Baccarat is the world’s most popular casino card game. The game is played with a standard set of cards, eight 52-card packs shuffled together and dealt by a croupier from a dealing box or ‘shoe’. The table is large and covered in green felt, with numbered areas where players place their wagers. Wagers may be placed on either the Banker or Player hand, or on a tie. The object is to get the total closest to 9. The player and banker bets are made by placing chips on one of three square boxes marked “Player,” “Banker,” or “Tie.” The game has a very low house edge, making it one of the most profitable casino games.
The card game is very simple, and the rules are fairly straightforward. In a game of baccarat, the goal is to get your total closer to 9 than the dealer’s. Each card is worth its number value, with aces being valued as one point. The first digit of your total is the most important, so an 8 and a seven are worth the same amount.
Baccarat’s production of opulent glassware would dazzle audiences at the great exhibitions of the 19th Century, earning them the attention of royals and aristocrats from across Europe and beyond. Its strong showings at the exhibitions of 1855, 1867 and 1878 would earn it a reputation for creating spectacular lighting fixtures, fountains, glass sculptures and even entire installations like the glass ‘Temple of Mercury’ displayed in 1878.
When the company moved its operation from Paris to Macau in the 1930s, it continued to impress audiences with its opulent and inventive glassware. It was the choice of aristocrats and royalty worldwide for tableware, window frames and other interior decoration. Baccarat pieces are highly collectible and many of the company’s designs have become iconic. The 1841 ‘Harcourt glass’ is perhaps the most famous example. It was commissioned by King Louis-Philippe and is prized for its prismatic lustre, which reflects a variety of colours when viewed from different angles.
Online casinos offer a variety of side bets which are available for players to choose from. They are not as common as the Banker, Player and Tie bets, but they can enhance a player’s experience. However, many of these side bets come at a high price in terms of the house edge.
Baccarat is a big money maker for many casinos around the world, particularly in Macau where it has dethroned Las Vegas as the top casino gaming destination. Last year, Macau casinos generated over 88 percent of all casino win from the game. It is also a popular game in Singapore and on the Las Vegas Strip, where it accounts for 18 percent of all casino winnings. The game has been featured in several filmed versions of James Bond movies, including Dr. No; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; Thunderball; and For Your Eyes Only. The game was portrayed by actor David Niven in all but one of the movies.
