Baccarat gets a bad rep. There are many players giving it a wide berth, being under the illusion that it’s somehow reserved for high rollers or that you need a wealth of knowledge to play the card game. Neither is particularly true. In fact, when you play live baccarat games online, you won’t need any prior knowledge. Moreover, there are ample tables out there with flexible limits. If you’ve mistakenly believed these things, what else don’t you know about live baccarat? I’m happy to explain everything, so read on to learn more.
The Basics: What Is Live Baccarat?
Baccarat isn’t as tricky as it sounds. Nor is it reserved for the whales. Live baccarat, like most live dealer games, features a human host and is played over a live internet video stream. This much you can gather. Did you know that it is also one of the simplest games around?
Rather than studying strategy and pouring over game rules, you’ve only got three basic choices in baccarat, making it a simple game to play. You can bet on the banker’s hand, or Banco (and I recommend that), the player’s hand (otherwise known as Punto) or a tie – and I don’t recommend the latter unless you’re flush for cash and are feeling brave.
At no point are you asked to decide what happens next, and you will never touch the cards. You’re simply picking a winner – that’s it. Everything is handled by the human dealer in the live casino game. It’s so simple that rookies can pick it up in no time. Moreover, I’ve played online baccarat for years, and I’m not exactly a wealthy man. That’s the point – you don’t need to be, despite what you may have heard.
If you’re undecided about having a crack at live baccarat, allow me to twist your arm. Here are just some of the things I believe make the game well worth a quick look, even if you’re a newbie:
- Some live baccarat games come with an array of additional features, such as multiplier, side bets and more.
- You don’t need to learn the Third Card Rule, as this is taken care of for you in the game.
- Baccarat games come in a staggering array of variants, with table limits to suit everyone.
- You don’t need any skills. You simply need to pick a winner.
- Live baccarat is possible to play in live casino tournaments if you choose one of our recommended online casinos.
Of course, just how exciting your game happens to depend on the specific baccarat variant you play. With that in mind, allow me to showcase some of the more common live baccarat options you’ve got next.
Types of Live Baccarat Games – Explained
While there are plenty of baccarat variants out there, most games tend to be loosely based on a basic live baccarat format. Even so, it helps to become familiar with the options. Here are just a few of the key ones I regularly play and that you can expect to see at Gamesbelt’s recommended casinos:
| Classic Baccarat | The basic version of the game sees you wager on one of three options. Most variants won’t even feature side bets. |
| Mini Baccarat | Played on a smaller table, this variant uses eight decks of cards. |
| No Commission Baccarat | This removes the 5% commission on the banker’s hand. However, if the banker’s hand wins with a six-point swing, then prizes pay at 0.5:1 instead of 1:1. |
| Progressive Baccarat | In this version of the game, you can wager on specific hand combos to potentially win a progressive jackpot. |
| Punto Banco | There is no difference between this game and live baccarat save for its name. |
| Speed Baccarat | Shorter betting windows ensure that this live baccarat game is played rapidly. |
For the most part, almost every casino software provider that has developed live baccarat games will have games that cover some, if not all, of these variants. I’m going to showcase some of the more popular options out there next so you can see what I mean.
Discover Top Live Baccarat Casino Software Providers
While there are potentially dozens of live baccarat casino software providers out there, my experience tells me that there are only eight you really need to pay attention to online. These will give you the best mix of live baccarat games to choose from. Here’s a quick look at what they offer at live casinos that support their titles:
| Asia Gaming | Live Baccarat |
| Evolution | Baccarat Squeeze, Baccarat: Control Squeeze, Baccarat Multiplay, Dual Play Baccarat, Golden Wealth Baccarat, Lightning Baccarat, Live Baccarat, Multi-Camera Baccarat, No Commission Baccarat, Peek Baccarat, Prosperity tree Baccarat, Red Envelope Baccarat, Salon Privé Baccarat, Speed Baccarat, XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat |
| Ezugi | Baccarat, Knockout Baccarat, No Commission Baccarat, Speed Baccarat, Speed Cricket Baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat |
| Lucky Streak | Live Baccarat |
| Playtech | Baccarat Squeeze, Crystal Mini, Golden Baccarat, Golden Dragon Baccarat, Golden Speed Baccarat, Grand Baccarat, Fushi Mini, Live Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, No Commission Baccarat, Opal 7 Seat, Prestige Mini Baccarat, Progressive Baccarat, Sapphire Mini, Topaz Speed Baccarat, Zhu Que Mini |
| Pragmatic Play Live | Fortune 6 Baccarat, Live Baccarat, Mega Baccarat, Super 8 Baccarat |
| Vivo Gaming | Live Baccarat |
| XPG | Live Baccarat, Baccarat Super 6 |
The availability of live baccarat games at online casinos does tend to vary. However, the more software providers there are in place, the more likely you are to get a good mix of games. Some sites have just one or two variants, but those with Pragmatic Play, Evolution, Ezugi or Playtech releases can support several dozen live baccarat variants.
Play the Most Popular Live Baccarat Games
Coming up with a list of the best live baccarat games is always going to be contentious, with some players believing that I have deliberately left out their favourites. The fairest way to put together this list is to choose the ones that appear to be the most popular at Gamesbelt recommended casinos. These include:
Lightning Baccarat by Evolution
Most of us have a soft spot for Lightning Baccarat. Launched by Evolution, it’s just one of several games in the Lightning series. If you’ve played a Lightning game before, you’ll be familiar with the multiplier aspect. In this release, multipliers can be added to between one and five cards, with those multipliers ranging from 2x to 8x. If one of those features in your hand, you’ll potentially land a bigger win. However, multipliers only appear as side-bets here, so you’ll have to spend 20% extra (called a Lightning Fee) to stand a chance of benefiting from them. That doesn’t seem to have put people off, though.
