Punto Banco, also known as North American Baccarat, is a casino game of chance that has been popular in Ecuador since the 1970s. It is played with eight decks of standard playing cards and involves two hands, the player hand and the banker hand, which are each dealt two cards. The aim of the game is to get as close to 9 as possible and whoever has the highest score wins the game. Players can bet on the banker, the player, or a tie. Players can also exchange cards with each other, but the outcome of the game is usually determined by the cards they draw.