Craps History

The origins of craps history is a matter of debate today in gambling circles all over the world. Now, who am I to stir the pot between the English and the Americans? Finally, they have become solid friends after a couple of centuries of not exactly seeing eye-to-eye on things. Let’s see, there was the American Revolutionary War back in the late 18th Century, and then there was the War of 1812, and… well, we can go on and on. The main thing is that the two countries are now allies, and I would hate to see this kinship evaporate because both countries wish to take credit for the origin of the game of craps.

Craps History – Let’s Go to the Court of Public Opinion for a Verdict

The English will forever go down in craps history as the inventors of the fastest game in the casino parlour, both on land as well as online. The game of craps is a descendant of the English game of Hazard, which has roots in the early 12th Century. English folklore has it that an Englishman by the name of Sir William of Tyre passed the time with his troops during the Crusades as they attacked a castle called Hazarth.

Speaking of craps history, the famed English writer, Geoffrey Chaucer, in his legendary work called The Canterbury Tales, mentions the game of Hazard. English historians further make the case for the game’s English origin by pointing out that there were casinos in England which dated back to the 18th Century, and that huge sums of money and possessions were bet on the game of Hazard at that time. This concludes the case for England, and the mother country awaits the decision of the Court of Public Opinion.

The Americans argue that they are the inventors of the game of craps, and should be entitled to that consideration in the craps history books. After all, it was the Americans who named the game craps, wasn’t it? No, not really! The name craps was actually coined by the French who claim they substituted “Craps” for “Hazard.” The Americans bristle at this idea, and attest to the fact that the term was coined by Americans in the South in the early 19th Century who took the name from “Crapshoot,” an American southern phrase. However, the term “Craps” is a French derivative, meaning toad. Surely, it’s a slang term for a turn of bad luck with respect to a throw of dice.

An American Craps History

The Americans point out with distinction that the game was played on Mississippi riverboats in the early 19th Century, and was later further developed by the Father of Modern Craps, John Winn. This fellow perfected the layout of the craps board and moved it from the back alleys of New Orleans into the fabric of the American lifestyle and the American Dream. Therefore, the Americans believe that they hold the rightful claim to the origin of the game of craps, and they also await the decision of the Court to validate their claim.

Craps History – And the Originator Is…

The Court of Public Opinion has rendered its decision. Based on the evidence obtained while reviewing the lore as to the origin of craps history, we have learned that by far the most exciting game both in land and online casinos is craps. The millions who play the game for its fun and challenge make this point undisputed. Is it worth breaking up a great friendship over this matter? The decision of the Court of Public Opinion is that both England and the United States cooperatively share in the prestigious title of “Founders of the Game of Craps.”