Best Online Baccarat Casinos 2024: These Sites Are Naturals!

Baccarat is among the most popular table games – just behind blackjack – in Las Vegas and other casino markets. That is also true at on the internet where the best online baccarat casinos ply their trade.

Baccarat is a simple game that requires no strategy to learn. Its house advantage is around 1 percent, making baccarat online one of the best table games for the return-to-player (RTP) percentage.

Virtually all online casinos deal baccarat. Many deal multiple versions. These range from the traditional five percent banker games, to no commission, and ones with live baccarat dealers. This is one of many reasons why online casinos are better than terrestrial ones for baccarat.

Most Atlantic City and Las Vegas casinos only deal one or two versions of the game, if it is dealt at all. Another advantage baccarat online has is the minimum bet, which usually starts at only $1, as opposed to $10, $25, $50, and maybe even $100 at live casinos.

This page shows all the ways to play baccarat online. This includes the types of games available, minimum bets, and the bonuses offered by casinos online.

Five of the Best Online Baccarat Casinos

These five casinos all deal excellent baccarat games online. Each has a bonus for new players. Below are some of the reasons why you should choose to play baccarat online at each. Professional Rakeback has a full review of each site, which you can access by clicking “READ REVIEW” in any of the boxes below. You can find more such reviews in this list of the best online casinos for USA.

What is baccarat?

Baccarat is a card game played at casinos online and around the world. There are two hands involved in a baccarat game. One is the banker. The other is the player. There is only one player hand, regardless of the number of people seated at the table.

Patrons may wager on the banker or player. Switching sides from hand to hand is permitted. Side bets, like the tie, may also be placed with or without an accompanying banker or dealer wager. The tie and side bets have exponentially higher house advantages than the banker and player bets.

How do you play baccarat?

A baccarat table may seem intimidating. There are many superstitions among its players. However, it is a simple game. It is based purely on luck. The players make no decisions once the wagers are on the felt.

The first step of playing baccarat online is buying chips. If you have a balance at the casino site, this transfers to the table when you sit. If you need to make a deposit, there are many options available, like crypto, credit cards, and debit cards.

Once you have chips, it is time to decide which table is for you. There are multiple ways to play the game.

Video or live dealer baccarat: Which is right for you?

Video baccarat is available at virtually all casinos online. Many online casinos offer live dealer versions of the game too. This means that there is a real dealer on a camera. Real cards are used at the table in live baccarat online.

Some casino sites have a variety of baccarat tables that all look the same. Choosing the right one may seem difficult. Professional Rakeback has the answers.

Open the casino game menu to find baccarat. Choose table games to narrow the search and remove all the slot games. At almost every baccarat casino online, you will find the list of baccarat games available here.

In most cases, there is little difference between the baccarat games shown under the table game section that are not live dealer options. These are usually the same game with differing minimum bets or felt designs. The design of the table has nothing to do with the gameplay.

There may be ones with side bets like Ultimate and Dragon. Pick the one that meets your preferred minimum bet. Click or tap the image of the table, and it will open.

If you prefer to bet $5 or more or want an experience closer to a traditional casino, the live dealer games are best for you. The live dealer tables may vary in some ways.

For example, at Ignition Casino, the limits are $5 to $100, $25 to $1000, and $100 to $2500. This allows players who prefer higher limits to be seated at tables with those who have similar bankrolls and goals.

Another wrinkle to live dealer games may be the types of baccarat available. Most live dealer baccarat tables are traditional and take a five percent commission on banker wins. There is another version called Super 6. This is a no-commission version of the game. This game does not take a commission on banker wins. Instead, when the banker wins on a 6, the player only wins half of their bet.

For example, the bettor places a $10 chip on the banker in a Super 6 game. If the banker hand wins on a 6, the bettor receives their $10 chip back with a $5 one. All other banker wins would pay $10. At a typical baccarat game, all banker wins on a $10 bet pay $9.50.

Placing a Bet

Once you choose your favorite version of baccarat, it is time to place a bet. Pick your preferred denomination of chips. Choose between the player or banker spot. You may also bet the tie or any side bets.

Click the betting circle the number of times required to make it equal your desired wager amount. When you are ready, click the deal button. The cards will come out. There is no other decision required by the player. The dealer and software do the rest.

When that hand is finished, it is simple to make the same bet on the next one. Just click the rebet button. The next hand will start immediately.

Banker bets may need to be in $5 increments

Some online casinos only pay in change at quarters at table games. This is important when playing the banker bet at baccarat.

If the game takes a five percent commission on the banker, you should test the software by betting $4. If a banker win takes a $0.25 commission instead of the proper $0.20, you will know it rounds up to the nearest quarter. If it pays the proper $0.20, you may comfortably bet $1 knowing the payout is accurate.

Baccarat card values

The value of cards 2 through 9 are based on the face value. Aces are worth one point. Tens and face cards are blanks, meaning the point value is zero.

