By far baccarat is one of the famous games that people enjoy at online casinos today. Although the game was only included on the casino games list not that long ago it has a rich and powerful history that goes back to around 500 years ago.

For many years, the ancient people regarded the game as a card game for Aristocrats alone. However, with the passage of time, baccarat became an international game that spread across the world, even to India. Thanks to the formation of casinos and, by extension, online casinos. Today, anyone can find where to play baccarat online in India or any part of Asia with a simple online search.

It Started In Italy

The origins are still debated today however most believe the game of baccarat was created in Italy in the 1400s by a man who is called Felix Falguiere, or Falguierein. He called the game “baccara,” which is Italian for “zero,” as all the tens and face cards were worth zero. (Soon after, the French spelling “baccarat” was adopted all across the world.)

What Was Baccara Based On?

It is thought that the Italian game of baccara was based upon the old Etruscan legend of a virgin who needed to throw a nine-sided die. The outcome of the throw would determine her fate:

• If she tossed an 8 or a 9, then she was promoted to the glory of being a priestess.
• However if she threw a 6 or 7, she was allowed to live however could not take part in any upcoming religious or community affairs.
• If she threw less than 6, she was exiled to the sea to drown.

Not a nice tale, maybe, but from it came the initial rules of the card game of baccarat. Although no one today is exiled to the sea if they get lower than a 6, they normally lose the baccarat game.

The original baccarat game was played somewhat differently to the Lucky Nugget Casino NZ games  we enjoy today. Cards were dealt by four different dealers, each of whom had a chance to be the banker. Players had the ability to place bets against other players as well as against the house. Today there is one dealer, bets are generally placed against the house. The house also serves as the banker.

A Royal Scandal And James Bond

Baccarat was first imported into France by soldiers who were coming back to the country from turmoil with Italy towards the end of the 1600s. Very quickly the game became favoured with the French nobility, who created their own version called Baccarat banque. This also became known as Á deux tableaux and is thought to be another Baccarat alternative today.

Over a period of time, Baccarat become popular at casinos as well as other gambling establishments all over the country. When these were banned by Louis Phillipe I in 1837, another variant was conceived named Chemin de fer (translated into English as ‘railway’).

Baccarat’s fame was boosted by the release of the first James Bond novel Casino Royale.