A casino game with an aura of exclusivity and sophistication, Baccarat is also one of the easiest games to play. Its simplicity and favorable odds have made it a favorite of casino players from Monte Carlo to Macau.
Baccarat is a table game with from seven to 14 seats and a dealer area. Each player bets on either the Player or Banker hand, placing their chips on a betting area. The object is to predict which hand will have a total value closest to nine. The two cards that are dealt determine the hand’s total value. Picture cards and Tens have zero points, while numbered cards count as their face value. Aces are worth one point. The hand whose total is closer to 9 wins; in the event of a tie, the bettors’ bets are returned.
When a player bets on the Player, they are wagering that the Player’s hand will have a higher total than the Banker’s. The house edge for this bet is slightly higher than the Banker bet, but it still offers some of the best odds in the game.
During the 19th century, Baccarat became extremely popular amongst the European elite. The Royals even became involved in a scandal known as the “Royal Baccarat Scandal.” In this scandal, a British soldier named Sir William Gordon-Cumming was accused of cheating at Baccarat while playing with the Prince of Wales at his country estate, Tranby Croft. Despite this scandal, the game continued to grow in popularity.
The game has become so popular that it now generates more revenue on the Las Vegas Strip than any other table game, including blackjack. It has even surpassed poker, the number one card game in America. In fact, many players view Baccarat as an elite card game reserved for the wealthy, but this is not entirely true. Baccarat can be enjoyed by anyone willing to place a minimum bet of $20 or more.
There are several different variations of Baccarat, but the most common is Punto Banco. This variation originated in Europe and became very popular among the aristocracy of France, spreading from there throughout the world. It eventually reached the United States where it became very popular in high-roller salons.