Part 1: The History of Craps
You can shake them with one hand, shake with two hands, have a lucky catch phrase, or have a hottie blow or kiss your dice before you send them tumbling down the table. A great place to see eccentric players, check out the lively The Paris Las Vegas. But no matter your ritual, craps has a long history that spans countries and centuries. The specific origins are debatable, but there are a few prevailing folklore about the creation of the game.
The Beginnings
It has been said that several ancient civilizations; such as, the Egyptians, Romans and Native Americans played many games using dice. The paired game pieces gained popularity in Europe after the Crusades, because they brought Arabian dice games back home with them along with the spices, exotic fruits and gold gained by conquering other countries.
The Arabian dice game Azzahr and the European game Hazard both rolled along similar to the way craps is played today. Both games compete in the histories for which one led to the origin of todays craps. It is said that in the 1700s, when the French were living laissez-faire (chill) and gambling on everything they could, craps derived its name. To this day gambling historians are unable to agree on whether the name was derived from an early version of the game Hazard and how the French pronounce “Crabs,” or the less popular theory that the game was originally called “crapauds” after the word “toad” because of how people were stooped over to play. Regardless of the true origins, it is agreed Paris is a significant place in history to play the game.
Growth in the US
With a large population of French settling in New Orleans they brought with them Craps. In the 19th century, craps grew in popularity from New Orleans and vined through the country thanks to the Mississippi River. Eventually, the rules of the game were simplified and changed to allow people to bet against the roller by Bernard De Mandeville and John H. Winn. The legalization of gambling in Las Vegas in 1931 created and explosion of popularity for the game. Craps became the most recognizable table game in the city, because of the ability to win such large sums of money on a single roll. It also allows for spectators to participate by cheering and betting on the shooter. Get your feet wet with this game in its American origins at the Harrah’s New Orleans Casino or any of our other Louisiana partner properties.
Common Craps Phrases
Knowing the origins of the game is nice, and below there are some terms that are important to know before attempting to win it big with the dice:
Any Craps – A one unit one roll bet the next roll will be 2, 3, 12; with the payout usually being 7 to 1.
Any Seven – A bet the next roll will show a 7. Payout is usually 4 to 1.
Bank – The stack of chips placed on the craps table by the casino.
Bar 6-6 – Is a standoff with no total wins or losses. In this situation, bets placed may be withdrawn or alternatively, carried over to the next betting roll. Sometimes it’s Bar 1-1 or Bar 1-2.
Big 6 – A bet that a 6 will show before a 7 on the next roll. The payout is 1 to 1.
Big 8 – A bet that an 8 will show before a 7 on the next roll. The payout is 1
Change Only – When the player places cash on the craps table, the dealer or the player must call out “change only” to indicate that there is no action being taken on the cash, and it will be used to converte into checks.
Checks – Chips used to play Craps. They are round, plastic tokens and used for placing bets.
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Big Red – A bet that the next roll will show a 7.
Come Bet – A bet placed after the come out roll that the dice, Payouts are on rolls of 7 or 11 and losses incurred for 2, 3 and 12.
Come Out Roll – It is the first roll when a new game is being started.
Comps – Complimentary drinks, room, food, etc provided by a casino to valuable players.
Craps – Numbers 2, 3 and 12 on the come out roll.
Crapless Craps – A type of Craps game offered at some casinos. When playing this version of craps, a roll of craps is not a loss at the come out. The number is instead marked as a point. House advantages on this game are much higher than regular versions of Craps and most experienced players tend to avoid Crapless Craps.
Don’t Come Bet – When the player bets that the dice will not pass after the come out roll. Winnings are on a roll that shows 2 or 3 and losses are based on a 7 or 11. This bet can be easily removed at any time.
Don’t Pass Bet – This bet must be placed during the come out roll. Losses are on 7 and 11 with wins on 2 and 3. The role of 12 establishes a don’t-pass point and once this is done, a 7 must show on the next roll for the bet to be a winner. A throw of craps, or a 7 instead of the point.
Down Behind – This is usually called by the stickman, serving as a reminder to the dealer at the base that they must take losing Don’t Come bets.
Easy Way – A roll of the dice with 4,6,8 and 10 and each die is different.
Edge – The advantage held by the casino over any wager made by a player.
E.T Bet – A bet that 11 or 12 will show in the next roll.
Fade – When a player meets an opposing player’s bet in a private game rather than playing against the casino.
Field – The large area on the lay out with the numbers 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Field Bet – When a bet is placed on 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Pays twice the amount of the bet if 2 and 12 are rolled.
Free Odds Bet – A bet paid at the correct/true odds. Usually wagered with another bet that has a house edge.
Hop Bet – One roll bets and can be wagered on any combination of dice numbers for the next roll. For example, the player will say “two, three hops for a dollar”. This means they are betting the 5 will be the next roll with the dice showing 2 and 3. Hop bets are a high house advantage bet and therefore best avoided.
Horn Bet – A 4 unit bet with 1 unit each on 2, 3, 11, and 12. The payouts for this bet are 15 to 1 when a 3 or a 11 rolls and 30 to 1 when a 2 or a 12 rolls. This bet is popularly considered an amalgamation of the worst craps bets and experts advise players not to use this bet.
Horn High Bet – 5 unit bet on 2, 3, 11 and 12 and the player calls a fifth number that is high.
Horn Numbers – 2, 3, 11 and 12.
Hot Table – A table where almost all the shooters are making the point.
Inside Bet – When a bet is placed on 5, 6, 8, or 9.
Inside Numbers – 5, 6, 8, or 9.
Insurance Bet – Two or more bets made in an attempt to cover each other.
Lay Bet – A bet that 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 (point numbers) will only roll after a 7.
Midnight – Single roll bet on the number 12.
Miss – The outcome of craps or the show of a 7 before the point.
Money Plays – Dealer announces it when acknowledging the cash is being used on the craps table lay out.
Natural – When there is a throw of either a 7 or an 11 on the come out roll. Also known as natural seven or natural eleven.
No Bet – Announced by dealer when a player’s bet is not accepted at the table either because it was too late, incorrect value, improper dice throw etc.
Pass Bet – A bet that the shooter will throw the point or a natural.
Parlay – Taking the winnings from one bet and adding the winnings to a bet and betting all the money.
Pass Line – This is the most common Craps bet. A winning bet is when either a 7 or an 11 show on the come out roll. A losing bet is when a 2, 3 or 12 shows.
Past Posting – This is an illegal act where a gambler places or adds to a bet that has already won.
Place Bet – A bet that states a place number i.e. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 will show before a 7 rolls.
Point – Any box number can be a point number and is established when the dealer places the puck on the number.
Press – Increasing a bet. The player informs a dealer that they want to “press” and the bet is usually increased by a factor of 2. The increments can be chosen at the discretion of the player.
Seven Out – Rolling a seven before making the point. It is called by the stickman and is the end of a shooter’s turn with the dice.
Sequence Bet – A bet that is not necessarily determined by the next roll.
Shooter – The player currently rolling the dice.
Three Way Craps – Betting in multiples of` 3 with 1 unit each on the 2, 3 and 12.
Whirl Bet – A 5 unit bet the next roll will be a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12. Also known as the easiest way to make the 5 worst bets in the game.
Wrong Bettor – When a player bets that a dice will not pass.
Working Bet – A bet that is currently live or active and has not been called off by its player.
Zuke – Casino slang for a toke or tip.
