Free Baccarat Games
The roots of the game go back into the late XVth century when the Italian baccarat was first introduced in France. Until the early twentieth century, the classic baccarat was a game of secular parties that only the most influential people were invited to. Even today modern casinos try to preserve a certain aristocratic gloss that has been accompanying baccarat for centuries. It’s no coincidence that this game is a serious business for the casino, since only VIP players get risky enough financially to engage in it.
There also exist the so-called mini baccarat, in which one is allowed to play at lower stakes, however, it cannot always be found in conventional casinos.
Luckily, baccarat online is much easier, faster, and more accessible. There are literally hundreds of online casinos offering you to play online baccarat there.
We have hand-picked the ones where you can enjoy various baccarat casino games with the highest payouts, player-friendly wagering requirements and bonus incentives so that nothing would keep you from joining the Baccarat VIP club starting today!
Choosing the best site to play baccarat online
Your choice of a particular baccarat casino can depend on a number of factors. Before we dive deep into the casual stuff explaining the subtleties of analyzing casinos, we want you to give answers to the following questions:
- Do you just want to test your skills in the game or play for real money right away?
- Do you want to play baccarat, or maybe other games as well?
- Do you want to play ‘big?or is it more comfortable for you to play with low stakes?
- Would you like to be able to chat with players at your table?
- Are bonuses important to you?
To a great extent, the choice of online casino by players depends on the type and size of bonuses. Users usually take into account what bonuses match their gaming preferences, and which ones can really help them get rich.
However, deciding on baccarat casino online based just on the bonus offers is not recommended. On the contrary, this should be the last thing you check out, having made sure that all of the following points are satisfactory.
LICENSE
Baccarat card game being among the high-stake games cannot be played just anywhere. License is the first thing that you should look for on any gambling or betting site. Casinos usually obtain licenses from offshore jurisdictions like Isle of Man, Malta, Gibraltar, Kahnawake and many others. A gambling site that is not overlooked by a regulator is literally a dead end to your money.
SECURITY AND REPUTATION
It only takes a minute to make sure there is an antivirus certificate and other security badges on the website. If you are planning to engage in baccarat online for real money, such a simple precaution will protect you from openty fraudulent or just unreliable providers. The encryption mechanism ensures that the network connection between you and the provider is secured, i.e. your personal data is safe in the hands of the operator.
GAME VARIETY
If they say they are the most secure and trusted by everyone online baccarat casino but they barely have any other games, turn around and leave. To us, a reputable casino cannot exist without games of all kinds because it simply is not reasonable to create a website and feature less than one hundred games at the very least.
WITHDRAWAL POLICIES
The promised speed of withdrawal matters a lot especially if you want to be able to withdraw winnings obtained from online baccarat gambling as frequently as possible. For this, you need to check the withdrawal duration for any given method and pick the one you find appropriate. However, do not expect instant transactions - casinos and payment providers take time to check everything scrutinously before approving them.
PAYMENT METHODS
10+ methods for depositing and withdrawal is a must. How are you expected to find the suitable option if there aren’t any of them? Payment options testify to the reliability and trustworthiness of gambling operator.
SOFTWARE
Casinos don’t develop soft by themselves but buy it from software developers. If you’ve heard such names as Playtech, Microgaming, NetEnt - these are the providers that we are talking about. Apps and games with no glitches and bugs are a green light that every gambler understands.
MOBILE
Everyone’s on mobile phones these days and it is so much more convenient to play slots or have a Blackjack run right on the go. These casino games are entirely efficient and do not need to be played on a big screen for a better view. Besides, it is so fun to get a pleasant surprise in the form of casino credits just for downloading the app.
BONUSES
And only now you can move to discussing bonuses. No bonuses at all is not a bad sign as it may seem at first; on the opposite, it means that a casino has enough regular clients to operate in full-swing. A casino you’ve never heard of featuring immense amounts of bonuses - now there is a place for doubt.
The most popular variations of baccarat
Considering the long history and the popularity of baccarat around the world, no wonder it has several variations. It is not difficult to find each one both in online and land-based casinos. We will review the four of them in detail.
