Baccarat: From the Middle Ages to the Present
Baccarat is a game known for its exclusivity and high stakes, and no wonder people are intimidated to play it. Players are served by dealers in tuxedos and the playing tables are separated from the rest of the casino floor by velvet ropes.
the games origins is still a matter of dispute. Two countries claim to be the birth country for this game. In the more popular version, it is said that the first player of the game was an Italian named Felix Fulgeirein, and that he played the game using a deck of tarot cards. Another version states that the game started off as an old Etruscan legend that determined the fates of young, blond, virgin girls. Old temple priests would surround a girl and toss a die. The result of the toss would determine the girl's fate.
If the toss resulted to an eight or nine, the girl lived. She would spend her days as a temple priestess. If the toss resulted to a sic or seven, that meant that, although she was allowed to live, she was no longer allowed to participate in the temple rituals for as long as she lived. If the toss resulted to any number below six, that meant that the girl was to die, to walk to the sea to her death.
The game quickly spread to France, and the French loved it. They named the game Chemin de Fer, which 'meant' railroad'. Baccarat became a beloved pastime, and the French created modifications to the game as well, which is probably why they have come to think of the the game as their own original invention.
Why baccarat was enjoying its heyday in France, it was also tiptoeing to England. The English's love for propriety and dress codes proved to be beneficial to the game. The game grew even more popular when the playing partner of Queen Victoria's son became a recognizable figure in baccarat gaming tables.
The game quickly spread to Argentina, but not before making a quick trip to the US, where it was greeted with a lukewarm welcome. American seemed unimpressed by the game, and interest in baccarat quickly died. In Latin America the game received a better welcome, and the game assumed its place as one of the most exclusive casino games in the country, the Mar del Playa.
When baccarat was taken to Cuba, it was renamed punto blanco, and more modifications were added, until it became to be known as the American Baccarat. It returned to the US when a casino exec named Tommy Renzoni, brought the game to Las Vegas. Now the game is found in a handful of casinos in the US,but has never gained widespread casino game popularity. Still it caters to whales and high rollers looking for a night of thrill and excitement, people who can afford to win and lose big, night after night.