Baccarat history : The game of the people

Baccarat history is studded with Kings, Dukes and millionaires. In the beginning, Baccarat was played exclusively by the aristocracy and until recently it was considered to be a game exclusively for high rollers. While high stakes Baccarat is still played today, modern casinos have made the game more affordable for the average player. But how did Baccarat history transition from a royal game to a game of the people? Let’s take a look at one of the oldest games in casinos today.
Baccarat History

It’s a little unclear how or where Baccarat began, but legend has it that the game developed as a way to chose priestess for a temple. Young blonde virgins were raised in a temple their whole lives, then when they reached a certain age nine gods would watch them each throw a nine-sided die. If the girl rolled an 8 or a 9, she would become a priestess in the temple. If she rolled a 6 or a 7, she was banned from becoming any sort of religious figure. If she rolled anything less than a 6, she had to take her own life by walking into the sea.
Even at the beginning of Baccarat history, the game was high stakes.

Both the French and the Italians claim that the original legend came from their shores. We may never know which country the earliest form of Baccarat came from, but Baccarat history shows that the earliest form of modern Baccarat showed up in 15th century France.

Baccarat’s existence was an unstable one in France. It went from being a legal game that was played by nobility and taxed by the crown to an underground game that could land its players in prison. This early form of Baccarat was called Chemin De Fer, a game that’s still played today.

The next transition in Baccarat history occurred in England where the game morphed from Chemin De Fer to European Baccarat. The main difference between the two variations is that in Chemin De Fer gamblers are either the Player or the Banker and in European Baccarat the casino posts the bank and gamblers can bet on either Player or Banker. The drawing rules are different as well. Chemin De Fer offers the Banker far more control than European Baccarat.

It took quite a while for Baccarat to come to the United States. From England, the game went to South American and Cuba. In fact, Baccarat didn’t make it to the US until the early to mid 20th century.

When Baccarat did make it to the United States, it underwent another change. It became American Baccarat. This new variation of Baccarat allowed more players at the table to play. Now a gambler could bet on a hand regardless of how many other gamblers were betting.

After centuries of Baccarat history, the most recent form of Baccarat is Mini Baccarat. That’s the game you’ll see in Vegas these days. All you have to do is place a bet and let the dealer play the hand out. Baccarat History,It’s a far cry from the adversarial game of Chemin De Fer.