craps

Developed in the 1700's, Hazard was played by members of the European aristocracy before arriving to America through the French Louisiana colony of Arcadia.
By 1813, Bernard de Mandeville of New Orleans took the game of hazard, simplified it, and transformed the game into the first version of craps. His adaptation of Hazard traveled up the Mississippi River on steamboats, spreading throughout the United States. Mandeville's craps had one major flaw; the game was vulnerable to the use of fixed dice due to its betting rules. John H. Winn fixed the problem by introducing the possibility for players to bet 'right' or 'wrong' in the layout of the craps table, including a space for 'Don't Pass' bets. His adjustments revolutionized the game, eliminating the usefulness of fixed dice and making it possible for players to bet for or against the roller.
Stepping back further into the past, some believe craps to have originated from soldiers of the Roman Legions playing with pig knucklebones shaped into cubes at the time of the Holy Roman Empire. They would "roll the bones" onto their shields for entertainment.
World War II also witnessed soldiers using craps in its modern form as entertainment, which gained immense popularity as a way for them to break the monotony of war. Even movies included the game in their story lines as casino craps took over the gambling world.
Over the years, particularly in the 1990's, craps lost much of its popularity as slot machines and other casino favorites began pulling in the majority of gamblers. Only recently, craps has shown signs of making a comeback into the gambling scene since entering the 21st century. Technological advances, such as the option of playing craps online, have also contributed to the return.