European Baccarat
As the name tells, this type of baccarat game has been started in European casinos and still prevails. Be prepared that the banker size will be determined by the casino and the number of players will depend on the total bet amount. Another trick is that the banker bet gives casino the right to subtract 5% from a player in case of a win. As to all the rest, the rules are identical.
French Baccarat
Talking about French version or as Frenchmen call it “Chemin de fer,?the cherry on top of the pie is the absence of casino in the game. Instead, players play against each other, taking on the role of a banker in turns. The only action a casino does take is seeing to that the commission is withdrawn from both hands.
Mini Baccarat
Mini baccarat is a simplified and less pretentious version of the game. It gained popularity in the United States and is present in virtually any Internet casino. The basics stay unchangeable, changes only the form ?the smaller size of the table allows 7 players max. The dealer steps up as a banker and controls the process.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco is said to have first emerged in Cuba. It is not quite clear why this version exists under a different name because it is completely identical to the classic baccarat. The player is Punto and the different name for banker ?Banco.
The names or rather variations of Baccarat won’t make your head spinning. Unlike it is with Roulette or Blackjack where each type has new and completely unpredictable rules ?it is more or less stable with this one.
After all, baccarat was not made to lead players into oblivion with over complications. The rules are such that even a child can learn how to play. Besides, you don’t have to know all the rules by heart when playing against the dealer. What you have to know is how to play baccarat like a real guru, and that’s what we are going to instruct you about next.
How to play online baccarat like a PRO? Things to know for a successful game
Rules of baccarat table game
We are going to be explaining the rules on the most played version - Punto Banko. It can be played by a big company of up to 14-16 players with 4, 6, or 8 decks. The game is held on the specifically outlined table. Numbers around the edge of the table indicate the number of players. A regular Baccarat table has 14 numbers marked 1-15, with 13 skipped.
You will see three marked boxes above the player number. There are the player bet box, the banker bet box, then the tie bet box. You are free to choose one of the three boxes to place your betting chips on.
There are three possible bets in the games:
- Player (or Punto), when a player bets on his/her own hand;
- Banker (Banco), a player betting on banker’s hand;
- Tie, a player betting on a standoff.
It is very easy to memorize each card’s value:
- the cards from 2 to 9 are equal to their face value,
- tens and face cards are equal to zero,
- aces are equal to one point.
Now, the way we calculate cards in baccarat is also peculiar. With any sum you have that has two digits, you have to drop the left digit (e.g. 4 + 8 = 12 = 2.)
The combo that results in zero points is called “baccarat,?which the the game is named after. The best possible score is 9.
A player's hand that scores from 0 to 5 has to draw a third card. It stands having reached 6 or 7. When the third card is drawn, the banker’s rules become more complicated and now the following conditions for the third card come into play:
- The banker draws a card with a total of 2 or less, no matter the player’s card,
- The banker draws a card with a total of 3 unless the player’s 3rd card is an 8,
- The banker draws a card with a total of 4 if the player’s 3rd card is between 2 and 7,
- The banker draws a card with a total of 5 if the player’s 3rd card is between 4 and 7,
- The banker draws a card with a total of 6 if the player’s 3rd card is a 6 or 7,
- The banker has to stand on 7.
The cards are then being totaled, and winners are determined.
Payouts:
Player and Banker bets - 1:1
Tie bet - 9:1 or 8:1
The tie bet is very generous, however, it allows a casino advantage of more than 14%. We will talk more about the tie bet next.
Overall, the essence of the game is to gather a hand stronger than the dealer’s. The max amount of points you can get is 9.
The basic strategy of baccarat game
A well-chosen strategy is already half the battle. The best example of this is blackjack strategy. By sticking to one strategy with application of "card counting" you can significantly reduce the house edge even get a small advantage!
House edge reflects the fact that a casino has more chances of winning in all types of bets as compared to a player. When we take a look at the indicators summarizing a long series of games, we can find this pattern even more visible. Actually, this is the case in all casino games; casino cannot exist without a house edge because otherwise it will go bankrupt.
Unfortunately, there is no mathematically sound strategy for playing baccarat. However, the lack of a single basic strategy does not mean that the player is deprived of the opportunity to make the best choice in the game.
It is proven that casino has some advantage over the player on each of the three bets. Let's determine the advantage of the casino for each of these bets.
