Editorial: GamblingPlanet Guide - Baccarat History

People believe that the history of baccarat began with stylish European gaming parlors and casino legends revolving around a certain British secret agent. However, stories about baccarat go as far back as some of the earliest civilizations. Wherever cards were made, so were baccarat legends on both sides of the table. Baccarat stories often involve players winning huge fortunes and losing them again on the turn of a card.

Baccarat History: Myth and Legend

One of the most famous stories about baccarat revolves around nine ancient gods, a young maiden and a nine-sided die. The Etruscan civilization, a precursor to the Romans, had a myth that a young woman was selected to roll the gods' die once a year. If the roll came up eight or nine, she became a priestess and served the gods. If the roll came up six or seven, she would live her normal life and never roll the dice again. If the die showed five or less, she was forced to walk into the ocean and drown herself.

Players today think that baccarat is played for high stakes! Try playing for your life!

Baccarat History: The Renaissance

The history of baccarat is thoroughly entwined with casino history, as baccarat became one of the most popular card games. The word "baccarat" comes from the Italian word for "zero", even though popular baccarat legends have the game originating in France. During the sixteenth century, baccarat became the most popular game on the continent, especially in France.

Baccarat History: English Influence

When the game crossed the Channel into England, the game wrote a new chapter in its casino history. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the regimes of Napoleon and his son, Louis-Phillipe, banned baccarat from France. English nobles imported the game from France and created their own baccarat stories of big wins and huge losses. Casino legends on both sides of "La Manche" helped establish baccarat as the game of the upper crust of society.

Baccarat History: The New World

Just like other casino games, baccarat eventually made its way across the Atlantic to the New World. Casino stories about the new gaming palaces in places like Vicksburg, Mississippi, New Orleans and San Francisco spread across the globe. In addition to Faro, Roulette and Blackjack, the gambling halls of America offered visitors the chance to create new baccarat legends. The stories about baccarat players taking home big scores made the game that much more attractive.

Baccarat History: Las Vegas

The birthplace of modern casino legends is undoubtedly Las Vegas, Nevada. Gaming innovators made casino history when they created "American Baccarat" (also called "Punto Banco") and "Mini-Baccarat" to lure in new players.

One of the best baccarat stories involving Las Vegas revolves around a Japanese businessman who won US$1 million after an all-night gaming session. When the casino lured him back to keep playing, he lost his winnings plus another US$2 million, one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of baccarat.

Baccarat History: Variations

With the game sprouting up in new locations, variations on the basic game were inevitable. Players can still find different versions of the basic game, such as Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque. Many casinos also have "mini-Baccarat" tables, which take up less space and have lower betting limits than the full-size game. While the "mini" version may not have the appeal of past baccarat legends, it does allow new players to enter the game without breaking the bank.

Baccarat History: Popular Culture

Stories about baccarat games tend to revolve around posh locations and well-dressed players. Iconic popular figures, from the Beatles to James Bond, have colored the history of baccarat.

In the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, Bond takes on the arms dealer Le Chiffre in a baccarat game at a Monte Carlo casino. In the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night, Paul McCartney's "grandfather" wins a large sum at baccarat in a London casino, but has to use it to pay his exorbitant bar tab.

Baccarat History: Online Baccarat

In the last years of the twentieth century, the history of baccarat took a revolutionary turn with the introduction of the online casino. Online baccarat games soon became as popular as the other online casino games, mostly due to its simple approach. Nearly every major online casino offers online baccarat tables at a wide variety of betting limits. Players can enjoy the convenience of online baccarat without the need for tuxedos or evening gowns!

Baccarat History: Conclusion

With the advent of the online casino, stories about baccarat are continuing to expand and evolve. While online baccarat games may lack the glamour and sophistication of their live counterparts, baccarat stories will continue to entice and attract new players to a fun, simple and historic game.