The history of gambling goes back nearly six thousand years, and might even have taken place before the dawn of recorded history. As a straightforward tool with lots of potential, it’s no wonder that dice have played a huge role in gambling’s past.
From early board games to medieval and early modern gambling games, dice have been a favourite way to gamble across millennia. The history of dice games extends from casual betting among Roman soldiers all the way to dice games online. Many modern dice games have their roots in these earlier variants, so that every time you roll the dice in a casino or online casino, you’re adding to a long history of dice gambling.
The First Gambling Instruments
Early gambling largely consisted of wagering on animal fights and other events. Soon, complex games began to pop up, requiring their own components. The Egyptian board game of Senet (invented before 3000 BCE) used two-sided throwsticks to determine how far a player could move on their turn, effectively creating two-sided dice.
Gambling dice likely developed from fortune-telling dice, both made of hoof bones from sheep or goats, called “knucklebones.” While what dice are made of has changed over time, the six-sided design of knucklebones has been cemented as the most common style of die.
Dice Games in Ancient Civilizations
Archaeologists have found six-sided dice all over Eurasia. Iranian dice date back as far as 2800-2500 BCE; Scottish dice date to around 3100-2400 BC; and dice from the Indus River Valley civilization in modern-day Pakistan date to 2600-1900 BCE. These led to the birth of many types of dice games.
Several games from the ancient world seem to resemble modern backgammon, including an Iranian dice game and the Japanese game Ban-sugoroku. In the Indian subcontinent, the Buddha lists a number of games he refused to play on religious grounds, naming dice games in general as well as a board game thought to have been played with dice.
Ancient Greeks and Romans also enjoyed dice games. Greeks played a version of modern jacks where they had to scoop up dice, originating in western Turkey and popular in ancient Athens. The first twenty-sided die has been dated to the 2nd century BC. Although gambling was illegal in ancient Rome, soldiers often played dice games, using a combination of large and small dice.
The Evolution of Craps in America
Historians believe craps was played in the Middle East and moved west during the Crusades. Around the 18th century, official versions of the games were documented, known as “Hazard” in England and “Krabs” in France. Colonial settlers brought the game with them to America, where it became especially popular in New Orleans and along the Mississippi River. Over time, craps terminology shifted so that the name Krabs turned into “creps,” and eventually “craps.”
The rules for how to play craps would be streamlined so that 7 is always the target, since it is the most likely total for two dice. These early rules only featured Pass bets, without Don’t Pass.
Gambling culture in America picked up momentum in the 19th century. Dicemaker John H. Winn introduced the craps betting table in 1907 with a new space for Don’t Pass bets, updating the game to its current modern form.
Sic Bo and the Influence of Asian Dice Games
Sic Bo, also known as Dai Siu, originated in earlier Chinese dice games. Where Sic Bo exploded in popularity was Macau, where gambling was legalized in 1849 while the city was still a Portuguese colony. Macau later became a part of China and remains the only place in the country where gambling is legal, making it a hub for casinos. Sic Bo is the most popular dice game played in casinos across Macau.
How Sic Bo is played differs a bit from craps, with different possible dice rolls available to bet on, but the two games have a lot in common. Combining several unique bets to minimize risk is the key to both craps and Sic Bo strategy.
Dice Games in Modern Casinos
Today’s casinos offer dozens of exciting casino dice games. Walk into any in-person casino, and you’re likely to see a crowd of eager gamblers around a dice table. These also tend to be the noisiest spots in the casino as players shout out encouragement or banter with each other.
Craps continues to be a staple in most Western casinos, and Sic Bo serves the same role in Asian casinos, though both frequently crossover. Digital games are the latest step in the evolution of casino games, introducing quick-play dice games such as Hi-Lo and variants on old classics like Super Sic Bo.
The Digital Era of Online Dice Games
Online casino games make gambling more accessible than ever, including dice games like craps or Sic Bo. You can play dice against the house in single-player variants, or try live casino dice games to play alongside real players. Virtual craps uses random number generators (RNGs) to produce random dice rolls, while live titles have a real croupier load a mechanical dice roller each round. The best live dealer dice games evoke the same social experience of playing in person, all from the comfort of your own home.
Why Dice Games Remain Popular Today
Whether at an in-person or online casino, you’ll still see dice games everywhere. Players return to these games time and time again for a number of reasons. The kinetic fun of rolling dice is always exciting, and having real dice determining the outcomes guarantees randomness and improves trust in the game.
But the real popularity of dice games comes from their social element. Having a group of players crowded around a dice table, swapping advice and superstitions, creates a sense of camaraderie that other casino games can’t replicate. By registering at BetMGM Casino, you too can experience the unique thrill of dice games and join the long history of dice players.
