Play The Best Online Baccarat Games
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%. This is a simple game that requires little thought and effort to master. For players who want to relax and have a good chance of winning some money, online baccarat is the perfect game.
Is Online Baccarat legal in the US?
Online baccarat is legal in any state where online casinos are legal.
Currently, those states are:
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
We will never recommend any illegal or offshore casino 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 to operate in that state.
What is Online Baccarat?
Baccarat online is a virtual card game with all the same rules as you would find 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.
Why play Online Baccarat?
Online Baccarat vs Baccarat in Landbased Casino
| Online Baccarat | Baccarat at Land-Based Casinos | |
|---|---|---|
| Play from your home | ✔ | X |
| Bonuses | ✔ | X |
| Promotions | ✔ | X |
| *Did you know? James Bond won his first on-screen wager playing baccarat. This happened in the 1962 film Dr. No starring Sean Connery. |
Live Online 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.
Difference between Live Dealer Baccarat and RNG (Virtual) Baccarat
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.
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.
Many online casino players are switching over to live dealer games to receive that “authentic” casino experience from the convenience of any location.
Live Dealer Baccarat Games
Live dealer games seek to give online casino players the ultimate casino experience from the comfort of their homes.
You can find the best live dealer baccarat games at:
Tips for playing Live Online Baccarat
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.
| *Did you know? Evolution Gaming is the lead provider of live dealer games. In addition to baccarat, you can also find their live dealer versions of Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette and online casinos in the US. |
Solutions for common issues when playing Online Baccarat
If you ever have an issue playing or accessing any games at online casinos, the first thing you should do is refer to their FAQs/Help page. If your problem cannot be resolved there, you should then try their customer support team.
The best online casinos offer multiple types of customer support:
- Phone
- Live text chat
| *Did you know? It is best to try an online casino’s customer service first before ever creating an account with them. This will help give you a good idea of the type of customer support you will receive should any issues arise. |
Variants of the game
There are numerous variations of baccarat that you may encounter, but here are the most common ones.
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.
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.
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.
| *Did you know? You may not see baccarat being played often in land-based casinos in the US. This is because many casinos use the game to cater to their high rollers, and as such the games are played either in a separate room or roped-off area. |
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.
| *Did you know? The word “baccarat” comes from the Italian word “baccara” which means “zero.” A zero is a losing hand in baccarat. |
How to improve your game
Here are some helpful tips we recommend to help improve your baccarat game.
Read our reviews
It’s important to find the best tables at the best casinos. Read our online casino reviews to find who offers baccarat, and see if there are any ongoing promotions at their tables.
Practice for free
Many online casinos allow players to play their games for free in what is called Demo Mode. However, remember that you can’t wager or make money when playing in Demo Mode.
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:
| *Did you know? Baccarat was not played in the US until the 1950’s when a casino player by the name of Tommy Renzoni brought the game to Las Vegas after having played it in Cuba. |
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.