In both French and Italian the word “baccarat” means zero. It has been disputed through time as to which country is the inventor of the game and both want to claim it as their own.
Many say the baccarat was first invented in Italy in the Middle Ages and was actually first played with Tarot cards. The other main theory of the origin is that it was based on an ancient Etruscan ritual. In this ritual a nine-sided die would determine the fate of a goddess.
Baccarat was first found in France in the late 1400s and was usually exclusive to nobility. It wasn’t at first a casino game and was played more in private homes and parties.
The French version of the game first became popular in England and this is where the rules and name were changed to modern day “European Baccarat”. The game later moved with the colonists over to the Americas where it became increasingly popular. It wasn’t until the 1950s that baccarat gained popularity at US casinos. It was a combination of European Baccarat and the original French version that would come together to form American Baccarat. It was made famous at the Dunes Casino in Las Vegas and spread around the country from there. While there have been some rules changes over the years, the essence of the game remains the same and is still a very appealing game to most gamblers.
Mini Baccarat is a newer style of the game and is used to get more people to play the game. It has simpler procedures and it has lowered table limits so that anyone can now play the game. The game has good odds and with mini baccarat it is no longer limited to high rollers.
Nowadays there is even online baccarat, further allowing people to of all places and money levels to enjoy the game. It has even become a massive hit at most online casinos.
