Eve Luneborg
Live baccarat is one of the most widely played table games in online casinos. The game follows simple rules and has one of the lowest house edges compared to other live table games. All live baccarat tables are streamed in real time, with professional dealers and real cards.
Most live casinos have multiple live baccarat versions. Of course, most tables offer the standard baccarat game, where normal Punto Banco rules are used. But you’ll also find games with multipliers or no commission, or tables where you can choose between Speed or Squeeze.
In this guide, we’ll explain how live baccarat works, cover the most popular versions, and look at providers, strategies, and other tips to help you win.
Live casino baccarat is a traditional casino game, streamed in real time from a professional studio. A human dealer runs the game, and you place your bets on a digital table on your screen.
The game itself follows the same rules as standard baccarat. You can bet on the Player, Banker, or a Tie. The goal is to predict which hand will be closest to a total of nine. Cards are dealt face up, and the dealer manages the pace of the game.
Most live baccarat tables include features like a live chat, multiple camera angles, and game statistics. Some versions also offer side bets, multipliers or other special features.
There’s never a need to download anything to play, as you can play on desktop and mobile directly via your web browser, 24 hours a day.
Baccarat is played with six to eight decks of cards. As a player, you don’t receive cards yourself. Instead, you bet on one of two hands that are both managed by the dealer. These hands are called Player and Banker. You bet on which hand will be closer to a total of nine, or whether the round will end in a tie.
Each hand is dealt two cards. The values are added together, but only the last digit counts. For example, a hand with a 7 and an 8 (total 15) counts as 5. Tens and face cards count as zero. Aces count as one.
If either hand totals 8 or 9 with the first two cards, it’s called a “natural” and no more cards are drawn. If not, the rules determine if a third card is drawn, and this is something the dealer does automatically. It’s not a decision made by you or anyone else, as it’s predetermined by the rules.
A common misconception is that you, as a player, have to bet on the Player hand. This is not true, as you can just as well bet on Banker. If you win, the payout for both Player and Banker bets is 1:1, but for Banker bets, you’ll have to pay a commission, usually of 5%. Betting on a Tie can give you wins of either 8:1 or 9:1 — depending on the table rules.
Live baccarat is offered in several popular versions. They all follow the same core rules based on Punto Banco Baccarat, but some have innovative features, a different payout structure, or faster gameplay. Below are five of the most played live baccarat games available to Irish players. You can learn about their key features, the house edge, and what makes them unique and exciting games to try.
XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat is a live baccarat game developed by Evolution. As is the case for all games in the Lightning series, random multipliers are added to the game, so that you can enjoy bigger payouts for winning hands that include the “Lightning” cards.
Before each game round, up to five cards are randomly assigned multipliers between 2x and 8x. If a winning hand includes one or more Lightning cards, the payout is multiplied accordingly. If you’re really lucky, this can result in payouts with a total multiplier of 262,144x.
To cover the cost of multipliers, a 20% Lightning Fee is applied to all bets. Standard bets still follow traditional baccarat rules. The base house edge is around 1.06% for Banker bets and 1.24% for Player bets, but the effective house edge increases due to the added fee.
This game is streamed from Evolution’s Riga studio and includes features like multi-angle cameras and slow-motion replays of winning hands.
Golden Wealth Baccarat is another live dealer baccarat version created by Evolution. Here, the game combines standard baccarat with random multipliers, but with a lower volatility than XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat.
Before each game round, five random cards are assigned multipliers ranging from 2x to 10x. If the winning hand includes one or more of these cards, your payout is increased accordingly.
Unlike XXXtreme, the multiplier cards are drawn from a separate virtual deck, which means the base gameplay remains unchanged. The game has a 20% Golden Fee applied to all bets, which increases the house edge. Without the fee, the house edge is standard for baccarat — meaning 1.06% on Banker and 1.24% on Player bets. Tie bets have a house edge of around 14.36%.
Golden Wealth Baccarat is very much like XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat, but with one major difference. In this game, the volatility is lower, so you win more often, and the top payout is also lower. This makes Golden Wealth Baccarat better suited for cautious players.
No Commission Baccarat is a version of traditional baccarat, available from multiple providers, including Evolution and Playtech. The main difference between standard baccarat and No Commission Baccarat is revealed in the name — Banker wins pay 1:1 without the usual 5% commission.
To make up for the lost commission, Banker wins with a total of 6, offers a reduced payout of only 0.5:1. This ensures the house edge is still in the casino’s favour.
