From sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat is one of the most popular casino games around. But, despite its reputation as a high-stakes game of elite affluence, it’s actually the least intimidating of all table games for the new and casual gambler. Baccarat is simple to play, the house edge is low (1%-1.5%), players’ bets don’t impact other player’s chances of winning, and each round is completed in seconds.
Players bet on whether the player or banker hand will win. Two cards are dealt to each hand, with the winner determined by the hand whose value is closest to nine. Picture cards and tens have no value, while numbered cards count at their face value, and the ace counts as one point. The goal is to get a hand totalling 9, preferably, but any hand that is closer to 9 wins. If both the player and banker hands are equal in value, it’s a tie.
The rules of baccarat are straightforward, but understanding the complicated trends of the game can be difficult for many players. A previous GGB article, “Fate in the Cards: Understanding Baccarat Trends,” (Jul/Aug and Sep/Oct 2011) was the first time the game’s trend charts were explained to the general public in English. The standard trends chart includes the Bread Pan, Big Road and Cockroach Road and provides customers with a visual representation of past results to help them decide which bet is best to place.
In addition to its logical structure, baccarat is also appealing to Asian gamblers because of the game’s cultural roots. Some believe the game spun off from pai gow, an ancient Chinese tile game. Others speculate that it arose from Marco Polo’s travels in Asia, which would explain its name and the presence of the number nine.
While the popularity of baccarat has soared in recent years, some casino managers are unsure whether it has staying power. Some say baccarat is overshadowed by the newer casino games, like video poker and craps. Others argue that baccarat is more than just a fad.
A key factor in the continued growth of baccarat is that it attracts Asian customers, who prefer to bet against the bank rather than on their own hand. Betting against the bank pays a small commission, which increases the payout if the bet wins. Moreover, the game appeals to a perceived Chinese preference for consensus and collective action, compared with the individualism of blackjack or poker, where players deal their own hands.
Other factors contributing to baccarat’s growing popularity include the increased availability of high-speed Internet connections, which make it easy to play from anywhere. In addition, the use of a special deck-returning machine has reduced the need for casino personnel to touch the cards, and has enhanced the quality and security of the game’s playing card supply. In some cases, the eight decks of pre-shuffled cards are now sealed into a clear carrier and locked with a security strap after each round, to minimize the risk of card control mistakes.