For more history about this dice game, a comprehensive summary is available here. How and why the game got the name Crabs is a matter of speculation and debate, but needless to say, was later called Craps as we know it today. It is believed to have originated from an ancient game called Hazard, the name derived from the Arabic word az-zahr, which is the plural for dice. Initially called Crabs, it is a casino table game played with dice. The game of Craps is older than you think. Online Craps Games Guide to Online Crap Games Around the World Betting on sports futures, props and lay bets.