or against the dice roller.