Punto Banco is a card game that is popular in Moldova and has a strong history in the country. The game has been played in casinos and in private homes for decades and is a well-known staple of Moldovan gaming culture.
Punto Banco has its roots in the Italian game, Baccarat. In the 1800s, Baccarat spread throughout Europe, and by the 1900s, it had made its way to the United States. In the 1950s, the game spread to other countries in the Americas, and eventually to Eastern Europe and Moldova.
In Moldova, the game has evolved to take on a slightly different form than other versions of Baccarat. It is often referred to as Punto Banco, or just Banco, and is played with a single deck of cards. The aim of the game is to form a hand that totals nine or as close to nine as possible.