The Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square in London has had to rename “craps” (the dice game) after players said they were bemused by it. The Powers That Be at the Hippodrome have taken down the “Craps” sign on the facade of the casino and put up a new PC board that says “Dice”. The Americans call the game “Craps”, it also says, to be fair.
Play Craps at Hippodrome’s Online Casino
The Hippodrome Craps table (we’re still calling it craps, sorry), is in the excellent Lola’s bar in the basement of the Hippodrome in Leicester Square. The bar is names after Lola McGuire who was a chorus girl at the Hippodrome from 1900 until World War One. Stunningly beautiful and charming, she was a hit with the older and wealthier gentlemen who frequented the Club at the time.
But Lola had a naughty side as well as being a charmer. She managed after hours gambling parties at The Hippodrome.
If you are ever in London- try the craps table at the Hippodrome in London. It’s got a great atmosphere.
Craps is very popular in the States- less so in London where people tend to play roulette or blackjack. (Try our free craps games to see what all the fuss is about).
Apparently, the name change is causing confusion the other way around. An American player reportedly asked the way to ‘the craps’ and one of the waitresses pointed him to “the crapper”. You have been warned! If you want to be the shooter, make sure you are in the right place.
Where Does the Word Crap Come From?
Ever since the plumber Thomas Crapper founded Thomas Crapper & Co in London, craps in the UK has had a slightly different meaning to craps in the US. Well, we may be just piling on the urban myth bandwagon there: it is often claimed that the UK slang for human bodily waste, “crap”, started off with Thomas Crapper because of his links to lavs. Supposedly, US servicemen in England during World War I saw his name on public loos and used it as slang, i.e. “I’m going to the crapper”.
In fact, the origin of the word crap is probably Middle English. The Dutch word krappen means to pluck off, cut off, or separate; and the Old French crappe means waste or rejected matter.
I hope that wasn’t a crap post by the way.
