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Dice and dice games date back to the Middle Eastern Crusades, but current craps is only about one hundred years old. Modern craps formed from the ancient Anglo game called Hazard. No one knows for sure the beginnings of the game, however Hazard is said to have been discovered by the Anglo, Sir William of Tyre, in the 12th century. It is presumed that Sir William’s soldiers bet on Hazard amid a blockade on the citadel Hazarth in 1125 AD. The title Hazard was acquired from the fortification’s name.
Early French settlers brought the game Hazard to Nova Scotia. In the 1700s, when displaced by the English, the French relocated south and settled in southern Louisiana where they at a later time became known as Cajuns. When they fled Acadia, they brought their favored game, Hazard, with them. The Cajuns modernized the game and made it more mathematically fair. It is said that the Cajuns changed the title to craps, which is derived from the name of the bad luck throw of snake-eyes in the game of Hazard, recognized as "crabs."
From Louisiana, the game extended to the Mississippi river boats and across the country. Many think the dice builder John H. Winn as the creator of modern craps. In the early 1900s, Winn built the modern craps layout. He created the Do not Pass line so players could bet on the dice to lose. At another time, he developed the spaces for Place bets and put in place the Big 6, Big 8, and Hardways.