Why Is Baccarat Now One of the Most Popular Card Games in Ireland?

The long history of baccarat has seen it regarded as one of the classic card games, but its popularity in Ireland was relatively limited due to various factors. Regarded mainly as a game for high rollers, it was often played in private rooms where large stakes were commonly placed by the players. However, in recent years, it has forged a reputation as one of the most-loved games among all types of players, so what is that change based on?  

The Fact That It’s So Easily Accessible

The idea of playing baccarat in the past may have been intimidating for many players, as it generally meant entering a private card game with VIPs and other high rollers. It has always been readily available in some parts of the world, such as Macao, where it’s far and away the most popular game in the local casinos, but not everyone has had such as easy access to baccarat.

In Europe, its reputation as an exclusive game has been built on its initial popularity among the aristocracy in countries such as France and England. Versions such as Chemin de Fer and Punto Banco are thought to have reached Irish shores during the 19th and 20th centuries, but they never managed to cement their places as the country’s favourite card games.

The arrival of online casinos in Ireland and elsewhere has changed the way we gamble. Baccarat is listed by CasinoAlpha alongside blackjack and craps as trending games in Irish casinos in 2025. Easy access online is one of the reasons given, while the fact that relatively low betting limits are in place is another. With live-streamed tables featuring human dealers and other versions taking place on computer-generated tables, there are versions for different tastes. 

The Incredibly Simple Rules 

The simplicity of the rules is another factor that has helped baccarat achieve mainstream acceptance in Ireland and elsewhere. Some players approach the game with a degree of trepidation, fearing that it has complex rules or requires a lot of experience. Surprisingly, despite its reputation as a classy game enjoyed by royalty and nobles, it’s one of the simplest card games ever created.

All you need to do is choose between the Banker or the Player as the winner, with the third option being a tie. The cards are then drawn according to predefined rules, so you just watch to see if you picked the winner. This makes it a simple game of chance where there is no way to use skills or knowledge to predict what happens next. These simple rules make it ideal for newcomers to the casino, as well as those experienced players who want to relax with a game where they don’t need to continually make big decisions.   

Baccarat is one of the games to have benefited most from being introduced to Irish players using online casinos. For a game with such a long and distinguished history, it’s interesting to see that so many people are now discovering it and giving it a try for the first time.