Your Ultimate Guide to Playing Baccarat Online 2023

Now, we briefly examine the origin of the game. Like most other popular casino games, the game of Baccarat was created in Europe. According to most historians, the game was played in Europe back in the 10th century. According to most historians, the game of Baccarat originated in Italy while it was refined in France in the 14th century. From Europe, the game of Baccarat was brought to North America and this is where the game’s rules were modernized further.

The word “Baccarat” when translated from Italian means zero. During the early days and later, the game of Baccarat included one interesting rule. According to this rule, all Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings were valued at zero. This is the rule used in modern Baccarat games today.

What is also interesting to note regarding the origin of the game is its popularity among the French Royal Families. Back in the day, the game of Baccarat was called Chemin de Fer and this version of the game was very prominent until the French revolution. When the game was brought to other European countries, it was called Punto Banco. The game of Punto Banco has a loyal fan base.

When it comes to the game’s arrival on the American continent, it gained popularity in the USA after the Great Depression. As previously mentioned, back then the game was called Punto Banco. During those early days, Baccarat was usually enjoyed by the upper class.

With the rise of online casinos, the game of Baccarat found its way into the hearts of iGaming fans and enthusiasts, just like other popular casino games. Today, online casinos offer different online Baccarat variants, including Mini Baccarat. The game is equally popular at land-based casinos, especially those located in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

As briefly covered in the previous section, the game of Baccarat has both Italian and French rules so there is no wonder why many terms used in the game come from these languages. Some of the popular terms used in the game have been derived from when the game came to the American continent.

Banker: Betting on the Banker is one of the three main wagering options you have. Winning Banker bets feature even payouts of 1 to 1 excluding the commission that many casinos take on Banker bets. In some regions, Banker betting is called Banco betting.

Baccarat: Baccarat refers to the Player’s hand whose value is zero. This is not something you strive for while enjoying your gaming sessions.

Dealer: The dealer is the person dealing with the cards during gaming sessions. The dealer is also called the croupier.

Coup:  Coup refers to a single round of Baccarat, including both the hand of the Banker and the Player.

Natural: Having Natural means getting the first two cards which are valued at nine or eight.

Mini Baccarat: Mini Baccarat is a very popular Baccarat variation played online. When compared to standard Baccarat games, Mini Baccarat has lower staking limits. In this game, the croupier also draws all cards.

Run: Run refers to making a simultaneous wager on the other winning hand.

Player: Betting on the Player is one of the three main wagering options in Baccarat. Payouts for winning Player bets deliver even money rewards of 1 to 1. Player betting gives the casino an advantage of around 1%. In some games, Player betting is called Punto.

Tie: Tie betting is the third wagering option in Baccarat. Winning Tie bets deliver payouts of 8 to 1. While payouts are significantly higher, Tie betting comes with a massive 15% house edge.

Standoff: Standoff is when the Player and the Dealer have the same cards.

Now, we discuss the rules of the game. When played at land-based casinos, one Baccarat gaming round can feature up to fourteen players. The game of Baccarat usually features up to eight standard card decks. No matter which Baccarat variant you play, Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kinds are valued at zero. When it comes to Aces, they are valued at one while the remaining cards have their face value.

Every Baccarat gaming round starts the same with all players seated at the table making their bets. There are three betting options, betting on the Banker, Player, or a Tie. Once all players have made their decision, all players receive their first two cards, including the Banker. When playing Baccarat, the hand total cannot exceed nine.

So, when you have a total that is above nine, only the second digit counts. In addition, extra cards are not taken when the card total is eight or nine. When it comes to the dealer shoe, it goes clockwise at the table, like in Poker and Craps. It should be noted that the dealer shoe does not move when the Banker wins the hand.

These are the common rules shared among all Baccarat variants. However, in Mini Baccarat, the cards are dealt slightly differently. Other than this, the rules are the same as when playing other Baccarat games. It should be noted that Mini Baccarat games usually feature six standard card decks.

Since the game of Baccarat is one of the simplest casino games you can play online, there are not many winning strategies you could employ to boost your winning odds. As covered in the previous section, during each gaming round, you have two betting options, you can bet on the Banker or on the Player. Both betting options deliver even money payouts at the begging. At the same time, winning Banker hands come with a 5% commission.

One of the most important things to remember regarding your gaming strategy is your budget. Since you are playing with your real money on the line, you want to be very careful when making bets. The best option is to have a budget set before you start playing and stick to your budget no matter what happens during your gaming sessions. Online Baccarat is an exciting game with great winning potential but at the same time, losing is inevitable.

If you want slightly different online Baccarat gaming sessions, you may want to play Chemin de Fer or Baccarat Banque. These are very exciting French Baccarat variants with great winning odds. When it comes to playing the game at land-based casinos, you mostly come across Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque tables, alongside other popular variants.