The History of the Baccarat Game

Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world among both novices and veterans. It has grown even more popular over the years thanks to the availability of an online version of the game like the one offered at https://www.gambleonline.co/casino/games/baccarat/ and on other online casino sites. Often considered an aristocratic game, baccarat has a very long, intriguing, and sometimes scandalous history. Let’s take a look at how it came to be.

Felix Falguiere

Some historians believe that baccarat can be traced back to ancient Rome and China. However, it is commonly accepted that the game, in the form in which it is available today, originated in France. The first set of official rules for today’s version of the game were formulated in 15th century Italy by Felix Falguiere, who was inspired by similar games like Le Her and Macao. According to history, Falguiere named his newfound game Baccara, which means “zero” in Italian because many of the cards in Baccarat are valued at zero. Baccarat is the French iteration of the word Baccara.

A Royal Scandal

Baccarat is considered a “French” game although it was developed in Italy because that is where it gained ground. The game was first brought to France towards the end of the 15th century by soldiers coming back home from the war with Italy. Soon, it was adopted by French aristocrats and nobles, who devised a version of the game still popular today called Baccarat Banque.

Baccarat experienced a surge in popularity in gambling establishments and was widely played across France until Louis Phillippe I outlawed it in 1837. This prohibition brought about another version of the game called Chemin de fer, which was played in trains. Over time, the game spread across Europe, finally gaining ground in the UK thanks to the 1891 royal scandal.

In 1891, Sir William Gordon-Cumming was accused of cheating in a game of baccarat hosted by Arthur Wilson and subsequently filed a writ for slander. The ensuing trial was controversial partly because baccarat was illegal and the Prince of Wales was called as a witness. This was the first time since 1411 that the heir to the British throne has been compelled to appear before a court.

The controversy generated interest in baccarat, inspiring publications and newspapers to print the game’s rules and share them with the public.

Baccarat in the US and Casino Royale

It is estimated that baccarat reached the US in the 1870s but failed to become immediately popular, fighting for the limelight against craps and blackjack. In fact, the game was not even mentioned in the 1931 Assembly Bill that legalized gambling in the country. However, Americans started noticing baccarat more upon the 1953 release of Casino Royale, the Ian Fleming James Bond novel. The book was an instant bestseller and featured a Chemin de fer game between the protagonist and antagonist alongside rules for the game. The Sands banked on the growing interest in baccarat generated by the book and, in 1958, opened a Chemin de fer table.

Punto Banco

Cuban casinos devised a new variant of baccarat in the 1950s called Punto Banco. Unlike its earlier counterparts, this game allowed players to play directly against the dealer, increasing their odds of winning. It quickly became the preferred baccarat variant in South America and was introduced to the North. The Sands opened a table in 1959 and reportedly lost $250,000 on the opening night. 

Baccarat Today

Over the last several decades, baccarat has become even more popular, especially with the development of online versions of the game. In the brick and mortar gambling market, Macau is the home of baccarat, raking in over $29 billion in profits in 2017 from the city’s casinos. This was more than Las Vegas made on the game. Baccarat is also the subject of many world-class tournaments, including the World Series of Baccarat, the Golden, Ruby and Royal Dragon Tournaments, and the Baccarat Tournament of Champions. In 2015, Lin Haisan won the World Series of Baccarat, taking home $12.9 million.

Conclusion

Baccarat’s rich history goes back more than five centuries to when it was reserved for aristocrats. Today, you can play this game online and in any casino in the world.