History

Craps has a long, rich history that can be traced back to the time of the Holy Roman Empire. Archaeologists discovered evidence indicating that soldiers from the Roman Legions would roll pig knucklebones in the shape of cubes onto their shields for entertainment. Over time, the game evolved and took on many different shapes and forms.

Historians generally agree that the name, "Craps," originated from the earlier French pronunciation of "Crabs," a popular nickname for the game of "Hazard," which was a favorite among European aristocrats in the 1700's. In 1813, Bernard de Mandeville of New Orleans simplified the game of Hazard and created the first modernized version of Craps. The game quickly spread throughout America and was later improved upon by John H. Winn. Winn revolutionized the game by making it possible for players to bet for or against the person rolling the dice, which eliminated many of the earlier cheating problems resulting from the use of fixed dice.

Craps continued to rise in popularity until the introduction of slot machines and other casinos games, causing a serious decline in Craps play in the 1990's. With the arrival of the 21st century, Craps has begun a gradual process of return, pulling in boisterous and excited crowds to Craps tables throughout the world.

Variations

Craps has several main variations, which allow the game to be played in many different environments.

• Bank Craps, the most widely known and played version of craps, can be found in most casinos. Players may wager for or against the shooter, but bets cannot be made against each other; all bets must be placed with the house. Chips are used in place of cash, and both the table layout and rules are standard.
  
• New York Craps can be found in many illegal gambling houses on the eastern coast of the United States and in certain parts of Eastern Europe. Players must buy box numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, which include a five percent dealer charge. The table layout does not include spaces for Come or Don't Come bets. A 'lookout' sits on a stand high above the table to monitor the game.
  
• Scarney Craps is a mix of both Bank Craps and New York Craps. The game lacks a space for Come and Don't Come bets and does not have a dealer charge. Scarney Craps makes use of proposition betting and generally pays a unit more than Bank Craps.
  
• Private Craps is an informal version of craps played with real cash. The game can be played on any surface suitable for dice rolling. Players determine who goes first by the highest roller, then the shooter places his cash in the 'center' in front of him as his center bet while other players bet against him. Players may change their bets at any time if the shooter does not roll an immediate win or loss on his come out throw.
  
• Money Craps is played with cash and allows players to choose if they would like to bet against each other or the house. Betting options include the Lose Line, Win Line, and box numbers. Players have the option of using the 'Book' to place their bets for them, but he charges five percent on the total amount bet. The house limits in this craps version are extremely high, varying from game to game, and can be played indoors or outdoors.

General Information

Craps is a game involving complicated betting and rules. To play, players take turns rolling two 'perfect' dice. The player rolling the dice is designated as the shooter. An immediate win occurs on a first 'come out' throw of 7 or 11. Rolling a 2, 3, or 12 indicates an immediate loss. If neither are rolled, a number called the 'point' is established, which must then be repeated before the player rolls a 7 in order to win. Betting may take place at any time other than when the dice are being rolled.

To begin, the person designated as the shooter is offered a bowl or tray of dice to choose from by the stickman. While selecting two dice, the shooter must only use one hand and keep it above the table to prevent cheating. Players around the table may place their bets until the shooter rolls the dice. The first roll, called the 'come out' roll, indicates either an immediate win by rolling a 7 or 11, or an immediate loss by rolling a 2,3 or 12. Any other number establishes the shooter's 'point', which he must then attempt to roll before rolling a seven. Players may continue placing bets throughout the round before and after each roll of the dice. If the shooter rolls his point, the dice remain with him and he may begin again with a new come out throw. Once the shooter loses, the game moves in a clockwise direction to the player on his left.

Types of Craps Bets

• THE PASS LINE BET. This type of bet is the most simple and familiar of the Craps bets. This type of bet is an even money bet which means that if a player bet a specific amount of money he will get that specific amount back. With this type of bet, the player wins if the dice land on the number 7 or 11 and he lose if it lands on 2, 3, or 12. After this play, if the next roll is a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, he has the “Point.” If the Point is tossed again before the number 7 comes up, the player has a repeat, which means he wins “on the pass line.” This is considered a dollar for dollar bet. The bet can now be increased since a foundation has been established.
  
• THE DON’T PASS LINE BET. This is like a backwards Pass Line bet. The player loses if the first roll is the number 7 or 11. The number 2 or 3 is a winner. The number 12 is called a “Push” and it means that the player doesn’t win or lose anything. If the first turn results in a Point then a 7 must be rolled before another Point in order to win. If the Point is rolled again before the number 7 then according to the Don’t Pass Line bet, the player loses.
  
• THE PLACE BET. Using this type of bet, a player can make a wager on the probability that a specific number will be rolled. This type of bet, however, can only be utilized after a Point has been created. Before the next dice is rolled, a player can request from the dealer a bet on a particular number. Depending on the number, the odds are either higher or lower, which means each number also has a particular price.
  
• THE COME BET. This bet is very similar to the Pass Line bet mentioned before because it’s an even money bet (the player wins whatever he betted). The difference between these 2 bets is that a Come bet must be made after the Point has been established on the Pass Line. After the Come bet has been made, the first roll of the dice will decide the Come Point.
  
• THE DON’T COME BET. This bet is the reverse of the Come bet, similar to the situation with the Pass Line bet and the Don’t Pass Line bet.
  
• THE FIELD BET. This bet allows the player to bet on the probability of a designated number (similar to the Place bet). This is also an even money bet. The numbers 3, 4, 9, 10, or 11 can be bet on. A 2 rolled means the player gets paid double and a 12 means triple pay. If the number rolled is a 5, 6, 7, or 8 the player loses the bet.
  
• THE PROPOSITION BET. This type of bet is set in the middle of the table. If the player can win, the pay is good, and the bet can be placed on any roll.