Live Dealer Baccarat Games and Options - A Comprehensive Playing Guide
Baccarat is a traditional and straightforward game to play. However, over time, the game has received many modifications, and we've seen the most in Live Dealer games, where there's been a mission to increase payouts and betting options.
Every live casino provider offers Baccarat. Some provide many versions, and others offer streamed tables from land-based casinos. Many have side bets, and some don't even use Cards!
This guide describes all the versions, compares them with each other, and recommends online casinos where you can play them.
Let's start with a basic recap of Baccarat and how it evolved.
Where to Play Live Baccarat
How Live Baccarat has Developed
Baccarat is an old game that emerged in France in the 1920s. The most popular form is Baccarat Punto Banco, developed in Havana in the 1940s. It's a two-person zero-sum game where the player bets on whether the player or the banker's hand will win. Punto Banco became synonymous with Baccarat. If you see this game called one or the other, it's the same thing.
The game is famously associated with countries in the Far East, where tradition and superstition play a significant role in playing the game.
When Live Dealer providers first started developing Baccarat games, they began with a fundamental two-handed game. Side bets were quickly added, followed by a No-Commission version, where the player and Banker receive 1:1 payouts. A tradition was introduced with squeeze technology, allowing players to squeeze or reveal cards on the table virtually. These slower games spawned a range of Speed Games, where time was reduced by dealing the cards face up, including the third card if required.
When multiplier Cards were introduced, payouts increased. This led to further enhancements as innovative ways were found to deliver this functionality.
Finally, the cards were removed from the table and replaced with dice, and the outcome of the dice roll determined the winner.
Additionally, some suppliers put live streams into land-based casinos where you can play alongside the general public as they pit their wits against the house.
It's been quite a ride. Before I list the game types, let us remind ourselves of the basic rules for playing Baccarat.
Live Baccarat – A Brief "How to Play Guide"
The objective of Live Baccarat is to predict which of two hands, The Player or The Banker, will win by having a hand value closest to 9.
The online version uses either 6 or 8 decks of 52 playing cards.
The most popular is the 8-deck game, which makes it slightly more difficult for card counters to gain an edge over the house.
Calculating Hand Values
The playing cards are assigned the following values:
- Aces are worth 1 point.
- Cards 2 to 9 are worth their face value.
- 10’s and face cards are worth 0 points.
Hands values are calculated by adding the values of the cards together.
If the sum produces a double-digit number, the hand is given the value of the second digit.
For example, if the hand adds up to 13, the value of the hand is 3.
Dealing The Game
The game commences with both the Player and Banker positions being dealt two cards.
The value of each hand is then calculated.
A hand with a total of 8 or 9 "a natural" wins automatically and the game ends.
A third card can be drawn depending on the value of the initial hand.
There are some specific rules for this, in summary, if the hand is valued at 0 to 5 a third card is taken. If it’s 6 or 7 no more cards are dealt.
If the value of each hand is the same then a Tie is called.
In most games, this will result in the initial bets being returned to the players as a Push.
The hand that is the highest in value wins.
Playing Tools
Baccarat Roadmaps, which are used by players to record the past outcomes of each hand are created automatically by the playing software.
If you don't use them you can choose not to display them.
Be sure to read Wikipedia's comprehensive overview of Baccarat. They do a far better job than I ever could of explaining its history and customs.
Payouts
Standard Baccarat games all offer the same pay-outs. There are some differences, especially in games like Bet On Baccarat and No Commission Baccarat, which I'll cover later.
- A player win pays even money 1:1.
- A Banker win pays 0.95:1, which accounts for a built-in edge for the house.
- No Commission games pay Banker wins at 1:1 even money.
- Tie bets normally pay 8:1.
There’s also a range of side bets like Pairs, Big/Small, Super 6 to name a few. You can get more information about them on my Baccarat Side Bets and game options page.
Baccarat Games - A List of Every Game Type
There's not one type of Baccarat; there are many Baccarat Games. All follow the same rules, but the enhancements and side bets differentiate them, delivering a more unique playing experience.
The list below includes every variety of live baccarat games, some of which you already know about and some that may be new to you.
For each, I've provided a quick description and a recommendation of where to see it and play.
Most Live Casino Providers produce Baccarat, so I'll discuss the game in general terms. The games are so similar that it doesn't matter which provider you choose; when you get into the more unique games, your choices of where to play become more limited.
My casino recommendations generally include ones with multiplier suppliers, so you have several options to try.
Standard Baccarat - One Player, One Banker Hand
The standard live dealer Baccarat game has a Player and Banker playing position. An unlimited number of people can play, placing bets on either hand, the Tie or one of the many side bets.
This game uses an Eight-deck shoe, which is changed when one deck is left.
