Start Baccarat online game
Like many live casino games, baccarat is available in several variants. The game can be played with live dealers, streamed from a live studio, or played from a land-based casino.
Baccarat Online Game Variants
Classic Live Baccarat
Classic Live Baccarat was where it all began, and it remains the most popular version of the game. Each game takes about 50 seconds and usually only pairs of side bets are available.
Live Speed Baccarat
Live Speed Baccarat plays like a classic baccarat game, but each game ends in a much shorter time. Here, it takes less than 30 seconds. This means that cards are dealt face up and less time is needed to review the results or place new bets.
Live Baccarat Squeeze
The “squeeze” is performed by the dealer (in a regular baccarat squeeze) or by the player (in a baccarat control squeeze) to slowly reveal the value of the cards.
No Commission Baccarat
Regular Baccarat has a 5% commission that is taken from all winning bookmaker bets. The no-commission table simply removes this fee. Usually, if the bank falls on a specific number (such as 6 or 9), the payout on winning hands at these tables is lower.
Baccarat terminology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Burn | Refers to discarding the first cards of a shoe – an action used to confound would-be cheats by disrupting the order of the cards. This simple measure is taken in all card games. |
| Bankroll | The total sum of money that a player has designated for use in gambling at any point in time. Bankroll management is one of the most important parts of a winning baccarat strategy. |
| Banco | Term that stands for Bank or the House. Also refers to a wager made on the Banco hand – the hand that the dealer always bets on. This bet is slightly more likely to win than Punto, but requires a commission be paid. Even in spite of the commission, this is still the smartest bet in the game. |
| Callman | Term used to refer to the dealer – the casino employee that “calls” the baccarat game. |
| Commission | A sum of money that must be paid to the casino for the privilege of making a Banco bet. Typically worth 5% of the bet (with rounding favoring the house), but can occasionally be only 4%. Make sure that 5% of your Banco bet’s value can be paid using casino chip denominations to avoid paying more due to rounding. |
| Down Card | Short hand term for a card that is facing down. |
| Face Card | A category of cards that includes Kings, Queens, and Jacks. These cards, along with tens, are totally worthless in baccarat. |
| La Grande | French term for a natural hand worth nine. In English, it means “The big one,” as opposed to its smaller counterpart, which is worth eight. |
| La Petite | French term for a natural hand worth eight. In English, it means “The small one,” as opposed to its larger counterpart, which is worth nine. |
| Natural | Describes a two-card baccarat hand that is worth either eight or nine. If only one of the two hands is a dealt as a natural, then the round comes to a close and that hand is automatically the winner. |
| Up Card | Term used to describe a card which is facing up. |
| Shoe | This is the box that is used to hold the decks of playing cards that are used in the baccarat game. |
| Standoff | This occurs when the two hands are of equal value. It can also refer to the Standoff wager, where a player may bet that the hands will tie. This wager pays either eight to one or nine to one. |
| Punto | The player. This term also refers to the baccarat hand that sits opposite of the Banco hand. Betting on the Punto hand is not advised, due to its higher house edge. |
What do I need to know before playing baccarat?
Before playing online baccarat, you should ensure sure you are familiar with all its aspects. This is a very simple card game and we recommend you to check the following carefully.
Rules of the game
Baccarat game rules
The rules of baccarat, especially the Punto Banco version, are very easy to understand. There are only three possible bets, Player, Banker and Tie, and two cards are dealt to each position after the bet is placed.
In some cases, a third card may be dealt with one or both positions, and it is worth taking the time to understand the third card rules. If you are not sure what these terms stand for, you can check out the Baccarat Glossary provided above for more detailed information.
Free Practice
Before playing in a real money online casino, it is recommended to spend some time practicing the free baccarat demo. By doing so, you can familiarize yourself with all the rules and ensure that you are making informed bets that will give you a chance to win when you play online for real money later.
Baccarat Casino Advantages and Odds
As mentioned earlier, there are only three bet types in this card game – Player, Banker and Draw. Here are the details of the Baccarat Casino Advantage, which you should know beforehand.
- Players bet slightly less favorably will win 44.62% of the time and have 1.24% casino advantage.
- The banker bet will win 45.86% of the time, while its house edge is only 1.06%.
- In comparison, a draw bet has only a 9.52% chance of winning and a huge 14.4% casino edge.
Frequently asked question
Is the “Player or Banker” bet 50/50?
No. First, there is always a chance of a tie, which is only 9.6%. Not considering the draw, the house bet will win 45.86% of the time, while the player bet will win 44.62% of the time.
Are baccarat side bets worth it?
Baccarat side bets often have a very large casino advantage. And they usually offer much larger prizes than regular bets. So, if you treat them as novelty bets and budget for them properly, they are certainly worthwhile.
Is it safe to play baccarat online?
As long as you are playing online baccarat at a reputable casino, it is perfectly safe. This means that it should be licensed by a respected gambling authority. By doing so, you can be sure that the games are fair and that your privacy and money are properly protected.
Can baccarat count cards?
There is some debate about this, but there is a baccarat card-counting system. It is not as effective as blackjack and cannot be relied upon to guarantee a win. It can only be used as a useful tool to understand and use.
Are there bonuses for playing baccarat online?
Many online casinos offer new players bonuses just for joining. For example, you will almost always receive some sort of deposit bonus that will increase your funds. You should be able to find reload bonuses, cash back offers, etc.