As the game of choice for tuxedo-clad high rollers, baccarat has long been associated with sophistication and luxury. But even for those with smaller bankrolls, the game can be a fun and rewarding option. The game offers a low house edge and is easy to play. With its mystical rituals and Bond-dipped mystique, baccarat is not only a casino classic but also a popular pastime for millions of people worldwide.
The game’s elegant European origins have made it a favorite at many casinos, but these days it’s less of a James Bond pageant and more of a streamlined version of blackjack. Players can often find the game on a single table with lower minimums than at the tables in the high-limit area.
A dealer hands two cards to each player, then bets on which hand will come closer to nine points in total. The player can bet on either the banker or the player hand. The croupier then adds up the values of each hand’s cards, and whichever hand is closest to nine wins. Pictures cards and 10s count as zero, while aces are worth one.
Once the game moved north of France and into Britain, where a commission was charged to the casino for each winning bet, the rules changed slightly. The casino still controlled the bank, but now the croupier took a fixed percentage of the winning bet, regardless of whether the player or the banker won. This new form of baccarat was called “European Baccarat” and is the current version of the game.
The game has grown in popularity since its introduction in the 15th century. Both the French and the Italians claim to have invented the game, which is derived from an ancient Etruscan legend of a virgin who threw a dice to determine her fate. If she threw higher than a 6, she was elevated to priestess status; lower and she was banished into the sea to die.
Baccarat’s rules have remained relatively unchanged over the centuries, but the game has been modernized and streamlined for mass appeal in casinos. The emergence of commission-free baccarat freed dealers from having to pause the action to make change, and mini-baccarat with lower stakes opened the door to mass play. Card counting can be employed to reduce the game’s house edge by up to 0.5 percent, and the introduction of electronic betting terminals (EBTs) has made it easier for players to place their wagers and watch the results.