Venture to any online casino, and you will see a near-endless parade of poker tournament games or even Blackjack. However, thanks to the surge in popularity and technology, online Baccarat is on the move in a good way at online casinos. If you’re new to the online Baccarat experience, the journey to one of the most timeless and elegant casino games starts with this article. Discover all the bets and expert tips to become an online Baccarat pro.
Understand the Essential Baccarat Games
Unlike traditional retail casinos, you won’t find elegant Baccarat variants like Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque, as seen in the movies like GoldenEye, you will find the essential Punto Banco game. Most reputable online casinos at least have a live version of Punto Banco, usually by Evolution Gaming.
Punto Banco highlights the essentials of Baccarat: betting on the player or the banker. Hence the name “Punto Banco.” Of all the tabletop games, especially card games, the essence of Baccarat hasn’t changed that much. With Punto Banco and most online Baccarat games, the goal is to get to nine, which is an automatic win, or at least eight.
Like Blackjack, online Baccarat begins with the banker, who is the dealer, passing each player at the table two cards to start. Also, the banker passes themselves two cards. Before dealing the cards, the players bet on the player, or the banker having the highest hand. Also, online Baccarat, like the traditional version, supports the tie bet.
There is an art to placing online Baccarat bets because of the house edge and potential payouts. While the tie bet offers the highest payouts at 8:1 or even 9:1 in some cases, depending on the online casino, the house edge is a whopping 14.35%.
When playing online Baccarat for the first time, most players stick with the player’s and the banker’s bets. The player’s bet calls on the player having the highest playing hand. The house edge for this bet is a more favorable 1.24%. The banker’s bet is the most ideal, with only a 1.05% house edge. However, the best online casinos offer a No Commission live Baccarat game, which drops the house edge between 0.5% and 1%.
Squeeze Baccarat
Online casinos are becoming more en-vogue of offering a live version of Squeeze Baccarat. Squeeze Baccarat plays like the traditional Punto Banco variant. However, the dealer takes their time slowly revealing the cards.
Super 6
Super 6 is based on the legendary Super 6 bet. The thrill of Super 6 Baccarat is betting that the banker wins with a playing hand that equals six. So, if your banker’s bet is successful, you can stack up even more winnings if this side bet pays off. Also, Super 6 Baccarat supports No Commission to help boost bets.
Speed Baccarat
Due to its simple gameplay, the top online casinos also offer Speed Baccarat for live dealer play. Speed is the essence of winning because most players’ hands finish in 30 seconds or less.
Mini Baccarat
For only a few players playing live Baccarat, the Mini Baccarat version is the ticket. Because of the fewer players, the flow and, hopefully, the winnings flow much faster.
Always Set a Budget
No matter how good you think your online Baccarat skills are, before sitting down to play, always have a budget. Having a budget, especially for beginners, should be small. Also, the budget shouldn’t take away from critical life duties and functions. It should be 100% disposable income.
Having a budget, plus hard rules for how long you play online Baccarat, are necessary steps to prevent problem gambling. Nobody wants to become an addict, but with 24/7 instant access to online Baccarat, it doesn’t take long to become hopelessly hooked. As an added measure, reputable online casinos have a dedicated, responsible gaming section to help you set hard measures.
After creating your online casino account, we strongly recommend setting daily playing and spending limits. It also doesn’t hurt to set losing limits too. So, even on a winning streak, you can help stay in control by no longer playing that day.
Be Weary of Side Bets
While most online Baccarat games don’t have many side bets, they are usually available. The typical side bets are the Dragon Bonus and Super 6. While they offer heavy payouts, the house edge is extremely high, and it isn’t always advisable to take them on, especially for smaller budgets. Even if you win the regular bet and don’t hit the side bet, you can lose more than you win.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these tips about online Baccarat have you excited to lay it on the line. Don’t forget to cash in on the online bonuses. It’s common for welcome bonuses to help get you started playing online Baccarat. Also, playing some practice rounds at social casinos that support online Baccarat is another way to cash in.
