Best Baccarat Casino Sites 2023 – Online Casinos Europe

Similar to classic games such as roulette, blackjack, and craps, baccarat is one of Europe’s most widely played table games in brick-and-mortar casinos. Its uncomplicated rule set renders it suitable for both amateur and seasoned gamblers, contributing to its growing popularity at online casinos. 

Top-Rated European Online Casinos for Baccarat Players

Choose the top EU online casinos to play baccarat or learn how to play the game using our guide.

Playing Live Baccarat With Real Dealers Online

Playing live dealer baccarat is the closest you can get to enjoy the traditional baccarat game in a real-life casino without actually stepping foot in one.

Just like land-based baccarat, the live casino version features a human dealer and lifelike tables and cards. Thanks to the excellent quality of cameras used to capture the action, you can be sure to get a close-up and clear shot of the table layout, cards, card shuffler, and dealer.

The game is streamed from the developer’s studios and relayed to your favourite gadgets in real time using powerful cameras and optical character recognition technology (OCR). The game also features a live chat box that you can use to interact with the dealer and other players, which creates a more authentic baccarat experience.

Now let’s take a closer look at the game rules, bets, payouts, and available live casino baccarat variants.

Live Baccarat Games Overview

Baccarat, sometimes known as Punto Banco, is a card comparison game whose outcome depends purely on luck. The game uses eight of 52 regular playing cards. Live Baccarat is one of the most popular live dealer games supplied by live dealers software providers such as Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, and others to the best online casinos, alongside live European roulette and blackjack games.

Evolution Gaming, for instance, first launched the standard version of the game in 2006, and the selection has since grown to different variants that are available to play for real money online:

• Classic Baccarat
• Choice of Roads
• Control squeeze
• Dragon Tiger
• Dual Play
• Lightning Baccarat
• Multi-camera
• Multiplay
• No Commission
• Optional Side Bets
• Pairs Side Bets
• Red Envelope
• Salon Privé
• Speed Baccarat
• Baccarat Squeeze

Each of the variations comes with unique features to provide you with more exciting ways of enjoying the game. All live dealer games by the provider, including baccarat live, are fully optimized for mobile. This means that you don’t have to change your settings to enhance your experience when playing on a smaller device.

Online Casino Baccarat Rules

Live Baccarat features two main bets, the player and banker’s hands, although you can wager on other outcomes, such as a tie and several side bets. The aim of Live dealer baccarat is to get a hand with a point total of nine or as close to it as possible.

The values of the cards are calculated as follows:

• The value of the Ace card is equal to 1
• Cards 2 to 9 have a value equal to their face value
• The value of face cards (King, Queen, and Jack) and 10 is zero (0)
• When adding the value of a hand, any count equal to 10 or more is reduced to the value of the right digit
• If the player position is dealt cards 2 and 9, for example, the hand’s value will be 1
• The first draw is always for the player position.

Live Baccarat Betting Options and Limits

In order to play live real money baccarat, players must place their bets before the beginning of each round, just as in every other live online casino game. The offered wagers are shown on a table at the bottom of the screen, and below the table are multiple chips representing various bet denominations.

The bet limits for most online baccarat games are usually displayed in the left-hand corner. The typical game’s lowest and maximum stakes are between 1.00 and 5,000 EUR or equivalents in other currencies, though these limits may differ from one online casino site to another.

To place your real money bet, select a chip denomination and then click on one of the betting options. The wagers available are player, banker, tie, and side bets. Keep in mind that all bets must be placed before the timer at the bottom of the screen runs out.

How to Play Baccarat Live Online

Now that we have looked at the basic rules of live dealer baccarat, it’s time to look at the gameplay and how to win in online live baccarat.

• Video source: wikihow.com — How to Play Baccarat

As earlier mentioned, the first draw in online casino live baccarat is for the player’s hand. This position gets two face-down cards. The banker’s cards are also drawn facing down before the comparison starts. Depending on the value of each hand, the dealer can draw a third card for the player and banker.

Each draw will result in one of the following:

• The player or banker wins if they get a hand with a total value of 9 or 8 (this is called a natural win)
• When the point value of the cards is 6 or 7, the player stands
• The dealer will draw a third card for the player if the hand’s value is 0 to 5
• Depending on the value of the player’s third card, the dealer might draw a third card for the banker’s position as well

Sometimes, although rarely, the player and banker may get hands with equal value. This outcome is known as a push or tie. Bets placed on player and banker do not win or lose if the game round ends in a tie. However, bets placed on the tie option will win.

Live Casino Baccarat Payouts and RTP

One of the many advantages of playing live dealer baccarat is that everything you need to know about the game and its payouts is displayed on the screen:

• The player bet pays even money (1:1), which means that you receive winnings equal to your stake if this hand wins;
• The banker bet pays slightly lower at 95% (0:95:1) due to the house’s 5% commission payment;
• The payout rate of the tie bet is 8 to 1, meaning that if you select this wager and the round ends in a tie, your total payout will be 9x the bet;
• Despite the lucrative payout, wagering on a tie is a considerable risk that most seasoned live baccarat players are unwilling to take;
• This is because the odds of the tie bet winning is relatively low (9.6%) when compared to the banker (45.8%) and the player (44.6%)

The theoretical return-to-player in live online baccarat is over 98.50%, and the average RTP of the three main bets is as follows:

• Player: 98.76%
• Banker: 98.94%
• Tie: 85.56%

As you can see, compared to other top online casino games in Europe, such as slots, which can have a house edge as high as 16% ( RTP = 84%) or more, live online baccarat has a significantly lower house edge of just around 1.06%.

Live Baccarat Side Bets

Besides the standard wagers, Evolution’s live baccarat features several side bets. The player and banker pairs are the most common of these wagers and can be found on every table. These wagering options not only make the game more exciting and thrilling, but they also offer higher payouts.

