In our guide to online baccarat, we’ll take you through all the benefits of playing online, cover some of the best online casinos that offer this game, and also look at baccarat variants. Keep reading this baccarat guide to find out why you should be playing this exciting casino card game online!
Real Money Online Baccarat vs Free Online Baccarat
If you’re not ready to try the game for real money online, you can always give the free version a go. While you can’t enjoy a live baccarat game for free online, there are plenty of online variants you can play without making a real money deposit.
What is online baccarat?
Online baccarat is a digital version of the real-world game. Played between you and the dealer, the aim of the game is to achieve the hand with a value closest to 10. Players and the dealer receive two cards, with a third card being dealt to a player if their hand value is worth less than five. The banker decides to stand or not depending on the players’ hand value.
The advantages of online baccarat played with real money
Playing any casino game online with real money has a few obvious benefits::
- You could win more money
- Real money games are exciting
- You can access casino bonuses with real money deposits
Beware, though; getting too caught up in the excitement opens the possibility of losing big too.
The advantages of playing free online baccarat
Just like real-money play, playing for free online also has its pros:
- You can use free play to learn the ins and outs of the game
- You can practice your strategies risk-free
- There is no stress about losing money
However, you also can’t win any money or cash in on any bonuses.
Which is the Best Online Baccarat Casino in Canada?
We’ve got a few recommendations for you to play baccarat online. To choose our top options, we looked at the variety of online baccarat games available, whether the games are mobile-friendly, RNG (random number generators)/fairness, who provides the games and whether the casinos are safe.
Our list of the top Five casinos to play baccarat online:
Is Playing Online Baccarat Safe?
Playing baccarat online is just as safe as playing in a real-world casino as long as you choose a reputable online provider. The best online casinos are licensed and regulated, as well as have world-class security and procedures in place to protect your information and funds..
Is it legal to play baccarat online in Canada?
We only ever recommend playing at legitimate, licensed casinos with longstanding reputations in the industry. You can play legally at any online casinos operating from within Canada if licensed by a recognised authority like the Canadian Gaming Association or Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Are online baccarat games fair?
Yes. If you are playing at a licensed and regulated casino, as we mentioned above, the casino will be conforming to strict codes of conduct enforced by the licensing bodies. Part of this code includes having RNG to create the results of the games. This RNG is checked and certified regularly by a third-party agency like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI.
If you’re playing a live dealer version of baccarat, you can see the dealer and the cards with close-up camera angles preventing the possibility of the game being rigged.
Why Should I Play Baccarat Online?
Playing baccarat online has many advantages which make the game very convenient.
| Online baccarat | Baccarat in Land-based Casino | |
|---|---|---|
| Play at home | ✔ | ✖ |
| Play multiple seats at once | ✔ | ✖ |
| Joining Bonuses | ✔ | ✖ |
| Regular Promotions | ✔ | ✖ |
Online baccarat has one of the lowest house edges of all the table games available. You can play multiple seats online, all from the comfort of your couch. To top this off, when playing online, you can take advantage of the many sign-up bonuses and promotions that online casinos offer.
Types of Online Baccarat
Playing baccarat online gives you many game options all in one place. The best online baccarat casinos offer a great range of game variants.
Live Baccarat
Playing live baccarat online is the closest to a real-world casino experience as you’ll get, including a house edge of just 1.06%. The live dealer interacts with players, deals with real cards and runs the table like a real-world game. Try your hand at:
- Lightning baccarat
- Squeeze Baccarat
- No Commission baccarat
Chemin de Fer
In a game of Chemin de Fer, you bet against the other players instead of the house, and you sometimes get the option to hit or stand. There is no house edge as players play against each other, so the casino takes a percentage of the “dealer’s” winnings. You won’t find this game in an online casino.
Punto Banco
Most baccarat games online fall into the Punto Banco category. A very simple and popular variation, all a player has to do is bet on the player, the banker or a tie. Depending on your bet, the house edge comes in at 1.17-1.36%. Try out these Punto Banco Games:
- Super 6
- Midi Punto
- Mini Punto
Baccarat Banque
Only played with three card decks, the banker position goes to the player with the highest stake. The Banque table has two halves with five players on each side and a banker. Each half and the banker is dealt a hand totalling three hands for a game. House edge ranges from 1.06%-1.17%.
No Commission Baccarat
In a game of No Commission Baccarat, any bet placed on the banker pays out at 1-1 unless the banker wins at 6 points, in which case bets on the banker only pay at half of that. There is no commission charged on banker bets.
- No Commission Baccarat
- Baccarat Zero Commission
EZ Baccarat
EZ Baccarat plays like standard baccarat, but without the 5% bank bet commission. If the bank bet wins with a 7, it is barred, or a “push,” and the other bets lose as normal. The house edge is a super low 1.02%.
- Dragon 7
- Panda 8
European Baccarat
In a European Baccarat game, the banker chooses whether to take a third card or not, and the player can decide whether or not to stand on five. The house edge sits at the same level as other baccarat variants on 1.06%-1.17%, depending on the bet.
