Guide To Live Dealer Baccarat + The Best Live Baccarat Casinos 2023
Our guide to online baccarat is the go-to resource for everything players need to know about this fascinating game. Read on for key information about the live dealer game and the greatest places to play. We’ll also list those sites we advise online baccarat players to avoid. Instructions on getting started, playing live dealer baccarat and more – it’s all here.
Top Rated Live Dealer Baccarat Casinos December 2023
Advantages of Live Dealer Baccarat
Live dealer baccarat is the closest thing there is, to playing in a land-based casino. Yet online casinos offer a far greater choice of games than any land-based casino.
Live dealer baccarat is one of those apparently simple games that takes minutes to learn and offers a lifetime’s fascination. That’s why it continues to intrigue gamblers. But the strategies for tipping the odds in the gambler’s favor, are numerous. We’ll look later at the various kinds of bets that are the secret to playing live dealer baccarat. Note that most online casinos play a fairly simplified version of baccarat.
Baccarat is famous for having a low house edge. The house edge is the amount that the casino will win from a player, over a given period. Players can therefore calculate their likely return over many card games. Live dealer baccarat usually has a house edge of around 1.06%. The edge is very low in comparison to slots, many of which come in at 3-5%.
One of the great experiences is to play for real money, at tables run by real dealers – yet all online. With the development of live casino streaming in HD (High Definition), it’s almost like having the dealer in the room. The premier live dealer baccarat providers, such as Evolution Gaming, have dealers who are friendly but professional. Many players develop favorite or lucky dealers as well as a favorite baccarat strategy.
How To Play Live Dealer Baccarat
Here are the need to know basics:
- The dealer deals out two baccarat hands, each consisting of two cards. They are called Player and Banker.
- The winner will be the one whose hand adds up to 9 (known as La Grande), or as near to 9 as possible. A score of 8 is known as La Petite. Picture cards and 10s count as zero.
- If the Player and Banker’s hands are tied, or both hands are losers, the dealer can deal a third card.
- The player decides on the likely winning hand and wagers on it.
Deal Types
In live casino baccarat, there are a number of side bets that are available as well as, or instead of, betting on the main hands.
- Tie – both hands will end up with the same score.
- Player pair – the first two cards dealt to the player hand are a pair
- Banker pair – a similar bet on the banker’s hand
The Best Bet
Note that the best odds and big payouts – such as on the Tie bet – are because players are less likely to win when they play for real money. In live casino baccarat, the best bet is to wager on the Banker’s hand, over a long period.
Live Dealer Baccarat Strategies
A sensible baccarat strategy can tip the odds in the player’s favor. So here’s a selection.
- Look for runs. These are patterns in the way the cards are falling. There are often significant runs of player or banker wins in live casino baccarat. Alternating wins aren’t a signal to follow.
- Use the Martingale strategy for live casino baccarat. Every time a bet loses, double the wager on the next hand. This strategy needs a good pile of chips because players need to get through several losing bets, if needed, before recouping losses.
- Avoid card counting – in live dealer baccarat, the shuffling of the decks are too frequent for this to work.
Variations of Live Dealer Baccarat
The great thing about live dealer baccarat is that players can choose a live casino baccarat variation and playing style before they play baccarat for real money (larger wagers).
Speed Baccarat Live
Live dealer baccarat is available at turbo speeds in most live casinos. NetEnt Live has recently added a speed version where gamblers play baccarat for real money. Evolution Gaming has a betting period of 10 seconds with an entire round taking 27 seconds. This will suit players who find the gameplay too slow in traditional baccarat. They often play several tables at a time and will find Speed Baccarat more engaging.
Single Player
Multiple gamblers can wager on a single Player hand, but the dealer only deals that one hand for that. Evolution’s version of live dealer baccarat is with eight decks, as are most live casino baccarat games. Ties usually pay 8:1 in this version. Typically, this type of baccarat game has around 40 seconds from one deal to another. Most online casinos will offer a “roadmap” – a graphic showing the gameplay, so players can spot patterns. Ties usually pay 8:1 in this version. Typically, this type of baccarat game has around 40 seconds from one deal to another. Most online casinos will offer a “roadmap” – a graphic showing the gameplay, so players can spot patterns.
Baccarat Squeeze
It’s amazing that Evolution Gaming has managed to produce a live casino version of Baccarat Squeeze. This variant is very dependent on dealer skill – and Evolution uses 15 cameras to capture this. The cards are dealt face down, then the live dealer gradually reveals them by squeezing the cards, called “peel to reveal”. For players who like a bit of tension and anticipation, Squeeze is great fun.
Punto Banco
This is the original baccarat game that was developed in Argentina. The great majority of online baccarat live dealer games actually follow the gameplay and rules of punto banco. This is particularly the case when gamblers play baccarat for real money, betting on the Player or the Banker, and using side bets such as Ties. In punto banco, Tie bets are known as “Egalite” from the French for equality and can include bets on the value of the cards.
