Baccarat Online Guide

The most famous and popular casino game in Asia sure has a lot of history behind it. Playing baccarat online doesn’t mean you can’t have the true casino feel, especially when playing on your smartphone. This game truly is a high-roller’s dream, but even rookies can enjoy this simplistic card game just the same. Read through our baccarat guide and see if the age-old game is something for you. Let’s roll!

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Baccarat Games Online

Since the arrival of smartphones in our everyday lives, things have changed quite a bit – and even more so when it comes to playing casino games. You don’t have to drive hours to the next brick and mortar casino, you can play online baccarat from the comfort of your couch or even on the bus to work – you name it! Bet in real-time against real people in baccarat live or indulge in one of the numerous table games on offer.

What are the requirements for playing baccarat online?

Playing online casino games might sound simple enough and truth be told – it really is. Nonetheless, there are a few things to consider when taking this journey. Be it casino elite, baccarat veteran or beginner on the way to greatness – these are a few things to consider when learning how to play baccarat in India.

  • A mobile phone no older than 5 years
  • A 4G connection (or similar)
  • Basic understanding of the rules (check out or guide to the rules here)
  • A credit card or an e-wallet
  • An account in your preferred online casino

Is Online Baccarat legal in India?

We’ve touched on this before in our guide to online blackjack for example and quite honestly, this is a bit of a grey zone. To our knowledge, no one has ever been prosecuted for playing any chance-based game such as roulette or in this case baccarat, so you should be safe. If the legality really interests you, take a good look at our is online casino legal in India article – it’s a good read if we do say so ourselves.

How to play baccarat online

You’ve chosen your type of baccarat you want to play and there are some sweet casinos that offer just that; we’ve already told you about a few of those. What now? Here’s our step-by-step guide to take the edge off:

  1. Sign up for an account
  2. Make deposits
  3. Enter baccarat table
  4. Place chips at the table
  5. Check your winnings!

Baccarat Rules

The baccarat rules overall are simple;   The goal in baccarat online, as previously  elaborated, is to have your own cards total close to 9 as possible. Place a bet on which hand you think will win, before all cards are ultimately exposed. And, depending on the strength of the cards, either player or the dealer wins the hand, deciding the result of the game. The reason this game is so popular lies in its simplicity – easy to get into, but difficult to master. Just the way we like it.

Live Baccarat

The appeal of live dealer baccarat cannot be understated; after all you’re dealing with real people, this is the closest you can get to a real casino – at least atmosphere wise. It plays pretty much the same, other than the fact that more players can join the game, depending on the size of the table, that is. If you want the real deal – but from the comfort of your couch – this is what you got to pick in our opinion.

Basics of Live Casino Baccarat

In Baccarat, (also called Punto Banco) similar to blackjack, the player plays against a dealer. The baccarat player and the dealer both draw two cards for starters – quite simple so far. The goal is to have your own cards total as close to 9 as possible. You place a bet on which hand you think will win, before all cards are ultimately exposed. And, depending on the strength of the cards, either the player or dealer wins the hand. Pretty simple right? Let’s dive into some of baccarat’s interesting details.

Types of bets

This one is also very straightforward – you either bet on your own hand, the banker’s hand or a tie between the two. A tie is very unlikely however and most players wouldn’t bet on said hand – but you never know. If you’re feeling especially lucky, you might be in for a treat.

Strategies of baccarat

The only real “strategy” in this very simplistic game is the third card dealt. And by strategy, we don’t really mean a strategy at all, since neither the player nor the banker chooses when this card is played – if either yours or the bankers starting value is 5 or less, the third card is drawn. Again, very simple to play – but thrilling nonetheless.

Online Baccarat Variants

Choosing a type of baccarat you want to play online is no easy feat – but let’s just start off by saying, that while knowing the differences might be advantageous, it really comes down to your personal playstyle and truthfully – how much you want to bet for. Here are some of our personal favourites, that in our opinion hold the candle to even the land-based variants of this exciting card game. Take a look!

Punto Banco

This is the original. The classic. Maybe not the one who started it all, but it certainly is the most commonly played – and also the baccarat game we refer to when we say baccarat, if not stated otherwise. This one’s great if you’re a beginner, but veterans are quite fond of it too. Most online casinos have this one on offer, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before you play!

Chemin de Fer

This is believed to be the first version of baccarat – originated in France, naturally. Chemin De Fer Baccarat (Iron road or railway in French) got its name due to the cards used to be held in iron boxes. Before the game of this baccarat version starts, six card decks are shuffled and players are seated around the mostly oval table. While there is a dealer or croupier in this game, players have to shuffle the cards themselves, once the game starts.

Baccarat Banque

Baccarat Banque is a game played more popularly in France and other European casinos. Though you will find a croupier present, the banker is auctioned for the players at the beginning of the game. In baccarat Banque, the dealer/banker role does not rotate among players, as in other baccarat variants. Definitely more suited for high roller elite players, this type plays with higher stakes – but naturally higher outcomes too.