American Baccarat
Played using eight decks of cards, this version of baccarat has all of the standard baccarat rules. The only move a player needs to make is to play a bet on either the banker or a tie. The house edge is around 1.24%.
- American Baccarat – Habanero Gaming
Baccarat Squeeze
Baccarat Squeeze is a similar version of the game to Punto Banco, with the distinction of the squeeze function. The squeeze allows parts of the cards to become visible, giving you an idea of what’s coming. The house edge is similar to the standard of 1.04-1.17%
- Live Baccarat Squeeze – Evolution
Dragon Tiger
Dragon Tiger is a straightforward form of the game played with just two cards. One card is drawn to the dragon and the tiger, and you bet on which will be bigger. There are also bets you can place on the cards themselves. The house edge here is 3.73%.
The Differences of Live Dealer Baccarat vs Virtual Baccarat
Live baccarat has many similarities in the rules and gameplay, but the experience of the game is where the difference lies.
| LIVE BACCARAT | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| There is more fun to be had in interacting with the dealers. | The live games run on a schedule, so you might have to wait. |
| You can interact with other players. | Gameplay is slower than virtual as you wait for other players. |
| Real-world casino experience. |
| VIRTUAL BACCARAT | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| Faster gameplay | No dealer interaction |
| More visually focused games | No player interaction |
| Mixed format games | Older versions run on old tech |
Live Baccarat Games
Live baccarat games are very popular due to their higher betting opportunities, exciting gameplay and convenience without lacking the real-world casino experience. The most popular live games include:
- Lightning Baccarat
- Baccarat Squeeze
- Speed Baccarat
Virtual Baccarat Online Games
Virtual baccarat online offers you fast gameplay, low states games and the ability to hone your skills while playing for free. The most popular games include:
- Golden Wealth Baccarat
- Baccarat Punto Banco
- Baccarat First Person
Seven Things You Should Know Before Playing Baccarat Online
We want you to have the best online baccarat experience possible. To help you out, we’ve put together this list of the most important things you should know before you play.
- Learn Basic Rules, Side Bets and Payouts
- Before you start playing for real money, you should make sure that you know all about the game. Research the rules, bets and payouts to get to know the game.
- Know all Baccarat Betting Strategies
- Figure out the best betting strategy for you. Take into consideration the payouts, odds and house edge to plan your bets.
- Plan your budget and your time
- Knowing what you are prepared to spend in advance will prevent you from using money you don’t have. Planning your time will also keep you from developing any problem habits.
- Read our game & casino reviews
- Having an extraordinary experience is as much about the game as the casino you choose. We recommend only the best casinos and games and offer you comparisons to help you choose.
- Practice for free
- We recommend using the demo play option to hone your skills before playing for real. You can join a demo game at Mr Green, Vulkan Vegas, and PlayOJO.
- Watch streamers to discover new tips
- Watching others play and listening to their tips is a great way to familiarise yourself with the game.
- Check out these great streamers:
- Learn the lingo
- You need to know all the terminology you might hear at a baccarat table to follow the game.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Banker | A bet you can place on the banker’s hand. |
| Player | A bet you can place on the player’s hand. |
| RNG | This is the random number generator that randomises the online results. |
| Hit | This means accepting another card. |
| Stand | This means standing on the score you have and not taking another card. |
| Tie | This is a bet on the dealer and player’s hands to tie. |
| Pair | This is a bet on the player’s first two cards being a pair. |
How Does Online Baccarat Work?
Online baccarat moves very quickly, with a max of three cards dealt and three betting options excluding side bets; there’s not much for the player to do.
Live dealer baccarat rules and bets types
The rules for a live dealer game will differ according to the variation of the game you’re playing. There are three main bets to place – Player, Dealer or Tie. The winning hand is usually the hand with the value closest to 10.
- Bet on a player
- Back the player’s hand to be closest to 10.
- Bet on a banker
- Back the banker’s hand for a win.
- Pairs
- Bet on the first two player cards being a pair.
- Tie
- Wager that the banker and player’s hands will tie.
- Big hand
- This bet pays if the player or banker’s hand equals five or six.
- Small hand
- This bet is placed on the player or banker’s hand equalling four.
- Minimum/maximum bets
- The minimum and maximum bets vary according to the casino and the table, expect to see limits anywhere from CA$1 to CA$50,000.
How is the game of online baccarat made?
Online baccarat is designed using the latest in RNG technology and programming to ensure random results each time. Players can rest assured that the games are fair and developed by licensed and regulated providers.
- Evolution offers the best variety and quality of live baccarat games.
- NetEnt offer modern software with great functionality and ease of use.
- IGT provide classy and refined looking games that are reminiscent of the world’s top casinos.
Baccarat On Your Mobile Device
Most baccarat games these days are optimised for mobile use and allow you to play from anywhere in the world. We recommend checking out our top five casinos for mobile play.
Conclusion
Baccarat is a popular and fast-paced game that will keep you entertained for a long time. The game is easy to learn and play, and there are always great online bonuses at leading casinos in Canada.