The History Of Craps
The popular casino dice game craps have a long and varied history. Modern craps have evolved from a game that was played many centuries before.
Craps Derived From The English Game
In the 12th century, Sir William of Tyre led a group of crusaders on a castle by the name of Hazarth. Tyre’s group seized Hazarth and named their favorite pastime game after the castle. The Hazard game was derived from Arabic dice games that were eventually brought to Europe.
By the 17th century, Hazard was a vastly popular game in England. The game was a staple in taverns throughout the country. Hazard was also a popular casino game among noblemen.
In the game, the player with the dice is known as the caster. In each round of the game, the player will specify a number between five and nine. The specific number between five and nine is known as the main. A roll of the main number results in a win. If the player rolls a two or three, he loses. A roll of 11 or 12 will result in a variety of outcomes depending on the main number that was designated. A main of 5 or 9 will lose on a roll of 11 or 12. On a main of 6 or 8, the player will lose on a roll of 11 but win on 12. With the main number of 7, the player wins on 11 but loses on 12.
It didn’t take long for neighboring countries to take notice of the game. The game became popular in France. The French called their version of the dice game “Craps.”
The Game Evolves In The 19th Century
In the early 19th century, Bernard de Mandeville made an important adjustment to the game. The New Orleans resident simplified craps. His version of the game was soon being played on steamboats traveling the Mississippi River. Mandeville’s game had a flaw due to the ability to use crooked dice tied to the betting rules of the game. John H. Winn was able to build on Mandeville’s initial adjustment to the game. Winn brought the modern layout to the game of craps. His adjustments allowed players to bet on the shooter or against him. This greatly eliminated any impact that could result from any fixed dice being used in craps games. Winn’s adjustments to the game enabled craps to become widely popular.
Highest Wagered On The Game
Over the last century, the game has continued to grow in society and culture. Craps was a popular game among soldiers in World War II to break the monotony of war. The game was occasionally featured in some popular movies over the years to elevate the status of craps in popular culture. In the 1990s, the game suffered a downturn due to the surge of slots and other casino games. However, craps have rebounded, due in part to the growth of online casinos. Today, the game is the biggest in the history of the world in terms of money wagered.