Baccarat is an exciting game, full of suspense and intrigue! Baccarat is both simple to learn and play. A game of baccarat has three possible outcomes: Player win, Banker win, and tie. Note that “Banker” does not refer to the house. Participants in the game have the option to bet on either the player or bankers hand.
How We Rate the Best Casinos for Online Baccarat
At Sportsration, we only recommend the most exceptional casinos for online baccarat games. Our review team goes through strict criteria when picking out online casinos for baccarat. Here’s a list of the things we look out for when searching for first-rate baccarat gambling sites:
Safety & Security
Our approved casinos should have the latest SSL encryption to protect players’ data. Our sites are also be regularly audited by reputable, independent testing bodies like eCOGRA or TST. Player funds should also be segregated in accordance with licensing rules.
Selection of Baccarat Games
It’s fun to play standard baccarat online. But why settle for regular baccarat when you can choose from a variety of games with exciting side bets? Our top casino picks have games like No Commission Baccarat or Punto Banco. You can also play against a human croupier across a webcam in Live dealer baccarat.
Best Bonus Offers
Just like most real money slots gameplay, you’ll receive a great deposit bonus when you join one of our trusted baccarat casino sites. Activate a promotion every time you spend a dollar playing your favorite online baccarat games. The more you play, the quicker you will trigger free bonus cash.
Top Banking Options
Our best online casinos let you deposit cash via a range of safe and secure banking methods. Use your credit card instantly, send funds anonymously with an e-Wallet or use a range of crypto casinos payment options. You should enjoy zero fees every time, and be able to cash out your winnings within a day or two.
Great Customer Support
Good customer support is essential if you experience problems or have any queries. Our favorite casinos to play baccarat online have 24/7 customer service through email, phone or live chat.
Baccarat History – Learn About One of The Oldest Card Games
Baccarat’s history is said to go all the way back to medieval Italy. The origins of the card game are debatable, but most believe it was created in the 1400s by a man named Felix Falguierein or Felix Falguiere. He called the game “baccara”, which translates to “zero”, as all tens and face cards were valued at zero (the French spelling “baccarat” would be adopted later).
This original version of baccarat was not played the same way it is today. Cards were dealt by four dealers, each player could be the banker, and players could place bets against fellow players and against the house. In today’s game there is one dealer, bets are typically placed against the house, and the house also fills in the banker role.
From Italy, baccarat travelled to France, where it was known as Chemin de Fer, or “Chemmy”. King Charles VIII and his noblemen loved the game, and Chemin de Fer remained a hit with the French aristocracy for centuries.
Baccarat also caught on in England, where Ian Fleming learned how to play the game before creating the world’s most famous baccarat player: James Bond. As more time passed, baccarat cropped up in South America and in the Caribbean, where under the name of Punto Banco, it adapted to the local culture. The main changes included the players playing against the house only, and the banker role being reserved solely for the casino. This kind of baccarat is what we now know as “American Baccarat.”
In the late 1950s, Tommy Renzoni shipped the game over to the Sands casino in Las Vegas, and the rest, as we say, is history. Baccarat may have not caught on with the public the same way games like roulette and blackjack have, but it still enjoys an air of exclusivity and prestige with many casino goers.
Overview of Playing Baccarat Online
Learning online baccarat is easy. The rules take a few minutes to learn, and you can be up and playing baccarat online for fun right away. It’s one of the simplest casino games to learn, and the house edge can be low if you choose the right bets.
Below, we listed a quick step-by-step guide to get you instantly started with playing baccarat online.
1.Choose a Game
First, find free baccarat online in your casino lobby. Most good casinos will have at least one variant to try. You can usually play baccarat games directly through your browser, and on any device you want, including desktop PCs, mobiles and tablets.
2. Choose Your Stakes
On the free baccarat table, you will be able to see the betting areas and the min/max stakes. Select the chip values you want, then drag and drop them onto the sections of the table you want to bet on. The computer won’t deal the cards until you hit the ‘Deal’ button.
3. Bet on Banker, Player or Tie
In a baccarat game, you have three options: Banker, Player or Tie. The objective of the game is to bet on the hand that gets closest to 9. Aces count as 1, while 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 count as their number value. 10s and picture cards like queens and kings count as 0.
If the total of the hand value is a two-digit number, you discard the first digit. So, if Player was dealt 8+4=12, the point value would be 2. The 1 is discarded.
Depending on the hand totals, a third card may be dealt. If the Player or Banker has 8 or 9, no extra cards are drawn (‘Stand’). However, if the Player has 5 or less, they receive a third card (‘Hit’).
The Banker now decides what to do depending on their own hand total. For instance, if the Banker has 2 or less, they draw a third card. If the Banker has 3, they draw a third card but not if the Player has 8.
You can see a complete rundown of the Hit or Stand rules for third cards in our chart further down this page.
4.Understanding the Payouts
As a baccarat game player, you can choose to bet on either hand. The payout for a winning Player bet is 1/1. You win 19/20 on a winning Banker hand (1/1 minus a 5% commission). You win 8/1 if you bet on the two hands ending in a tie.
5. Rebet, Clear Bet, & Double Bet
Once the hand is over, you will be paid your winnings right away. You have the option of doubling your bet, repeating the previous bet, or clearing your chips and starting again.
Betting Options for Online Baccarat
You will have three bet options which are standard across both free baccarat and real money baccarat. You can bet on the Banker hand to win, the Player hand, or the hands to end in a Tie.
You will see the betting areas clearly on the screen. This is where you place your chips before the hand is dealt.
Common Bets in Online Baccarat Games
-
Player Bet
Payout: 1/1
House Edge: 1.29% (Single Deck), 1.24% (6-Deck)
Outcome: The Player beats the Banker and gets closest to 9.
-
Banker Bet
Payout: 19/20 (5% commission)
House Edge: 1.01% (Single Deck), 1.06% (6-Deck)
Outcome: The Banker beats the Player and gets closest to 9.
-
Tie
Payout: 8/1
House Edge: 15.75% (Single Deck), 14.44% (6-Deck)
Outcome: Both the Player and Banker have the same total.
Other Bets
In real money baccarat, there are oftentimes a series of side bets available. These bets have different payouts and their own set of risks. Here are the payouts and house edges in a six-deck online baccarat game with side bets.
-
Player Pair
Payout: 1/1
House Edge: 11.25%
Outcome: The first two cards dealt to the Player make a pair.
-
Banker Pair
Payout: 11/1
House Edge: 11.25%
Outcome: The first two cards dealt to the Banker make a pair.
-
Perfect Pair
Payout: 25/1
House Edge: 17.07%
Outcome: The first two cards dealt to the Player or Banker form a pair of the same suit (e.g. each has the 10 of diamonds).
-
Either Pair
Payout: 5/1
House Edge: 14.54%
Outcome: The first two cards dealt to either the Banker or Player make a pair.
-
Small
Payout: 1.5/1
House Edge: 5.27%
Outcome: The total cards dealt in a game is 4.
-
Big
Payout: 0.54/1
House Edge: 4.35%
Outcome: The total cards dealt in a baccarat game is 5 or 6.
Betting in online baccarat is straightforward, but knowing the different odds, payouts and house edge of each bet is crucial for you to make smart decisions in the game.
