Baccarat History

The origin of baccarat is unclear. Depending on who you talk to the story that you get will likely differ. Some people believe that baccarat was created in France, others in Italy. It can be difficult to know who to believe. The approach seems to be to read all you can and then pick the one that feels right to you. It is our contention that no matter who created baccarat, it is a game that has become a very popular (in some parts of the world), upscale and glamorous game which many people have come to love and enjoy. That being said, we will discuss one of the more popular origin stories, as well as take a look at how it has evolved since that time.

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As legend would have it, baccarat was originally a religious pagan ceremony that was played in order to determine who would be the temple priestess. Nine ‘gods’ would offer prayers to a virgin and she would toss a die (9 sided). If the die landed on an 8 or 9, she would become the temple priestess. If she rolled a 7, she would no longer be able to participate in any other religious ceremonies or activities. If the dice landed on a 6 or lower number, she would be forced to commit suicide.

From this point, the name most associated with the creation and development of the game is Felix Faguierein. Falguierein was an avid gambler who made his contribution to the game in the 1400s, specifically around 1480.

Shortly thereafter, about a decade later, the game began being played in France and then China. In both countries it became extremely popular. In France mostly French nobility played. It wasn’t one that commoners reveled in. In France, Baccarat was called Chemin de Fer. It is believed that here, some of the rules began to change and evolve. Today, Baccarat still holds a special place in the hearts of many Frenchmen and is available in many casinos throughout the country.

From France, Baccarat would be introduced to England. More rules were added and adjustments made. In the 20th-century, Americans were finally introduced to the game. However, it was not received with a lot of enthusiasm. From America it would make itself to Argentina and other countries in South America and Cuba.

Today, in the United States, you will find Baccarat in some casinos though perhaps not all. It is possible to play over the internet via an online casino. Individuals who consider themselves sophisticated gamblers may enjoy playing the game. However, for one reason or another, Baccarat is not a game that is played a great deal by the masses in the United States.