Alongside blackjack and roulette, baccarat is one of those games that has many fans from all corners of the world. Not everyone who plays baccarat is a high roller, but many people who like wagering with more money enjoy this game.
Often called one of the biggest card games ever, baccarat has also appeared in numerous movies. In fact, many people have heard of it because of James Bond, as well as other movies.
Nowadays, there are many different baccarat options and variations, each slightly different from the rest. With that said, let’s learn more about the game’s history and what you need to remember.
The Beginnings
There are several theories regarding baccarat’s origin, but most sources claim that the game was first invented in the 1500s. Some of you probably do not know, but most people agree that Italy is the palace where the game comes from, and its name in Italian (baccara) means zero. Most sources state that the person who invented it is Felix Falguiere.
After its invention in Italy, baccarat slowly entered other European countries. There’s information that the game became available in France, and King Charles VIII was actually a huge fan and played all the time. Considering his status back in the day, it’s no surprise that people considered baccarat to be a game suitable only for royalties.
It was not until a couple of centuries after that that baccarat became widely available to all sorts of people. Today, you can find this game while using the best casinos for whales, as well as all top-tier land-based operators.
Expanding Into Other Regions
After its origin in Italy and the transition to France, baccarat slowly entered new regions. Due to the ongoing explorations and discoveries back in the day, the game eventually ended up in the Caribbean and South America. What’s interesting is that it did not have the same name because locals called it Punto Banco.
In addition to the new name, there were also some differences in the rules. Instead of playing against each other, every Punto Banco player was only competing against the bank. This baccarat variation became so popular that many people started calling it the American Baccarat.
Several years went by, and baccarat continued to gain more popularity, but things escalated even more in the 1950s. This was when the game was introduced to Las Vegas. Today, you can find baccarat when you visit any of the big casinos there.
While it is true that its initial success was not as big as some of the other casino games that people liked back then (namely slots and roulette), it slowly became a popular option. This was when the game became very appealing to high rollers because a lot of casinos decided to increase the limits for baccarat and make the game feel more exclusive.
The Different Baccarat Versions
Punto Banco is one of the baccarat versions that players can access, but it’s definitely not the only one. Another popular alternative among some groups of players is the mini-baccarat. It looks very similar to Punto Banco, but all limits are smaller, making it more suitable for players on a budget.
Another popular baccarat variation that high rollers may be interested in is called Chemin de fer. This game consists of 6 decks that are shuffled together, and players have to discard cards in the centre. One of the big differences between this variation of baccarat and Punto Banco is that this one has a lot of skill elements.
The next option that deserves attention is called Baccarat Banque. It is very similar to the one mentioned above, but the banker’s position is more permanent.
Lastly, we have Macao, a game with many fans worldwide. What’s different about Macao is that players use two decks of cards that they shuffle together. Also, gamblers have to wager against the banker.
Baccarat’s Role in Popular Culture
Considering this is one of the most famous casino games for high rollers, most people won’t be surprised when they find out that it has a big role in popular culture. Perhaps the thing that a lot of people associate it with is James Bond. The latter plays baccarat in several movies, including Casino Royale.
Aside from James Bond, baccarat is one of those games that played a role in a lot of controversies. One of them includes Phil Ivey, one of the most popular professional gamblers. In 2012,. Ivey won around $11M while using the famous card-counting tactic, but the casino in the UK refused to pay him.
Another interesting scandal dates from 1891, and it includes none other than King Edward VII. This situation became famous as the “Royal Baccarat Scandal,” and it became extremely popular because of the people involved.
Baccarat Today
If you like baccarat and want to give it a chance today, you will find all kinds of options. All of the big casinos for high rollers will have at least a couple of baccarat tables that you can go to. The same applies to online casinos, where clients can find more alternatives.
Some of the leading gambling websites in the world will offer options like:
- Classic Baccarat
- Lightning Baccarat
- Bac Bo
- Emperor Baccarat
- Baccarat First Person
- Golden Wealth Baccarat
- Hindi Baccarat
- Korean Baccarat
- Mega Sic Bac
Online casinos will often provide many different live baccarat tables, which means you can compete against many players. Needless to say, each of the live baccarat tables comes with its exclusive set of options. On top of that, a lot of casinos have several different bonuses for baccarat, some of which are available to existing users.