Baccarat hand values are all single digits. If a hand count goes over 9, the first number is dropped. For example, a 9 and a 9 are not worth 18. It counts as 8. There are no busts in baccarat.

How a baccarat hand plays

Once the bets are established, the dealer places two cards on the banker spot and two cards on the player spot. The player hand draws first if needed, based on these rules:

If either or both the player or banker is dealt an 8 or 9, it is a natural. The hand ends. If the player hand has 5 or fewer points, it automatically draws. It stands on a 6 or 7.

If the player stood on a 6 or 7, the banker hand hits, unless the banker has a 6 or 7. If the player has a five or lower in his or her first two cards, the banker draws with 0, 1, or 2 and stands on 7.

The banker has rules to follow in other situations that depend on what the player drew:

• Draw on 3 unless the player drew an 8
• Draw on 4 if the player drew a 2 to 7
• Draw on 5 if the player drew a 4 to 7
• Draw on 6 if the player drew a 6 or 7
• The banker stands in all other situations

Determining a winner

The winner of a baccarat hand has 9 or as close to it without tying the other hand. If the banker hand is closer to 9 than the player one, the banker bet wins, minus a five percent commission if it is a traditional table.

When the player hand is closer to 9 than the banker one, the player wins even money. If the banker and player have the same count, it is a push, and the tie bet wins. All banker and player bets are returned.

House advantage of common baccarat bets

There are three main baccarat bets. Those are the banker, player, and tie. Here are the house edges for each bet:

• Banker when paying five percent commission: 1.06%
• Banker on no-commission games like Super 6: 1.46%
• Player: 1.24%
• Tie 8/1: 14.36%
• Tie 9/1: 4.84%

Practice & Free Games

One of the best features of online casinos is the ability to play games for free. In most cases, players do not even need to create an account first. The free casino games work right on a browser or phone.

There are many reasons to play free baccarat online. It gives beginners a chance to learn the game and its rules. Experienced players can test the software to see if it is to their liking. It also allows players to try our betting strategies and learn probabilities.

There is no limit to the amount of time free casino games online may be played. If you go bust, you can close the window and reopen it for a fresh reload of chips. If you create an account with the casino site, you can track your results for more realistic outcomes over time.

Baccarat online for free is limited to the video versions of the game. There are no free live dealer baccarat tables.

Baccarat Bankroll Strategy

Baccarat is a low-variance game. It is like making coin flips. Since the variance is low, a bankroll can be smaller for it.

A player should have at least 50 bets to play this game without the risk of ruin. At a minimum, a session should have at least 10 bets. If you play with less, it will be impossible to overcome negative variance.

Baccarat Edge Sorting

Edge sorting is a way players have exploited weaknesses in card manufacturing. In 2014, Phil Ivey and a partner were accused of using edge sorting techniques to win millions of dollars from casinos in Europe and Atlantic City. Courts in the United Kingdom and New Jersey ruled in the casinos’ favor to recover Ivey’s winnings.

When playing cards are not manufactured correctly, the backs may not be centered or symmetrical. When this happens, an observant player will have an idea of the value of the cards that may come out of the shoe.

Ivey requested Gemaco cards he and his partner are accused of knowing had defects that made the front of the cards identifiable. While Crockfords and Borgata honored Ivey’s request for this type of cards and cut them in the way he wanted against typical house policy, both accused him of cheating after he won. Gaming commissions and courts backed these accusations.

Baccarat Probabilities

There are three main bets on a baccarat felt. Those are banker, player, and tie. Here are the chances of each bet hitting:

• Banker: 45.86%
• Player: 44.62%
• Tie: 9.52%

Live Dealer Baccarat Games

If a casino site has live dealer games, baccarat is always among the options. When available, the minimum bet usually starts at $5.

Large casino sites will have live dealer baccarat games with higher minimums to satisfy players who want to sit at tables with those who have similar bankrolls. However, these tables play just like the lower-limit ones.

A live dealer baccarat game plays like a stadium one in a Las Vegas or Atlantic City casino. There is one dealer and many players betting on the same hands. There is a shoe of real cards.

Bets are made on screens like an electronic table game. Players choose their preferred denomination then click the virtual felt where they want to bet a number of times to place the proper wager.

A timer counts down until bets close. At that point, the live dealer places four real cards out. Two go to the banker. The other two go to the player. The hands play out like a traditional mini baccarat game.

When the hand is over, the software reads the cards. It pays winning bets and removes losing ones.

Make sure to place banker bets in $5 increments if the commission rounds up. If you do not, and the commission rounds up, you could end up paying as high as almost double the standard 5 percent.

One of the downsides of playing baccarat online is its lack of promotions. In the old days of online casinos, players would bet the banker and player simultaneously to clear a bonus. This made operators unwilling to provide promotions for the game due to this bonus abuse.