Banker Wins pays 0.95:1.
Every live casino provider produces this version.
Speed Baccarat
Speed baccarat is essentially regular Baccarat just played faster.
This has been designed for players who like a quick game. There is no ceremony; all the cards are dealt face-up, and third cards are dealt as soon as possible.
Evolution Speed Baccarat has a deal-to-deal time of 27 seconds.
Baccarat Squeeze
The Squeeze is a land-based ritual in which the player with the highest bet is allowed to reveal a card's value by turning its edges.
The process is performed very slowly, which builds tension and excitement—as soon as the player knows the value, he flips the card and slams it on the table.
In online live dealer baccarat, the dealer performs the Squeeze on behalf of everyone playing, and camera close-ups heighten the excitement.
For the alternative player-controlled Squeeze, see the next section.
Baccarat Controlled Squeeze
One step on from the dealer-controlled squeeze is giving players the ability to squeeze the cards themselves.
Evolution has developed a player-controlled squeeze. The cards are dealt face down by the dealer, but as they are scanned, a digital representation of the back of the cards is shown on the screen.
Using some nifty technology and a mouse or finger, the player can turn the corners of the virtual cards to reveal their values. After a short period, the dealer flips the cards on the table and completes the game.
Progressive Jackpot Baccarat
This is Baccarat with a Progressive Jackpot attached. The jackpot is seeded from players' bets, and the casino adds 1% to the jackpot pool.
The most popular is the Dragon Progressive Jackpot on the Playtech network, which is triggered randomly when players play the tie bet.
A separate jackpot game starts with players able to win one of four jackpots.
No Commission Baccarat
No Commission Baccarat is a particular version of Baccarat where Banker wins pay 1:1 (it's usually 0.95:1).
However, if the banker wins with a total of 6, you only get paid 0.5:1, which is how the casino gets its edge.
Most tables have a No-Commission option, as the playing interface controls payout calculations. The game on the table remains the same, regardless of whether you're playing a Commission or No-Commission version. Just make sure you pick the correct version.
Live Streamed Baccarat
Live-streamed Baccarat is when the action on a table in a land-based casino is streamed online for you to bet on.
It's the most authentic game you'll get. So if you're worried about studio baccarat and think the controls in place are not enough to give you confidence the game is legit, Land-Based streamed tables are the alternative.
A few options exist across the many suppliers, including tables from the Las Vegas casino floor. They all operate in the same way. You place your bets through the playing interface, and the dealer in the casino does the rest. The players at the table have no idea they're playing along with hundreds of people watching. It's quite cool.
The games tend to be a bit slower than the Studio versions, as the dealer has to make payouts to the players at the table.
Bet On Baccarat
Bet On Baccarat is played the same as regular Baccarat; the difference is how you can bet.
In this version, you can bet as the dealer deals a new card onto the table.
The additional bets include:
- Card Numbers/Totals.
- Card Colours.
- Whether cards will be Odd or Even.
- Card Suits.
BetConstruct, BetGames, and Playtech all have versions of this game, although the available betting options vary slightly.
The game rounds can take a lot of time due to the number of betting rounds in each game.
Lightning Baccarat
Lightning Baccarat is the first Baccarat game in which the basic Player/banker payouts have been increased from the standard 1:1. These are referred to as multiplier payouts, and Lightning Baccarat is the first Baccarat game to offer this functionality. It's a game produced by Evolution.
At the start of each game, up to 5 cards can be selected to have multiplier values of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 8x. If one or more of the cards is in your winning hand, the payout gets multiplied by that amount. A 20% fee is taken before each game to fund the multipliers.
Golden Wealth Baccarat
Golden Wealth Baccarat is similar to Lighting Baccarat but with one major difference: Five cards are selected each game round to have multipliers of 2x, 3x, 5x, or 8x rather than up to five. A 20% fee is still taken.
If your winning hand contains a multiplier card, you get an increased payout. Otherwise, it plays out the same as normal Baccarat.
Peek Baccarat
Peek Baccarat takes squeezing cards to a whole new level. In this game version, the dealer shows up to four cards after they have been dealt so that you can raise your initial bet by two or three times.
A one-time fee of 20% is taken at the start of the game.
While there are no multipliers, this game allows you to improve your initial bet after seeing more cards before the game completes.
Prosperity Baccarat
In Prosperity Tree Baccarat, up to 8 multiplier cards valued between 2x and 3x rain down onto the table. If your winning hand contains one or more of the cards, the multipliers' value boosts your payout. You can win 27x on the Player or Banker hand and a massive 3645x for a Tie.
The game charges a 5% commission on Banker Wins and a 20% fee on the total bet amount.
