If you are a baccarat enthusiast, you need not always wait to approach a brick-and-mortar casino to play your favourite game – online baccarat with live dealers will suffice. With the increasing popularity of live dealer baccarat, you can enjoy this game from anywhere around the world. Every bit of the online baccarat with live dealers will give you real-life gaming experience, especially in India where land-based casinos are banned in most parts of the country, but online gambling is legal. This exciting game with easy-to-understand rules has been a punter’s favourite for quite some time. However, it’s also important to know about live dealer baccarat before you get started on the thrilling journey of live baccarat gambling.
With its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages, baccarat is a fun and simple card game that has become one of the most popular gambling choices in casinos. Going by the traditional method, you have three betting options – player’s hand, banker’s hand, or a tie. You win the game if the bet you have placed matches the result of a particular hand. Baccarat has maintained a high level of popularity in the online gambling arena as well as in real casinos.
Uniting the perks of both the virtual and the real gambling worlds, a game of online baccarat with live dealers comes with some added advantages that are bound to make your gambling experience worth it. When you are playing baccarat in an online live casino, you will be dealt by a trained dealer just like in the real world. What’s more, the online live baccarat interface comes with a live chat option where you can seamlessly communicate with the dealer and the other players.
Online live baccarat can be streamed on your mobile smartphone, desktop PC, or tablet, with the dealer replying to you through live video streaming. There are several variations to choose from – multi-player baccarat, mini-baccarat, punto banco, and the standard live baccarat. Whichever variant you choose, some terms and ground rules are universal and can be found on the respective casinos’ website. But in general, online live baccarat is usually played with a six to eight-deck shoe.
Online baccarat variations and games
Online baccarat comes with plenty of variations. Before placing a wager, you should have a clear understanding of the differences between each type and the version you are playing. Out of the several online baccarat variations, the three most popular ones are:
Punto Banco – “Punto” means player, and “Banco” means banker. It is the most common variant that live baccarat casinos usually offer. You can wager on the player’s hand, banker’s hand, or a tie. There is a 1:1 payout for player and banker bets while tie bet payouts are higher.
Chemin de Fer – Quite similar to punto banco, this variant has a strategy aspect. It is up to the banker to decide whether to take a third card. The rest of the players bet against the banker and select a representative who decides whether to take a third card. The decision to take a third card is governed by a form of basic strategy and social sanctions.
Mini-baccarat – It is a low stakes baccarat offered by certain Las Vegas casinos. It has similar rules and odds as Punto Banco with the difference that when mini-baccarat dispenses, the players deal the cards. This makes it like live dealer baccarat.
Based on these variations, you will find several gameplay choices being offered by online casinos. Some of the popular versions include – 2 To 1 Baccarat, Asian Stud, 7 Up Baccarat, Baccarat Gold, Lucky Draw Baccarat, Super Pan 9, And Punto 2000.
Step by step guide to playing online live baccarat
The house rules of the game can prove to be a bit complex for rookies, and regulations tend to vary with each site. However, to get started, you can follow these simple steps:
Sign-up to an online or mobile casino that offers live dealer baccarat.
Make a deposit in your account through one of the many payment modes offered by the online casino.
Choose the live baccarat variation that you want to play.
Once you are in the live casino environment, the dealer will deal one hand to the player and one to the banker; you can place a bet on one of the three deal outcomes – the player winning, the banker winning or a tie.
After placing bets, two cards each will be dealt to you and the banker.
The hand, which is closest to nine, wins.Card values: Aces = 1, Face cards and 10s = 0, all other cards = face value
Also, keep in mind:
If a two-card total is 10 or more, the first digit is dropped from the sum, that is, if your first two cards are 8 and 7, the sum is 15, but the “1” gets dropped, so your sum is actually “5”.
If either hand adds to an 8 or 9, no more cards are dealt, and 9 wins unless the other hand also sums to 9. Else, the hand closest to 9 wins.
Each hand can strictly have a maximum of three cards.
What to look out for while choosing an online casino with live baccarat?
Gambling is all fun and games as long as your money and bank details are safe with the online casino and you are getting maximum gains on your wager. The quality of an online casino offering live baccarat is assessed on the basis of some important criteria:
Security – The casino site should have state-of-the-art encryption software to safeguard user data, besides necessary licensing, regulation, and customer support.
Game selection – Variety is considered to be a benchmark of a world-class online casino experience. Your chosen casino site should offer a wide array of options when it comes to baccarat games with live dealers.
Bonus scheme – Who doesn’t like fair bonus schemes and transparent terms of redemption? There are many casinos out there offering attractive baccarat relevant bonuses and promotions like welcome bonuses, promotions on table games, or live dealer casino bonuses. However, be wary of their tricky terms and conditions.
Check for extra features – Some casinos offer a basic package while some have extra features like branded tables and side bets. Go for the one with better additional software features.
The timescale of payouts – When you are playing with real money, you will want to withdraw your wins as swiftly as possible. Choose a casino operator that offers quick payouts on live baccarat. Also, make sure that they provide multiple convenient withdrawal methods.
Mobile compatibility – Gambling experience on a hand-held device can be unparalleled. Some of the best and top-rated live baccarat casinos support mobile and tablet gaming that include Android and iOS devices.
Why choose online baccarat with a live dealer?
Live baccarat played on your desktop PC, or mobile phone is so much better than the usual online baccarat that uses casino software. The virtual software can seem monotonous, and so we have listed some reasons why live baccarat online with real people is more advantageous and thrilling:
Convenience
If you do not want to leave your home, online live dealer baccarat is as close to a real casino experience as you can get. You bring the table to you, and you get to choose the lighting, music, and vibes with just a click without having to worry about driving, paying parking fees or waiting in long queues to play the game.
Real, trained human dealer
The online baccarat version lacks a core feature of the game – a real dealer. But live baccarat online has the unique feature of a real human banker who makes deals and moves in real-time through a live video stream. You can make casual conversation with your dealer and ask any queries you may have.
You can choose your dealer
Live baccarat online lets you hand-pick your dealer. You can select from trained, enthusiastic, and smart men and women who will do all the deals for you.
Reassurance
A lot of gamblers are sceptical about online casino software being rigged. Any such doubt becomes null and void when it comes to live baccarat gambling because when you are playing with a live dealer, you can see and control what is happening in real-time.
What other betting/casino guides & strategies are available?
Baccarat is quite popular and it is often termed as an easy game with the advantage sometimes going in favour of the punter. While baccarat has turned into a sensation owing to its growing popularity among players indulging in online gambling, it is hardly the only option. Wetten provides you with extensive resources on betting with detailed guides and best betting strategies for live casino dealer, blackjack rules, blackjack basic strategy and other popular casino games. If you are interested in trying out sports betting, Wetten has strategies for top sports such as cricket, tennis, football, golf and many more.
Conclusion
The gaming experience and showmanship of baccarat have been revamped with the online live dealer baccarat feature. Although very similar to a regular online baccarat game, what sets the live baccarat apart is that players get a live chat interface. The dealer answers the messages on a live video stream that every other player can hear. Live baccarat offers a fully personalized and interactive platform that makes it way more superior than its computer table counterpart. Most importantly, live baccarat can be streamed across many portable devices so that you can enjoy the best of simulated real casino ambiences right at home.