No Commission Baccarat
Banker wins usually generate a 5% commission for the casino. But in this live casino baccarat game, there’s no commission and both Banker and Player hands both payout at evens (1:1). If the Banker’s hand totals 6, the payout is 0.5:1. However, a “Super 6” bet pays 15:1 if the Banker gets a 6. Several other bets differ, so when gamblers play baccarat online, this is an interesting variant that many look for.
Mini baccarat
Mini baccarat is the same version of punto banco, on which most online baccarat is based. It was originally called “mini” because, in standard punto banco, the players join the game and the dealership is passed from one player to the other. Obviously not practical for online games! So they use the mini-baccarat format, of one dealer, who is not a player. And rather than up to seven players, many hundreds may be involved.
Super 6
This feature appears in No Commission baccarat and some other variants when gamblers play baccarat online. Winning banker bets only return even money. Worse, if the banker’s hand adds up to 6, only 50% of the bet is returned. Super 6 is, in essence, a side bet on the Banker’s hand. If the banker’s hand scores 6, the Super 6 bet pays out at 12 to 1. So Super 6 can be used as insurance against the Banker scoring 6.
Progressive Baccarat
This live dealer game takes one of the most popular slots features, the progressive jackpot, and adds it to playing baccarat for real money. For instance, in the Playtech version, the progressive jackpot is effectively a side bet. The pot starts with the casino seeding the jackpot, then a percentage of the wagers is added to the jackpot in each round. If a suited Ace 8 is dealt to both hands, the jackpot is won.
Multi-seat Baccarat
Playing baccarat at the 7 seats live casino table by providers such as Playtech is the nearest players can get to the land-based casino experience. Players take a spare seat, then choose Tie, Banker or Player, and place their wager. There’s online chat with the other players, and the live dealers ensure a friendly atmosphere.
Live Baccarat Bonus Offers At Online Casinos
Popular bonus offers are matched deposit bonuses that provide you with extra bankroll for live casino games – players can then choose to focus on playing baccarat. The same kind of bonus is available at many live casino sites as a welcome offer. It’s more unusual to find a bonus that only applies to baccarat. More commonly, casinos may offer a series of free bets if a player has had a losing streak while playing baccarat.
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Live Casino Software
There are three big names in live dealer baccarat: Playtech, NetEnt and Evolution Gaming.
Playtech already has live dealer baccarat and is introducing augmented reality for an even more immersive experience. Its baccarat side bets include Egalite – bets on specific ties, with boosted odds.
Evolution has the greatest number of live dealer baccarat variants, including Squeeze, No Commission, Speed, Lightning, Control Squeeze, Salon Prive and VIP games. Evolution’s live dealers are highly rated by players.
NetEnt Live’s high-speed live casino game runs on three tables. Multiple camera angles add to the realism as gamblers play baccarat online.
| Software | Desktop | Tablet | Mobile |
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Our Live Dealer Baccarat Casino Inspection Process – How We Review, Rate And Rank
We have a team of researchers, carrying out casino inspections. Our reviews are tough and thorough, but fair. We always have the players’ interests at heart, and we make sure that our ratings reflect that. Security, safety and fairness come first. Then the games, are they high quality? Is there a great selection? We look at gambling limits, payouts and deposits, customer support and more.
Casino Security – Safe Online Casino Gambling
No player wants to lose money or have their account hacked. Our reviews take licensing, audit and player protection seriously.
Reputability of the Casino
There are great entertainment companies running online casinos. But there are also a few rogues. We let our readers know which casinos are best to avoid.
Promotions and Bonuses – New and Loyal Players
Our research team will look below the headlines and give players the low down on which welcome and loyalty bonuses offer a truly great deal.
Available Live Baccarat Games – Quantity, Variety and Quality
We know the live dealer baccarat scene, and our reviews also delve into the detail. Players will find full information about the baccarat variants on offer.
Software – Innovative Software Providers
At best reviews, our testers are always on the lookout for upcoming games providers, or new offerings from the big players.
Live Dealer Review – Interaction and Professionalism
Live dealers need to be friendly while maintaining professionalism. The quality of the dealer interaction hugely impacts the enjoyment of the game for players, so we assess this too.
Mobile Compatibility – Play on the Go
With its simple layout, live dealer baccarat is an ideal game for mobile play. We look for full mobile optimization in an online baccarat game.
Gambling Limits – Max and Min Bets
These vary between casinos, and from one baccarat table to another. Some players want low bet tables (£0.10 is available from NetEnt), others prefer high maximum bets (£25,000).
Trusted Payment Methods and Payout Times
Credit cards are no longer valid for deposits in the UK, but our team knows which other methods you can trust: E-wallet withdrawals are a fast and secure alternative.
Live Chat and Overall Customer Support – Quality of Service
We check live chat availability – less than 24/7 earns a markdown. Customer support means more than just an email address, and we test it out.
