Online baccarat remains one of the most popular offerings in any casino. You’ll find baccarat in practically any online casino, with a number of variations and themes.
It’s known to have one of the best house edges in the casino, with an edge of just under 2%. For players who want to relax and have a good chance of winning some money, online baccarat is the perfect game.
Online Baccarat Real Money vs Free Baccarat Online
The best baccarat online casinos will have free and real money options. You can choose either playing mode, but you need to be aware of what you are signing up for.
What is Online Baccarat?
Baccarat online is a virtual card game with all the same rules as you would find in a land-based casino. To play, players must place their money on one of two bets; the Player or the Banker.
Many online casinos in the US offer at least one variation of baccarat.
Real money online baccarat – The advantages
- Playing with real money is always more thrilling
- You can only claim and use baccarat bonuses when you are playing with real money
- Players can also win big
While there are many advantages to playing baccarat with real money, the potential harms cannot be ignored. We list some of them below:
- You can lose all your money
- Playing online casino games like baccarat for real money can be extremely stressful
Free online baccarat – The advantages
- You can play with no risk, as you do not have money on the line
- Playing for free is less stressful; you need not worry about losing
- Since you don’t have money at risk, playing online baccarat for free allows you to be more creative and play around with your baccarat strategies
For players used to playing for real money, free online baccarat might seem like a lost cause. Here is why:
- You can’t claim bonuses when you play for free
- You can’t win real money. All the numbers you see on the screen are just virtual credit, good for wagering in the game’s demo mode.
How to Find the Best US Online Baccarat Casinos
Finding the best online baccarat sites can be a chore, especially if you are unsure of what you are looking for.
Our online casino experts have invented detailed criteria that help us find the best online baccarat casinos.
We consider features such as the online baccarat game variety, providers supporting the site, the inclusion of live baccarat variants, and mobile friendliness.
Here are some of the top US online baccarat casino sites:
Is Online Baccarat Safe?
The best online baccarat casinos never focus on getting money from players but provide an enjoyable gaming experience.
These sites have a range of responsible gambling tools that you can use to monitor your gameplay.
Read our reviews and find out about the vast options at your disposal.
Is Online Baccarat legal in the US?
Online baccarat is legal in any state where online casinos are legal.
Currently, these states are issuing gambling licenses:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
We will never recommend any illegal or offshore casinos on our site, as those casinos are not regulated and held to the same safety guidelines as legal online casinos in the US.
Are Online Baccarat games rigged?
No, online baccarat games are not rigged. All games at online casinos, rather than using RNG software or live dealers, are regulated by their respective state’s gaming commission/board.
Any online casino caught not meeting these standards and abiding by state laws risks hefty fines and losing their license from bodies such as the NJDGE and PGCB.
Why play Online Baccarat?
Since there are a couple of options when playing baccarat, it’s only fair to enquire why you would settle for the online route. Consider the table below.
Online Baccarat vs Baccarat in Landbased Casino
| Online Baccarat | Baccarat at Land-Based Casinos | |
|---|---|---|
| Play from your home | ✔ | X |
| Bonuses | ✔ | X |
| Promotions | ✔ | X |
| Play on multiple seats simultaneously | ✔ | X |
Play from your home – or anywhere
Online baccarat does not restrict you to only playing where the games are located. As long as you are within state lines, you can play your favorite baccarat games wherever there is an internet connection.
Bonuses
Online casinos are known for providing the best bonuses. You can signup and use these offers on baccarat games.
Promotions
Freebies do not end when you join the casino. Operators also actively promote many baccarat variants through regular promotions. Check out our offers page to find the latest casino promotions.
Play on multiple seats
Playing online gives you access to many baccarat game types. One of the most popular is multi-hand baccarat, where you can play on more than one seat.
Variants of the game
There are numerous variations of baccarat that you may encounter, but here are the most common ones.
| Variant | RTP | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Baccarat / Punto Banco | 98.82% | 1.17 – 1.36% |
| No Commission Baccarat | 98.94% | 1.458% on 8-decks |
| Speed Baccarat | 98.94% | 1.06% |
| Live Dragon Tiger | 96.72% | 3.7% |
| Chemin de Fer | 98% | – – – |
| Baccarat Banque | 98.4% | 1%+ |
| EZ Baccarat | 98.98% | 1.06 |
| Baccarat Squeeze | 98.94% | – – – |
Classic Baccarat / Punto Banco
Classic baccarat is also known as Punto Banco. The objective is to guess which hand will be closest to a total point value of 9; the Player’s Hand or the Banker’s Hand.
Popular variations of this game include Mini-baccarat and EZ baccarat.
