The History of Baccarat
The game of baccarat is a mystery to many casino players, often hidden from view behind velvet ropes and reserved for high rollers. The mystery of the game often leads to misconceptions about the difficulty of the game. In fact, it is one of the simplest games found in casinos, both online and off. Where did this game come from? Read on to learn more.
While the exact history of the game of baccarat is unknown, it is thought to have been developed during The Middle Ages. There is some contention as to whether the game was developed in Italy or in France, as the Italian and French words for zero are both “baccarat”. However, most people believe that the game originated in Italy where it was played with a deck of Tarot cards. Over the years the game switched to a regular deck of cards, rather than a deck of Tarot cards.
The medieval game of Baccarat was based upon a legend. In this legend, nine gods watched on as a blonde virgin threw a nine-sided die to determine her fate. If she threw an 8 or 9 she would become a high priestess; if she threw a 6 or 7 she would be prohibited from all future religious ceremonies; and if she threw 5 or less she would be required to walk into the sea.
In the late fifteenth century the game of baccarat spread to France. In France the game was known as “Chemin de Fer” or “Baccarat en Banque”. The game was an immediate hit with French aristocrats and spread throughout the rest of Europe to wealthy gamblers as well. It is the fact that the game was popular among aristocrats that led to its reputation as a game for high rollers and big spenders.
It is not until recent years, with the advent of online casinos, that baccarat began to spread its appeal to the “common” gambler. With online baccarat games players who do not have a huge amount of money in their bankroll are able to play low limit baccarat games and familiarize themselves with this game that was once off limits. The game of Baccarat has made a huge journey throughout the years. It started off as a Tarot card game in the Middle Ages and can now be played by gamblers from around the globe online for fun, high limits and everything in between.