Baccarat is a card game that’s been around for centuries and has made its way from Europe to Asia. Now, it’s gaining popularity in the United States as a casino game for high rollers. Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent and casino dealer who literally wrote the book on managing casino games, believes that the game’s increased popularity is due to its cultural appeal and high house edge.
Zender, who is now a consultant, says that Asian high rollers have made baccarat their game of choice for the past twenty years because it suits their culture. He explains that the game is “a low-risk bet with a high payout” and has a house edge of about 1.2 percent for both player and banker bets.
A baccarat dealer places the initial stake and players take turns to place their wagers. Once the stakes are placed, the dealer reveals one card to the player box and another to the Banker box. If either hand totals 8 or 9, it is a natural win and the bets are paid out. Otherwise, a third card may be drawn depending on the score of each hand.
The dealer will then proceed to analyze the two hands to determine if they’re winners or losers. The winning bets are paid out at 1:1 unless the player bet is on the Banker’s hand, which pays off eight to one. The tie bet, on the other hand, pays off nine to one, but it has a much higher house edge than the player’s or banker’s hand.
If the Banker’s hand wins, the house collects a 5% commission on the winnings. The Banker’s hand will also have a better chance of winning than the Player’s hand, which is why many players choose to bet on it.
Despite its appearance, baccarat is a fairly simple game to learn and play. It’s easy to find baccarat tables at casinos and online. In addition to the basic rules, there are a few important things to remember when playing baccarat. First of all, ten value cards have zero value in the game and the ace is worth one. Second, the Player’s and Banker’s hands are dealt face up, so all bettors can see them.
Baccarat is often portrayed in movies and television, including the 1954 film version of Casino Royal where Bond defeats Le Chiffre. Several of the later James Bond films also include a baccarat scene, including Dr. No; Thunderball; For Your Eyes Only; and GoldenEye. Baccarat is also featured in the 2014 video game Spectre, where Bond’s nemesis, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, plays it in his lair. Although the game has many different variations, they all follow the same basic rules. Baccarat is also a popular game among Asians, and has become a top gambling destination in Vegas. As more Asians travel to Las Vegas, casinos will likely add more baccarat tables and adapt the game to their needs.