Let’s take a closer look at these pair bets and more side wagers available in online live casino baccarat.

Popular Live Casino Baccarat Variations

There are several exciting and innovative ways to enjoy live casino baccarat. In addition to the standard game version, the live casino software providers have released other variants, most of which are available at all the top live casinos online.

Here are some of the most popular variations by one of the leading gambling companies, Evolution Gaming, and what makes each of them unique.

Red Envelope Baccarat Live Bonus

The Red Envelope Bonus is a special bonus generated randomly in live baccarat by Evolution Gaming. This bonus can appear on the tie, banker, or player spots on the screen in any game variation except Lighting Baccarat and Dual Play. The Red Envelopes enhance your payouts by up to 88x. Up to three bonus envelopes can appear during a game round.

Top Tips for Playing Baccarat Online

Play only at reputable baccarat casino sites:

First and foremost, you want to ensure that any casino site you play at is reputable (we only recommend online casinos that are licensed and popular with players).

Play smaller stakes:

Starting with smaller stakes is a good idea when you first start playing baccarat online. Once you’ve gained a better understanding of the game, you can increase your stakes.

Learn the baccarat rules:

Make sure you know the baccarat rules before playing for real money! Fortunately, learning the rules is fairly straightforward. You can find out all you need to know in our comprehensive guide.

Keep track of your bankroll:

When playing baccarat online, you should keep track of your bankroll! Only bet what you can afford to lose, and set yourself a budget. That way, you can enjoy the game without risking your finances.

Claim baccarat bonuses:

As a rule, top online casino baccarat sites offer bonuses that can also be used on baccarat games. These bonuses can boost your bankroll and provide more extended playtime, potentially giving you a chance to win big. Just make sure you check the terms and conditions of any bonus before claiming it.

In addition to the foregoing, we recommend that you practise before playing baccarat online for real money. In this respect, most of the best baccarat online casinos provide demo versions of the baccarat games, usually found under the “Table Games” tab, so you can get a feel for the game before risking your own cash.

Live baccarat, however, cannot be played for free due to the nature of live online gaming. Therefore, the casino table games available for free play are computer-based versions of live baccarat created by Microgaming, NetEnt, Irondog Studio, Habanero, iSoftBet, Mascot, Quickfire, and 1×2 Gaming.

FAQs Related to Online Baccarat

What is baccarat?

Baccarat is a popular card game with a low house edge found in real land-based and online casinos. This gambling game has three popular variations: punto banco (or “North American baccarat”), baccarat chemin de fer (or “chemmy”), and baccarat Banque (or “à deux tableaux”).

What is the objective of the game?

The objective of baccarat is to place a wager on the hand that you believe will score the highest. The hands are scored as follows: the player hand (“punto”) is scored first, and the banker hand (“banco”) is scored second. If the Player’s hand scores higher than the Banker’s hand, then the Player wins; if the Banker’s hand scores higher than the Player’s hand, then the banker wins; and if both hands score the same, it is a tie.

What are the different types of bets in baccarat?

Baccarat has three types of bets: the player bet, the banker bet, and the tie bet. The player bet pays 1 to 1 (i.e., you win €1 for every €1 you bet), the banker bet pays 19 to 20 (i.e., you win €0.95 for every €1 you bet), and the tie bet pays 8 to 1 (i.e., you win €8 for every €1 you bet).

What is a baccarat shoe?

A baccarat shoe is a device that holds decks of cards. An online baccarat game will typically use six or eight card decks, which are shuffled together and then dealt out of the shoe.

What is a baccarat commission?

A baccarat commission is a fee charged by the casino on winning banker bets. This fee is typically 5% of the winning bet, but it can vary depending on the casino.

What is the minimum bet in online baccarat?

The minimum bet varies by casino, but it is usually around €1. Most casino sites have a maximum bet limit of €5000 per hand, but those looking to play high-stakes baccarat can usually do so at the Salon Prive Baccarat tables.

What are the odds of winning in baccarat?

The odds of winning depend on which variant of baccarat you are playing and what bets you are making. In punto banco, for example, the house edge on banker bets is 1.06%, while the house edge on player bets is 1.24%. In baccarat chemin de fer, meanwhile, the house edge on banker bets is usually around 1.2%, while the house edge on player bets can be as low as 0.9%.

How do baccarat online casino sites work?

The functionality of baccarat online casino sites is similar to that of other online gambling sites. Players create an account, deposit funds, and then use those funds to play games like baccarat. When they win, their winnings are deposited into their account, and they can withdraw them at any time.

How many cards are used in live casino baccarat?

Six to eight decks of cards are used in most live casino baccarat games. The cards are shuffled together and then dealt out of a shoe.

Can I play online casino baccarat for free?

Yes! Many online casinos provide demo versions of their baccarat games so that players can practice before wagering real money. However, due to the nature of live online gaming, these games cannot be played in real-time with real dealers for free. Instead, players can try out electronic versions of NetEnt or Microgaming’s Quickfire baccarat games for free.

What is the difference between online and offline baccarat?

The main difference between online and offline baccarat is that online baccarat involves electronic or live dealer versions of the game, whereas offline baccarat uses real cards dealt by a real dealer. While both types of games offer similar odds and payouts, some players prefer the excitement of playing with a live dealer in a real casino.

Which casino has the best online baccarat software?

All of our listed online casinos for baccarat have a selection of the best software providers in their games lobbies. However, which one of them is superior is a difficult question to answer because there are many excellent software providers available, each with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Evolution Gaming, Playtech, Vivo Gaming, Pragmatic Play Live, Lucky Streak, and Ezugi are widely considered the most popular casino/gambling developers that offer live baccarat solutions.