History of Craps

Craps is a game of wagering that traces its roots to the game of hazard played in England. Because the only equipment needed is a pair of dice, it can be played on the sidewalk or in the most elegant gambling casino on a felt table. It takes its name from the French term for toad (crapaud), referring to the crouched position players took who were among the first to play it using backstreets and alleys as the surface on which the dice were thrown. American gamblers first encountered the game in New Orleans, where it was imported by a wealthy politician who used fixed dice to beat the game. John Winn created the version used today in which the dice are rolled and players wager money on the outcome of one roll or a series of rolls. The dice can be thrown against a backstop but it’s not necessary. Army soldiers in the 1940s would often shoot craps using an army blanket and no backstop.