Baccarat History

The popular game of baccarat as we know it today first originated in the Middle Ages where it was played with a deck of tarot cards. Variations of the game existed in Italy before being exported to France. Known as ‘chemin de fer’ the game found popularity amongst the French aristocracy.

Today’s baccarat found its way to the United States from the United Kingdom. The first legal game of baccarat was played in Dunes casino in Nevada after gambling was legalized in 1931. From there baccarat soon spread to casinos throughout Las Vegas, the United States and then the rest of the world.

The rules of today’s baccarat only differ slightly from the original game of chemin de fer. The main difference is that the role of banker is held by a player and rotates around a group of players rather than being the sole responsibility of the casino.

Baccarat has also found a unique place in the hearts and minds of Asian gamblers, thousands of which travel to Las Vegas every year to try their luck at baccarat in the most glamorous casinos. Baccarat enjoys its highest level of popularity in Portuguese Macao, where highly polished baccarat dealers are able to keep mental tabs on the commissions and winnings of each player frequenting the baccarat table.