Some sites have come around and started allowing baccarat bonuses again. This includes all of the operators on our recommended list for baccarat. When bonuses are available, the wagering requirement is usually higher when compared to games with a similar house edge. This discourages bonus abuse.

Always read the terms and conditions of a bonus before accepting it. If you only want to play baccarat, and it is excluded from the bonus or its wagering requirements are too high for your play, you can request it to be removed before you start playing.

Mobile Apps

While some people are happy playing baccarat at home on their PC or Mac, others want to play on the go. That is why most online casinos have a mobile app. It is available on Android and iOS platforms.

This mobile casino software is simple to use. It works just like the computer platform. Simply click the game you want to play, then the chip stack of the denomination you want to use, make a bet, and you are in action.

There may be a few limitations associated with online casino apps. Some games may not be available, including live dealer tables.

Online Baccarat Variants

There are several types of baccarat variants available at online casinos. These include video, live dealer, and no-commission tables.

Video Baccarat

This is the most common online baccarat game. Everything is digital. This includes the chips, cards, and dealers. Bets are placed with virtual chips on the screen. The minimum bet on these games usually starts at $1.

Online casinos may offer different types of video baccarat. However, the only differences usually pertain to the graphics or the minimum bets. Some have side bet tables. The rules rarely change from one game to another. These games typically take a five percent commission on banker wins.

Live Dealer Baccarat

Live Dealer Baccarat is a favorite of online casino players. It plays like a live stadium game in Las Vegas. There is a dealer on camera with real cards dealt out of a shoe. Many players gather around a live dealer baccarat table.

Bets are made on screens with virtual chips. The minimum bet is usually $5. Some online casinos have special VIP tables with $25, $50, and $100 minimum bets.

No-Commission Baccarat

In No-Commission Baccarat, the house does not take a commission on winning banker bets. Super 6 is the most common type of online No-Commission Baccarat. It replaces the banker commission on wins by holding half of the bet back on a winning banker 6.

For example, if a $10 banker bet is placed, and the banker wins with 6, the player wins $5 instead of $9.50. All other wins pay the full $10.

Brick-and-Mortar Baccarat Formats

In addition to the varieties of baccarat offered online, there are several distinct games spread in terrestrial casino properties. As the game has evolved over time, so too has the experience offered by casinos around the world.

Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat is the most common retail casino version of the game. Eight decks are shuffled and placed in a shoe, or pre-shuffled cards are used.

The dealer handles all cards at a Mini Baccarat table. Real chips and cards are used. The minimum bet starts at $10 to $50, depending on the level of the casino.

Midi Baccarat

Midi Baccarat plays the same as Mini Baccarat with one exception. The person at the table with the largest bet handles the turning of the cards. The minimum bet for this game usually runs from $25 to $100, depending on the level of the casino.

Big Table Baccarat

Big Table Baccarat is virtually extinct. This game is only found in the most luxurious of casinos. It is typically in a roped-off area, and the minimum bet tends to be at least $500.

Big Table Baccarat seats at least a dozen players. It has two dealers and a pit boss who announces the game. Patrons deal the game. The shoe rotates around the table.

The player dealing typically bets on the banker. He or she keeps the shoe as long as the banker’s hand keeps winning.

Unlike a pai gow banker, the Big Table Baccarat one does not cover the table action. The house pays all winning bets and collects the losing ones.

History of baccarat

There is disagreement about where baccarat began. The name of its inventor in the most widely agreed scenario is even debatable. If baccarat was first played in Italy in the 1400s, the inventor’s name is either Felix Falguiere or Felix Falguierein.

He called it “baccara.” That is Italian for zero. The French spelling eventually took over the name of the game, when it became known as “baccarat.”

This game was based on a tale of a legend who used a nine-sided die to determine outcomes. The 8 and 9 were automatic winners. The 6 and 7 were the equivalent of pushes. Any other roll was a loss.

The original version of the game dealt hands to all players like blackjack does. The deck moved around the table like it does at poker. Players could bet on their own hand and ones belonging to others at the table.

When France adopted the game, it was called Chemin de Fer. King Charles VIII enjoyed the game during that era.

Baccarat eventually made its way into the Western Hemisphere. It was first dealt in the United States in the 1950s at Sands on the Las Vegas Strip, which was where Venetian stands today.

Summary

Baccarat is a fast-paced game of chance. Its roots go back over 500 years. There are several different types of baccarat games, including live dealer, video, no commission, midi, mini, and big table.

Baccarat games usually have the highest minimum in the house. At live casinos, it starts at $10 and can be as high as $100. In baccarat games online, the minimum bet is usually $1 or $5.

Click below to go to the best online baccarat casino of your choice and redeem your bonus:

Baccarat FAQs

If you still have any questions about the wonderful game of baccarat, then look below. We have gathered together some of the most common inquiries regarding baccarat and their answers.