Fortune 6 Baccarat by Pragmatic Play Live
Pragmatic Play’s Fortune 6 Baccarat is based on classic blackjack, but it comes with six extra special bets on the side. These include Fortune Pairs, Player 6, Banker 6, Fortune 6 and more. Side bets cost extra. Most of these bets involve wagering on what the first card happens to be, how many cards are sixes, whether they are suits and pairs, and so on. The Fortune Pair bet, in particular, is worth looking at, as its RTP rate is 97.83%, just marginally less than the player’s and banker’s hands.
No Commission Baccarat by Evolution
One of the issues with betting on the banker’s hand in baccarat is that you’re going to end up paying a 5% commission to the house. You’re not going to stop betting on that hand, as it’s statistically the most likely to come good. What No Commission Baccarat does is remove the 5% surcharge on winning banker’s hands. However, while you can now get 1:1 on winning banker’s hands, this is offset by the win being paid out at 0.5:1 if the banker’s hand wins on sixes. It’s up to you to decide whether that makes it worth a look or not.
Mini Baccarat by Playtech
Mini Baccarat isn’t one game from Playtech. It’s actually three mini-baccarat games, or rather, three tables. These include Mini Baccarat, Crystal Mini Baccarat and Sapphire Mini Baccarat. Apart from a few wager limit differences and different-looking tables, there isn’t much to separate them. Like most Mini Baccarat games, there are fewer seats due to the table being smaller. However, aside from it using eight decks, it’s largely the same game as you’ll find in classic baccarat tiles, albeit a touch faster, perhaps.
Knockout Baccarat by Ezugi
Developed by Ezugi, Knockout Baccarat is arguably the more creative variant on this list. Released in 2023, it features bets that range from $1 to $2,000, has an RTP of 98.94%, and gets its name from its side bets. There are so many of them here for you to choose from. The most renowned of these is the titular Knockout bet. This sees you try to predict the winning hand’s total number of points. If you do, you could potentially walk away with winnings worth 8:1, which isn’t too shabby since there are only five possible side bet options available with the Knockout Bet.
My 5 Favourites – Recommended Live Baccarat Games
Of course, having played live baccarat for over a decade, I have my own favourites and certainly don’t always stick to what other players find popular. If you fancy broadening your horizons and playing a few titles that may differ from those listed above, I recommend having a crack at these baccarat options:
- Best Baccarat Game for Big Wins: Progressive Baccarat by Playtech
- The Most Widely Available Baccarat Game: Lightning Baccarat by Evolution
- Best Game for Baccarat Pros: Super 6 Baccarat by Ezugi
- Ideal for High Rollers: Salon Privé Baccarat by Evolution
- My Own Personal Favourite: Live Baccarat by Pragmatic Play
Why Play Live Baccarat Online?
Why play baccarat at live casino sites? Every online casino player will have his or her own reasons for doing so. Mine tend to largely focus on the value these games can offer me as both a player and a reviewer. Of course, being live casino games, they offer obvious advantages to RNG table games, and I’ll touch on those, too, as well as provide you with other key reasons to choose live baccarat games over their counterparts today.
- As live casino games, live baccarat options are atmospheric, more realistic and far more immersive than any RNG baccarat table game you’ll find online.
- There is far more variation and choice when it comes to live baccarat games than RNG releases. You’ll even find progressive options if you want to go down that route.
- Almost all live baccarat games can be played in English, even Asian-centric ones. Moreover, some accept cryptocurrencies and are mobile-optimised.
- You don’t need to be skilled to play live baccarat. We can’t say the same for live blackjack and other card games, such as poker.
- If you join Pragmatic Play Live casino sites, it’s possible to compete to win a share of several million dollars while playing live baccarat in their Drops & Wins tournaments.
In my years playing live baccarat, I’ve also found a few downsides, and to be transparent, I’ll share them, too. For starters, live games such as baccarat can’t be played for free in demo modes. Secondly, the 5% commission can bite if you go on a losing streak. However, overall, these tiny criticisms are by far outweighed by the positives of playing live baccarat.
Join Gamesbelt’s Top-Rated Casinos Offering Live Baccarat Today
If I’ve twisted your arm, and you fancy having a stab at live baccarat, you don’t need to go anywhere. I’ve put together a top selection of the best live dealer casinos for baccarat games right here on Gamesbelt. Feel free to peruse those sites, read what they’re all about, and get a feel for them before signing up to play a spot of live baccarat online as a new player today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do all online casinos offer live baccarat?
No. Only online casinos that support live dealer games will carry baccarat. Even then, some may only have a title or two. The biggest sites will carry quite a few variants, though.
Can I play live baccarat in tournaments at online casinos?
That depends on where you play. Opt to join one of Gamesbelt’s recommended Pragmatic Play-powered live casinos, and you’ll be in luck.
Can I claim promos and bonuses on live baccarat games?
Sometimes, yes. It depends on which online casino you join. We recommend sticking to Gamesbelt’s pre-approved live casino sites for this reason.
Can I wager on live baccarat with cryptocurrencies?
Some casino software providers, such as Evolution and Pragmatic Play, have made this possible. It is ultimately down to the casino you join, too. Read our live casino reviews for more information.
Which baccarat game is best suited for newbies?
In my opinion, I’d start with a basic live baccarat game since they are based on classic baccarat. They don’t feature overly complicated rules, for starters.
Which are the best live baccarat casinos?
Again, using my own professional opinion here, I’d have to say BitStarz, Stake and BetFury Casino. Each has a top selection of crypto-friendly, mobile-optimised live baccarat games, and many major variants are supported at those casinos.
