A classic card game that conjures images of tuxedo-clad James Bond breaking the bank in Monte Carlo, baccarat is an elegant casino favorite. It also happens to be one of the best games for high rollers, who enjoy its low house edge and low table limits. The game has been around for centuries, and its enduring popularity is due to more than just the Bond connection.
Unlike other card games, where players bet on which hand will win, baccarat is a game of odds. The game uses six decks of cards, shuffled together and dealt in a random order. The players sit in a circular or oval arrangement, with play beginning to the right of the croupier. The player and banker bets pay out 1:1, with the house taking a 5% commission on winnings from the banker hand. The tie bet, however, has a much higher house edge than either of the other two bets and should be avoided at all costs.
In a standard round, the dealer deals two cards to each of the player’s and banker’s betting areas. A third card will only be drawn if the total of the first two cards is 8 or 9. A winning hand is one that has a score closest to nine when all of its pips (the dots on the face of each playing card that represent clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) are added up. Picture cards and Tens are worth zero points, while numbered cards from 2-9 are valued at their face value. Aces are worth one point.
After a round, the dealer will announce whether the player or banker has won and will payout any bets placed. A winning Banker bet pays out 1:1, while a losing player bet loses 9:1. There is a third bet, the tie, which pays off eight to one but has a much higher house edge than the other two, so most serious players stick to the player or banker bets.
The history of baccarat is rich, with the game’s roots in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its popularity spread to the United States, and at the turn of the 20th century, it became a mainstay in Las Vegas casinos. As the gambling industry has evolved, though, some experts have wondered whether baccarat will have staying power.
One of the biggest challenges in sustaining a long-term profit strategy is keeping customer spending high. To do this, operators need to ensure that they are offering customers the best experience possible. In baccarat, that means making sure the rules are clear and consistent for every customer.
For example, the rules of baccarat state that the dealer must draw a new card when the total of a previous hand is 8 or 9, unless it is a “natural.” This rule eliminates some of the guesswork and makes the game more fair to all players. Another challenge is keeping up with the ever-changing technology that keeps casinos running smoothly. For example, at G2E 2019 AGS showcased a second-generation progressive system that can link all table games in a casino to offer a shared jackpot—a first for the industry.