Baccarat is a game that is simultaneously extremely simple and very challenging. Among the popular online casino card games, it occupies a place between Blackjack and Poker in terms of complexity. It is just as popular as either of them and almost every online casino offers many games of video and live Baccarat!
Baccarat is probably one of the oldest card games. It was first invented in Italy in the 1400s. Since then, it became a popular game played by the wealthy folk in parlors and lounges. Its popularity spread to France, and then out to the rest of the world.
Some estimates say that more than 50% of the wins from card table games at Las Vegas are from Baccarat games. At Macau, that number is closer to 90%!
Interested yet? If you are, keep reading to learn all about how live baccarat is played, the best places to play live baccarat, and everything else you need to know.
Play Live Baccarat with Real Dealers
Most games at an online casino are video games with computer-generated graphics and an AI opponent. Most of the time, that kind of Baccarat online is not as fun or immersive. But when you play Live Baccarat for real money, you will be instantly immersed. The game, board, and dealer are all real, playing at a studio and streaming it back to you in real time!
Keep reading on to find out how to start playing it!
How to Start Playing Baccarat Live
Time needed: 15 minutes
There are a few steps you need to go through before you can play live real money Baccarat. Don’t worry – we will guide you through the steps one by one.
Without further ado, here is how to play a live baccarat game:
- Choose Legit Online Casino to Play
The first step is to choose a legit live Baccarat UK casino. There are hundreds of online casinos out there. Most of them are not very good. A few of them are unreliable or dangerous, having a reputation for not paying out or scamming users. So, it’s important to find a legit online casino that is trustworthy and licensed before you play real money baccarat. You can choose from our recommended casinos list if you need to!
- Register Account and Grab Your Bonus Offer
Once you have chosen the Baccarat live casino site, it’s time to register an account. Signing up is usually quick and easy – just enter some personal and contact details, then upload documents as needed. Once registration is complete, you can make the first deposit and grab the welcome package bonus at the same time.
- Try to Beat Live Dealers and Have Fun
You’re almost there! The last step is to find the game you want to play. There are tons of games and providers to choose from. Try out a few different real dealer Baccarat tables before you select one to play and beat!
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Live Baccarat: How It Works
If you are a newbie and want to learn how to play Baccarat for real money, then pay close attention. We will now go over how live Baccarat works and the basic rules for playing it. By the end of this section, you will hopefully have a clear grasp of the game. Even veteran players should get a refresher from time to time!
How to Start Playing Live Baccarat
Upon launching a live dealer Baccarat game, you will find yourself at the table. Start off the game by making an initial bet. At this point, you can talk to the dealer if you like, just like at a brick-and-mortar casino. Once you have made the bet, the game proceeds.
The dealer deals two cards to you and two cards to themselves. Your hand is called the Player hand and the dealer’s hand is the Banker hand. The goal is to correctly bet on which of these two hands will have the highest value.
Gameplay, Odds and Payouts
Unlike Blackjack or Poker, live Baccarat’s hand values are not added up with face values only. For cards from 2 to 9, the face values are used. The Ace is worth 1, while 10, Jack, Queen and King are worth 0.
All hand totals in Baccarat fall between 2 and 9. If your hand goes over 10, then the bigger digit is dropped. For example, if you have two 9’s in hand, then the value of your hand is 8, dropping the 1 from 18.
The payout or RTP of Baccarat depends on which bet you choose. There are only 3 bets in Baccarat – Banker, Player and Tie. The Banker bet has a 98.94%. The Player bet has an RTP of 98.76, and the Tie bet is the riskiest with an RTP of 85.64%.
Drawing Rules
After the first two cards, players can choose to draw a third card. The banker can only draw a third card if certain conditions are met.
Bankers can draw a third card if:
- Their total is less than 2
- Their total is 3 or less, and the player drew an 8
- The player’s third card has a higher value by itself than the banker’s hand.
They cannot draw a card if their total is 7 or above. After the third card has been drawn, both hands are revealed. The one with the highest total wins.
Side Bets
There are a number of side bets in Baccarat with real dealers. All of them revolve around one of the hands having a particular combination of cards. Side bets can be risky, but are very thrilling when playing real money Baccarat.
For example, an All Red or All Black side bet wagers that the player's hand will be made up of red or black cards only.
A combined value side bet wagers on what the total value of both the player and banker hands combined will be.
A Double 8 bonus is a simple wager on if both the player and banker get an 8.
Benefits of Playing Baccarat Live with Real Dealers
There are plenty of benefits when you play live real money Baccarat. Here are just a few of the biggest advantages of doing so:
- No need to travel. You save on travelling and fuel costs, and even help the environment!
- You can wear and eat anything you like while you play Baccarat at live UK casino.
- There is a wide variety of Baccarat games and variants to choose from.
FAQs
The best casino will depend from person to person. Try out our recommended casinos to see if one of them is the best for you.
You can find Live Baccarat at many online casinos. Check out the recommendations to find a few casinos for it.
The baccarat odds depend on the hand and the bet. The Banker hand has the best odds, closely followed by the Player hand.
