Online Baccarat Guide

online baccarat guide

Baccarat is surely one of the greatest real money games available on the casino floor today thanks to its very low house edge, around 1%. It requires little to no skill to play and is easy to learn. The idea of the game is to get a total value of nine (or as close to it as possible) without going over, based on two cards drawn to both player and dealer (or banker).

Aces count for one, 2-9 are taken at face value, and tens/face cards have a value of zero. Players can choose to bet on the player, dealer, or a tie. It is impossible to go over or “bust” like in blackjack, and the dealer is required to hit based on a predetermined set of rules.

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How to Pick the Best Casino for Real Money Online Baccarat

Reputation

First and foremost, it’s important to choose a reputable casino with excellent security protocols, industry-standard personal data protection, and fast payouts. All of the casinos we review here at USA Online Casino have been thoroughly vetted to ensure they offer only the best when it comes to game quality, security, and ease of deposit and withdrawal. Have a look through the casinos presented here and select the one that best fits your mood and sensibilities. Then head to the baccarat table!

Bonuses

Pick the best casino bonuses. Here at USA Online Casino, we bend over backward to bring you all the best casino bonus offers available online today. Check out the different offers but make sure to read the fine print. Not all casino bonuses apply to specialty games such as baccarat. Some may be limited to slots and keno only. Compare the different casino bonus offers presented here and select the one that includes specialty games and most dramatically increases your bankroll. Be sure to check the playthrough requirements (no playthrough is always the best), make your minimum deposit, and start to play and win.

Ease of deposits

When you’re in the mood to play, there’s nothing worse than a casino with a long, convoluted deposit process. Make sure you select an online casino with easy direct deposits, so you can get down to the business of placing your bets and playing baccarat, not wasting time fighting with an obstinate online cashier. All of the real money casinos we review here at USA Online Casino provide, easy, fast ways to deposit and start playing. Most, if not all, of the casinos on USA Online Casino accept both Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, American Express, Neteller, Bitcoin, Bank Checks, and Bank Transfers.

Start Playing

Last but not least, check out the game quality before you start to play. With the online casino industry experiencing a historic boom, there are countless options to choose from when it comes to the online casino games you play. Quality, however, can vary dramatically. When it’s time to select the best online baccarat casino, game quality, meaning state-of-the-art graphics, digital sound, and an all-immersive experience are important considerations. The vast majority of the casinos reviewed here at USA Online Casino use RealTime Gaming (RTG) software, an industry leader that ensures your online baccarat experience is always as good as it gets.

ONLINE BACCARAT TIPS AND TRICKS

Though the game of baccarat is simple to understand, you should use the following tips in order to maximize your betting advantage and earn consistent wins. These easy tips will effectively improve your baccarat strategy and can be utilized by avid gamblers or newcomers to the game alike. Following these six steps will ensure that you will be on the fast track to winning in virtually no time.

Baccarat Odds and Payouts Table

Avoid Patterns

Many baccarat players rely on patterns and supposed hot and cold streaks within the game. Baccarat tables will record the results of a game (number of wins for player/banker). However, in baccarat, the odds are similar to determining the outcome of a coin toss. Each result is a separate event.

Bet on Banker

Despite a 5% commission, this is the best bet you can make in baccarat due to a very low house edge of 1.06%. The banker bet will win 50.68% of the time and thus bring consistent returns. This fraction of a percentage will translate into noticeable steady gains over time.

Forget the Tie Bet

This is the worst bet that a player can make in baccarat. Although an 8 to 1 payout might seem rewarding, the house edge on the tie bet is 14.4%! If you manage to pull off a tie bet, the payout is lucrative, which is why it is so appealing. But the risk of losing is exceptionally high.

Keep it Brief

Real money baccarat is all about short winning streaks followed by cutting your losses. Unlike a game like blackjack, which can grant patient players long and lucrative upswings, baccarat is more of a sprint than a marathon. Ride a wave of fortune for as long as possible then cash in your chips.

Mind the Tables

A 5% commission is paid to the dealer for all wins on banker bets. However, do not assume that all casinos follow this rule. Some casinos have tables that collect 10% or even 25% commission on banker bet wins. Mind the table rules listed for the casino of your choice.

Manage your Bankroll

This should come as a no-brainer, but one overlooked aspect of online gambling, or gambling in general, is successfully managing your bankroll. The key is to set a loss limit, and not to exceed it once you have laid out a proper strategy. Don’t get greedy or chase your losses.

