Gaming revenues for January 2008 were down 4.75% over that period last year. Initially, high-stakes baccarat was blamed for the decline but after Vegas dropped room rates for the month of February, things still continued to decline. February had a decline of 4% from that same period last year, and eyes on Wall Street have begun to watch Sin City a little closer.

“Gaming revenues have been soft this year. However, we believe the decline is not as bad as expected,” Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Bill Lerner said in a note to investors. “Still, with room rates down this quarter and gaming revenue declining, it is clear that Las Vegas is feeling the impact of a difficult economic environment.”

Gaming declined in every area of Nevada other than Carson Valley and Clark County casinos. Some experts think that the NY Giants upset victory in the Super Bowl caused most of the February loss.

I’m all for learning as much as you can about a subject — anything, really — by doing your research online. However, sometimes you have to take your research offline to dig a little deeper.

When it comes to baccarat, the best way to learn is by playing. On “Lyle Stuart on Baccarat,” here’s what one Amazon.com reviewer had to say: “Lyle Stuart tells not only how to win at Baccarat, but more importantly how not to lose your shirt. Lyle is a world champion Baccarat player and actually plays exactly how he writes with enthusiasm and passion, balanced by common sense.”

Play as much baccarat as you can for free at any number of online casinos, then when you’re ready to take it to the next level, visit the library or order one or two of these little gems online:

The Baccarat Battle Book
Secrets of Winning Baccarat
Lyle Stuart on Baccarat
Baccarat for the Clueless
Winning at Casino Gambling
The Basics of Winning Baccarat

“Banco!” - Said when a player decides to bet all his money.
Carte - Used to request a card from the dealer.
Coup - A round of Baccarat.
Croupier - The dealer.
Chemin-de-fer - The European Baccarat variation where one player plays the bank, deals, and takes the bets.
Ladderman - An employee of the casino who oversees the table.
Le Grande - The best hand in Baccarat, a 9.
Loss bet/Fade - A bet in opposition to the bank.
Mini-baccarat - A variation of Baccarat that uses a smaller table.
Natural - When the two cards total to 8 or 9.
Palette - A tool used to move cards on the table.
Petite - When the card total is 8.
Shills - A young lady used to lure players to the Baccarat table.
Shooter - Another nickname for the bank.
Standoff - When the banker and the player tie.

Baccarat has a couple of common variations. The American version is the one you’re likely familiar with. The game is traditionally a high-roller game where proper dress and high betting limits are the norm. You bet on either the dealer’s hand, the player’s hand, or a tie.

Mini-baccarat is essentially the same game but the limits have been lowered and the atmosphere is casual. Play is the same as regular baccarat, but for regular folks.

Chemin de fer is a game you will find in French casinos that is the same as baccarat, except you have to either be the banker or the player, not just bet on either.

Baccarat en banque is common in European casinos, with the rule difference being that the house is always the bank.

European baccarat features one change in the rules; it gives the player the option to stand or hit on five.

The Florida gaming expansion is underway already, now that Seminole Casinos will be permitted to include to blackjack, baccarat and other table games this summer. They are already feeling the pressure to provide the games because they’ve had to recruit dealers from other States. They will need over 3600 people to fill the dealer positions, and the State of Florida – with all the retirees – isn’t an abundant source for employees.

“To launch games successfully, the tribe believes you have to have experienced dealers,” Seminole spokesman Gary Bitner said last week. “There’s no way to do it except to recruit out of markets where dealers may already exist.”

With the low price of housing and favourable climate, Florida should be an attractive option for northern-based dealers. Seminole casinos have stated that wages will be comparable to that of what Atlantic City and Las Vegas table-dealers earn.

The Asian influence on the game of baccarat is one of the most dominant forces in gaming today. Everyone wants to attract the huge dollars that the Chinese gamblers wager on this game, and now a new innovation in online baccarat is available.

Baccarat Pairs is an online gaming service that gives the player a live dealer, which they watch as they play. Some baccarat players wager at such high stakes that this extra security is just what the online baccarat industry needed.

The games have pit bosses walking around the studio where the live dealers will be working, to ensure the security of the operation. With such high stakes involved, this is a good way to alleviate fears that the online games could be rigged against them.

This online service could put a real dent into the casino baccarat action over which Macau and Vegas are competing so fiercely.