Live Dealer Baccarat Online

Ready to experience live casino games in a digital setting? If you’re looking to play baccarat online, this comprehensive guide will spell out the basics of baccarat and how to ante up in our live dealer games. So, if you’re ready to mix it up with real dealers and have some fun, scroll down for our…

theclubhousecasino - February 23, 2023

How to Play Live Baccarat

Live dealer baccarat is a card game where the aim is to bet on whether one of two hands will win or tie. The two hands in play are the Banker and the Player. A live baccarat game starts with a bet. After that, the Banker and the Player receive two cards each.

The hands are scored and the one that’s closest to a total of 9 wins. We’ll explain the scoring system for live baccarat in a moment. For now, just know that the aim of live baccarat online is for one hand to hit a top total of 9.

Unlike blackjack where you can control the actions of one hand, you’re an outside observer when you play baccarat online live games. That means you’re simply betting on a possible outcome and watching the action unfold.

The outcomes you can bet on in a baccarat live casino game are:

The Player’s hand wins
The Banker’s hand wins
A Tie

The result is determined by the value of each hand. As per the rules of live dealer baccarat, hands are scored based on the value of each card. Because the maximum score is 9, the following system is used to value each card:

J, Q, K, 10 = 0 points
Aces = 1 point
All other cards = their face value e.g. a 4 is worth 4 points

The other nuance to baccarat’s scoring system is that scores of 10 or more only focus on the second digit. In other words, the digit on the left is ignored. So, if a hand’s total is 12, the 1 is dropped and the score is 2.

Baccarat Drawing Rules

The final step in the hand of live dealer baccarat is the draw. If a hand scores 8 or 9 with two cards, the round is over. If, however, neither hand hits a winning total, more cards are drawn from the deck. Depending on the hand and table dynamics, the drawing rules differ:

Live Baccarat Drawing Rules for the Player Hand

Score	Action
8 or 9	The player wins unless the Player has the same hand, in which case it’s a tie
6 or 7	The player doesn’t draw
0-5	The player draws unless Banker has 8 or 9

Live Baccarat Drawing Rules for the Banker Hand

Score	Action
8 or 9	Banker wins unless Player has the same hand, in which case it’s a tie
7	The banker doesn’t draw a card
6	Banker draws if Player’s third card is 6 or 7 – they don’t draw if the Player’s third card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9
5	Banker draws if the Player’s third card is a 4, 5, 6 or 7 – they don’t draw if the Player’s third card is 0, 1, 8 or 9
4	Banker draws if the Player’s third card is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 – they don’t draw if the Player’s third card is 0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9
0-3	Banker draws if Player doesn’t have 8 or 9

Piecing all of the above elements together gives you a game where two hands are aiming to make the best total through a process of drawing cards. As the player, you’re betting on a Banker win, a Player win or a tie.

So, even though it’s important to know the drawing rules, they don’t matter in an online casino live baccarat real money game because the dealer handles everything. That means you can sit back, make your bets and enjoy live baccarat via your computer or mobile.

Live Baccarat Odds & Strategy

Understanding the basic rules of live dealer baccarat is important, but you also need to know the odds before you make a bet. Why? Because there are a few things that could influence your decision. Firstly, the payouts for a live baccarat game are:

The Player hand wins = 1:1 payout
The Banker hand wins = 1:1 payout (-5% commission)
A Tie = 9:1 payout

The standard baccarat payouts include a 5% charge on winning Banker bets. So, even though you get paid even money (1:1), you do have to give up 5% of your profit. That suggests that betting on the Player’s hand could be better because you win more.

In reality, the opposite is true. Because of the drawing rules and game dynamics, the Banker hand actually has better baccarat odds than the Player hand. Specifically, the odds on each outcome in a live baccarat game are:

Banker win = 45.86% chance of winning
Player Win = 44.62% chance of winning
A tie = 9.5% chance of winning

As you can see, the Banker has a slight edge. This edge is reduced slightly when you factor in the 5% commission payment. However, even when this charge is factored in, the Banker’s hand still offers better odds.

Based on this, it makes sense to focus on the Banker’s hand when you’re formulating a live dealer baccarat strategy. Betting on this hand doesn’t mean you’ll always make a profit. However, in the long run, it’s a better proposition than the Player’s hand or a tie.

If you combine this live baccarat strategy with bankroll management (i.e. not betting more than you can afford), you’ll give yourself the best chance of winning. Again, nothing is guaranteed, but these are the things you can do to improve your potential when you play baccarat online live games.

Live Baccarat Online vs Video Baccarat

The best online live dealer baccarat games connect you to trained individuals who oversee the action. To put it another way, the difference between video baccarat and live baccarat online is the way cards are dealt.

Video baccarat games are controlled by random number generators (RNGs). That means the results are determined by sophisticated algorithms designed to mimic what happens on a live table. In live casino baccarat games, the cards are dealt by people.

This means you can see the action play out in real time. Moreover, it means you can interact with the dealers and other people at the table. This creates a more immersive, engaging experience that a lot of players prefer.

Live Baccarat FAQs

Is live dealer baccarat online fair?

Yes. You get to see the cards being dealt in real-time, so you know everything is legit. Additionally, live baccarat software is tested and certified as fair by third-party agencies.

Can I win cash prizes playing baccarat live casino games?

Yes. As long as you make a real-money bet, you can win cash prizes. Our online live baccarat real-money games cater to all bankrolls, so you should be able to bet in a way that suits you.