How To Play Baccarat: Quick Facts
Baccarat is just about the most straightforward online casino game you will ever encounter. That being said, it is still essential to have a comprehensive understanding of how the game works. Here’s what you need to know:
- Every game of baccarat involves a player and the banker, with each receiving two cards from a standard pack.
- Cards numbered 1-9 are given their face value, whilst tens and royal cards are valued as zero.
- The winner of the game is the person who has two cards with a total value closest to nine.
- If the total of the two cards is higher than nine, the value of the last digit is used. For instance, if a player has a six and a five, the value of the hand is one (6+5).
- If the player’s initial two card hand is below five, they are given one more card. When this happens, the banker has to follow these rules:
| If the banker’s hand is… | And the player’s third card is… | The banker must… |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1 or 2 | Any | Draw one more card |
| 3 | Any, except an 8 | Draw one more card |
| 4 | 2-7 | Draw one more card |
| 5 | 4-7 | Draw one more card |
| 6 | 6 or 7 | Draw one more card |
| 7 | Any | Stand |
| 8 | Any | Stand |
| 9 | Any | Stand |
- Before the cards are dealt, you need to bet on whether the banker or player will have a total closer to nine. Alternatively, you can bet on the game ending in a tie.
- The payout for successfully backing the banker is 0.95:1, whilst winning player bets payout at 1:1. Successful bets on a tie payout at 8:1.
- If you bet on the banker or player winning and the game ends in a tie, you will receive your stake back.
How To Play Free Baccarat
To help you get to grips with playing baccarat, many online casino sites offer a free baccarat game mode. In the majority of cases, this freeplay version of the game can be accessed by selecting the Demo Mode when you navigate to the version of the game you wish to play. If you are unsure about any of the rules of baccarat or simply wish to hone your strategy without using any real money, playing in Demo Mode represents an excellent option.
Another solid option in most US states is to play at a sweepstakes casino. These allow you to play for free using virtual currencies.
Pros And Cons Of Baccarat
Pros:
- Very simple gameplay
- House edge of just 1.06%
- Lots of strategic betting options
Cons:
- Gameplay can be too basic for some players
Expert Strategies That Will Help You Become A Baccarat Master
Whilst baccarat is a very simple game to play, there are a few neat strategies you can deploy that will improve your chances of picking up regular wins whilst also gambling responsibly. Here are two easy,-to-use strategies that you can try out when playing baccarat:
Back The Banker
Because the banker reacts to the player’s hand, the banker has a marginally higher chance of winning each hand. And whilst the payout for backing the banker is slightly lower, if you implement this strategy over multiple hands, you will improve your chances of making steady returns.
The James Bond System
You never saw Bond lose at the baccarat table, so why not give his strategy a try? This requires you to split your bet three ways every time:
- 70% on the banker
- 25% on the player
- 5% on the tie
You can modify your split slightly if you like, but always set your budget before you begin this strategy and stick with it. If you have trouble maintaining control, remember that all the online casinos featured in this guide have responsible gaming tools that can help. You can set deposit limits, spending limits, and even put your account on time out to help regulate your play and spending.
Where To Play Baccarat: Seven Great Sites
Now you know how baccarat works and you’ve got some great strategies to try out, the next question is: Where should you play online baccarat? Here are seven of the best options:
| Casinos Where You Can Play Baccarat For Free | Types Of Baccarat With Best Prizes |
|---|---|
| BetMGM Casino | XXXTreme Lightning Baccarat |
| Fanatics Casino | Baccarat |
| Fanduel Casino | Ru Yi Baccarat |
| Bet365 Casino | Quantum Baccarat |
| Golden Nugget Casino | EZ Baccarat |
| Rolla | Baccarat |
BetMGM Casino - Find The Perfect Baccarat Game For You
The BetMGM live casino contains over 30 live dealer baccarat tables, including many that provide variations on the standard gameplay outlined in this guide. There are speed based games, such as Lightning Baccarat, plus quirky titles (including Quantum Baccarat) that have bonuses and multipliers attached to certain scenarios.
On top of that, this online casino’s new games collection is growing at a seriously rapid pace, with new titles being added every month. In short, if you want to try some fun new baccarat variations, BetMGM Casino is the place to be.
Fanatics Casino - World Class Mobile Gaming
In our opinion, Fanatics Casino boasts one of the best free apps on the market. The crystal clear layout of the app makes it a cinch to find the games you want to play, and the app’s high performance ensures you will never have to wait for your games to load.
When it comes to baccarat, there are several live dealer tables on offer, all of which feature top quality graphics and have been fully optimized for mobile play.
Fanduel Casino - Hit The Jackpot
There are seven live dealer baccarat tables at FanDuel Casino, giving you plenty of choice in terms of gameplay, bet sizes and live presentation. Better yet, if you add an extra 10% to your baccarat bets, you will be in with a chance of winning one of four progressive Jackpot prizes.
These prizes can rise to as much as $100,000 and are randomly awarded every day. In our opinion, opting in to these jackpots is a complete no-brainer, as for just a small outlay, you will get the opportunity to land an incredible prize.
Bet365 Casino - Flawless Baccarat Play
The overall online casino experience at bet365 is second to none. Not only can you choose from hundreds upon hundreds of world class casino games, but you can also take part in regular promotions, receive unbeatable customer service and take part in some seriously generous promotions. Baccarat fans can play at around 20 different live dealer tables, all of which come with the impeccable graphics and high class presentation you would expect from one of the most reputable casino brands in the world.
Golden Nugget Casino - An Outstanding Welcome Bonus
New players at Golden Nugget Casino can currently get up to $1,000 lossback if they make a loss during their first 24 hours at the site. On top of that, they will also receive 500 free spins on a top slot. These offers give you an excellent chance of grabbing a tasty sum when you open your new account, perfect if you want to try out the site’s impressive array of live dealer baccarat tables.
Rolla - Free Baccarat Every Day
Free slots with no downloads and some brilliant daily promotions. That’s what’s on offer at Rolla, a sweepstakes casino where you play with virtual currencies instead of real money. These virtual currencies can be picked up via free daily promotions that ensure you can play free baccarat every single day. And whilst there are no live dealer baccarat tables at Rolla, there are plenty of first-person video baccarat tables that allow you to test out your strategies and improve your baccarat skills without making any real money wagers.
Stake.us - Use Our Exclusive Promo Code
If you like the sound of sweepstakes casinos like Rolla, then you definitely need to join Stake.us. Unusually for a sweepstakes site, Stake.us has a thriving live dealer section containing three baccarat tables. There are also free baccarat video games to play, as well as over 1,300 other free slots. And to ensure that you start in style at Stake.us, we’ve got an exclusive promo code you can use when signing up. Simply enter the code GAMEDAY when registering your account and you will receive 560,000GC, 56 free SC and a 5% rakeback over your first 30 days on the site.
Verdict: A Timeless Casino Classic
Baccarat is a classic online casino game that is suitable for players of all experience levels. Because the basics of the game are so straightforward, it is ideal for newcomers getting their first taste of online casino play, whilst seasoned casino players will love putting together their ideal baccarat strategies and trying out the numerous different versions of the game.
If you’ve not yet given online baccarat a try, we thoroughly recommend checking out the fantastic online casinos featured in this article. They all offer a range of great baccarat tables, many of which you can try out for free by playing in demo mode. Plus if you use the links on this site, you will be able to take advantage of some brilliant welcome offers when you open your new accounts.
