The game of Baccarat has earned a reputation for sophistication and luxury, and many players associate it with high rollers and casinos that cater to them. But can the classic table game be a profitable proposition for smaller operators?
Baccarat is a card game where the player wagers on which hand will have a total closest to nine. Each hand is dealt two cards, and the values of those cards are added together to determine the total value of the hand. The hand that is closer to 9 wins. In case of a tie, neither the player nor banker receive more than three cards. The game of baccarat has become so popular that it has generated numerous variations and ways to bet.
When pressed, most baccarat players (who refused to identify themselves) defended their ritual as a type of strategy. They claimed that keeping score allowed them to track trends and divine patterns. I’m no Fibonacci, but basic number-crunching suggests that this type of superstition is based on nothing more than a desire to avoid the cold, hard reality that the odds are ever so slightly in favor of the banker every single hand.
In addition to bets on the player, the banker, and the tie, there are also side bets on the ten, eight, and nine. These bets pay out varying amounts depending on the result of the game. One of the most common side bets is on a “Super Six.” This bet pays out 12x the original bet amount if the Banker Hand has a six.
Some players use the Martingale betting system when playing baccarat, which involves increasing the size of your bet after each loss with the belief that a win will eventually recoup all previous losses and provide you with a profit equal to your initial bet. The system only works if you have a large enough bankroll to afford the increased bets and have the discipline to stick to your strategy.
The popularity of baccarat has led to its inclusion in several movies, including the 2013 movie The Great Gatsby, which featured a baccarat table at one of the parties thrown by wealthy character Jay Gatsby. The game is a favorite among Asian high rollers and has become a staple at casino properties in cities like Singapore and Macau. But can the classic table game make it in a world where casino patrons are increasingly seeking more diversified experiences? Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control agent and casino executive who literally wrote the book on managing casino games, thinks so. He argues that baccarat can be a viable option for any operator looking to diversify its offerings and capture a new generation of customers.