Baccarat is a very popular card game whose origins go back to 14th century Italy. Numerous players worldwide enjoy this game today, and we don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon.

Its reputation of being one of the most exclusive casino games helps it maintain its growing popularity. All the more, in the past, players couldn’t simply walk up to a table and demand to play with a couple of pounds in their pocket. Only the richest members of society could play the game.

However, things are a bit different today when it comes to who can play the game. But if you follow the latest gambling news, you know that prizes still kept their original status, especially in live baccarat.

Continue reading as we delve into the mysterious world of this card game and its contemporary counterpart — live baccarat.

Origin Story

As a term, baccarat first made its appearance seven centuries ago. The word’s etymology comes from the Italian word baccara, which means zero. However, as the game’s popularity continued to grow, setting its roots in France, it got the spelling we’re familiar with today.

French nobility was so fascinated by the game that it became a steady favorite for several centuries. Today, we usually come across three popular variants of baccarat — Punto Banco, Chemin de fer, and Baccarat Banque. In the former, each players’ moves are conditioned by the cards they are dealt. While in the latter two, both players can make choices.

Live Baccarat

Baccarat has come a long way since its beginnings. Due to its status in the iGaming industry, it makes perfect sense for it to keep up with the changing times. Consequently, we’ve witnessed the emergence of live baccarat, where players get to enjoy their favorite pastime from the comfort of their own homes.

It isn’t surprising that a million-dollar iGaming industry made a smooth transition from land-based to an online version of baccarat. In fact, we can see reviews and offers of various casinos that promise the best live baccarat experience to their prospective players at every turn.

Operators always go the extra mile to offer their customers the best, and live baccarat is no exception. As a result, players get the ultimate user experience that may even top playing at a land-based casino. They have it all — from the bean-shaped table, cards always dealt face down, to real dealers. In addition, many casinos offer standard and VIP tables at a wide range of stakes, all available at any given point in the day.

Wins and Losses

As you know, popular casino games are well-known for their astounding prizes. The same stands for top baccarat players who have managed to win impressive sums of money. Of course, as with everything else in life — you win some, you lose some. Suffering devastating losses at the hands of this and any other popular game isn’t shocking.

Take, for example, one of the legends in the world of baccarat, Akio Kashiwagi. This Japanese player, suitably nicknamed The Warrior, is rumored to have been playing for 80 hours straight, betting $100,000 per hand. As a result, these massive betting stakes got him even larger wins. Unfortunately, Kashiwagi died under mysterious circumstances, and his cause of death remains unresolved up to this day.

These days, Archie Karas dominates the casino industry, a player with the greatest gambling run in history. Namely, he managed to turn a loaned $10,000 into an impressive $40 million. Unfortunately, baccarat was his undoing, as he managed to lose the majority of his fortune.

We can say with certainty that Bond’s favorite game will continue to dominate the casino industry for many years to come. The thrill of the game, large stakes, and even greater prizes are all wrapped in an elegant package that continues to elude players worldwide.