Baccarat - the game of the rich and famous - the game of high-flyers, Hollywood stars and oil barons!

Until recently, only the highest class casinos offered baccarat, and only their richest clients could afford the table minimums. No wonder the name conjours up an image of glamour and expensive cigars, diamonds and vintage cognac!

The good news is that you no longer have to be a multi-millionaire to savor the excitement of baccarat - with online casinos you can play online baccarat game anytime, anywhere!

Baccarat has fascinated high-class gamblers for centuries. The game was said to have been invented in Italy by Felix Falguierein, a professional gambler, although some dispute this, saying that it is French in origin. In any case, baccarat was introduced to the French court in the 15th century, and soon became the game of the aristocracy. The name is taken from the Italian word "baccara", meaning zero, and refers to the game rule that all court cards have a value of zero. Baccarat was first played with tarot cards, and there is a legend linking it with the ancient Etruscan ritual of the Nine Gods.

Chemin de Fer, a variation of baccarat, also became popular in France. The original baccarat game evolved into what is now known as European Baccarat. The principles of play are the same in baccarat and chemin de fer, with just a slight difference in rules. In both games, the object is to score as close as possible to 9 by adding up the face values of the cards, and discarding the leftmost digit of the answer. In baccarat, the rules are more formal, and the game is always banked by the casino, although the deal passes from player to player. Players may choose to bet on the player, the banker or on a tie. Since a tie doesn't happen very often, ties win at much longer odds.

Although popular for centuries in Europe, baccarat only reached American casinos in the 1950's via South America. The American version is a combination of European baccarat and chemin de fer. Casino holders preserved its aristocratic image by setting the stakes high and housing the game in the plushest area of the casino. Since a lot of money changes hands in baccarat because of the high stakes, the fortunes of the casino often fluctuate directly according to the success or failure of its clients at the baccarat table!

Mini-baccarat was later introduced to bring the game within the reach of ordinary clients. With mini baccarat, the stakes are much lower, and the game is much faster. However, many people are still attracted by the glamour of the original game, with its luxurious surroundings and exclusive atmosphere.

Online baccarat is becoming increasingly popular, since the rules are simple, and the 'house edge' (the percentage by which any game favors the casino) is low. Find out for yourself why baccarat is the favorite game of the jet set - play online baccarat game, and feel like a movie star! All you need to play online baccarat game is a quick sign-up for free membership, and you are away.

And the moment you sign up for membership, you qualify for all kinds of exciting benefits. Play online baccarat game for real, and you qualify for a sign-up bonus immediately. And whether you gamble for free or for real, you instantly qualify for free weekly promotions, contest and sweepstakes. Play online baccarat game, and you could be an instant winner!

If you are a newcomer to baccarat, you can play online baccarat game for free while you learn the rules and learn to anticipate the cards. You will still qualify for the weekly sweepstakes and other benefits. And with a no-download casino, you are ready to play online baccarat game the moment you sign up - no bulky programs taking up space on your computer. And with a small download version, you can play online baccarat game from anywhere - you are not restricted to your own computer.

Why waste time and money going to a casino? Play online baccarat game in the comfort of your own home. No cover charge, no transport costs, no waiting for a table. Play online baccarat game for your own choice of stakes - no prohibitive table limits. Play online baccarat game anytime of day or night - whenever your instincts tell you that your luck is in!