When betting on the Banker - the house edge - 1.01%.
When betting on the Player - the house edge will be 1.29%.
When betting on the Tie - the house edge - 15.75%.
For example, you will lose about $1.29 out of every $100 bet by constantly betting on a Player.
These figures are slightly different when played out on different versions of the game and the number of decks used. It is obvious that the probability of winning when betting on the Banker is greater.
Hence, the first rule - betting on the Banker is the most preferable bet for a player.
As for the tie bet, the probability of a draw outcome is small, even though the payouts are high (from 8 : 1 to 9 : 1).
Hence, the second rule - avoid tie bets!
We know, not too many options to choose from. But! Baccarat is not accidentally referred to as the game of the richest. And if you happen to get an extraterrestrial sign that now is the moment to place a tie bet - just go for it! 9:1 payout can really turn things around if you are lucky to win.
Valuable tips for a successful baccarat gambling
The ability to find a perfect betting strategy is one thing. Knowing how much to bet with and when to stop is another, yet, a much more important thing. It's no secret that many players risk with more than they can afford and it inevitably leads them to fiasco.
Here are a few universal rules that will help you to avoid losing money and receive maximum joy from the game:
- don't ever play with borrowed money;
- before you sit down to the gambling table, decide how much money you can afford to lose and do not cross that limit;
- always check for the statistical summary of the last shoe with the results of Banker, Player, and Tie bets;
- divide your money into bets that you intend to make in each round of the game and control the spendings;
- save up (don’t bet with) a certain percentage of the winnings or even the entire sum;
- leave the game right after hitting a jackpot.
This simple common sense strategy will give you a chance to get a big dose of adrenaline from the pleasure of gambling, without the risk of losing everything.
Some other pieces of advice for you to always stay in tune:
- Do not sit down to play tired or irritated. It will only bring in bad energy and bad luck.
- Be disciplined.
- Do not change strategies all too often. Remember: if you don't follow your strategy then you have no strategy!
- Analyze your game. You may have played worse than usual and luck has nothing to do with it.
- Be a critical thinker when reading gaming tips and tricks (some of them may be intended to put you in oblivion.)
Reasons to play baccarat
If you’ve never played or even heard about baccarat you are definitely missing out on something. Baccarat has been around for at least 5 centuries and managed to acquire millions of followers around the world.
It may seem that casino baccarat is only for high-rollers. It used to be so but not anymore. With the availability of different types of this game, a player with any pocket size fits in. The least demanding and, naturally, the most loved type of online baccarat is mini. Western, Europeans, and French roulette aren’t out of fashion either. So, what else can be said in favor of online baccarat?
- it allows betting at lower stakes;
- a great chance to receive a 9:1 baccarat payout;
- abundance of trusted online baccarat casinos;
- you can play baccarat for fun or for real money;
- amazing new-player bonuses to play baccarat game.
Is Baccarat a good game?
As all other games of chance, baccarat has its admirers and haters. We’ve presented the reasons to try playing baccarat online based on our own vision of this game.
Play baccarat online for money or for fun?
- real bets and fast cashouts
- diversity of baccarat online games
- possibility to develop a winning gaming strategy
- huge wins with tie bet payout
- can learn the rules and strategies well
- zero risks
- plenty of sites to play baccarat online for fun
- does not allow to monetize wins
Bonus offers for baccarat players
Speaking about the advantages of trying out baccarat games online, we cannot but mention bonuses.
Almost every online casino sees it essential to offer players some bonuses to involve them into the game. Bonuses are the money that the casino credits a player’s account with. The most luxury one, a deposit bonus, is a cash on top of cash. There are also no deposit bonuses (that is, bonuses for which it is not necessary to make a deposit in the casino). You can get $5-$10 just as a warm-up gift and start playing with it right away. That means, it is possible to play and win having deposited nothing at all.
But, it is necessary to remember that receiving bonuses is almost always accompanied by certain conditions.
The main condition is that a player has to make a number of bets of a predetermined amount before it gets possible to withdraw winnings from the account. It is usually required that the total amount of bets placed exceeds the bonus amount by 30-50 times.
Carefully read the terms to the provided bonuses!
