The History of Craps in Popular Culture

Do you hear that? Roar of the crowd, the clatter of dice… and the thrill of chance. That’s the essence of craps, one of the world’s most iconic casino games. It’s classed as a table game and a game of chance, meaning players cannot use skills or strategies to affect the outcome, like in other games, such as blackjack and poker. 

Let’s dive straight in and take a quick look at the brief history of craps and how it has become a huge part of popular culture, appearing in everything from television shows and movies to songs and video games. 

What is craps, and what’s the aim of the game?

Craps is a dice game that you can typically play at most land-based casinos. However, you can also now find many different variants of computer-generated craps games and cutting-edge craps games on a handful of legally permitted online casino websites. People have also been known to play versions of this game on the street or at home. 

The aim is to place a wager on the outcomes of the roll of a pair of dice and hope that you guess the correct value of the dice after they have been rolled down onto the table by the ‘shooter.’ 

To begin with, betting is relatively straightforward. But there are, in fact, many different bet types in craps, which is why this is often considered the most difficult to learn compared to other casino games. Still, it’s the most famous casino game where all of the action happens and where most people naturally gravitate when they go to a casino. 

The initial roll in any new round of craps is known as the Come Out Roll, and all you have to do is bet on whether you think that the value of the two dice rolled will total 2, 3, or 12, or 7 or 11. 

Each game starts with a Pass Line bet, and it’s up to you to bet on whether you think the value of the two dice rolled will combine to equal 2, 3, or 12 (to win the Don’t Pass Bet) or 7 or 11 (to win the Pass Bet). The current round will end if the total dice value is 2, 3, or 12 (aka craps) or 7 or 11 (aka neutral). 

If or when the dice lands on 7 or 11, the people who win money for that round are the ones who placed Pass Line bets. If the dice land on 2, 3, or 12, then the ‘Don’t Pass Bettors’ win. 

If the dice rolled total 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, the ‘Point Number’ is established. That means the round hasn’t ended, and the next phase of betting becomes available, which is when the betting table with more betting options comes into play. 

It sounds super complicated and confusing, but once you learn the basic rules and either play a few quick rounds or watch a few rounds, things should quickly start to become clear. 

A brief history of how craps has featured in pop culture

Since craps first arrived in its modern format in the early 20th century (around 1910), it has become a staple of pop culture. During WWII, for example, soldiers helped to popularize and spread the game by playing a simplified version. 

We then saw a post-war boom. During this time, the game quickly found its way into casinos in Las Vegas and across the Caribbean, where it became an instant hit with patrons of all ages and backgrounds. 

This iconic table game became popular in casinos across the world in the 1960s, and by this point, it was just as popular as roulette and many other classic table and card games. 

Craps has also long been a source of inspiration for Hollywood writers and directors, and since it started appearing in movies, it has helped raise the profile of the game even further. Many famous rock bands and solo artists have also included a line or two about craps in their songs. 

Over the past fifty years, some of the most famous movies that have included entire scenes dedicated to craps are: 

• One of the oldest examples is Guys & Dolls (1955), followed by Diamonds Are Forever (1971). 
• The next big film to include craps was The Big Town (1987), plus there was also a scene in A Bronx Tale (1993) and several scenes in Casino (1995). 
• Other iconic ‘craps’ movies include Hard Eight (1996), The Cooler (2003), Owning Mahowny (2003), Getting Back to Zero (2013), and The House (2017).

When it comes to songs, three of the music industry’s most iconic tunes that have featured lyrics about this game are Tumbling Dice by The Rolling Stones (1972), Roll the Dice by Bruce Springsteen (1989), and Gambling Man by The Overtones (2010). 

What are the most popular craps games people like to play online in 2025?

Craps has also become a big part of the online gaming culture, and you can now find many different variants. You can play just for fun or using real money.  

For a complete list of today’s popular online craps games, the easiest is to check out the frequently updated list of top online craps games on AskGamblers — the iGaming industry’s most trusted online casino review website. It also has the latest iGaming news, guides, and casino and sports betting-related articles. 

All of their featured brands are owned and operated by reputable operators with excellent standing in the iGaming industry. They are all fully licensed and regulated by one or more mid to top-tier licensing authorities/gaming commissions. Not only that, they have a decent selection of computer-generated and live dealer online craps games from various award-winning software providers/game development studios. 

One of the most popular craps games to try first is a hit title called Live First-Person Craps from Evolution Gaming. You can also find many other craps/dice games on each of these top-rated casino sites, such as Live Sic Bo from Pragmatic Play and Craps from Games Global. 

Most online casinos today also have several dice-themed online slots and one or two other unique dice-themed games, such as Snakes & Ladders Megadice, Dice Rush, Dice Dice Dice, Wicked Dice, 88 Fortunes Dice, Dicey Fruits, Live Sic Bo Deluxe, Harlequin Dice, and Live Football Studio Dice — to name a few. 

Conclusion

Although it has become a huge part of online gaming culture in recent years, many people still put off playing craps because of the somewhat complex look of the betting table and the many different betting options. However, getting to grips with this game doesn’t take too long, especially once you have mastered the basics. 

Before playing any new dice game online using real money, always take a few minutes to learn the different bet types and the odds and implied probability rates for those bets. 

Some players also like to look for online craps games with high or above-average RTP (return to player) payout rates of around 96.00% to 97.00% or higher and will avoid playing ones with a 93.00%, 92.00% or lower RTP payout rate. 

It’s a good strategy to have, but it doesn’t guarantee they will win more. However, theoretically speaking, higher RTP craps games are more likely to pay than lower RTP craps games. 

The important thing to remember is to set a sensible spending budget before playing and gamble responsibly by taking advantage of the safer gambling tools you can access when you log in to play online on any fully licensed and regulated US or UK casino site.