Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games of all time. But just how old is baccarat? When did people start playing it, and where was the game invented?
This deceptively simple card game has been part of our global culture for centuries. No one is precisely sure who invented the game, but historians have been able to trace baccarat back to at least the 14th century – however, it might be even older.
One thing’s for certain though – with the rise of live baccarat games (such as those you’ll find here at Tonybet), the two-player card classic has evolved massively over the decades.
Regardless, I’ve done some digging, and here’s everything you need to know about the history of baccarat before you play your next hand.
Origins of Baccarat
Many people associate baccarat with the Mediterranean. However, some historians believe that baccarat might have evolved from games played in ancient China, such as pai gow.
Pai gow is a tile-based game that’s popular in its own right and has even given rise to a type of poker game you can play at physical and online casinos to this day.
Most historians believe that the origins of baccarat lie in Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries though. Specifically, the game’s birthplace is supposedly the country’s capital, Rome, where a man known as Felix Falguiere is thought to have created ‘baccara’ – the ‘t’ was added many years later!
From what historians have unearthed over the years, Falguiere is believed to have designed the game around the legends of the Vestal Virgins. Vestal Virgins were women who praised Vesta, a virgin goddess – and it’s thought that they had to throw dice to determine their fate.
Specifically, it’s said that the Vestal Virgins would need to roll an eight or nine (the latter of which is the most important number in baccarat) to ascend to become priestesses of the faith. They would face banishment if they rolled a six or seven, and anything lower than a six would result in a ritual drowning.
So, yes – believe it or not, baccarat has somewhat grisly origins! That said, Falguiere’s twist on the Vestal Virgins’ rituals would, hopefully in all cases, be more about striving for the magic nine, and less about drowning!
From Italy to France: the Evolution of Baccarat and its Rise in Popularity
Baccarat would spread like wildfire across Europe, first of all specifically to France. In fact, it’s here where the game earned its ‘t’ – and where the game became a firm favourite of the local elite.
Baccarat in the 19th century was a craze among France’s upper class and nobles. Interestingly, the game would eventually become widely played by people from all walks of life. However, at least for a while, it was a card game almost exclusively played by royalty.
King Charles VIII is said to have been responsible for making baccarat, or chemin de fer as it was often known in France, popular with the nobility. This exclusivity didn’t stop ‘chemmy’ from spreading to the UK, which is where the next step in the game’s evolution and fateful journey takes place.
European Expansion and Global Adaptation
England has adopted all kinds of things from France and Italy over the years, and this goes for games as much as it does for language and recipes. In fact, it’s thought that baccarat might have helped to inspire author Ian Fleming to create James Bond – arguably the world’s most famous (albeit fictional) baccarat enthusiast.
However, let’s not focus on the UK. The game grew in popularity there but would act more as a springboard for it to reach the Americas. Baccarat would migrate, many believe, firstly over to Central and South America, picking up interest in the Caribbean and Argentina in particular.
In the Caribbean, a twist on the game known as punto banco grew popular – and it became a game in its own right. This variation on baccarat saw players bet only against the house, or the dealer, and never against other players. To this day, you can play punto banco online and in casinos across the Americas. You might sometimes see it referred to as American baccarat.
And what about the US? Naturally, US casinos eventually got their hands on baccarat, and it’s said to be thanks to one Tommy Renzoni that the card game made it to Las Vegas. Surprisingly, this was only as recently as the 1950s!
As you can see, baccarat has had a long and varied journey all over the world – and its popularity has never truly died away. That said, there are some crucial differences between how we play baccarat today, and how it has been played over the centuries since its creation.
Modern-Day Baccarat
As you might imagine, centuries of baccarat playing means that the game we see today is likely very different from what was enjoyed many years ago. To start with, it’s thought that punto banco, preferred by American and Australian players, is one of the simplest derivations of the game.
Modern baccarat is impressively simple in its own right. The aim of the game is to make nine from the hand you bet on – either your hand, or the dealer’s. Naturally, the evolution of technology has meant that digital and online versions of the game have brought along extra side bets and twists. For one thing, it’s now possible to play baccarat live online with a real dealer via video stream.
We still don’t have a consensus on the way that classic or ancient baccarat was played. Because the game has disputed roots (beyond Rome, in any case), no one is completely sure how far it has evolved.
That said, it’s thought that the earliest players of the game may have used tarot cards, as Falguiere was particularly interested in them – but there’s no evidence to confirm this.
Regardless, what we can assume is that the modern version of the game is actually much simpler than the original in lots of ways, and this is partly due to the rising popularity of punto banco.
Although there are many different side bets, markets and modern twists on baccarat, the game you can play at Tonybet is probably the most straightforward.
Just because modern-day baccarat is relatively simple, you shouldn’t assume that it’s easy to win. There is always a risk when you play baccarat for real money – the same applies to all casino games – so make sure to play responsibly and set clear limits.
As much as we don’t really know how much baccarat has changed, did you know that it has influenced some of the other popular casino games you’ll find online?
Baccarat’s Influence on Other Casino Games: a Look at the Similarities and Differences
Baccarat has influenced many other casino games simply because it arrived first! Blackjack, for example, wasn’t officially invented until the 18th century, hundreds of years after Italian people started playing what they called ‘baccara’.
Similarly, roulette didn’t get its start until the 19th century. What these games all share in common is that they were all popularised by French gamblers! However, what sets baccarat apart from its contemporaries is that it’s a game that was almost exclusively played by royalty and nobility.
This means that the game has carried on having an air of luxury and VIP status – and while other casino games are just as high class depending on where you play, this status has helped propel baccarat to become the most popular game in casinos worldwide.
In many ways, it’s similar to blackjack in that it’s a two-hand game where you and a dealer play against each other. However, only you can win or lose, because it all boils down to whether you bet on your hand, or the dealer’s.
The main difference with blackjack is that there are more options to your play. You can choose to stick or twist, for example. You’re also betting on your hand only – in baccarat, you can choose between yours and the dealer’s hands.
For many players, blackjack is the next step up from baccarat in terms of complexity and depth of play. While blackjack is popular for being one of the fastest casino games available to play online, baccarat is even faster. You and the dealer could turn over a card each, and the game could be over!
Ultimately, there’s no way to tell if you’re likely to enjoy baccarat simply because you like playing blackjack or other card games! It’s considered highly accessible, and as you can see from our catalogue, there are a few different ways that you can get into the game.
If you’ve never played baccarat before, I hope that you’ve found this history lesson enlightening! Remember, while baccarat and punto banco are easy to learn, there are always cash risks involved with real-money play. Therefore, if you need help managing your money or play time, always reach out to the Tonybet team to help set limits and take back control.
In the meantime, take a look at some of the different twists on baccarat available in our games catalogue. Start slowly and get to know the game in detail – and try other versions when you’re feeling a little more confident or adventurous.
