Baccarat is a card game that’s often tucked away in high-limit gaming areas at casinos, and it tends to have pricey table minimums. But the game is simple to play and can be a lot of fun, says casino expert Steve Zender. The rules are straightforward: Players simply choose whether to bet on the “Player” hand or the “Banker” hand, then watch as the dealer does the rest. The object is to get the hand closest to nine. The player’s and banker’s totals are calculated by adding the value of each card. Tens and jacks count as zero, while aces and queens count as one. If the two hands are equal in value, it’s a tie, and it pays out eight-to-one.
Founded in 1764, Baccarat had a long history of glass production before its founding as a workshop for fine lead crystal. But it was the firm’s showings at the Great Exhibitions of the 19th Century that brought the company more attention and new customers from all over the world – including Portugal, Japan, and India.
The firm’s most famous pieces from this period were the large-scale fountains, lighting fixtures, and other edifices that it created for display at these events. Baccarat’s designs were also praised for their craftsmanship and innovation in both decorative style and technique.
To this day, the company is still making elaborate glass wares. But the range of products has broadened considerably in both design and size. Baccarat’s glassware is renowned for its clarity and color, and the pieces are highly sought after by collectors.
A resurgence in popularity for the game of baccarat has led many online casinos to introduce no commission baccarat, in which no house fee is applied to winning Banker bets. While this makes the game more appealing to some players, the reduced payouts mean that it is not a good option for those seeking a profit from their wagers.
In a regular game, the payout for a winning Banker bet is 1:1. In no commission baccarat, however, the Banker’s house edge is 1.06%, making it more challenging for players to make money.
While the name of the game is derived from the Latin phrase baccarat (fool’s game), there are many implausible stories of its origin and etymology. Some scholars believe that the game was developed in the 15th century by Italian gamblers, while others claim that it came from a French word meaning “to deceive.”
Baccarat has a relatively low house edge and a simple betting structure. While there is a third bet, the Tie bet, which pays out 8-to-1 if both the Player and Banker hands equal a nine, intelligent players stick to the player or banker bets, which pay out 1:1.