The word “baccarat” evokes images of a swanky casino, Bond-dipped mystique and the type of high-end game that one could only play if they were a heiress, a tycoon or an actor. But the game has a secret weapon: it is simple to learn and can produce very large winnings. In fact, baccarat is the biggest source of revenue for casinos worldwide, bringing in more than 88 percent of the money that Macau casinos make. And, while it doesn’t get as much play on the Las Vegas Strip as slots do, baccarat does account for 18 percent of total casino win there.
The game of baccarat is played with six decks of cards, shuffled together and dealt to an oval-shaped table. The game seats anywhere from seven to 14 players, who place their bets in the areas labeled Player, Banker or Tie. The goal is to predict which hand will come closest to nine when the values of all the pips (the dots that distinguish cards as clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) are added up. Picture cards and Tens count as zero points; aces are worth one point. When the sum of the cards in a hand exceeds nine, only the second digit is used to determine its value.
There is no complex strategy involved, no need to split or double-down, no gamesmanship or the ability to read other players’ betting patterns. Essentially, you bet on either the player or banker, and whichever hand has a final digit closer to nine wins. Unlike poker, blackjack and even roulette, which have their own strategies and tactics, baccarat is all about luck. And because it is so easy to play, its house edge is very low: only a 1.06 percent advantage on banker bets.
A good baccarat player can reduce the house’s advantage to about 0.15 percent by employing a simple system of card counting. But this is not the only way to make a profit from the game, and it requires a high level of discipline and attention.
In a casino, baccarat is played in separate rooms with special furniture and lighting designed to set the mood. It is usually accompanied by a live band and often has a dark, swanky atmosphere. It is also commonly played at high-end hotels.
While pop culture links baccarat to James Bond, it is actually a very old game that dates back to the Middle Ages. The name of the game probably comes from a Latin term that means “to draw,” referring to the game’s use of a specialized shoe to determine the winner. During this time, it became popular among wealthy Europeans and Asians who were looking for an alternative to the more common games like poker and rooster. As this game grew in popularity, it moved from the gambling halls to the casinos, where it is still enjoyed today. In the modern era of online gaming, baccarat is available to gamblers worldwide and can be found in many different forms and formats.