Facts on Craps: Questions you never thought to ask

Craps is one of the most mysterious games on the casino floor. For those who don’t understand how to play, it can be a great cause of frustration, seeing so many people gathered round a single table, emotions high and cheers often audible above the raucous reverberations of jingling slot machines.

But for those who do know how to play craps, here’s a few interesting craps facts you may not have known, and probably never even thought to ask.

How Popular is Craps?

More popular than you might think. In fact, Craps is the most popular dice game in the world – even more popular than Yahtzee! This is primarily due to the fact that Craps actually has some of the lowest odds of any casino game… if you know where and when to place your bets.

Where did Craps Come From?

While we can’t travel back in time to confirm it’s exact origins, the most commonly accepted belief is that Craps evolved from a game first known as ‘Hazard‘, dating all the way back to the Crusades in 1125 AD. It is said to have been invented by an English noble, Sir William of Tyre, and his troop of knights, who played to pass the time as they prepared to lay siege on Castle Hazarth. The name, therefore, came from a mere corruption of the castle’s title.

Okay, Then Why is it Called ‘Craps’?

Over time, French influence gave the game a new name. They called it ‘Crapaud‘, a French word that translates to “Toad“. Apparently, tables weren’t so easy to come by back then, thus the toad reference came from the position in which players squatted while tossing the dice on the ground.

Many years later, as the French moved into the Americas via New Orleans, the name eventually evolved into it’s Americanized version of ‘Craps’. On a side note, it’s likely that the popular phrase, ‘take a crap‘, came from the same French word, for similar reasons.

‘Clearly’ a Game of Chance

At craps tables all over the world, the dice in play – most often red – always have a transparency to them. These clear dice are used with the purpose. They allow the croupier to easily determine whether the dice have been tampered with, or if someone has smuggled weighted dice into the casino.

Common Craps Superstitions

There are two very common craps superstitions that most players of the game are already aware of. The golden rule of any craps table is to never, ever, utter the word “Seven”. Statistically, it’s the most probable outcome for any roll of the dice, thus it’s considered very bad luck to speak the number during play. Conversely, it’s considered very good luck to have a lady blow on the dice before the shooter rolls.

Why So Few Craps Tables?

If the game is so popular, why is it that there are so few craps tables on a casino floor? In a typical setting, you may see 8 to 10 blackjack tables, but only 1 or 2 craps tables. It’s not a lack of popularity, or that the casino doesn’t want too many players around the table. It’s because a single Craps game requires four attendants – a Box Person (to call the roll), a Stickman (to return the dice to the player), and 2 Dealers (to handle all bets).

Craps also has no set limit on the number of players who can take part. So long as there’s enough room to squeeze in around the table – without stepping on any toes – everyone can play.