Known as the most glamorous of all casino games (think James Bond in Casino Royale), baccarat is also one of the simplest. Easy to learn and fun to play, this card game played by the player and banker has only three outcomes: the player winning, the banker winning, or a tie between the two hands. If you’re a beginner, here are a few tips to make you look like a pro and could help you improve your chances of winning when playing American baccarat.

1. When playing American baccarat, an important tip to keep in mind is to never believe anyone who tells you that he or she has professional tips that will increase your chances of winning. Baccarat is controlled by very strict rules that do not permit choices made by the player or dealer, so you need to count on your luck whether you like or not.

2. In American baccarat, the house usually just has a small advantage on almost all the bets. Since there are only three outcomes in the game, the best bet would be on the dealer. For instance, if you were playing with an 8-deck shoe, then betting on the banker would only give the house more or less a 1% advantage, whereas betting on the player would give the house an advantage of around 1.24%.

3. Don’t be taken in by the 9 to 1 payout ratio. Betting on a tie has the worst odds in baccarat because this gives the house about a 6% advantage. However, if you’re feeling lucky; then by all means, bet on it.

Keep in mind that baccarat is a form of gambling. You should first decide on how much you’re willing to spend on playing and stick to it. It's fun to gamble, but it won’t be fun anymore if you’re broke afterwards.