The Earliest Versions
Believe it or not, baccarat dates all the way back to the Middle Ages. Though it is now played online with a standard card deck, many historians believe that in the game's earliest iterations, Tarot cards were used instead. Some disagree with this theory, however, and argue that its origins lie with a man named Lino Bussoli, an Italian gambler who constantly devised new games by which he could defeat his opponents. Bussola is today considered to be a somewhat questionable character, and baccarat by association has become a bit of an underground game itself.
Modern Variations
Baccarat's reputation expands over the years and throughout Europe until it made its way to France, where it gradually morphed into a version that resembles the game played today. Actually, the game table game was illegal in France for many years, since it was considered a form of immoral and criminal gambling. Nevertheless, it eventually made its way to America in the 20th century and has since been embraced by casinos across the country as a legitimate and legal card game.
Today, game of baccarat is popular all over the world, and many countries play their own slightly unique version of the game. Fans can rest assured that whether they are in Cuba, Hong Kong, America, or the UK, they will be able to locate a variation of the game closely resembling the one with which they are familiar.