New figures released this month by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) revealed that overall baccarat revenues in Macau experienced impressive 18.4% year-on-year growth in the final quarter of 2017. The figures demonstrate almost a three-fold increase in its growth rates experienced during the rest of 2017.
Between Q1-Q3 2017, Macau’s mass baccarat revenues totaled just 6.5% year-on-year growth and analysts were justifiably encouraged by the excellent finish to the year, resulting in renewed hope for a stronger mass performance in the next 12 months. Mass baccarat revenue for Q4 2017 totalled $2.91 billion, compared with VIP baccarat revenues of $5.05 billion.
There’s quite literally only one game that matters in Macau’s three-dozen casinos. Baccarat accounts for the vast majority of all casino revenues in this former Portuguese colony, as the hordes of Chinese casino-goers flock to the only resort in the country where gambling is legalized.
The reason why baccarat is so big in Macau – and has grown in popularity outside of Asia – is its simplicity. Nor is it too heavily weighted in favor of the casinos. Winning bets on ‘banker’ and ‘player’ hands are both paid 1:1, however the casinos naturally charge a commission on banker bets. This makes the net odds 0.95:1 in favour of the casino, if a 5% commission is applied as an example. The fast-paced table game is also exciting to play and it plays nicely into the hands of mainland Chinese casino-goers, many of which believe winning at the baccarat table is more a twist of fate as opposed to skill.
It seems that baccarat, the gaming choice of James Bond, is also experiencing something of a renaissance in Sin City. Las Vegas might conjure up images of Texas Hold’em poker and craps games, but 2015 saw baccarat drive casino revenues of $1.38 billion. For a game that’s largely unknown in the depths of the Nevada desert, that’s quite a chunk of money. It comfortably outstripped blackjack and craps revenues in 2015, which generated $831 million and $258 million respectively. Recreational gamblers in Las Vegas have been enchanted by the ease of playing the game. All players have to decide is what principal bet they wish to make and await the outcome. Some big-time casinos on the Vegas Strip are prepared to accept baccarat bets as much as $250,000 per hand, which draws in the high rollers and the whales looking to turn over some big bucks at the tables.
Baccarat has also translated impressively as a land-based casino game to live casino games. For casino players who want to bask in the elegance of playing a card game which dates back all the way to the 15th century, baccarat is a game that’s easy to get to grips with. It’s easy to play on the move too, as there’s very little strategy involved; just a pure adrenaline rush every time the dealer turns the cards over. In fact, advancements in live streaming technology have also enabled online casinos to offer live dealer baccarat games hosted by real-life croupiers. This version of the game offers the same kind of immersive casino experience without having to set foot onto a bricks-and-mortar casino floor.
Put simply as a game of speed, it offers quick thrills to gamers at home, on the train or even at work. As many as 50+ hands of baccarat can be played in an hour – four times that of a classic version of roulette – so you can see why it’s increasingly catching the eye of both the time-poor casual player and the casinos themselves.
