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Baccarat in Asia. Go to virtually any casino, and you’ll find Asians playing Baccarat. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking the casino floors in Macau or Vegas, Asians dominate Baccarat tables, and each year, they’re estimated to wager billions of dollars on the game.
So, why is Baccarat so popular among Asian cultures? What is it about the game that makes it so appealing? Let’s find out!
What is Baccarat?
Baccarat is a popular card game that’s played at most casinos around the world. Essentially, it’s a ‘player vs banker’ game, and the game has three possible outcomes; the player wins, the banker (dealer) wins, or it’s a tie.
So, how do you play Baccarat in Asia?
- To begin with, players must first make a wager. This wager can be betting on the players hand, the bankers hand, or the tie bet. Once all wagers have been placed, a two-card hand is dealt to the ‘player’ and ‘banker’ spots on the table, one at a time.
- The player always receives his or her card first. Once these four cards have been drawn (there is only one player bet per table – players wager on one hand, as opposed to Blackjack, where each player has their own hand) the totals of the cards are compared, and this will determine what happens next.
- Now, the goal of Baccarat is to make a hand totalling as close to 9 as possible. All cards 2 through 9 count as their face value, while Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings count for 0. Aces count for 1.
- So, for example, if a player was dealt a 10 and a 4, their total would be 4. There are certain ‘rules’ in Baccarat that both the player and banker must follow.
- If the player’s hand totals 6, 7, 8, or 9, they automatically stand, and no further cards are drawn. A player hand that equals 8 or 9 is known as a neaureral, and automatically wins against any banker hand bar an 8 or 9.
- Now, if the player’s first two cards equal 5 or below, they ‘hit’, and receive another card. This is now the final total, and no more cards are dealt to the player.
- When it comes to the banker’s hand rules, there are also some rules. If they have a 7, 8, or 9 they will always stand. The banker always hits on a total of 0, 1, 2, or 4 – and the banker might hit some 4, 5 or 6 hands depending on what cards the player is holding.
Once all the rules have been followed, the game ends, and the winners are paid out accordingly.
Why Baccarat in Asia Appealing
There are several reasons why Baccarat in Asia appeals to – not just Asians – but gamblers worldwide.
First, the game is straightforward, and no decision-making is required. In Single Deck Blackjack, for example, a player’s actions affect not just their hand but also the hands of everyone else at the table. You don’t need to know anything in Baccarat, as it’s all done automatically.
If you’re playing online or live baccarat, the decision on each hand is made for you. Similarly, in a land-based casino, the dealer will always follow the Baccarat rules to determine how the hand proceeds.
It’s also popular because the game offers a very low house edge. Regular variations of the game give the casino just a 1.24% edge – meaning that for every $100 staked, the casino only expects to make $1.24 in profit. Of course, in the short term, this house edge doesn't come into context as much. However, it does show it's one of the main reasons you’ll see experienced gamblers playing Baccarat in Asia over Blackjack.
Like blackjack, the game is generally popular for a couple of reasons. What appeals to Asian players so much?
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Superstition, Gambling, Card Games and Baccarat in Asia
One of the major driving factors in the popularity of Baccarat in Asian communities is the superstitious element involved with the game. This superstition goes way beyond Baccarat – Asian gamblers, in general, are incredibly superstitious when it comes to gambling, and you'll notice many of them have lucky charms with them.
Asians showcase many superstitions when gambling. Another common one is picking up the cards, squeezing them tightly together, and looking slowly at the cards one by one. In high-stakes live casino games, the players may grip the cards so tightly that they bend and are rendered unusable for the next round.
Players may also blow gently onto the cards to remove any ‘bad' numbers. Of course, this doesn't affect the game's outcome, but it's another example of the superstition ingrained in Asians' minds.
Another interesting superstitious belief held by Asian players is that if a player is doing well, they may be more inclined to bet against the house. Similarly, if the player loses continually, they may bet against the player.
Number 8
Finally, the number 8 is important in Chinese culture. In Baccarat, when a player gets an eight or a 9, the game is over (usually), and the player wins. The Chinese see this as symbolic, as 8 is a sacred number within their culture, so it's another reason why the game is popular.
(As a side note, you may also see Chinese players regularly betting on the number ‘8' on the Roulette wheel. Again, this is due to the number's sacred nature within their culture.)
Do The Asians Have It All Worked Out?
It's not unusual to see players playing baccarat in Asia with vast stacks of casino chips – and while some may attribute this to their superstitions…
Remember, at the end of the day, gambling is a game of luck. The house will always win in the end, which goes for Baccarat, too.
While the game is undoubtedly appealing—thanks to its incredibly low house edge and ease of play—remember that gambling is gambling, and there are certainly no sure-fire wins available.
Playing Baccarat Online
One of the major differences between playing Baccarat in Asia at a land-based casino and playing it online is that many of the game's superstitious elements can no longer be found. Consequently, Asian players prefer to play the game in a land-based casino rather than online, as this allows them to play it in a way that suits them.
However, some game developers like Playtech have attempted to address this by opening special live dealer games studios that are catered especially to Asian players. In fact, Playtech, and Evolution Gaming (two of the world’s largest and most reputable live dealer games developers) have even created brand-new game concepts designed to appeal to the Asian market.
A good example of one of these games is ‘Dragon Tiger’, by Evolution Gaming. Still, despite this, you’ll definitely find a lot less Asian players online – and legal reasons also play a part in this. Online gambling in Asian countries is very rarely legalized, meaning the only Asian players you’d find at online Baccarat tables would be those living in Westernized countries where online gambling is legal.
