Baccarat may seem like a high-stakes game for high rollers, but it’s surprisingly simple to play—and packed with fascinating history and facts.
Baccarat originated in Italy during the 15th century and later gained popularity in French nobility. The name comes from the Italian word baccara, meaning zero—a nod to the value of tens and face cards in the game.
James Bond famously favours baccarat in Ian Fleming’s novels, particularly Chemin de Fer, one of the game’s many variants. Its portrayal as a classy, exclusive game helped cement its glamorous reputation.
In modern casinos, Punto Banco is the most common version, especially in the UK and online. In this version, the casino banks the game and players bet on whether the player or banker hand will win—or if it will be a tie.
Despite the perceived complexity, baccarat is actually one of the easiest table games to learn. There are only three betting options and no need for complex strategies or decisions during play.
Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges—around 1.06% on banker bets—which is why it’s often favoured by serious players.
With live casino versions now available online, more players are discovering that baccarat is not only elegant but also easy and entertaining.
18+ gambleaware.org