The word “Baccarat” is translated from Italian as “zero” – and carries the same meaning in French. Because of this anomaly in the Romance languages, both countries want to claim this elegant card game for it’s own. Like the history of most casino games like roulette and blackjack, the true history is long and complicated.
One popular version of the history of Baccarat has the game being developed by an Italian gambler with the name Felix Falguierein at some point in the middle ages. This telling of the story, has the game first being played with Tarot cards as well as being based on an old legend of nine gods watching as a blonde virgin throwing a nine-sided die. These throws would determine the young girl’s fate, with the eight or nine raising her to the position of priestess, however a six or seven would result in her banishment from all other religious rites. And throwing any number lower than six, would mean that she had to walk into the sea. Some pretty high stakes, to be sure.
Regardless of the truth behind this fanciful tale, it is fairly well accepted that Baccarat was already being played in France as early as 1500. The game was played exclusively by nobility, and this remained so for quite a few years before it found it’s way into more popular gaming establishments.