The Rise of Baccarat
Baccarat brings in more money to casinos all over the world than any other game – 86 per cent of the total income of the casinos of Macau (one of China’s Special Economic Regions, like Hong Kong and now the biggest gambling city in the world) comes from this game! The casinos in Singapore also make millions from baccarat, and Las Vegas has its fair share of them, too.
But why is this classic game now so popular, and will it stay that way for a while yet?
Origins
The appeal of baccarat has long been its ability to compel suspicion of its alleged fairness. Given that it is the quintessential card game of the ruling classes, it is no surprise that it first appears in a 14th-century work of Italian literature. However, it probably hit its stride around the 16th century when nobleman began betting on it across Europe.
Most are of the view that the card game baccarat originated in medieval Italy among the upper classes and aristocracy before making its way to France for it then to be played privately and at royal courts before evolving to two separate versions, namely Punto banco and Chemin de Fer.
It did not take long before it crossed the English Channel to England and to Las Vegas. In the years that followed, baccarat came to symbolise the casino and remained so until its demise in the 1960s – although today players from around the globe are flocking to it once again!
Rules
Baccarat pays according to the wager size. Place your banker hand or player hand bets on the table; place your even-money bets on the rail. Payoffs are even money. It consists of two hands, Banker and Player. The third hand, which is subordinated, is ‘the Tie’. 8:1 odds (‘Tie’ odds typically) apply to your even-money bets for the Tie.
A dealer deals out two cards to each player sitting opposite him and gives out the totals; then the winner is called depending on who has the number closest to nine without exceeding it.
Although baccarat has an air of sophistication that’s often associated with high rollers at casino resorts, you can also play the game at a low stake. Stick to your bankroll and stop playing when you hit your loss limit.
Variations
Since its inception, baccarat has been the game of choice at exclusive gambling salons. Although perceived as a game of the rich, บาคาร่าcan be learned by even a casual gambler, so you can enjoy the splendour of baccarat even with a limited budget; once you master the rules of baccarat, you can catch several lucky streaks at a stretch!
There are many versions of baccarat they are: punto banco, chemin de fer, Panda 8, EZ Baccarat all had 8 decks of cards. And the rule of drawing cards was set. The two versions of these are well known punto banco and chemin de fer among these two games, only eight decks of cards are used, and the winning the in each game of Players and Bankers paid 1:1 and even money paid on a winning a winning Banker bet eliminating an optional 5% of commissions, or less, Punto banco became more popular at the online casinos. Punto banco paid a standard even money on a winning Player bet because the casinos are paid for by the winning banker bets payout paid even money, unlike the even money paid on the winning Player bet with additional commission of 5% on winning Banker bet wins. Panda 8, EZ Baccarat and others remained with all 8 decks of cards, and all versions remained with the same 1:1 pay for winning a Hand for the Players and Bankers, and the remains the same with the 5% commission charge on a winning Banker bet however Panda 8 and EZ Baccarat all reduced the even money pays at the winning banker bets.
Betting options
With a variety of betting choices unlike any other casino game, this classic game gives players the unique opportunity to play for the banker, the player, or even place side bets that can often lead to bigger wins.
The game of Baccarat has long had a reputation as a private pastime for the elite – at least, it certainly tried to. But the stigma of accessibility has been gradually eroded, and today newcomers can embrace the challenges of baccarat with as much relish as the experts. There are a number of tried and tested strategies for playing Baccarat that are popular with players for whom the thrill of winning is as important as the size of their total return. A case in point is the Martingale system, applied by impresarios such as Oscar Wilde and the Marquess of Queensberry. Martingale is based on the principle of increasing your bet after losing until it can be returned to the original level on the following win.
House edge
It never fails to amaze me that baccarat is the most popular and lucrative game in the world – adored throughout Asia, but also around the globe. Its elegant simplicity saves casinos millions by acting as a money-spinner almost anywhere it is played. That’s why its 007.
Baccarat is a card game where players bet on who will get to 9 first. It is, in a sense, an inverse version of poker or blackjack in which four players bet on which of the other two hands will get closest to nine. The fact that baccarat carries a ‘house edge’ of only 0.5 per cent means that the casino has a generous opportunity to make money. It only needs this one game.