What is the Baccarat Squeeze Ritual?

The baccarat squeeze ritual is one of the most famous and widespread superstitions in the world of gambling. But just what is it and can it help you win at baccarat?

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Gamblers are a rather superstitious bunch. From dancing with lady luck to literally dodging ghosts at the most haunted casinos in the world, it’s little wonder that gamblers have developed a wide range of rituals and superstitions surrounding around all their favorite online casino games.

Whether it’s a lucky talisman, such as a rabbit’s foot or four-leaf clover, or avoiding doing something considered unlucky, such as counting your casino chips, gamblers have developed certain rituals and habits which many believe can influence their luck. Do any of these actions actually influence the outcome of the game? Logic would dictate that they don’t, but human beings are creatures of belief. Believing that a ritual can bring you luck is a profoundly powerful thing.

Nowadays we are increasingly exposed to new gambling cultures and traditions from around the world. That means that American players can not only try out new games, such as the Indian casino favorite teen patti, but also learn other gambling rituals which can potentially increase their luck at the tables of Las Vegas casinos or when playing at USA online casinos.

One such ritual which is gaining international popularity is the baccarat squeeze ritual. Originating on the casinos floors of the Chinese gambling hub of Macau, this ritual is now being embraced in the world of baccarat online. But what is the baccarat squeeze ritual? Read on to find out what it is, whether it can help you win at baccarat, and how it’s taking over the world of live dealer online baccarat!

What is the Baccarat Squeeze Ritual?

In baccarat, the player goes head to head against the banker in order to have a hand closest to nine. As such, the luck of the draw is of great importance in baccarat as it can mean the difference between winning or losing the round. Naturally, gamblers have long sought to find a way to avoid making mistakes in baccarat and positively influence the outcome of the draw.

Baccarat live dealer squeeze

A live dealer deftly bends the card to show the suit, but conceal the value of the card.

In Macau, the baccarat squeeze ritual has developed over decades as a way to both increase the tension and suspense as well as provide an outlet for players to try and influence the outcome. Players deftly bend the card to reveal the suit and a portion of the card – but players purposefully avoid revealing the number on the card. The card is then rotated and the bent again, revealing a little more information about the card without fully revealing the card’s value.

Although the ritual varies, it has become known as the baccarat squeeze ritual because the cards are bent so vigorously that they are rendered unusable after the round. Although you might think casinos would frown upon this, the casinos of Macau are very tolerant of this ritual as baccarat represents the overwhelming majority of their business (often over 90% of their total income).

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Why do Baccarat Players Bend the Cards?

Chinese gamblers in Macau have long embraced the baccarat squeeze ritual as a way of improving their luck at the tables. Speaking to CNN in 2010, Scott Milburn of City of Dreams casino resort (one of the largest casinos in the world) in Macau said that, “Sometimes, you almost believe that they can actually change the outcome of a card by the way they squeeze the card. So there’s a lot of superstition”.

The baccarat squeeze ritual is often used in conjunction with other rituals to attempt to influence the outcome of the game. Many gamblers also blow air onto the cards in an attempt to ‘blow away’ superfluous numbers and land that lucky number that will win the game.

Another explanation of the baccarat squeeze ritual is that it increases the tension and makes baccarat a much more exciting game. Unlike online poker or online craps, baccarat doesn’t require much action on the part of the player. The baccarat squeeze ritual provides agency to the player, putting the player in the driving seat and allowing them to ‘influence’ the outcome of the game.

Regardless of the reasoning, level-headed gamblers will know that squeezing the cards won’t necessarily make them become a better baccarat player. But perhaps the confidence and belief behind the ritual makes more of a difference than we’d like to believe.

Can I Play Baccarat Squeeze Online?

Baccarat dealer bending the cards

Evolution Gaming offers multiple versions of Live Dealer Baccarat Squeeze live from studios across the world.

Unlike other gambling rituals, the baccarat squeeze ritual has made the transition to the world of live dealer online casino games. Several live dealer baccarat online game developers, such as Evolution Gaming, have embraced the ritual to create the game of live baccarat squeeze. These games follow the formula of Macau but the dealer slowly reveals the card via live stream to an audience of thousands of players.

This live dealer casino game provides players a unique opportunity to combine their casino bonus, or perhaps a no deposit bonus, together with this special gambling ritual. Can the luck of bending the cards transcend the internet? Players certainly believe so as live baccarat squeeze is fast becoming one of the most popular baccarat variants online.

If you’re ready to utilize your lucky rituals to play at a real money online casino, read our online casino reviews to find the perfect site to play baccarat today!

Joseph Ellison

Joseph is a dedicated journalist and horse racing fanatic who has been writing about sports and casinos for over a decade. He has worked with some of the UK's top bookmakers and provides Premier League soccer tips on a regular basis. You'll likely find him watching horse racing or rugby when he isn't writing about sport.

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