The word ‘craps’ is derived from the French ‘crapaud’, which means frog. Regardless of its origins, the dice game we play today can thank the French for its name. During this time, the knight converted Al Dar into a more palatable game for English gamblers named Hazard. During the Crusades, the soldiers began playing an Arabic dice game called Al Dar. Others claim that the English crusader William of Tyre invented craps. The shapes and patterns on the shield demarcated betting options, much like the bet boxes we have on a craps table today. Roman legionnaires used their shields as gaming tables where they would throw dice made from shaved animal bones. There is, however, some debate about whether the modern online craps games we play today originated in ancient Rome or Britain.
It is also where the phrase 'casting lots' comes into play, as people would use these games to settle disputes and determine who would hunt or stand guard for the evening. In most cases, these games centred around a group of players throwing marked stones or bones. Throughout history, each culture has had its dice games.
