The game of baccarat boasts an enthralling history dating back to Europe and Asia before becoming more and more prevalent here in America. Unlike many casino games, this one involves both luck and skill to create an exciting yet challenging gaming experience with low house edges for high rollers looking for an engaging yet challenging gaming experience.
Baccarat offers three possible outcomes for each hand: player win, banker win and tie. Two cards are given out face up and the hand with a total closest to nine is declared the winner. Bets may be placed either on Player or Banker hands (with or without a Tie bet added); player bets pay out 1:1 while Banker bets can return up to 9-1 (minus 5% commission).
Though baccarat may seem complicated at first, it’s actually very straightforward and easy to learn and understand. The game takes place on a large table that typically accommodates between 12-14 players; betting areas are divided between Player and Banker boxes, with both hands visible to all present at the table; cards are handled by a dealer who oversees their flow during gameplay; dealer can manage both aspects effectively.
Once a player has decided where they wish to place their bet, they must wait for the dealer to deal the cards and deal them out. If both player’s and banker’s hands equal 8 or 9 total points, all placed bets will be paid out; otherwise a third card may be drawn and paid out accordingly before winning bets are distributed as winning bets while any losing ones collected by the dealer.
Baccarat is one of the few casino games where betting against the bank actually offers lower house edges than betting with them, due to Banker bets being much more likely to succeed and pay out 1:1 minus 5% banker’s commission, making betting against Bankers an effective strategy to increase potential payouts.
The name baccarat may have originated in an Etruscan legend. According to this tale, a virgin would cast a dice and throw an eight or nine on it as she cast to determine her future fate – being elevated as priestess status, allowed to live as long as she didn’t participate in religious or community events in future or being sent off to sea as punishment if she cast 5 or lower than this number was the outcome.
Baccarat may never have reached the same popularity of roulette and slots, but it has quickly become a favorite among Asian high rollers, and more casinos than ever are offering it now. You’ll often find baccarat tables hidden away in high-limit gaming areas with trained dealers on hand to explain rules and betting options to players. As it has grown more popular it has even inspired additional variations like mini baccarat and side bets! Don’t wait, enjoy and profit from baccarat today.