The origin of Baccarat is somewhat confusing, if we may say so. There are several versions of how exactly this game began. Some historians believe that the game had its origins in the Middle Ages. There are those who claim that Baccarat was originally played with Tarot cards.

Several scholars claim from the aspect of belief that Baccarat is a variant of vingt-et-un, the French game of twenty-one. This makes Baccarat a “cousin” of Blackjack. In blackjack, players try to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as possible (without going over). In Baccarat, players bet on the hand they think is closest to nine (either the dealer’s hand or the player’s hand) . Although there are many differences between the two games, the similarities point to a common origin.

ITALIAN ORIGIN

There are strong indications that the game began in Italy. Baccarà in Italian means ‘nothing’. In the modern game of Baccarat, 10 and cards of the same suit are worth zero. The game probably moved from Italy to France in the late 15th century. It is believed that King Charles VIII was responsible for introducing the game to his countrymen.

Baccarat is a European game. It became enormously popular in the casinos of the French Riviera and its popularity spawned different variations of Baccarat. Today, the more traditional European players prefer the “chemin de fer” (railroad) version of the game. The best known version of Baccarat comes from the British Isles. As the British Empire spread throughout the world, the game also eventually spread. The British version is the version exported to the American continent.

In the 1950s, Baccarat was first played in Las Vegas. The Dunes casino was the first to introduce the game. Baccarat is usually associated with high stakes and high turnover. The next time you go to a casino, watch the action at the Baccarat tables. Some players bet large amounts of money per hand. Even if you are not a high roller, witnessing a live Baccarat game is something you should try at least once in your life.

MINIBACCARAT

In the 1980’s a new type of casino game emerged: Minibaccarat. Minibaccarat follows the same rules as Baccarat, but with a few differences. Minibaccarat was developed to make gambling more accessible to the masses. Regular Baccarat rooms have much higher limits than most other casino games. These areas are usually reserved for high rollers. If you try a Baccarat room in jeans and a T-shirt, you will probably be asked to leave!

With Minibaccarat, this does not happen. Minibaccarat is just like any other casino game. In Baccarat, the dealer deals the cards (players don’t have to worry about the dispensers). The Minibaccarat table is laid out like a blackjack table. The action is much faster, because the table has fewer seats than a regular Baccarat table.