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TYPES OF BETS IN BACCARAT

Now that you have a better feel for how the game of baccarat works, let’s take a quick look at betting and some real money baccarat strategy that you can incorporate into your game. Baccarat uses three types of bets:

banker bet

Banker Bet

This is the safest bet that you can make in baccarat. The house edge on the banker bet is 1.06%. The standard rule is that the player must pay a 5% commission to the banker on each winning bet, and even with the commission, your odds of winning are better than any other bet.
player bets

Player Bet

The house edge on the player bet is 1.24%. The odds are a little higher, but the fact that the banker bet utilizes the aforementioned commission equalizes the advantage to the house.
tie bet

Tie Bet

Though the tie bet offers a massive payout, any expert will tell you that the tie bet is not a bet worth making due to the staggeringly high house advantage of roughly 14.4%. The payout is 8:1, which is why the chances of winning are so low. However, some casinos utilize a 9:1 payout, which reduces the house edge to about 5%.
side bets

Side Bet

Depending on the casino that you visit – either online or brick and mortar – some establishments allow you to make various side bets. One example is how many cards the player or dealer will end up with before an outcome is reached (known as “the 4-5-6”).

BACCARAT FACTS AND TRIVIA

Origins of the game

baccarat historyThe exact origins of baccarat are unclear. Variations of the game have existed throughout the world since at least the 19th century. Various sources claim the game was first introduced as early as the end of the 15th century by soldiers during the Franco-Italian War and the reign of Charles VII. A precursor known as Macao came from Asia during the 17th century. Today three popular versions of the game exist.

Mini-baccarat

mini baccaratMini-baccarat can be found in many North American casinos today. It allows gamblers to play for lower stakes with the key difference being that only the dealer can touch the cards. When playing baccarat for real was introduced to The Sands Casino in Vegas, the casino lost over $250,000 in one night. Baccarat is the most popular game among high rollers, and high stakes rooms exist where table limits can hit over $100,000 a hand.

Three versions

online baccaratPunto Banco, Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat Banque are the three versions of baccarat that exist in casinos today. The version immortalized in the famous 1962 James Bond film “Dr. No”, starring Sean Connery, is Chemin de Fer. This version is most popular in France and is a quicker version of the original game. The railway in French, “chemin de fer” was the quickest form of transport at the time of its conception.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bet to make in baccarat?

Statistically, the best bet that a player can make in real money baccarat is on the banker. This has a house edge of 1.06% and in the long term will occur roughly 45.8% of the time. The opposing player bet has a house edge of 1.24% and will occur roughly 44.6% of the time in the long term. However, the 5% commission paid to the dealer on banker wins once again gives the advantage to the house.

Why must I pay a 5% commission to the dealer on banker bets?

The reason that a 5% commission is paid to the house for every banker bet won is to even the advantage of the roughly 0.458 in 1 probability that the banker bet will win in any given round of baccarat. The player bet has a slightly reduced advantage of 0.446 in 1. So, if a player wins on a banker bet, a small percentage of their total winnings must be paid to the house.

Is there a guaranteed strategy to win in baccarat?

Although there are many types of strategies for baccarat, from the 1-3-2-4 method to following trends, there is no guaranteed method of winning. Betting in baccarat is similar to determining the outcome of a coin toss. In the long term, betting on either banker or player has a roughly 50/50 chance of winning, but the tie bet slightly decreases the even odds.

What is the difference between baccarat and Punto Banco?

Punto Banco is a version of baccarat where the casino banks the game at all times and commits to playing out both hands. “Hits” are made according to a predetermined set of rules listed at the table (known as the “tableau” in French). Standard baccarat calls for players to make the drawing choices for each hand. Punto stands for point or player, whereas banco simply means bank or banker (the dealer).

When is a third card drawn in baccarat?

If neither the dealer nor the player has a natural eight or nine, then the player must hit when they hold a total card value of five or less and stand with six or more. The banker is required to hit when they have a hand value of five or less. When the player hits, the banker will hit based on the player’s third card, and what their total is.

What is a “natural” in baccarat?

A “natural” occurs in baccarat when the two cards are drawn to either the player or the banker equal a total of nine. This is the best hand in baccarat and automatically wins the round. The next best possible hand in baccarat is a total of eight, which is also called a natural, but will lose to a natural of nine.

Is it possible to “bust” in baccarat?

Unlike blackjack where players try to get as close to a value of 21 as possible, it is not possible to “bust” or go over a certain value in baccarat. The player or banker will try to get as close to a value of nine as possible by using two opposing sets of cards. Cards 2-9 are counted according to their face value, whereas tens and face cards count as zero, and aces as one. If either side go over a value of nine in baccarat, ten is subtracted from the total. For instance, if two eights are drawn for the first hand, ten is subtracted, bringing the total value of the hand to six.

Is there a difference playing baccarat online vs. with a live dealer?

Fundamentally, there are no differences in playing online baccarat for real money vs. playing against a live dealer in a land-based casino. You are more likely to find lower minimum bets online whereas in a live casino your budget might not allow for the risky tie bet. It is also important to note that the baccarat tables at land-based casinos use 8-10 decks of cards in a shoe, whereas for online baccarat card counting is impossible. The number of cards in digital form is endless as the computers run on random number generators (RNGs) to determine the outcome of each hand.

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