If that's Buddy Hackett, he is minus about 100 pounds from the way I remember him [g].

The hole in the middle is for discards, I believe. Some places tore the cards in half before discarding them, I've heard.

Well, baccarat didn't become "the" standard game in Las Vegas, but it's still around for high-roller players 40 years later. When you hear about a big win or loss affecting a casino's bottom line, the explanation is usually a streak of luck at baccarat. Hundred-thousand dollar bets are not uncommon in the baccarat room.