Live dealer games offer an immersive online experience. Why play cards against a faceless computer when there are online casino games that feature human dealers and human players?
Amongst the best live dealer games are many live baccarat titles. This guide will explain how to play live baccarat, with details on the differences from traditional baccarat, plus some info on what makes live dealer baccarat stand out from the competition.
How to Play Live Baccarat
Part of the appeal of live dealer games is their accessibility. Live baccarat rules are the same as single-player baccarat rules: bet on the banker’s hand, the player’s hand, or a tie.
The dealer passes out two cards to each hand, then follows a set of rules to determine whether each hand receives a third card. Then, hands are totalled according to their printed values (in baccarat, aces are worth one while tens and face cards are worth zero), and the tens-column is dropped from the initial total (for example, a 12 becomes a two) to get the final hand value. Whichever hand is the highest wins.
The key difference in live dealer baccarat is the live interface. A real, human dealer is sitting in a physical studio addressing online players. The dealer’s actions are live-streamed to computers and mobile devices across Canada as players tune in to place their bets. Gameplay proceeds in real time using real cards.
Many players enjoy the human touch in live dealer games, whether it’s live baccarat or live blackjack. Viewing a game conducted by a real dealer while playing alongside other real players recreates the feeling of sitting at a land-based casino’s baccarat table. And gameplay is smooth and easy to learn.
Placing Bets
In the user interface of a given baccarat game, there will be a button for each of the basic types of bet: banker, player, and tie. Players can also set a wager amount. Clicking a bet button will place a wager equal to that amount. Repeat clicks will stack on more wagers of the same size.
Several live dealer games use a stoplight system to inform players when the betting period is open (green), about to close (yellow), or has closed for the hand (red). Be sure to place any bets before the light turns red. Other games may use pop-ups or different indicators when betting closes.
Odds and Payouts
The majority of live baccarat online uses the default odds, though it’s always worth checking each title. In the corner or in a menu will be an info button that gives details on the odds for a given baccarat title. Compare these to the default baccarat odds and payouts below:
| Bet | House Edge | Payout |
| Banker bet | 1.06% | +95 (after casino takes 5% commission) |
| Player bet | 1.24% | +100 |
| Tie bet | 14.40% | +800 |
In the case of a winning bet, payouts are calculated automatically by the game software and paid to the lucky player. This differs from in-person baccarat, where a human dealer would calculate and distribute winnings themselves. In live dealer baccarat, the dealer only handles the cards, never chips or other cash proxies.
Scoreboard
A scoreboard is often featured on-screen near the play area, or can be viewed with the click of a button. This is updated in real-time with the results of previous hands. Baccarat scoreboards are a nice way to verify banker and player bets are winning around the same amount, which is a sign of fair odds, but don’t assume a streak of winning bets will continue. Every hand is equally random with no impact from previous hands. Players may want to consider baccarat tips and strategies to ensure they’re properly prepared.
Features of Online Live Baccarat
With an idea of how a hand of live baccarat will progress, learn more about what unique features are available in baccarat live dealer games.
Live Shuffles
The live dealer will manually shuffle, or use a machine shuffler, to mix up the baccarat cards live on camera. Some players prefer this over a random number generator (RNG) shuffle because some prefer to see the physical cards used in the game. After shuffling, all the cards are placed in a shoe for drawing. As the cards are dealt, optical character recognition (OCR) tools read the cards and convert them into data that’s transmitted to the player.
Live Chat
With so many real players in the game at once, the urge to converse is natural. That’s why live dealer games include a live chat function so players can engage with each other in real time.
The dealer is also able to read chat, and will often respond to comments directed their way. Remember to always be polite and courteous to other players and the dealer. Everyone is here to have fun, and rude behaviour may lead to a ban.
Rules Variants
Live baccarat games come in many shapes and sizes, just like many other online casino game variants, with software developers taking advantage of the digital medium to add in new twists. Some of these may be popular baccarat side bets also seen in non-live titles, but many introduce entirely new game mechanics.
A common variant is speed baccarat, which is played at a much faster pace to move through hands more quickly. Other games apply payout multipliers, where random cards get a boosted multiplier each round that players can claim if they bet on a winning hand that includes one such card.
Squeeze baccarat is also popular. In this variant, the dealer slowly reveals key cards in a camera close-up, raising the tension and creating suspense for each hand.
No matter what rules sound most appealing, live dealer baccarat is known for its variety of titles, so that every player can find a table they belong at.
