Craps History
Craps is the ultimate game of chance with the roll of the dice. Delving into the history of this game reveals many interesting details. Dice games – according to Scarne – are found all over the world. Indeed the Roman Emperors Augustin, Caligula and Nero were famed dice players. Some reports suggest that modern cubical die were readily available in Egypt and dated at around 600 B.C. But this type of historical linkage to the game of craps is found across the world. If we look at Asia, then it becomes clear that the Koreans were dice players of note and the entire Arab world has linkages to all manner of dice games. This universal appeal is the one element that underscores the global appeal of dice games and the like. Indians too were renowned for their fearsome warriors playing dice games closely resembling craps. The Mahabharata is a classic example of such gaming prowess.
Prehistoric times; dice games and casinos today
It is well known that dice games were prevalent in times of old when fortunetellers would throw various bone fragments, sticks and stones (among others) on the ground. These were then interpreted for the benefit of communities or individuals. This is to say that they were not used as gambling artifacts at the time, but rather as the soothsayer’s tools. As time went by, these articles were modified for more public usage. They were made from all sorts of materials including horns, nutshells, stones and bones. The Romans and the Greeks made use of ivory and precious materials to create their dice. Today however, casino dice are made from a substance known as cellulose. The edges and corners are sharp and the cellulose is transparent so that the dice are perfectly balanced and free from non-random outcomes (not loaded).
But how far back do dice games go?
The truth is that these games are typically several thousand years old. That’s not to say that craps is that old. In fact craps as we know it today is barely 100 years old. Prior to craps taking center stage, the English game of Hazard was in play. Some historical accounts suggest that this game was enjoyed by the army in the 12th century. It is suggested that the very first English settlers on the Mayflower vessel actually brought the game to the USA. Around 1800 the French renamed it craps. The rules of the game were constantly being modified until eventually multiple variants were in existence. A gentleman by the name of John H. Winn was responsible for enhancing the game of craps for right and wrong bets. The layout was changes and Don’t Pass Bets were included. By the end of 1931 Nevada legalized gambling and Casino Craps was officially born.
Tags: Uncategorized