No Commission Baccarat
In classic baccarat, there is a “fee” that is taken from winning wagers made on the Banker’s Hand. In no commission baccarat, this “fee” is removed. This move actually increases the house edge in the game.
Bets on the player payout 1:2 while banker bets will give 1:1
Speed Baccarat
Speed Baccarat is a variation created to make gameplay move faster by making the betting period only ten seconds instead of the usual 15. There are also side bets in this version that allows players more ways to win.
Live Dragon Tiger
Dragon Tiger baccarat is a two-card variation of the game. Live Dragon Tiger is a live dealer version filmed in real-time from a live studio.
What is the Difference Between Live Dealer and Virtual Baccarat
Live online baccarat is where players get to play the game with a live, human dealer instead of the usual RNG software used by other formats.
The game is filmed in Hi-Def at a live studio in real-time, and players can engage with the live dealer via text chat.
Live Dealer Baccarat vs. RNG (Virtual) Baccarat
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Live Baccarat | Playing with live dealers | Not available in most casinos |
| You can play against other players | You can’t control the game speed | |
| Virtual Baccarat | Game progress is faster – you have the control | No interaction with human dealers |
| Better game graphics | You can’t play with other players | |
| Unique game formats are available | Some games may feature old technologies |
Live Baccarat games
Live dealer games allow players to play with a live, human dealer just as if they were in a land-based casino — but within a virtual environment.
Some popular live baccarat games include:
- Live baccarat
- Baccarat squeeze
- Speed baccarat
- VIP baccarat
- Lightning baccarat
Virtual Baccarat online games
RNG, or virtual, games use random number generator software that ensures that all outcomes of each game are completely random and fair to all players.
Some popular virtual baccarat games include:
- Mini baccarat
- Baccarat Squeeze
- 3D baccarat
- Punto banco
Tips for Playing Online Baccarat
Here are our best baccarat tips to help put your best foot forward.
- Play with less than 8 decks
- When playing live online baccarat, it is helpful to look for tables that use less than the usual eight decks. This will help give you an advantage over the usual House edge.
- Familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of online baccarat
- Baccarat is straightforward, yes. But you will need to familiarize yourself with the baccarat rules, odds, payouts, and betting options before you play.
- Learn some baccarat betting strategies
- You need a baccarat betting strategy. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just a simple plan that you can follow while you play.
- Use responsible gaming tools
- These tools are there for a reason. Contact customer support and find out how you can better manage your time, bankroll, and wagers.
- Go through our reviews
- Our casino experts put together the best baccarat guides. Use these guides to find out which variants suit you best and where to find them.
- Play free baccarat games
- Practice for free in the demo mode and try to figure out what works. You can also use these free games as an opportunity to find comfort in baccarat gameplay.
- Watch streamers to discover new tips
- Watching other people play has always been a great way to learn new strategies and tricks. Now, you can do that from the comfort of your own couch while streaming on Twitch and Youtube. Some popular streams for baccarat are:
- Learn to speak baccarat
- Every casino game has a particular lingo that the “insiders” are in on. Use our detailed casino dictionary to learn key baccarat terms.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Banco | Banco is a Spanish word that translates to ‘Bank’. This refers to the dealer during a game of Baccarat. Players bet against the dealer by calling ‘Banco’. |
| Banco Prime | When more than one player has called ‘Banco’ during a game, the priority is given to the player to the Banker’s right. |
| Banker Bet | The Banker Bet has the best house edge out of all possible bets in Baccarat, with odds being very close to 1:1. |
| Banque | A French variant of Baccarat that is played on two tables. The Banker sits in the middle and plays with one hand against two hands on each side. |
| Bankroll | The amount of money that a player has allocated to play Baccarat with. |
| Burning | At the start of each game, the first three to six card of the shuffled deck are discarded or burned. |
| Caller | An important role during a game of Baccarat. This person is a casino staff member who turns the cards, calls out game results, and deals out additional cards when required. |
| Carte | In traditional Baccarat games, players use the word ‘Carte’ when asking the dealer for another card. |
| Chemin De Fer | Chemin de Fer is a traditional variant of Baccarat that originated in France and became very popular in the UK and the USA. It uses six decks of cards and players can bet against each other. It is unique in having each player taking a turn to act as a banker. |
| Cheval | A specific type of bet that is mainly found in European Baccarat. A Cheval bet is won when both active players win the bets. The bet is lost if both players lose the bet, and it remains intact if one player loses and the other wins their bet. |
| Cheques | Baccarat that is played in land-based casinos utilises special chips called cheques. |
| Coup | A French word that is used to describe one round of Baccarat. |