Mini Baccarat

Introducing mini-baccarat – the little brother of baccarat Banque, quite literally. This interesting version is played with lower stakes than it’s bigger cousin, a smaller table and the fact that the player does not get to pick up the cards him/herself. Perfectly suited for beginners, due to the facts stated above, we’d recommend this one if you’re just starting off – at least until you’re ready to dive into deeper waters.

Play Mobile Baccarat

It’s the 21st century – going to an actual brick & mortar casino can be fun, especially with friends; but our busy lifestyle doesn’t allow for daily trips to a land-based gaming den. Mobile baccarat is the perfect way to enjoy sweet casino action while sitting down somewhere comfortable and familiar. The best part is; most casino apps have done away with the emulated desktop versions and have instead opted for a full mobile interface, optimized and all.

iPhone Baccarat

Even though the iPhone has it notoriously difficult in India, the numbers are rising when it comes to this device. You can play baccarat on user-friendly interfaces since most apps or even the internal Safari browser is now optimized for mobile play.

Android Baccarat

The most commonly sold operating system in our beautiful country comes in a lot of different flavours – but they all have one thing in common; great casino apps to play online baccarat on. The diversity of different Android devices isn’t an issue here, since most operators make good use of the UI in their own app.

Live Baccarat Developers

Think of live baccarat game developers like the directors in film; their vision ultimately becomes the reason a game is great or falls flat. The online versions of this age-old card game aim for authenticity and playability first and foremost, and it shows more with some…less with others. Here are our recommendations for you, so you get to play the best there is – no punches pulled.

Evolution Gaming

What would any card game section be without the mention of Evolution Gaming? And what would Evolution Gaming be in relation to baccarat, if we wouldn’t mention Lightning Baccarat?

A fast and frenzied version of the easy to grasp game, this one is one of our personal favourites. Don’t believe us? Try it out for yourself!

Playtech

In most recent history, Playtech has taken classic baccarat to a new level. Introducing; Prestige Baccarat. The unique table they offer has been given a very modern design, with a gorgeous backdrop that shows the Chinese symbol for “luck”. Additionally, the camera placement can also be considered very unique; it focuses on the squeeze feature of the game, which is something we haven’t seen before. Secret tip from us!

NetEnt Live

NetEnt Live sure is no stranger to immensely enjoyable live dealer casino games – and of course, baccarat makes an appearance too. NetEnt has sweet graphics and dedicated live dealer tables, so whatever you choose, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. Our recommendation? Try out Baccarat Pro. It’s played with 8 decks of 52 cards, making it the perfect candidate for longer rounds of play, should that be your thing.

Ezugi

Sure, Ezugi has one major drawback when it comes to their live baccarat tables – the fixed camera angle. It feels less dynamic than other variants we’ve played, but truth be told; that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing per se. You’re always right in the action and the mostly female live dealers are professional and keep you entertained, that’s for sure.

Baccarat Tips & Tricks

We honestly think that there’s no right or wrong way to play any casino game. But there is an argument to be made for knowing your own playstyle and choosing the baccarat table that best suits that style. In our opinion – and this might not be some pro-players choice – the original baccarat is best for most people. It’s easy to learn, yet hard to master, and truly the perfect way to spend an evening or two.

Discover the Best Online Baccarat Casinos

Choosing the best online casino to play baccarat at isn’t going to be easy – but there are a few key factors that you need to consider. License, security and game variety certainly are big factors, but it also comes down to the type of baccarat you want to play. Becoming a baccarat pro doesn’t just fall from the sky, but when signing up to LeoVegas or 10CRIC for example, you’ve done the first step in the right direction.

Online Baccarat History

The game of baccarat was created in Italy in the 1400s by a man named Felix Falguiere or Falguierein. He called the game “baccara,” Italian for “zero,” because all the tens and face cards were worth zero. (Later on, the French spelling “baccarat” was adopted worldwide.)

Baccarat in Movies

When you think about casino, there’s one famous movie character that comes to mind immediately; James Bond. Baccarat just so happens to be the British super-spy’s favourite casino game, and who can blame him? A worthy mention is also the movie “A Hard Day’s Night”, where baccarat played an important role – we highly recommend this 1964 masterpiece to anyone loving baccarat. Oh, yeah, we almost forgot; American/Chinese martial arts superstar Jackie Chan also has a love for the historical casino card game. The more you know!

Baccarat FAQ

Online baccarat is a card game played against the banker, where the goal is to get as close as possible to the value 9.
Any online casino worth its money will have one or more baccarat variants available.
We focus on licensed casinos – so that is absolutely not the case.
That depends, it’s a number’s game – varying your bet style might result in a better endgame.
To be honest – not really. Some might say there is, but it is more a game of luck than of skill.