From sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, the game of baccarat has grown into one of the biggest in the world. Its roots go back centuries and it’s often seen as a game for the upper class and aristocrats. It’s also known as Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque depending on where you play.
The game is essentially a game of chance. It involves betting on which hand, the Player or Banker, will have the total value closest to nine. Each hand is dealt two cards and the croupier (dealer) then makes a decision. If a third card is drawn, the player and banker hands are compared to see which one has the highest score. If the hand has a value of 9, it is declared the winner. The other hand, the one that has a higher number when all the pips are added up, is the loser.
A round of baccarat usually takes seconds and each bet is made independently of other players’ wagers. It’s the least intimidating of all casino games for new players as it is a simple, slow-paced game that requires no strategy or skill. In fact, baccarat has some of the best odds in the casino and is a popular choice for high rollers.
According to Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control agent and executive who literally wrote the book on managing casino games, baccarat has gained popularity among Asian high-rollers because it is “perfectly suited to their cultural preferences.” The game is slower than other table games, offers low minimum bets and pays out large winnings quickly. It is also considered a socially acceptable game to play in public due to its prestigious origins.
Baccarat is a simple card game with three types of bets: the Player Bet, Banker Bet and Tie Bet. All three bets have different payouts, and they all pay out based on the outcome of the hand. The Player’s Bet pays out 9 points to the winner, while a tie pays 8 to both the player and the banker. The Banker’s Bet pays out only if the banker wins. The Super Six Bet pays out 12x the bet amount if the Banker’s first two cards are 6 or more. And the Pair Bet pays out 11x the bet amount if the first two cards are a banker and player pair.
Baccarat has a long history dating back to medieval Italy, and it was introduced in France during the 19th century. It spread to Asia and eventually to the United States where it gained popularity thanks to its glamorous portrayal in James Bond films. In fact, the game is so popular that casinos in Macau have overtaken Las Vegas as the world’s biggest earners and 88 percent of their revenues last year came from the game. It’s a favorite among high-rollers from all over the world, and its popularity is set to continue to grow as more high-rollers seek out Asian-style gambling.