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Craps Has a Long History
Craps has quite an interesting and long history - and one that is not completely clear. It is fascinating to see how this incredibly popular game rose through the ages to become what we know today.
Craps was originally a game that was known as Hazard. Some think that Hazards was played by the crusaders in the 12th century. Others say that the name Hazard comes from the Arabic words "al zar" or "azzah" which mean "the dice." If this is true, then the game would have an Arabic beginning.
Craps History in Europe
Either way, Hazard was a very popular game in England. It's even mentioned in the Canterbury Tales and was played in gambling houses in the 17th century for the wealthiest citizens of England. Eventually, the French caught onto the game as well, and some say that they even changed the name to Craps. Some believe that the French Louisiana colony of Arcadia brought Hazard to America. Either they, or the British, eventually brought Hazard to America.
The History of Craps in America
In America, the game of Hazard, and the early game of craps, became the game that we know today. Eventually, the game made its way south and was spread a great deal on the Mississippi riverboats. Dice maker John H. Winn changed the game so that players were able to bet with the shooter or against the shooter. This small change made it impossible to play with crooked dice, which was a fad at the time. Winn introduced the idea of having players bet "right" or "wrong" in the layout of the craps table, and included the idea of having a space for "Don't pass" bets. From this change, John H. Winn has received the title as the father of modern craps.
Craps Moves into the 21st Century
Today, craps leads them all as the largest gambling game the world over! It definitely dropped in popularity during the 1990s, as slot machines and other casino games rose in popularity. Recently, however, it has been making a comeback. Now that people can play online, craps seems to be making more of a return.
It has been portrayed in many Hollywood movies as the game that everyone loves - whether they are showing fancy people playing in the casinos or out of luck people playing on the streets. It's now played with just two dice, a lot of luck, and high hopes of beating the odds!
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