Craps

As is the case with many of the traditional casino games, the precise origins of the game of Craps may be disputed. However, one thing which remains, without doubt, is that dice have been around since ancient times.

Ancient Craps History

Dice have been the basis for a myriad of games since at least 600 B.C; dice dating back to this period have been found in Egypt. The casino dice game, Craps, is one of many games played with marked cubes. Thus, the Ancient Egyptian era could be considered the very beginning of the history of Craps.

There are those who believe that the game Craps was invented at the time of the Roman Empire. It is said that soldiers in the Roman army made cubes out of pig knucklebones and entertained themselves by rolling the bones, rather like dice, into their shields.

Predecessors of Craps

Many scholars of Craps history believe that the game of Craps has evolved from the game Hazard, an ancient game, named after the Arabic “az-zahr”, which means dice. The reason that the game gained the name Craps remains rather a mystery. Others maintain that Craps evolved from the English game Hazard. This was a dice game played in England during the 12th century. If one follows this historical line, it is suggested that the name of the game was changed to Crabs by the French. At a later stage, Crabs seemingly developed into Craps upon its arrival in the United States.

Craps in America

It is believed that it was in the United States that the Craps rules were standardized and the game was shaped into the modern game of Craps that people know and love today. Many consider Craps to be the most exciting of all the casino games. Some believe that Craps is a difficult game to comprehend; however once one understands how to bet and play, it is quite simple to follow, especially in the online casino, where one can play practice Craps games for free until he gets the hang of it.

Craps and Lucky Dice

Many people believe that those who play Craps are the most superstitious out of all the casino gamblers. Particular superstitions should perhaps be kept in mind when approaching the Craps table. Female first-time Craps players are considered to be lucky, while male first-timers are believed to be unlucky. If the dice happen to roll off the Craps table, many believe that the next turn will be unlucky. The number seven should never be mentioned, as it is considered to be unlucky. It is not recommended to be the sole player or the first player at a Craps table. It is considered to be bad luck if the dice should come into contact with anyone’s hand as it is thrown onto the table. These and other superstitions are not rules for playing the game and are not part of any scientifically based Craps strategy, but many players consider it wise, nonetheless, to take them into consideration.

Craps Comes to Online Casinos

Over the years, particularly during the 1990s, the popularity of the Craps game appeared to suffer a decline, as many preferred to play easier casino favorites such as the slot machines. However, advances in technology such as the Internet and the introduction of online casinos, have brought about the resurging popularity of the game of Craps and changed the course of Craps history.

Playing online Craps is rather different than playing Craps at a land-based casino. Even though the general rules are the same, the main difference is that when you play craps online, you are not situated at a rowdy and noisy Craps table. For many, this could be considered an advantage, as there are no distractions during play. On the other hand, there are those who enjoy the loud atmosphere present at the Craps table and consider it to be an important part of the game. Whichever way a player prefers to play, the options are available. It is always fun and exciting to play and win at Craps, whether online or on land. And it’s always fun to know something of the history of Craps to increase your appreciation of this great and ancient game.