Baccarat Online

Most Played Variants of Baccarat

Baccarat has grown to be a trendy game, both in online and land-based casinos. According to history, the first classic game was played in the 1500s. Still, the advent of online casinos in the 1990s inspired developers to design new baccarat variants to cater to players worldwide.

The BestCasino team of table game specialists couldn’t list all the fantastic baccarat titles available, but they narrowed the list to the 10 below.

1. Baccarat Squeeze

Baccarat Squeeze is played with 8 decks of 52 cards, and the value of the cards follows the standard format. The squeeze is the most unique feature in this variant, where dealers give the cards face-down instead of face-up. The suspense intensifies as the cards are slowly turned face-up, making it very exciting.

2. Punto Banco

Punto banco is a popular derivative of classic baccarat. The most outstanding difference between the classic versions and this variant is the number of decks and cards; each round has 6 decks of 52 cards each. Amongst all baccarat variations, this one offers some of the lowest house edges (between 1.24% to 1.06%).

3. Baccarat Banque

The Banque variation of baccarat started in France and spread to the rest of Europe. Unlike other versions, in this game, both the Player and The Banker get dealt one hand each. Furthermore, when you play baccarat online variants of banque, you will notice it is played with 3 decks of cards. Additionally, the Banker seems to have more power than the Player.

4. 3-Card Baccarat

The 3-Card variant comes with a single deck of 52 cards. Another unique fact is that gamblers can make four optional side bets as they make their first bet on the game. While suits don’t matter, the side with more face cards (with a value of 9 or less) shall win the total bet.

5. Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat works like original Baccarat casino games, but the tables are smaller. Furthermore, the game begins with four hands being dealt, after which players are not given the option to draw or stand. Moreover, the dealer is always the Banker. The average house edge on mini baccarat is about 1.29%.

6. Chemin de fer

This century-old variant is quite popular in many European casinos, especially in the UK. The main difference between this and the classic baccarat table is in how players participate in the game. You will notice that there is one designated banker, and other players take turns being the banker. It is played with 6 decks of cards.

7. Dragon Tiger

According to gambling experts, the simple gameplay is Dragon Tiger’s most attractive attribute. In this card game, the ‘Dragon’ and the ‘Tiger’ each receive one hand. Aces have the lowest value, while Kings are the highest-valued hands. It comes with side bets, which increases its house edge.

8. Live Baccarat

You can explore and play a massive pool of live dealer games and baccarat casino variants. If you want a Las Vegas experience from home, play live baccarat versions, including Xtreme Lightning Baccarat, Live Sic Bo, Peek Baccarat and Live Control Squeeze.

9. European Baccarat

The goal in European Baccarat is to predict whether the Banker or the Player will get the highest hand on their 2nd or 3rd card. If you play online baccarat at the best casinos, you might encounter different versions of European Baccarat. However, typically, players are allowed to stand or draw another card up to the value of 5.

10. No Commission Baccarat

No-commission baccarat is mainly played the same as traditional tables. However, this variant has no 5% commission on any wins formed on the Banker bets. The house edge is higher than in commission baccarat casino variations.

Top Baccarat Game Providers

If you are looking for trusted UK casino sites to start playing baccarat online, you’ll want to choose sites that feature baccarat from top software companies. You might find different manufacturers offering baccarat variations that share a name, but you can be sure that the side bets and rules differ slightly.

• NetEnt – While this provider is more famous for roulette online games, it offers Baccarat Pro, a game playable for £0.20 to £1000. It has a 98.94% RTP, low volatility, and a maximum reward of £1000 per round.
• Evolution Gaming – Evolution is the largest producer of live games, including baccarat. Its most famous games are Salon Prive, Multi-Camera Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Speed Baccarat, Lightning Baccarat, Dual Play, Multi-Play, and Red Envelope.
• Playtech – The company is the second-most dominant creator of real-money baccarat titles, such as Blackjack Switch, Lounge Baccarat, and Fashion TV Jackpot Baccarat.
• Pragmatic Play – All top online casinos in the UK have a game from Pragmatic Play studios. So far, it has Dragon Tiger and Mega Sic Bo under the baccarat category but we hope they produce more games in the future.

Baccarat Bonuses and Promotions

There are two main ways to play baccarat online using a bonus. You can use cash bonuses offered at online casinos or activate in-game side bets or bonus features in various baccarat titles.

Casino bonuses & codes for baccarat

One of the best baccarat strategies is finding favourable bonuses to use on new baccarat games. This way, you can familiarise yourself with baccarat rules and device strategies without using real cash. Most experienced players also apply the casino strategy to other games including roulette and blackjack. Check casino reviews at BestCasino.com to get the latest bonus codes for blackjack and baccarat.

In-game bonuses and side bets on baccarat

With so many online baccarat games, producers had to find a way to keep players interested by including exciting side-bets in their variants. For instance,

• Live Red Envelope Baccarat features a 88x multiplier boost and a special bet spot with a Red envelope.
• Lightning Baccarat has multipliers as the bonus feature.
• Live Golden Wealth Baccarat features 2x, 3x, 5x or 8x multipliers and Golden Cards.

Wagering requirements on baccarat bonuses

While in-game bonus features rarely require wagering, casino bonus offers do. Some casinos will allow you to use the bonus on baccarat, blackjack, roulette or poker, but wins from these games won’t contribute to the wagering threshold. Therefore, before you accept a bonus, it is essential to read the terms and conditions of the wagering requirement.

Tips for maximizing bonuses while playing baccarat

• If table games don’t contribute to the wagering requirement on the welcome bonus and you have won enough to withdraw, make a deposit. For instance, HeySpin casino lets players deposit money into their casino account to meet the wagering requirement if they use the bonus on tabletop games.
• Check how long the bonus will remain valid and only accept it when you know you have time to play it. Some casinos have the bonus valid for 7 days, and others for 30 days. Also consider the betting limits applied when using the bonus money.
• It would help if you balanced using the bonus on baccarat table games and slot machines because slots contribute 80% to 100% to the wagering requirement.
• Choose baccarat games with a low house advantage and low volatility. This way, you can win more frequently on the casino game and get more from your bets.

Baccarat Odds, House Edge and Payouts

Knowing the factors that affect your chances of winning at the best baccarat games is essential to fully understanding the odds of winning. Before you play baccarat, check the house edge, RTP, side bets, and payout rate, which are critical elements that can alter your probability of winning.

The house edge is the amount the casino keeps from each bet won on baccarat. The lower the house edge, the better the odds for you. Fortunately, baccarat has some of the best house edges online.

Payout rates are the opposite of house edge, and the RTP percentage determines the average figure on each game. Most baccarat titles have a 98% RTP, meaning if you placed a 100 bet and won, you’d receive 98 plus your 100 initial bet from the casino.

Playing Baccarat for Free vs Real Money

Players might wonder whether to play free baccarat games or to use real money. Well, it all depends on what you want to get from your gaming session. Most of the high-ranked gambling sites in the UK allow their members to play baccarat online. The casinos listed at BestCasino will even give you a virtual balance to use on the free games.

However, remember that you cannot withdraw wins made from playing free casino games. You will need to play with real cash to access your cash wins. Ensure you play at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission for maximum security of your transactional and personal data.