A History of the Game of Baccarat

Although many like to claim that the game of Baccarat was derived in France, the most commonly accepted source for its creation is the Italian gambler Felix Falguiere. In Italian “baccara” means zero. Since both France and Italy use a close variation of its name, it is difficult to determine for sure which country it came from.

Many claim that the Italian gambler who invented this game based it on an ancient ritual, which is very similar in its nature to the present game of Baccarat.

Each country has made slight changes in how the game is played to meet their individual needs. Still the game maintains its unique style and ongoing appeal as one of the most desired casino games.

One version of its history claims that Baccarat was first played in the Middle Ages using the Tarot cards. By the 15 th century when it arrived in France, it had become a game solely played by the upper classes. Eventually it became a game referred to in French as “chemin de fer”. This is similar to the game that is played today in American casinos which is referred to as Baccarat.

The present version of Baccarat was originally played in Britain from where it was carried to South America and then eventually to Nevada. In the late 1950s it was introduced at the Dunes casino in Nevada.