Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. From amateur punters who are just getting the feel for casino gambling, to regular high-rollers, Baccarat is the perfect choice. With a super low house edge of only 1% and a simple game play structure, it’s easy to see why this casino game has grabbed the hearts of many. Baccarat is often found in VIP sections of land-based casinos, giving this game a sense of importance and exclusivity.
A game of luck and chance, the aim of Baccarat is to get as close to 9 points as possible. The 10 card and picture cards count as zero points and any card more than 10 takes on the number on the right. Place your bets on who will win, between the Player, the Banker, or a Tie, and wait for the points to stack up.
But where does this game of luck originate from and where is it headed? We take a look at all of the interesting facts about Baccarat that you may not already know.
Baccarat’s long history
The game of Baccarat can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages with it first making an appearance in Europe amongst the royals of the time. While it has been debated whether the game originated in Italy or France, it has been proven that it started in the 1400’s. Played by the noble people of the time, such as French royalty, Baccarat has always held the attention of the rich.
Derived from an Italian word, Baccarat means “zero” which speaks of the zero in the points system.
Baccarat became an underground sensation after King Louis XIV banned all forms of gambling. This prohibition attempt only spurned gamblers to play in secret which also led to the creation and rise of the French version of Baccarat. Also known as ‘Baccarat Chemin De Fer’, this version of Baccarat is simply known as ‘Chemmy’.
While some will claim that Baccarat dates all the way back to ancient times and started as a dice game, Baccarat has developed many superstitions. There are even players that have designed their own token systems to highlight the sequence of play and wins between Player, Banker, and Tie.
Baccarat at land-based casinos
Once it had developed beyond being a game played by the noble people, Baccarat was first introduced to the United States in Las Vegas during the 1950’s. The ‘European Baccarat’ version of the game was added to many casinos and proved to be very popular. While still popular among the wealthier, high-rolling punters, the game needed three dealers and involved complex rules. These complex rules meant that players needed to take turns in being the banker, which could cause quite a bit of confusion.
Popular among wealthy players, European Baccarat had stakes that were far too high for the average player. Casino games such as Blackjack and Roulette proved to be more popular for the everyday player and therefore a new form of Baccarat was created. The creation of Mini Baccarat was introduced to players by making the game simpler where a single dealer was needed. This new form of Baccarat was referred to as Punto Banco.
Not only was a single dealer introduced to this new version of Baccarat, but the rules were simplified to make betting easier and removing the need for players to take of the role of the banker. The dealer is required to deal with all of the more complicated aspects to Baccarat which means the experience is much more enjoyable for players.
Mini Baccarat, Punto Banco, or American Baccarat – No matter what you choose to call it, this version of an already popular game made it more accessible for a wider range of players and skyrocketed the popularity of the game even further!
Online casino Baccarat
When online casinos became a household regular, and great in popularity in the 1990’s, the largest concern for many players was whether or not they’d be able to play their favourite games. Thankfully software providers quickly learned that choice was key.
As internet connections, mobile devices, graphics, and technology as a whole has grown and improved over many years, playing games such as Baccarat has become an easy task. Play on the go from your mobile device or tablet, or in the comfort of your home at your computer.
Not only is playing at an online casino convenient and comfortable, but you can play for lower stakes than could be required at a land-based casino. That alone already makes you a winner!
With a long history behind it and a great future ahead, try Baccarat for yourself today.