Mega Baccarat
Mega Baccarat is Pragmatic Plays version of Baccarat with multipliers. Unlike Lightning Baccarat, bet positions are given multipliers between 2x and 100x, and they become in play when two dice are rolled, and the result is an eight or nine.
The game plays out as normal Baccarat, and if you win and your bet position has a multiplier, you'll receive a boosted payout.
There is a mandatory fee of 20% on top of your bet amount to play.
Always 8 Baccarat
Imagine if your first card was always an 8? How often do you think you'd win?
You can find out now in Evolution's Always 8 Baccarat, where the Banker's first card is always an eight. Of course, you don't get this for nothing. The Banker payout is reduced to 0.62:1 while the Player hand benefits to the tune of 1.48:1.
This is a great, if not odd, alternative to standard baccarat. The aim is to get a run of Player wins, and you'll be in the money.
The RTP is 98.29%
Grand Bonus Baccarat
With Grand Bonus Baccarat, you pay a 20% fee on Player and Banker bets to help seed two personal Progressive Jackpots with Multipliers.
Get four wins in a row to win the Mega Jackpot, or manage five and get the Grand Jackpot.
This is a new twist on multipliers, and frankly, I like it because it keeps you invested in the game.
If you lose, the counter resets to zero, and you must start all over.
What is the best baccarat game?
There's no easy answer to this, as everyone has their opinion and favourite.
There's no denying that classic Baccarat is the game's purest form. The commission is taken on Banker wins. This game is the simplest to play. Bet on Banker/Player and Tie. You almost have a fifty-fifty chance of winning. If there is a Tie, you get your stake back. So, this game attracts high rollers.
Lightning Baccarat is probably the game that players who like more vitality will play. It costs more to play this game because of the "lightning fee", but the reward is higher payouts.
List of Side Bets for Baccarat
Traditionally, side bets are where the bigger payouts occur on Baccarat. These bets are made on the side of the main hand, using the cards dealt to the player and banker's hands to determine whether the side bet wins
Over the years, the number of side bets played has increased. Now, every game has them, although they don't all have them at the same time.
In no particular order, the side bets on Live Baccarat are:
- Player and Banker Pair
- Perfect Pair and Any Pair
- Totals - Small or Big
- Dragon Bonus
- Sum Bonus
- Tie Bonus
- Egalite Bonus
- Progressive Jackpot Side bet
- Red/Black
Live Baccarat Games Compared
If you want to know how each of the live dealer baccarat games compares, have a look at this comparison table.
You'll see the payout for each game, the multipliers, and how they impact the final payouts. You'll also see which games charge a fee over and above commission. Finally, you can compare the RTPs to determine which game has a better return.
| Game | Banker Payout | Player Payout | Tie Payout | Fee | Multipliers | Max Multiplier Payout | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Baccarat | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8 - 9:1 | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| Speed Baccarat | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8 - 9:1 | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| Baccarat Squeeze | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8 - 9:1 | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| Progressive Jackpot Baccarat | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8 - 9:1 | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| No Commission Baccarat | 1:1 | 1:1 | 8 - 9:1 | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| Live Stream Baccarat | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8 - 9:1 | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| Bet on Baccarat | determined during game | determined during game | determined during game | none | none | none | 98.94% |
| Lightning Baccarat | 0.95:1 - 486:1 | 1:1 - 512:1 | 5:1 - 310,720:1 | 20% | 1 to 5 of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x & 8x | 310720:1 on Tie | 98.76% |
| Golden Wealth Baccarat | 0.95:1 - 486:1 | 1:1 - 512:1 | 5:1 - 262,144:1 | 20% | 5 cards with 2x, 3x, 5x or 8x | 262,144:1 on Tie | 98.85% |
| Peek Baccarat | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8:1 | 20% | 98.80% | ||
| Prosperity Tree Baccarat | 0.95:1 - 27:1 | 1:1 - 27:1 | 5: - 3645:1 | 20% | Up to 8 - 2x or 3x | 3645:1 Tie | 98.89% |
| Mega Baccarat | 0.95:1 - 100:1 | 1:1 - 100:1 | 8:1 - 800:1 | 20% | 2x to 100x | 98.79% | |
| Golden Bonus Baccarat | 0.95:1 | 1:1 | 8:1 | 20% | up to 680x | Mega and Grand Progressive Jackpots | 96.94% |
Live Baccarat Summary
Essentially, the base game of Live Baccarat is the same wherever you play it online.
As I've discovered, there is a wide range of "types" you can play, with different options and side bets.
The games are all high quality, and the streaming is also very good at most places where you play.
The Salon Prive tables are worth looking out for if you're a high roller, as you can play on a table independently. You can ask to change the dealer and dealing shoe whenever you like.