If you really want to get a grasp on how old the game of craps really is, consider this - dice are in fact the oldest tools used in gambling. They came along way before the deck of cards.

Games using dice date back to very ancient times. Even Roman Emperors loved dice games, some are even documented as cheaters when it came to dice games.

In Egypt, it is believed that a more modern form of dice were created. We are talking as far back as 600B.C. here. The practice of throwing dice was even written about in an Indian ancient epic by the name of Mahabharata. According to this ancient story, warriors would throw dice to determine their fortune. Many of these fighters lost considerable wagers.

In the East, Koreans were avid dice players. Also, Indians in the US developed game play by making knucklebones with four different sides to play dice games.

In Arabic, die and knucklebone is the same word. This makes it obvious to most that they liked the game, too.

In general, the history of dice goes back thousands of years. But the actual game of craps is not really that old compared to how long dice have been rolling around. The English played a game called Hazard as far back as the 12th century, since then it is believed that the game was brought to the US on the Mayflower by the English settlers.

After that, the game was introduced to New Orleans, where it was called craps by the French settlers. Since that time, the rules of the game and the odds associated with the game have changed many times. In the early 19th century, the modern table format you see today was developed, but players (at that time) could only wager against the house.

 Alas, John H. Winn reformed the game of craps and created the possibility for players to bet right and wrong. Winn also enhanced the table layout consequently making a spot on the table for don’t pass wagers.

Shortly after that, casino gambling was legitimate in Nevada. Now, casino craps is a staple in casinos throughout the world.