Ming Xu deals minibaccarat at Palace Station in Las Vegas. In August, Nevada gamblers wagered $154 million on minibaccarat. Photo by John Locher.

Baccarat is no longer just for the tuxedo-clad Asian or European high roller wagering $10,000 a hand in a semi-secluded room with three dealers. A scaled-down single-dealer version of the game is helping take baccarat mainstream.

Betting and casino win on high-end baccarat reached Chinese New Year's-like proportions in Nevada during August, with $426 million gambled on the game and casinos taking in $35.6 million from gamblers. But play in minibaccarat, which is played on a blackjack-style table and staffed by one dealer, increased sharply.

In August, Nevada gamblers wagered $154 million on minibaccarat, a 27 percent increase from the year before. Casinos dealing the game won $22.1 million, up from $16.4 million last year.

There were 144 minibaccarat tables operating in Nevada in August, compared with 127 last year.

At Palace Station, which is close to Las Vegas' growing Chinatown cultural center, 10 minibaccarat tables operate in the Pit Eight gambling area, an Asian-themed setting. "Because of our proximity to the Asian community, we have a great deal of play from the local customer," Station Casinos Senior Vice President Pat Kearns said. "Minibaccarat is a great game because it's much faster than the regular game, so more hands can be dealt quicker."

Although minibaccarat play is increasing, Kearns isn't expecting other local casinos to rush to add the game. Non-Asian baccarat players are still few.

Frank Streshley, senior research analyst for the State Gaming Control Board, said minibaccarat is growing in popularity and increasing its effect on the state's monthly casino win total, but that still doesn't explain why baccarat play grew so much in August.

The 107 percent increase in wagering compared with August 2004 and 30.7 percent jump in win came without any special event, such as a baccarat tournament, a major championship fight or an Asian holiday, such as Chinese New Year, which usually causes the gaming numbers associated with baccarat to soar.

"When I talked with folks from the casinos, they really couldn't put their fingers on what caused the increase," Streshley said. He speculated that the late-April opening of Wynn Las Vegas added to the competitive baccarat market.

Casino executives said they haven't seen any sort of bump in domestic baccarat players; the bulk of the market still comes from Asia.

The use of minibaccarat tables is expanding, Streshley said, but the win totals are computed separately from regular baccarat. Kearns said his counterparts on the Strip have told him minibaccarat sometimes has wagering and win percentages equal to the traditional version.

"It's starting to catch on, and I think we're going to see more and more minibaccarat tables," Kearns said.

Wynn Las Vegas raised the Strip baccarat ante, operating 15 traditional baccarat tables and 10 of the smaller tables while setting wagering limits from $100 up to $15,000 per hand. Higher limits are available upon request, a property spokesman said.

In interviews leading up to Wynn's opening, Wynn Resorts Ltd. Chairman Steve Wynn said the property would compete with casinos operated by MGM Mirage and Las Vegas Sands Corp. for the high-end Asian customer who prefers gambling large amounts on baccarat.

The Venetian also weighed into the competitive high-roller market. On an average day, the Strip property operates 18 baccarat tables.

Las Vegas Sands, The Venetian's parent company, spent undisclosed millions to open the Asian-themed Paiza Club, which includes access to private gaming salons, private dining, and hotel suites of 6,000 to 8,000 square feet.

During licensing by Nevada gaming regulators last spring, Venetian executives said the club was targeting Asian high rollers with high six-figure and seven-figure gambling budgets.

In addition to the Paiza Club, The Venetian opened a new baccarat lounge off the main casino floor that features several high-limit gaming rooms.

Venetian spokesman Ron Reese said the increased emphasis on baccarat mirrored the company's investment in the growing Chinese gaming enclave of Macau.

"We are not necessarily seeing an increase in baccarat play from non-Asian players," Reese said. "The Venetian has taken great strides in the last year to accommodate high-end baccarat play."

At Palace Station, Kearns said most of the casino's minibaccarat players come from Southern California and Las Vegas' Asian community.

"We've posted betting limits of $5,000 (per hand) but we've allowed people to bet up to $10,000 a hand," Kearns said. "I really can't address what happened in August, other than we know the Asian economy is through the roof and a lot of fresh money is coming this way."