Why Is Baccarat The Most Popular Game in Macau

Say you’re in Macau with $100 dollars in hand. What would your game of choice be? Baccarat or 21? Baccarat is the clear preference of a majority of players, when choosing between the two and we have numbers to prove it.

Back in 2008, casinos in Macau earned only HK$2,247,000 from games of 21. On the other hand, earnings from Baccarat (standard) tables were HK$21,264,000 and those from VIP Baccarat were a whopping HK$73,772,000. The story doesn’t end here.

Fast forward five years and earnings from Blackjack tables in Macau amounted to HK$3,052,000. Junket operators with VIP Baccarat collected a jaw-dropping HK$238,524,000, with HK$91,599,000 earned out of standard Baccarat.

So what is it that draws players to Baccarat?

According to a few people in the industry, China’s culture of gambling may have something to do with it. Now 21 is an intelligent game – you need to beat the dealer with skills. Baccarat is essentially a game of chance. The player wins, or the Banker wins, or, they draw.

The player is only required to make one choice – whom to bet on. Once you choose that, you’re free from the trouble of decision making. As simple as that! However, don’t mistake simple for boring. The game can get extremely dramatic at times!

Where there is luck, there is popularity

Well, apparently. Superstition and luck are a large part of how the Chinese determine their odds in a game. Players are more interested in figuring out the “trends” of wins and betting accordingly.

Believers of the theory include the co-founder of PokerTek, Lou White. According to White, a Baccarat table packed with players on a regular day could mean one of two things – a) a certain player has been “lucky” that day and the others want to ride on that wave, or, b) the table is following a player/banker win trend and it will be played till the trend is reversed.

So if you have the money and would like to have a refined gambling experience, not without ensuring your odds however, Baccarat is a great choice. No wonder it has remained popular in Macau since the 1930s and is now gaining traction in Vegas.