Bruce Dias 
Baccarat has come a long way, from its suspected origins in the gambling salons of 15th-century Italy to the online casinos of today. Through the centuries, this game of chance has maintained a sophisticated aura from its early years among European nobility. Even as the game has expanded more recently from the world’s casino capitals to the screens of at-home players, baccarat continues to evoke images of tuxedoed gentlemen and elegant ladies.
Theories on the Meaning of the Name
The exact origins of baccarat are unknown, though most believe it was invented in Italy sometime between 1400 and 1450 AD. According to one origin story, baccarat began as a Tarot variant using the suit of swords from a standard tarot deck. The word “baccarat” likely comes from the Italian “baccara,” meaning zero, referencing the zero value given to face cards in early versions. Others link the word to “bacca,” which means to take nothing, a reference to betting against the bank.
Spreading Popularity Among European Nobility
Wherever the mysterious beginnings, historians first documented baccarat being played as a casino game in the mid-1800s. The first known version resembled chemin de fer, a baccarat variant still popular in French casinos wherein players take turns holding the bank. Baccarat’s reputation grew as it spread through Europe, finding particular favor among British and French nobility. Formal wear became standard dress for baccarat players who wanted to match the sophisticated atmosphere at the time. Players sipped fine wines and enjoyed cigars as they played for martinis and stacks of casino chips.
The Baccarat Boom and Online Play
In recent decades, baccarat has exploded in Las Vegas and Macau to become the highest revenue-generating casino game globally. A simpler variant called punto banco dominates modern casinos with house-banked rules allowing faster gameplay. This allows more wagers per hour for the house and has catapulted baccarat earnings above even poker and blackjack combined.
Like many casino classics in the 21st century, baccarat has adapted from its aristocratic salon roots to embrace a digital form online. At sites like onlinebaccarat9.com, players can enjoy live dealer and RNG baccarat no matter their background or bankroll size.
Increasing Notoriety Through Pop Culture
Through the late 1800s and early 20th century, baccarat’s air of exclusivity expanded as it gained notoriety in popular media. Ian Fleming featured a high-stakes baccarat game against evil operative Le Chiffre in the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale. The 1953 story introduced Agent 007 to the world and depicted his love affair with baccarat as he bested his enemy at the tables.
Transition to Mass Market Appeal
As baccarat permeated pop culture, the game slowly transitioned from its aristocratic exclusivity to reach the mass market. More casinos added baccarat tables on their gaming floors for public play starting in the 1950s. Outside of Europe, baccarat established itself in Cuba in the late 1940s at Havana’s famed Casino de Capri. The game ultimately made its way to Las Vegas through gambling organized crime circles with alleged mob ties.
Baccarat through the Centuries
Over six centuries since its suspected invention, baccarat today hardly resembles the leisurely game once meandered over by European nobility. Yet despite dazzling revenue numbers and accessibility through online play, an air of sophistication still surrounds the game once called The Choice of Aristocrats and Secret Agents.
Players, new and seasoned alike, continue trying their luck channeling Bond against the bank, whether in a tuxedo or their pajamas at home. If history says anything, we expect baccarat’s evolution to continue captivating advantage players and casual gamblers for generations across ever-changing mediums.
