Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games around. Renowned for its elegance and popular among high rollers and celebrities alike, baccarat has long been featured in James Bond films! A card game of baccarat involves betting either on player hands, banker hands or ties in order to reach an ultimate hand total closes to 9 as quickly as possible. Players receive two cards; their final total digit is determined by adding up all pips (dots that represent clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades), while tie final results in neither card being drawn if needed! If tied, another card may not be drawn – though if necessary in case if one or both hands tie then a third card will not drawn if necessary!
Play is conducted on a large round or oval table that accommodates seven to 14 seats for players and offers a dealer area. The initial banker sets an initial betting amount, after which other players may add bets as desired. Bettors must announce their banker bet before receiving another card from either player or dealer; winner determined by hand closest to 9 with higher value or similar characteristics than either other hand (Banker hand winning more often due to lower house edge).
Historically, baccarat was only played at exclusive gambling salons or among the wealthy elite; but, over the past three decades, its popularity has dramatically grown among Asian high rollers and casinos have begun dedicating special tables for this game and hiring staff who specialize in dealing baccarat. Online casino players also appreciate baccarat for its high payouts and low house edge.
Early records of baccarat date back to Italy during the Renaissance era; its name likely derives from Italian for zero (baccara). Baccarat quickly became immensely popular across Europe among nobility and royal families before making its way across to France before being introduced into America by Felix Falguiere of Las Vegas gambling fame in the 1950s.
Baccarat is now widely considered the world’s favorite casino game. It has experienced unparalleled growth across Asia and Macau; indeed, its revenue outpacing that of Las Vegas Strip’s annual casino revenues since 2006. As such, it now stands as the leading game worldwide by both volume and winnings.
As well as traditional player/banker bets, players in baccarat may also make side bets like Super Six and Pair Bet. Super Six pays out when the banker earns six points; Pair Bet pays out when both player and banker both possess matching cards – making this game simple to learn! Once it’s time for a new round to begin, players can place their bets quickly and easily once the dealer announces it’s time to begin betting again.