What is the Dice Game in the Hood?
At its core, the dice game commonly played in urban neighborhoods is referred to as "craps." It‘s a fast-paced gambling game played with two six-sided dice by wagering on the various outcomes of each roll.
Origins and History
While casino craps has evolved over centuries dating back to Medieval hazard games, the street version became popular in African American communities in the 1800s. Its accessibility and lack of equipment needed led to it being widely adopted. The highs and lows of fortune with each roll added to the excitement.
Over decades, craps embedded itself in hip hop culture with artists referencing shooting dice in lyrics. Movies also boosted its notoriety through scenes depicting friends betting cash on dice rolls in the street.
How It‘s Played
Playing street craps centers around betting on a roller‘s attempts to "make their point" based on the dice value they initially roll:
- Win – First roll = 7 or 11
- Lose – First roll = 2, 3, 12
- Point – First roll = 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10. Point must be repeated before 7 is rolled again.
Bets include guessing correct rolls, points, or composite bets. The probability of rolling various numbers influences the risk and payouts:
| Dice Roll | Odds |
|---|---|
| Snake Eyes (Double 1s) | 1 in 36 |
| Boxcars (Double 6s) | 1 in 36 |
| Any Craps (2,3,12) | 8 in 36 |
| Seven | 6 in 36 |
With every turn of the dice controlling players‘ fates, craps cultivates incredible suspense.
Why It Stays Popular
In poor neighborhoods, gathering money to gamble on craps games brought communities together. The large payouts also presented opportunities to get out of poverty.
Moreover, the vast emotions tied to winning and losing cultivate an addicting rush. Even as commercial casinos made craps more accessible, street craps maintains cultural significance recalling memories of childhood games.
Street craps also continues spreading due to lighter regulations around informal betting versus professionally run casinos. This allows new variants like simplified rules or combining craps with other dice games.
The Appeal of Shooting Dice
On the surface, craps simply offers adrenaline around gambling and random luck. But its sensory experience through rattling dice, cheering winners, and groaning loses builds bonds. Friends can jovially spend hours trying to best each other‘s rolls.
Ultimately, street craps endures as a classic game celebrating community spirit. While outsiders may view betting on dice rolls as seedy, passionate players recognize shooting dice‘s nostalgic place in urban identity. Its rich history and potential for fortune will see craps rolling on for generations.