The house edge on Banker bets is approximately 1.46%, which is slightly higher than in standard baccarat. Player bets still pay 1:1 with a 1.24% house edge. Tie bets have the highest house edge, and pay either 8:1 or 9:1.
Playing No Commission Baccarat is advantageous to players who wish to bet on Banker, without having to calculate the commission. It’s a fairly standard game, and you’ll find it practically in all live casinos available to Irish players.
Speed Baccarat is designed to offer shorter rounds and quicker gameplay. This version of baccarat is available from multiple game studios, like Pragmatic Play and Evolution. You’ll find it as part of any live casino portfolio.
The game follows standard baccarat rules but has quicker card dealing and a shorter betting window. Typically, a game round in Speed Baccarat is done in just half the time of a standard game round.
The rules, payouts, and house edge are exactly the same as in standard baccarat. You’ll find a house edge of 1.06% for Banker bets, 1.24% for Player bets, and approximately 14.36% for Tie bets. All cards are dealt face-up, and there are no delays between rounds.
Speed Baccarat is especially popular among players who use simple betting strategies, where new bets can be placed without much thinking time. It’s also a great option for those who are not all too interested in the suspense of seeing cards being slowly revealed.
Grand Bonus Baccarat by Iconic21 is perhaps not all too well-known, even though it’s offered at many live casinos. Here, there’s a bonus payout feature for specific winning hands, such as natural wins or specific three-card combinations. These extra payouts are offered to players who place a side bet on the outcome.
The base game follows all regular baccarat rules, and you can bet on Player, Banker, or Tie. The highest payouts you’ll get from side bets, such as Player Bonus, Banker Bonus, or Super 6.
Bonus side bets have a higher house edge, and can sometimes be over 10%. The main Banker and Player bets have the usual house edge of 1.06% and 1.24%, respectively.
Grand Bonus Baccarat is a game made for those who enjoy the excitement side bets bring to the game. You can, of course, play it without using side bets as well, but then it’s simply a regular baccarat game.
Baccarat is one of those standard card games that you’ll find in any live casino. Most software and game providers who create live dealer games offer baccarat, in one version or another. Here, we’ll have a look at three of the most popular game studios that deliver live baccarat games at Irish casinos.
Evolution is the game studio that offers the largest range of live baccarat variants. Its portfolio includes classic Baccarat, No Commission Baccarat and Speed Baccarat, and in addition, they have multiplier games like XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat and Golden Wealth Baccarat.
All tables are available 24/7 in various languages, and there are tables both for casual players and high rollers. Evolution also provides VIP tables and versions with Squeeze, which replicates the slow card reveal used in land-based baccarat rooms.
Some notable Evolution live baccarat games include:
Pragmatic Play has quite a substantial selection of baccarat games, with multiple versions available. The baccarat tables are streamed from Bucharest and include features like multi-seat mode, betting history, and game statistics.
One thing you’ll find in many of Pragmatic Play’s baccarat games is side bets of various sorts. But you can also play the standard games. The tables support multiple currencies and betting limits.
Here are some of Pragmatic Play’s most popular baccarat games:
Playtech also has a strong lineup of baccarat tables. You can enjoy no commission versions, speed tables, and even a game featuring a jackpot. The live casino studio in Riga hosts multiple tables with high-quality streams, and some even offer custom branding for selected operators.
Several of the baccarat variants offer side bets, and in each game, you can view statistics and game history. Playtech’s tables come with various betting ranges and are available 24/7.
Some notable Playtech live baccarat games:
Getting started playing live baccarat couldn’t be easier. Just follow the steps below, and you’ll be up and running in a matter of minutes.
The first thing you need to do is select a casino to play at. Here at LiveVCasino.ie we’ve listed several recommended live casinos, and one of the top-rated ones is Wild Robin. For this step-by-step guide, we’ll use this casino as our example.
Once you’re at your casino’s website, you’ll see a button called ‘sign up’, ‘join’, or ‘register’, typically located in the upper right corner of the site. Clicking this will open the registration form, which you need to complete in order to open a casino account.
Before you can start playing, you need to fund your account. Go to the cashier and have a look at the various deposit methods the casino supports. Choose the one you prefer, enter the amount you wish to deposit, and follow the on-screen instructions explaining how to complete the payment.
As soon as your deposit is credited to your account, you can head to the live casino to find a baccarat table. Most casinos have collected all baccarat tables and versions into one category, making it easy to find the game you’re looking for. If this isn’t the case, try searching for baccarat in the search bar. When you’ve found the game you want to play, just click it and it will load in your browser.
