craps history

The casino dice game of craps is of American origin, adapted from the game hazard by Bernard de Mandeville in New Orleans in 1813. In hazard the banker, or setter, sets a stake. The player, or caster, calls a main (a number from 5 to 9, inclusive) and then throws two dice. If he throws in, or nicks, he wins the stake. Five is nicked by 5; 6 by 6 or 12; 7 by 7 or 11; 8 by 8 or 12; 9 by 9. The caster throws out, losing the stake, when throwing aces or deuce-ace (crabs, or craps ) or when throwing 11 or 12 to a main of 5 or 9, 11 to 6 or 8, and 12 to 7. Any other throw is his chance; he keeps throwing until the chance comes up, when he wins, or until the main comes up, when he loses. When a chance is thrown, the setter pays more than the original stake, according to specified odds. In French hazard the player throws against the house. In English, or chicken, hazard the player throws against an opponent.

Mandeville simplified hazard into the present game of private craps. Private craps then moved up the Mississippi river on steamboats and spread to casinos and gambling hall throughout the country. This original version of craps allowed only field and come bets, which made the game very vulnerable against fixed dice, which were often used. It wasn't until John H. Winn, a dice-maker by trade, created an innovated version of craps, where players could bet for, or against the roller. This eliminated the usefulness of fixed dice and created the very popular versions of craps that are played today. By 1910, craps had become the most popular casino game in the world.

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