History of Baccarat
It wasn’t long ago that the baccarat game was demystified for all players. Before that, it was reserved for high-class players and was only available in the choicest casinos. With a name as exotic as baccarat, it stands to reason.
Under these antique terms, the idea of sweepstakes baccarat would have been absurd—unthinkable even. How could a game so expensive, so royal become free to play, so much so that it doesn’t require real money but virtual tokens with no real-world value?
The game was believed to have Italian roots and was credited to one Felix Falguierein, a professional gamer at the time. There’s also the small detail of the word “baccarat,” being Italian for “zero,” after the rule of the game.
However, the game’s origins are highly contested, with the preferred version handing credits to the French. Whatever the case, what’s pretty established is that baccarat was a sensation in the French courts during the 15th century and found so much success with the aristocracy that their elitism passed to it.
In its maiden years, the game was played with tarot cards, and certain legends linked it to historic Etruscan rituals, further shrouding the truth about its origins.
After much success in Europe, baccarat headed for the Americas, reaching Latin America before finding American casinos in the 1950s, thanks to the influx of South Americans northward. It didn’t take long for an American version to be established, which combined the French version (chemin de fer) with its European counterpart.
Pros and cons of social baccarat
Here are the major strengths and drawbacks we found across all free baccarat online games we tried:
Social Baccarat: Pros & Cons
- Variety
- Live casino option
- Immersive gameplay
- Vibrant graphics
- Unreliant on skill or tact
Variations of Baccarat
Here are some baccarat variants we found during our research:
This is the game’s original version and is quite common in the United States. The gameplay is fairly straightforward: predict who will have the highest card total, whether it’s the player “Punto” or the banker “Banco.” Should either have a total above 10, the left digit is forgotten. For example, 15 becomes 5, 18 becomes 8, and so on.
This version of the game is designed to be smaller with reduced entries. Another major difference is in who deals the cards. In the original version, the players deal the cards. However, in the mini variant, the banker is in charge of dealing. However, this difference only exists in the offline versions and doesn’t carry into online games.
Before Daniel Craig took up the mantle of James Bond and changed the iconic spy’s favorite game to poker, Chemin de Fer was the go-to game for the other Bonds. In this variant, players assume the role of the banker, while the banker’s position goes counterclockwise. As such, the player, who’s also the banker, is responsible for deciding how much to enter.
The one-card baccarat variant isn’t really a thing, nor is it officially designated. Instead, it’s an experimental variant carried by some casinos in the United States. Think of it as a baccarat-inspired game. Some common examples are Football Studio and Dragon Tiger by Evolution Gaming and Casino War by SG Digital. In this variant, each card is worth its suit value. For example, Ace trumps King trumps Queen, and so on.
As the name suggests, this baccarat variant is designed to create a virtual experience of the look and feel of land-based casinos. It’s the second most popular baccarat option in the United States and mostly resembles Punto Banco. There is a live dealer who players can interact with. This game best suits players who prefer real cards to RNG software.
Otherwise called Macao, this variant revolves around beating the banker’s cards rather than predicting the player and banker’s hands. In the event of a tie, the winner is decided by who made the tying score with fewer cards.
Mini Reviews: Where to play sweepstakes baccarat
Baccarat is popular worldwide, from the storied halls of land-based casinos to the virtual halls of their online counterparts. Whether you prefer a simple card simulator or an exquisite setting with a croupier and the whole deck, there’s an operator for you.
But how do you find this operator? Look no further than our recommended list of sweepstakes casinos:
1. Stake.us – Play five different versions of baccarat for free
If you want a superior way to play baccarat online, then you cannot really go wrong with Stake.us. After all, this sweepstakes casino lets you play five different versions of baccarat and they can all be played for free.
We’d recommend the basic version of baccarat that comes from Pragmatic Play for starters. This gives you an easy way to get to grips with the card game, and then you can take it up a level by playing the Stake Originals version of baccarat. This might look a little different from the baccarat games that you’re used to, but be assured that it’s no less enjoyable.
Finally, we have to know that Stake.us include no less than three different versions of live baccarat. It’s pretty rare for a sweepstakes casino to include any live dealer gamers, never mind live baccarat, so you’re onto something special here.
2. BetRivers.net – Three ways to play online baccarat
We should also mention that BetRivers.net is another strong choice for all baccarat fans. This is because you can play three different versions of baccarat at this social casino. Just remember that you’ll only be playing these baccarat games for fun.
There’s the standard game of baccarat where you can play in the single player mode, but we’d recommend checking out the live baccarat games. The normal version simply puts you against a live dealer, while there is also a Lightning Baccarat variant that offers you a whole new way to play. Definitely a good choice for anyone looking to play baccarat with a difference.
Conclusion
Baccarat has never shied away from lavish beginnings, such that even after migrating to the rest of the world, it was attached to one of the greatest icons of the time, James Bond. The game is just as entertaining as poker but challenging like blackjack and is carried by many sweepstakes casinos in the United States.
That said, we encourage you to read our other pieces, where we cover other games and the sweepstakes operators that offer them, such as our sweepstakes bingo sites and sweepstakes keno sites reviews.
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Sweepstakes Baccarat FAQ
🃏 How do baccarat tournaments work?
Tournaments are typically set up and run by operators and game developers. As such, they have ultimate control over the terms and conditions and prizes. See our reviews to learn more about how this works and how it contributes to players’ playing experience.
🍀 Is baccarat based on luck?
Some games require direct input from the players, while others are based on a random series of events. Both situations influence how games are played and how players approach them. You can learn more about luck and strategies in casino games and if they matter by reading our reviews.
🌐 Where is baccarat from?
The origins of a game are a huge influence on many aspects of it. For example, a game’s name could point out its origins or naming conventions that led to it. For more interesting facts about games, where to find them, and how to play them, visit our website today.
