Faro

/ˈfɛroʊ/ noun

Definition

A gambling card game where players bet on which cards will appear in a certain order.

Etymology

From French 'pharaon' (pharaoh), possibly because the card king was called 'pharaoh' or because the game came from Egypt-inspired designs. The game became popular in Europe in the 1600s.

Kelly Says

Faro was one of the first casino games where mathematical advantage could be precisely calculated, and in the 1800s cheaters developed incredibly sophisticated card-marking and dealing techniques that led to modern surveillance systems in casinos.

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