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Live baccarat is the ultimate way to immerse yourself in the popular card game online. In this live baccarat casino guide, we'll cover everything from how to play to winning strategies and the best live casinos to play live dealer baccarat.
Live baccarat is the live version of the classic online casino card game that is streamed in real-time to your device from a gaming studio. It imitates the experience of playing baccarat at real brick-and-mortar casinos using HD cameras and a professional human dealer who manages bets and gameplay. In this way, live dealer baccarat online is as close to a real casino as you can get without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Unlike standard online baccarat, where you play against a computer, live baccarat captures the social element of land-based casinos as you play against other players and a real human banker. You can chat directly to them via the live chat feature, creating a more authentic and sociable experience.
Live baccarat is also more convenient than land-based gambling, as you don't need to travel to a casino to play and you get to control your environment, from music to lighting. For those of you who worry about rigging at online casinos, live baccarat is also a great choice as you get to see the action unfold in real-time, so you know exactly what is happening at all times.
Although baccarat may seem like a complex game, the rules are easy to learn, even for beginners. The game has fixed odds and three major bet types – the banker, the player, and the tie.
The banker bet has the lowest house advantage, making it one of the most popular baccarat betting options compared to other wagers. The player is the second most favourable option, followed by the tie bet, which has the highest payout potential but riskiest odds.
In live baccarat, you use virtual chips of different values to make your bet and win by predicting which hand will have the closest value to nine without going over. Cards two through nine are worth their face value, ace is worth one, while 10s and face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) are worth zero.
If a hand has a value greater than 10, the second digit counts toward the value. For example, a hand of 16 becomes a six. Hands of eight or nine are natural hands and will win a game, while hands of five or less evoke the "third card rule", where the player and dealer can choose to take another card.
If you want to move from beginner to master, you'll need to get familiar with baccarat terms. Here are the terms you'll hear flying around the table when playing live dealer baccarat:
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Baccarat | The worst hand in the game is also called baccarat (which means “zero” in Italian) and refers to a hand of zero value. |
| Banco | This is the Spanish word for “banker” or “bank” and is often an alternative term for the dealer. |
| Coup | A round in which the dealer has dealt both a banker and player hand. |
| Dealer/banker | The person who manages the game, including dealing cards to the player and banker hands. |
| Monkey | Used to identify a face card, such as a 10 or jack. |
| Natural | A hand that totals either eight or a nine from the first two cards dealt. |
| Shoe | A container that houses the decks of cards used in the baccarat game. |
Like regular online baccarat, live baccarat casino games come in different variants. While the core mechanics of the game remain the same across these versions, each has an interesting twist on standard variation. Here are some of the most popular live dealer variants you can expect to find at the top live casinos in Canada:
If you prefer to play baccarat without any distractions, single player baccarat may be for you. This exciting variant allows you to have a one-on-one game with the dealer, where you are the only player betting on the outcome. While live baccarat tables are usually multi-seat, some VIP games support single-player gameplay.
Multi seat baccarat, also referred to as multi-player baccarat, is where you have multiple seats at the table (typically up to eight) and therefore the chance to play more than one hand per round. This allows you to increase how much you could potentially win in one round, making it ideal for players strapped for time.
Imagine playing baccarat at a faster pace, with each round lasting only a fraction of the normal time. Speed Baccarat is a lightning-quick variant that has a typical betting period of 27 seconds, versus the average 48 seconds. Speed baccarat is currently offered by NetEnt and Evolution Gaming.
Another popular variant from Evolution Gaming is Baccarat Squeeze. Instead of dealing cards face-up like normal, the dealer draws them face down and will slowly fold the cards to reveal them. This does little to change the overall gameplay but does add a nice dramatic element to live baccarat.
Get the chance to win a huge jackpot with progressive baccarat. Progressive baccarat includes a side bet that can trigger a prize that grows every time a player bets on the game across different online casinos. Even if you trigger the progressive jackpot, you can still win
regular payouts.
Avoid the 5% commission when you successfully bet on the banker by playing no commission baccarat. This popular version of the game offers one of the best RTPs and what's more, you don't have to equip yourself with any new rules as gameplay is exactly the same as the standard baccarat game.
House edge refers to the casino's advantage over a player and is often expressed as a percentage. For the three major bet types, the average house edge is as follows:
You can also see how much you're expected to win when playing live baccarat by checking the return to player (RTP) percentage, which tells you how often a game pays out over a long period. The higher the RTP, the better your chances of winning. Live dealer baccarat is a game that attracts many players because it has a very high RTP.