When the game opens, you can start by reading up on the game rules and checking out the paytable. Then, decide if you want to place a bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and wait for the betting window to open. Place your bets on the digital table.
There’s no time limit for how long you can play, but it’s never recommended to have too long game sessions. Once you’re done, you can simply close the game and go to the cashier to withdraw your winnings. Choose your withdrawal method, enter the amount, and confirm the cashout request. The first time you withdraw, you’ll need to verify your account before the withdrawal can be processed.
There is no way to influence the outcome of a baccarat hand. However, some strategies can help you manage your bankroll and risk. Here, we’ll give you our best tips related to progressive betting strategies, live casino bonuses, bankroll management and picking the right game. Use these tips to make the most of your baccarat session.
A progressive betting system is a strategy where you increase or decrease your bet size depending on the result of the previous game round. The most common examples are the Martingale, Fibonacci, and Paroli systems. In baccarat, these systems can be used on both Player and Banker bets, since they are even-money bets.
The idea behind a progressive betting strategy is to either win back money you’ve previously lost or to take advantage of a long winning streak. Which option you choose will determine how volatile the strategy is. However, progressive systems don’t change the odds of the game, and if you’re unlucky, it can lead to big losses if you hit the table limit or run out of money.
Some online casinos allow you to use reload bonuses or other promotional offers on live baccarat. This can help by boosting your bankroll, but it’s important to always read the terms. Many bonuses exclude live games or apply lower wagering contribution rates. Sometimes, the wagering contribution can be as low as 5 or 10%, which means it will take a long time for you to complete the playthrough requirement on baccarat bets.
Also, note that progressive betting strategies may not be allowed while playing using bonus funds. If this is not expressly stated in the terms, it will still be an effective ban on this, due to a max bet of something around €5. So before you claim any bonuses, make sure that you read and understand the terms. Breaching any of them can lead to your winnings being confiscated before you have the chance to cash out.
Optimal management of your bankroll will ensure that your balance lasts as long as possible, at the same time as you have the greatest chance of increasing it. Bankroll management means you start by making a decision about how much you have available to play with, and then sticking to that budget. Split the total bankroll into smaller sections, and bet only a small portion per game round. For baccarat, around 5% is advisable, although you should rather go for 1% or even 0.5% if you use an aggressive progressive betting strategy.
Managing your bankroll won’t help you win, but it will help you stay on track and within budget. Make sure that you keep track of all your wins and losses, so you can ensure that all funds you gamble with are accounted for.
Not all baccarat games offer the same payout or odds. Standard baccarat with commission has the lowest house edge on Banker bets at 1.06%. No Commission Baccarat removes the 5% fee but pays only 0.5:1 on Banker wins with a total of 6. This increases the effective house edge to around 1.46%.
Multiplier games like Golden Wealth or XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat offer larger potential payouts but include a 20% fee, which raises the house edge. Side bets have a higher risk and house edge, so generally they should be avoided. If you want higher volatility and potentially bigger wins, consider games with multipliers.
No matter what kind of baccarat game you play, it’s essential that you play responsibly and within your budget. You should never chase your losses, play when you’re upset or under the influence, or for any other reason than the sake of entertainment. Keep in mind that responsible gambling is not just about money; it’s also about your well-being while playing.
Most online casinos have several different responsible gambling tools you can use. You may be able to activate limits for deposits, losses, wagers, and sessions. If you want to pause or close your account, that will also be possible.
Lastly, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem, it’s important that you seek help as soon as possible. In Ireland, there are multiple organisations where you can get free support and help. You should also consider registering in the national register for problem gamblers, so that your access to licensed online casinos gets restricted.
Live baccarat is offered in multiple versions, like classic tables, speed formats, no commission options, or high-volatility games with multipliers like XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat and Golden Wealth Baccarat. The base rules are always according to standard Punto Banco Baccarat, but the house edge and payout structure can vary.
Player and Banker bets offer the lowest house edge, with standard baccarat (with commission) providing the best long-term odds. Before starting, check the game rules, table limits, and side bet options. Live baccarat doesn’t require any skills or knowledge, but knowing how the rules and formats work can help you win.
Eve Luneborg – Live Casino Specialist at LiveCasino.ie
Eve Luneborg has been part of the online casino industry since 2014, when she moved to the sunny shores of Malta to pursue her passion for gaming.
