Despite being one of the oldest casino games, Baccarat continues to draw crowds. Its popularity has spurred variations on the game, side bets and even a new progressive jackpot system. But does baccarat have staying power as casino patrons evolve? GGB asked a few experts to weigh in.
The object of baccarat is to bet on either the player or banker hand whose total value is closest to nine. The values of the cards are determined by adding up the pips (dots that represent clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) and adding up the value of each ace. The highest value card is 9. A score of zero means the hand doesn’t win. If the total goes over nine, then only the second digit is counted. In addition, a ten is the best hand possible.
In many casinos, the minimum bet for a banker hand is $20 or $25. For a player hand, it’s generally less, around $15 or $18. This makes baccarat an excellent option for players with modest budgets, but also a great choice for high rollers.
Traditionally, the house edge is about 1.2 percent on both the player and banker bets. There is a third bet, tie, that pays eight to one but has a much higher house edge of over 14 percent. The house’s advantage is so low on the player and banker bets that seasoned players can expect to make money in the long run, especially if they employ strategies like card counting.
Baccarat is popular with high rollers in part because of its cultural appeal. It is widely considered a game of chance, but there are a number of factors that influence the outcome of a hand. One theory is that the game originated as a life-or-death game, with a draw of a card lower than a six representing a death sentence. Another is that it was developed by Felix Falguiere, a tarot card fanatic who may have based his version of the game on an Etruscan legend.
For many Asian high rollers, baccarat isn’t just a game of chance but a social ritual, a matter of superstition, fortune and fate. They often bring friends and family to the table, chanting and praying while they play.
It’s easy to understand why the game has cultivated such an aura of sophistication, almost as though it is out of reach for all but the wealthiest gamblers. But if you take the time to study it, you’ll find that the game is relatively simple and straightforward to play. And if you’re a savvy casino manager or executive, baccarat could be a lucrative addition to your floor. You just have to know where to start.