Online Casino Experience – Players’ Perspective
In the end, it’s the player that counts. The slickest-looking site may not offer the greatest value or may have a poor response to complaints. So players are vital in helping us to assess casinos.
Failure To Make The Grade ❌ The Live Baccarat Casino Blacklist
Not every live baccarat casino passes our inspection process. Some casinos boasting live baccarat don’t feature live games! Others have a very limited selection of baccarat types or unreasonable betting limits. If the commission is over the average, or the odds aren’t the agreed baccarat wager paybacks, the casino won’t make the grade. Casinos that have had repeated player disputes also won’t feature.
Blacklisted Real Money Casinos
It is not only from our review and testing team that these bad boys are added but also from fully investigated player grievances.
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Quick Guide on Winning More at Live Baccarat Casinos
So how can players increase their live baccarat winnings? Here are some quick tips.
This is 5% charged on bets on the Banker. Try playing No Commission Baccarat. This has a different betting structure.
The advantage to the casino on the Banker’s hand in every game is the house edge. In baccarat, this is lower than most games, at 1.06%.
Most live dealer games use eight decks to lower a player’s odds of winning. Fewer decks can mean reduced ties, and thus reduced house edge.
All baccarat strategies advise avoiding the Tie bet like the plague. The house edge shoots up to 14% for these bets. Players can use the Martingale system with the Tie, but it’s a risky strategy.
Most games offer Pairs, with an 11:1 payout. Perfect Pair, Player or Banker Bonus are other side bets. Super 6 is a side bet in No Commission Baccarat.
From basic £0.10 bets to £25,000 for VIPs, bet limits vary hugely between games tables and casinos. If limits matter, check them out before signing up.
Play on the Go – Live Baccarat Apps and Mobile sites
Playtech, Evolution and NetEnt Live have all optimized their card games, including live dealer casino play, for mobile users. That means that the casino apps players download will enable them to play live dealer baccarat for real money wherever they are.
Most casino apps are available on Google Play for Android phones or the App Store for Apple iOS. They feature navigation that’s optimized for mobile screens, tabs and small keypads.
Many casinos are also now carrying QR codes for phones. Just scan the QR to download the mobile software to your phone.
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Consider before playing on the go ……..
Playing on the go is really easy. But it’s still important to keep safe and enjoy consistent play.
Trusted Site to Play @
Use our guides to find casinos that players can trust to look after their cash, and provide fair gaming. We inspect and rate hundreds of casinos.
Keep an eye on your battery
Most casinos won’t pay on a bet that is interrupted for technical reasons. So make sure that there’s enough battery – especially when streaming live dealer baccarat and live casino games.
Data Usage
Away from wi-fi, players will need to turn on mobile data. The amount available is governed by the data plan being used.
Trusted Wi-Fi connections
Deposits and withdrawals may involve sending personal and banking details over wi-fi. So be careful where you do this.
Land-based vs. Online vs. Live Dealer
Baccarat games are available in land-based casinos, online and live. But which is best?
The live dealer game is much faster than the land-based one. And if even that isn’t fast enough, the speed versions provide warp speed entertainment. Another advantage of live dealer baccarat is its generosity towards its players. It has the lowest house edge of any of the online casino games.
Online baccarat has its advantages as well, especially if you want to play at your own pace, then this is the right baccarat version for you.
On the other hand – many seasoned gamblers prefer the ambience and authentic atmosphere of playing the game at brick-and-mortar casinos.
| Brick n’ Mortar Casino | Online Baccarat | Live Dealer Baccarat | |
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Ready to Beat the Dealer Playing Live Baccarat?
Even if you’ve never played before, baccarat is easy to learn. Yet its combination of bets and probabilities provides gamblers with endless fascination. Combine this with some of the more generous casino bonuses, and players can take advantage of a great value gaming experience.
Live Dealer Baccarat Frequently Asked Questions
We love answering baccarat questions – here are the answers to some of the most frequent queries.
It’s a game that allows players to bet on the outcome of two hands dealt on the table. A live dealer runs the game.
Yes, lots. See the list of live dealer baccarat games above, for a guide to the various types.
All eight-deck live dealer baccarat variants have the same house edge which is the equivalent of the RTP rate.
Yes – so make sure that there is plenty of mobile battery. An interrupted bet is always cancelled when playing live dealer baccarat.
Not at the live dealer baccarat casinos, we recommend. We audit them for the fairness of their games.
Players can access the live dealer baccarat game through a browser, or download a mobile version.
The same strategies will work in the same way in live dealer baccarat because the table is the same, as are the odds and house edge.
Yes, and most baccarat live dealer gaming has versions that are optimized for mobile use.
Live dealer baccarat doesn’t have a free live casino version. Video versions do offer casino play once the player is registered.
There is a need for a reasonably fast connection to play live dealer baccarat as a fair amount of data transfer happens. However, mobile players can use 4G to play live dealer baccarat.