| Deux Tableau | A French term that translates to ‘Two Tables’, which is another name for Baccarat Banque variant. |
| Discard Tray | Any cards that are discarded during gameplay are placed in the discard tray. |
| Down Card | A face down card that remains in that position until the play has been called. |
| Dragon Bonus | A type of side bet in Baccarat where a players will win if the chosen hand wins a round by at least four points. |
| Edge Sorting | Edge sorting is used in Baccarat to identify card values on the basis of tiny differences on the back of the cards that appear during the manufacturing process. |
| Face Cards | In Baccarat and other card games, face cards are used to collectively refer to Jacks, Queens, and Kings of any suit. |
| Fading | This casino term is used when placing bets against a person. In Baccarat, this is only applicable in land-based games. |
| Flat Bet | Players can place a flat bet during Baccarat when they want to wager the same amount irrespective if the hand is a win or a loss. |
| La Grande | A French term for ‘The Big One’, which describes the best possible hand in Baccarat which is a natural sum of nine. |
| La Petite | This is the second best hand in Baccarat which tallies to a natural eight, and translates from French to ‘The Little One’. |
| Layout | Each Baccarat table has a special layout that clearly highlights a series of boxes where players can place their bets on either the Player, Banker, or a Tie. |
| Monkey | Players in Baccarat encounter a monkey if they land a 10-value card such as a face card or ten. |
| Muck | This is the discard pile where all used cards are deposited, including hands that have been folded. |
| Palette | During a game of Baccarat at a land-based casino, croupiers use a long wooden palette to move cards around the table. |
| Player Bet | The Player Bet is one of the three main bets in Baccarat games, and it is the one with the second best house edge at close to 1:1. Wagers are placed for the Player’s hand to win. |
| Punto | Punto is a term derived from punter, and is used to describe the player. |
| Punto Banco | Punto Banco combines the two main people in a game of Baccarat – the player and banker. Punto Banco is the most common version of Baccarat in the work, particularly in the UK and the USA. |
| Push | There are cases in Baccarat where bets are neither winning nor losing, so they are classified as push bets. The amounts wagered by players are ‘pushed’ and returned. |
Learn how to play Online Baccarat
Many people avoid the game of baccarat altogether because they fear it is too complex to learn. However, once you know the rules of the game, it is really quite an easy and exciting game to play.
How does Online Baccarat work?
There are two hands being played in the game: The Banker’s Hand and the Player’s Hand. Both hands have two cards each.
The objective of the game is to have a hand closest to a total of 9 points without going over. Wagers can be made on either the Banker’s Hand or the Player’s Hand.
Points in the game are allocated as such:
- 10, Jack, Queen, King = 0 points
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 = its own numeric value (2 = 2 points)
- Aces = 1 point
There may be times a third card may be dealt to either the Player or the Banker. This chart lays out those specific scenarios.
Types of Bets and Odds
There are three types of wagers that can be made playing baccarat:
| Type of Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Banker’s Hand | 1.06% |
| Player’s Hand | 1.36% |
| Tie | 14.40% |
If you bet on the Banker’s Hand, there is a 5% “fee” that is paid on any winnings.
Baccarat betting systems and strategies
The general rule of thumb is that there are three types of bets allowed. However, as you can see from this chart some variations do allow for side bets. All of these have different odds, payouts, and house edge.
Bet on the Banker
Betting on the Banker has the lowest House edge, which makes it the more reasonable choice for many players. However, it is important to remember that off every winning bet on the Banker, the House takes back 5% of your winnings.
Bet on the Player
Comparatively, the House edge on the Player is not much higher than on the Banker. Also, there is no 5% “fee” on any winnings on these wagers; you get to keep everything.
Bet on a Tie
Betting on a Tie looks like a good deal when you are seeking big payouts. But the odds are stacked against you, making this wager usually not the best choice.
How do they make online baccarat?
Online baccarat may not be as popular as other casino games, but some providers have dedicated time and resources to ensuring it remains an option in US online casinos. You can find games from:
- NetEnt – popular baccarat variants
- IGT – makes games with excellent graphics
- Evolution – best live baccarat games provides
- PlayTech – live baccarat games
Play Online Baccarat on Mobile
As more and more online casino players are switching from desktops and laptops to mobile devices, online casinos are quickly optimizing their games to work on iOS and Android platforms.
This allows players the convenience of being able to play from any device as well as any location of their choice.
Find your next online baccarat at a mobile casino below.
Online Baccarat – Next steps
Online baccarat can be a worthwhile pastime if you are willing to learn about the game first. Players can enjoy this game in the live and virtual format, and on desktop or mobile devices.
Our casino reviews offer information on the available baccarat games in US casinos. You can enjoy the games listed in the free games mode ot find out if you like them.