Beginner’s Guide To Online Baccarat

What Is Online Baccarat?

At its core, baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands: Player and Banker. Players bet on which hand will get closer to a total of nine, or whether the round will end in a Tie.

Online Baccarat Formats

·     RNG Baccarat: Digital, software-driven version of the game. Random Number Generators power outcomes, tested for fairness by independent labs.

·     Live Dealer Baccarat: Real dealers host games streamed from glamorous studios, often with luxury décor reminiscent of Monte Carlo or Macau. Players bet digitally, but the cards are dealt by hand.

Thanks to its simple gameplay and elegant presentation, online baccarat has become one of the fastest-growing live casino games globally.

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Basic Rules of Baccarat

Despite its elite reputation, baccarat is one of the easiest casino games to learn.

The Objective

·     The goal is to bet on which hand, Player or Banker, will have a total closest to 9. You can also bet on a Tie, though this has a much higher house edge.

Card Values

·     2–9 = face value.

·     10, J, Q, K = 0 points.

·     Ace = 1 point.

Only the last digit of the total counts. For example:

·     7 + 6 = 13 → Hand value = 3.

·     9 + 8 = 17 → Hand value = 7.

The Deal

·     Two cards are dealt to both Player and Banker.

·     In some situations, a third card is drawn.

·     Whichever hand is closer to 9 wins.

The Third Card Rule

·     Player draws a third card if their total is 0–5.

·     Banker draws based on their total and the Player’s third card.

Online baccarat applies these rules automatically, so beginners can focus on placing bets.

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Types of Online Baccarat Games

One of baccarat’s biggest appeals online is the variety of formats available.

Punto Banco (Standard Baccarat)

·     The most common version online and in UK casinos.

·     Fixed rules for dealing, players only choose their bet (Player, Banker, Tie).

Mini-Baccarat

·     Faster-paced version of Punto Banco.

·     Lower minimum bets, making it beginner-friendly.

·     Popular at online casinos like Genting and Betway.

Chemin de Fer

·     French variant where players can take turns acting as the Banker.

·     Popularised in older James Bond novels.

·     Rare online, but sometimes featured in live dealer formats.

Baccarat Banque

·     Similar to Chemin de Fer, but the Banker's role is held longer.

·     Less common online.

Live Dealer Baccarat

·     Lightning Baccarat (Evolution Gaming): Adds random multipliers to winning bets.

·     Speed Baccarat: Rounds completed in under 30 seconds.

·     No Commission Baccarat: Banker wins pay even money instead of 95%.

Live baccarat has become a flagship game for luxury online casinos. It is a stylish blend of tradition and modern streaming technology.