If you place the banker bet, you can expect to win back 98.95% of your wager on average, while the player bet has an RTP of 89.64% in the standard variant. It's also important to note that the RTP on live dealer baccarat games changes depending on the variant.
Online casinos want to keep you happy by offering generous casino bonuses and promotions. New players can often take advantage of welcome bonuses and no deposit offers when the sign-up to help stretch their bankroll further. Live casinos also award existing players, offering ongoing promotions to reward their loyalty.
Not all live casino games are eligible for casino bonuses, so be sure you check the T&Cs before you opt-in. If you can use a bonus on a live dealer baccarat game, be sure to read the wagering requirements and any other terms set by the casino so you're aware of what's needed to fulfil the conditions and cash out any winnings.
Live baccarat isn't available to play in demo mode due to overhead costs such as paying to run a studio, the dealer, and streaming technology. So, before you can play, you'll need to deposit real cash at a real money online casino.
You'll find many popular payment methods available at the top casinos, including Visa, Mastercard, and Interac. Deposits are processed instantly, while withdrawals can take several business days depending on your chosen payment provider. To speed up your cashout request, make sure you confirm your identity as the casino cannot process your request without first checking your ID.
While playing live casino baccarat is the most immersive way to enjoy this classic card game online, traditional online baccarat games are also popular with online gamblers. To help you decide which version is the best option for you, we've listed the pros and cons for each below:
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| Live baccarat | Standard online baccarat |
|---|---|
| ? More social gaming experience | ? Play on your own against a computer |
| ? Play with a real human dealer | ? Enjoy free-to-play versions |
| ? Watch action as it unfolds in real-time | ? More accommodating to budget players |
| ? No free demo mode | ? Not an immersive experience as you can't watch the action unfold in real-time |
| ? Live casino games are more expensive to run so minimum stakes often higher as a result |
? Lacks a social element as playing against a computer |
While baccarat is popular with high rollers, the core gameplay is simple, making it a great choice for beginners, too. There are also steps you can take to improve skills and maximize your gameplay. Here are our expert winning tips for live baccarat:
Modern mobile casino sites are built on HTML5 technology, meaning they transition effortlessly from desktop PCs to iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices.
You can play live baccarat from your mobile browser or a native casino app if your chosen operator has one available. While the browser-based version takes up less storage space, we recommend installing a dedicated app if your online casino provides one, as it has a purpose-built UI to make navigation easier. You can also enjoy personalization features such as push notifications to receive updates on new game releases, exclusive promos, and more.
Although live baccarat is growing in popularity, only a few software developers provide the game at online casinos. Live gaming market leader, Evolution Gaming, develops the most popular live baccarat variations, but you can play offerings from other providers such as Pragmatic Play, Playtech, and Games Global.
We are meticulous in our review process and adhere to a strict multi-step to ensure we only recommend the best games and online casinos to our readers. Some of the criteria we evaluate include licensing and security, fairness, game selection, bonuses and promos, and payments and withdrawals.
Enjoy the ultimate live baccarat gaming experience at these top online casinos in Canada:
| ?? Best overall live baccarat casino | JackpotCity Casino |
| ?? Best live baccarat bonus? | Spin Casino |
| ?? Best live baccarat mobile casino | Leo Vegas |
| ?? Best for software providers | Ruby Fortune |
| :?? Best for live casino game selection | PlayOJO |
Yes, many online casinos that offer live dealer baccarat are available to Canadian players. You can play at internationally licensed operators that provide live dealer games from software developers such as Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play.
JackpotCity Casino is our experts top-rated leading live dealer casino operator in Canada. The site has a wide selection of games, generous bonuses, and strict security. You can check out our full list of recommended live baccarat casinos on this page.
You play live baccarat in real-time as the action is streamed via HD cameras as it unfolds. You also play against a real human dealer, whereas in online baccarat you play against a computer that uses RNG technology to ensure all outcomes are random.
Absolutely. Live baccarat is only available to play for real money but that's what makes them fun! Online casinos haven't made free play available on live casino games due to overhead costs such as paying to run a studio, the dealer, and streaming technology.
Yes, you can. Simply visit your favourite online casino via your mobile browser or download the casino's dedicated mobile app (if available) to play.
Live baccarat is legit, providing you play from a licensed and reputable online casino, such as those listed in our toplist which have been verified for fair gameplay and security.
No, live casino games have one-way video streams. This means you can see the dealer, but they cannot see you or the other players. You can talk with the dealer and other players via the live chat function.
We recommend checking out the recommended live online baccarat casinos on this page. Our gambling experts thoroughly reviewed these sites and can guarantee an enjoyable gaming experience.
