Play Live Baccarat Online With This Complete Guide!
Article Summary: Baccarat is popular for good reasons, the simple betting combined with complexity of the drawing rules make it ideally suited to the streamed live dealer setup. This page shows you how the live dealer baccarat games work, covers the pros and cons of this format, and then shows you where to find the very best games. For non-US players this is Unibet Casino, while for US players the GG Labs baccarat at BetOnline is my top pick.
Baccarat is one of the most popular card games at the casino, the game being slightly unusual in the fact that although there is a banker and a player, you can choose to bet on the side of the banker and win accordingly when the banker wins. The most popular form of baccarat, and the one that you will play at the live casino is Punto Banco, which is a game of chance with no skill involved, all of the decisions being made based on the value of the cards alone. Baccarat is a game which proved to be a great success when it made the move from bricks and mortar casinos to the virtual ones that first appeared in the 1990’s, but the game has now received a new lease of life with the introduction of live dealer casinos. With the lowest house edge of any casino game, this is where the savviest casino players end up.
How Live Dealer Baccarat Works
Upon joining a live dealer baccarat table you’ll find yourself sitting opposite the dealer and playing with actual cards, all the action streamed real time directly to your desktop or device. The action will start with you betting in exactly the same way as you would at a virtual casino, by betting on the player, the banker or the tie (you’ll also find side bets offered at many sites alongside the main betting options). You’ll have a certain amount of time to place your bets and then the dealer will draw the cards. Of course, in baccarat no action is required by the players so the dealer will play the hand out in its entirety, before your online casino balance will be updated at the end of the hand.
When playing baccarat you’ll find that many players will be playing the same hand. Obviously each player will vary when it comes to where they have placed their bets and how much the bets are worth, but the cards in play will be the same for all. Of course, some players will win and some will lose dependent on which bets they actually placed, although it would be fair to say that the majority of players will bet on the ‘player’ betting option.
One of the best aspects of live dealer games is the social side to the play. All of the dealers are particularly friendly which makes for the pleasurable experience and you can interact with them via a chat box. Live dealer casino games are usually hosted by smartly dressed and attractive dealers too, which has proved to be extremely popular. When playing live dealer baccarat you can enjoy a variety of camera angles, such as the 3D or classic view seen at the 888 casino or take advantage of playing up to 3 games at once, which is available at the US friendly BetOnline (see my review here)
When you enter the live casino lobby, you might find only one or two version of baccarat, whereas there will be several versions of blackjack or roulette. These are typically split between the regular tables, and those for high rollers (which start with a $10 minimum bet and go up to $10,000 per hand).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Live Dealer Baccarat
Baccarat is a fast paced game and if you have ever played the virtual version you’ll know that a hand can be over in a matter of seconds. While this might appeal to some, the majority of players will enjoy the more realistic pace of the live dealer game, with the added excitement that comes with the turn of the cards - this being hard to replicate in the virtual game.
Obviously, the real life aspect gives the game a major boost. Playing with a live dealer is the closest you can come to actually visiting a casino and the social side to the games is certainly not something you’ll find at the virtual games. With many players playing each hand, there can be a sense of community at times too, especially when the ‘player’ wins and the majority have won!
Some players will have a higher level of trust in the live dealer games, assuming that the virtual games might not be as fair as they should be. While this is certainly not the case (online casinos are subject to testing and great regulation when it comes to ‘fair gaming’) these players will enjoy the fact that they can actually see the action unfold in front of them, as opposed to seeing computer generated cards appear.
The only other difference between the live dealer and the virtual games are the table limits. In general the limits will be slightly higher at the live dealer games, this because of the overheads associated with hosting the live casino. However, with many players enjoying each game at the same time, these limits will be lower than other games such as blackjack.
Recommended Live Dealer Baccarat Games
As usual the best place to play depends on whether you are US based or not.
Outside of the US
Unibet is my go-to casino for all live dealer games - and offer 2 live baccarat games. One if regular stakes (from just $1) and the other is for high rollers. These are fast, friendly games and you'll find quite a crowd at some tables in the evenings (European time). With new player promos every week, online games from many of the biggest and best software houses and the full range of live dealer titles from Evolution Gaming, Unibet Casino is hard to beat. Check out the live baccarat for yourself now at www.unibet.com
US Based Players
BetOnline has advantages in their live-dealer setup that you'll not find elsewhere. Not only can you play up to 3 different live dealer games at the same time - you'll find the original ‘Chemic de Fer’ variation of the baccarat alongside the more popular Punto Banco, with bet sizes that range from $5 to $500. BetOnline has fast become the best all-round gambling hub for US players, with easy deposits and hassle free cash outs. Check out www.betonline.ag for yourself.
.gif)
More Live Dealer Casino Games: