A look at Baccarat history reveals a well-traveled card game, one that counts among the oldest of the casino games. While the origins of this sophisticated game remain somewhat murky, it is said to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages, possibly created by an Italian gambler named Felix Falguierein and initially played with Tarot cards. Baccarat derives its name from “Baccara,” the Italian word for “zero,” the worst possible hand in this card game. Some trace Baccarat history to ancient times, claiming it is based on a legend involving an Etruscan ritual. The ritual required a virgin to throw a nine-sided die. If she threw an eight or a nine she became a priestess. If she threw a lesser six or seven, she lost her religious status. And should the die land on five or anything lower, she was most unlucky: the rules required her to drown herself in the sea. Better known is the fact that Baccarat made its way to France around 1490—although some keepers of Baccarat history also make the claim that it originated there—where it found a foothold among the French aristocracy. Over time, the rules of Baccarat continued to evolve in France, where it was often played in secrecy and eventually became known as Chemin de fer. Later on, it migrated yet again, this time to England where players further developed the rules to their liking, leading to the creation of European Baccarat. In the 1950s the game finally crossed the Atlantic, landing in Cuba and Argentina, where Baccarat history tells us it underwent even further change. Some say that Baccarat arrived in Las Vegas, more specifically at the Sands Casino, in 1959 or 1960, brought there by casino owner Tommy Renzoni. Because Baccarat has traveled the globe over the past several centuries, as a result there are multiple versions of Baccarat in play today. It really depends on the region. Baccarat variations include European Baccarat, American Baccarat (sometimes called Punto Banco Baccarat), Baccarat Banque (à Deux Tableaux), and Chemin de Fer (Railway). In today’s casinos, there is even a less formal version, featuring lower bets, of the game called Mini-Baccarat. And, let’s face it, no Baccarat history is complete without a mention of expert Baccarat player James Bond who, as a significant figure in pop culture, has enhanced the game’s “cool factor” over the last several decades. Thanks to its sophistication and profitable nature, Baccarat continues to be a favorite game of international high rollers and famous gamers. The card game has experienced a newfound popularity—opening a new chapter in Baccarat history—among online players all around the world. |
