Baccarat is a very old, elegant card game still played in casinos today. Baccarat has been made immortal because it’s easy, with all the high-rolling theater surrounding it and its mysterious mystique bringing people from all over the Earth to play it. So, where did it begin? To follow the roots of baccarat, we have to go a few centuries back into Europe, where the game was first born as a very different animal from the one we know today.
The Early Roots of Baccarat
Historians believe the baccarat game was first played in Italy around the 1400s. An Italian gambler created the Felix Falguiere game (sometimes spelled Falguierein). He called the game the game of baccara, the Italian word for “zero” because all of the face cards and tens score zero points.
Next, baccara was played using tarot cards, as opposed to the modern-day 52-card deck. The game’s objective was the same as it is today, too—achieving a hand with a value nearest to the number nine. The game quickly gained popularity in Italian society, particularly among the nobility and upper class.
When adopted by the French, the rules of the game also changed. It became popular in France during the late 15th-century rule of King Charles VIII. The French nobility played it in the privacy of their chambers, not before the general public. It was known in France as Chemin de Fer, one of the earliest versions of the baccarat game we play today.
The French Influence
France also played a key role in shaping the game into what it is today. Two major versions of baccarat evolved from France: Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque. In Chemin de Fer, the banker position is shuffled among the players. In contrast, in Baccarat Banque, the banker position is less dynamic and usually assigned to one player throughout the game.
These French versions were fashionable among the upper class for centuries. Since money and elitism were associated with the game, the game became a status symbol. It was only much later that the game moved out of the elite and started gaining popularity in other parts of the globe.
As the game expanded to other regions of the globe, new versions were created. These baccarat variants became extremely popular in South America, the Caribbean, and North America.
Baccarat Crosses the Ocean
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, baccarat began to spread to the Americas. One popular version was Punto Banco, which emerged in Argentina and became especially popular in Cuba. This version changed the game’s dynamic: instead of players taking turns being the banker, the house always acts as the bank.
This made it easier to offer baccarat in public casinos since players didn’t have to play against each other. Instead, they played against the house. The simplicity of Punto Banco helped it catch on with a wider audience. When this version reached Las Vegas in the 1950s, it became a casino staple.
Tommy Renzoni, a well-known casino executive, is credited with bringing Punto Banco to the Sands Casino in Las Vegas. From there, its popularity grew in the United States, though it remained more popular among high rollers than the average gambler.
Baccarat Around the World Today
Now, baccarat is one of the most-played games in casinos across the globe. It holds a particularly strong position in Asia, dominating casino floors in Macau and Singapore. In Macau, baccarat accounts for over 80% of total casino revenue. Several versions of baccarat are now played globally. The three most common types are:
| Variant | Description |
| Punto Banco | The most popular version, the house, is always the bank. |
| Chemin de Fer | Players take turns acting as the banker. |
| Baccarat Banque | The banker role is fixed and usually held by one player throughout the game. |
Each version has small differences, but the core gameplay remains the same—trying to get a hand closest to nine.
Why Baccarat Remains So Popular
Part of the reason that baccarat has remained so popular over so many years is that it is so straightforward. There are merely three possible wagers: Player, Banker, or Tie. In blackjack or poker, players are not required to think up sophisticated choices or remember strategy. The rules are already determined, and the dealer handles most of the action.
Another is its association with luxury and glamour. With movies like James Bond, where the player character will often play baccarat on camera, the game has a glamorous status that continues to attract players.
How Baccarat’s Past Still Shapes the Game Today
Baccarat has come far from its Italian origins in the 15th century. From the tarot card games with which to play by the Italians to Macau casino tables, the game has gone a long way. But its essence did not change—easy to play, exciting to watch, and exciting for those who enjoy a dash of luck.
Whether you are a newcomer to the tables or a seasoned veteran of them, learning about the history of the baccarat game can make your experience all the more rewarding. And as more and more versions of baccarat make their way into live and online casinos, the game keeps growing and evolving yet maintains its timeless charm.
