Most people who play online baccarat or hit up a table inside a physical casino likely never think of how the game reached its present state, but the history of baccarat is as interesting as the game itself.
The story spans multiple continents and centuries. It also includes periods of staunch prohibition, cultural influence, and entrenchment in gambling society.
For even the most casual baccarat players, understanding the game’s background can help them envision its future. BetMGM allows bettors to take part in that story.
Baccarat Origins: Where It All Started
Baccarat owes its legacy to multiple cultures and elements of those cultures. For example, popular media has shaped the game through the James Bond baccarat effect.
Any overview of baccarat has to start with the game’s earliest emergence, although early forms might have looked quite different from the most exciting baccarat games at BetMGM in the 21st century. As with many other casino games, the Chinese were among the progenitors.
Baccarat in China
The answer to the question of where baccarat is from starts in ancient China. Research from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in their paper “The History of Baccarat” shows that early versions of Pai Gow may have formed part of the basis for what became baccarat.
Pai Gow was played with dice around the 10th to 12th centuries BCE in China, according to the UNLV paper. In this version, the ideal score was nine, as is the case in modern baccarat games.
History suggests that a similar game might have evolved convergently in Europe, but it’s also possible that cultural and technological exchanges expanded this version of Pai Gow beyond China’s borders. Regardless, Europe is where baccarat’s global appeal developed.
Baccarat in Europe
UNLV’s study also explores the idea that Roman religious rituals formed primitive concepts for baccarat. One ritual also used dice, and the ideal result was a total of nine.
Later, trading merchants brought Pai Gow to Europe, and by the 15th century, people in modern-day Italy were playing a game called “baccara.” That game was the first iteration to use cards instead of dice.
That game spread across Europe and became popular in France, where the Chemin de Fer variant emerged in the 19th century. From there, European settlers brought their pastime to the Western Hemisphere.
Baccarat in the USA
Baccarat is still a popular casino game, and the United States plays a role in that beloved status. That popularity is a story of resilience, as many parts of the US banned the game during the 19th century.
The 20th century brought some legal opportunities to play baccarat. Since then, some of the most famous baccarat legends of all time have been Americans. As more US jurisdictions have legalized gaming, baccarat has been an essential offering.
Baccarat’s Popularity in Casinos
Baccarat is among the casino games you have to try in the 21st century because it offers simple gameplay and lucrative winning potential. At land-based casinos and with live dealer baccarat, it’s also known for its exciting social atmosphere.
If you really want to know why baccarat is so popular, though, the answer is in the game’s aesthetics. Baccarat’s status as one of the most popular card games ever comes from how casinos create a high-class, VIP environment for the game.
In many casinos, there are baccarat tables with high buy-ins and elevated dress codes. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t find a more casual experience.
How Baccarat is Played Today
People who are just learning how to play baccarat in the 21st century don’t have to rent a gown or tux or save for months. You can become a better baccarat player regardless of your budget size and state of dress.
Playing online is a great way to deepen your experience with the game. BetMGM is the best online casino for baccarat players of all experience levels because it offers a stellar variety of baccarat variations.
On BetMGM’s Android app, iOS app, or website, you can learn how to play mini baccarat and many other variations. BetMGM also allows players to manage their baccarat bankrolls with valuable bonuses and regular promotions.
Modern versions include many baccarat side bets that add an extra layer of complexity. A few people have built legacies with such wagers.
Famous Baccarat Players
The most famous baccarat players in history earned their reputations by pioneering strategies that contributed to the game’s evolution. For example, Akio “The Warrior” Kashiwagi was known for placing the highest-stakes wagers that casinos would accept.
Kerry Packer of Australia combined that high-stakes strategy with an unusual ability to memorize slight imperfections on cards to guide his wagers. The duo of poker legend Phil Ivey and Kelly Sun also capitalized on a similar card-memorization tactic.
These people all perfected their baccarat strategies to master the game, but still took some huge losses in the process. You can follow in their footsteps, but with smaller stakes if you wish.
The Online Home of Baccarat and Other Casino Games
You’ll love baccarat if you love blackjack, and if you love benefits for playing your favorite casino games, you’ll love BetMGM. BetMGM is home to the best casino rewards program for bettors and the biggest library of baccarat games.
As soon as you register for BetMGM, you can start building your personal history with BetMGM. Perhaps you’ll be the next person to leave a mark on the game.
