Live Dealer Baccarat
We carefully researched every US online casino to find the best places to play baccarat online. Read on for everything you need to know about baccarat, including how to play, the best online casino bonuses and the different types of Live Dealer baccarat available.
The Best US Online Casinos for Live Baccarat
| LIVE CASINO | START PLAYING | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
 BetOnline
|
100% up to $3,000 | Min/Max Bet: $5 – $5,000 |
Play Now! BetOnline Review |
| #2 |
 MyBookie
|
150% up to $750 | Min/Max Bet: $2.50 – $2,500 |
Play Now! MyBookie Review |
| #3 |
 Bovada
|
100% up to $3,000 | Min/Max Bet: $5 – $2,500 |
Play Now! Bovada Review |
| #4 |
 Ignition Casino
|
100% up to $1,000 | Min/Max Bet: $5 -$2,500 |
Play Now! Ignition Review |
| #5 |
 BigSpin Casino
|
200% up to $1,000 | Min/Max Bet: $2.50 – $2,500 |
Play Now! BigSpin Casino Review |
How do you play Live Dealer Baccarat online?
The first step to understanding baccarat is learning that there are only three possible outcomes for a given hand:
- Banker win
- Tie
- Player win
You’re allowed to bet on the Player, the Banker, or a tie. Two hands are dealt, one for the player and one for the banker. Note that you aren’t actually the “player” in this case. You’re simply betting on one side to win.
Each hand consists of two cards.
The winning hand is the closest to a total of 9, with a catch. Face cards and tens are worth zero points. Any hand that totals more than 10 counts only the second digit. For example, a hand with a 9 and a 4 would be worth 3 points (9+4=13, and we take the second digit of the total). If either the banker or the player scores an 8 or 9 with their first two cards, that’s called a natural win. Bets settle and the game rests.
However, there are a few extra steps to consider. The Player side is always settled first. A Player hand totaling 8 or 9 stays as it is. Same with a 6 or 7. If, however, the Player has a total of 0-5 and the Banker doesn’t have an 8 or 9, the Player hand is dealt a third card.
The Banker only draws under certain circumstances:
| Player’s third card | Banker draws third card with | Banker stays with |
|---|---|---|
| 9, 10, face card, Ace | 0-3 | 4-7 |
| 8 | 0-2 | 3-7 |
| 6 or 7 | 0-6 | 7 |
| 4 or 5 | 0-5 | 6-7 |
| 2 or 3 | 0-4 | 5-7 |
After all cards are doled out, the hand is settled based on which side one: the Banker, the Player, or a Tie.
It may seem confusing, but the good news is that betting on baccarat is very easy. There are only three bets to choose from (unless your chosen online casino has side bets).
Betting in baccarat
| Bet | Odds | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Player | 44.62% | 1:1 |
| Banker | 45.85% | 1:1 (typically with a commission) |
| Tie | 9.53% | 8:1 |
The odds and payouts above may vary slightly based on where you play online baccarat or the game variant you choose. Generally, though, these are what you can expect. You might see a Banker bet’s payout listed as .95:1. This is because betting on the banker comes with a commission for the house. You can bet on the Banker and win, but the casino takes a small cut as a commission for allowing you to place that bet.
Baccarat strategies
When you play baccarat online, you can employ a few strategies to give yourself a better chance at winning. Remember that this is gambling, after all, so you are never guaranteed a win.
| Bet the banker | This strategy is simple: always bet on the Banker’s hand. Because it has the highest chance of winning, this strategy keeps things simple and plays the odds. You could win a fair amount if the Banker goes on a run. |
| Mix things up | Betting on one side can be a bore. If you want to have a little more fun, try mixing things up. The Player and Banker hands both have solid chances of winning, so this strategy is exactly what the header implies: switch things up from one hand to the next. |
| Never bet the tie | Here’s one strategy you should always use. Never make the tie bet. It may seem enticing with its 8:1 payout, but the chances of a tie are very low, and the house edge is high. Keep it out of your baccarat betting strategy. |
How we pick the best online live dealer baccarat sites
Here are a few of the key criteria we use to review online baccarat casinos in Michigan.
Welcome bonus and promotions
An online casino should offer new players a lucrative welcome bonus. Typically these come in the form of deposit matches or loss-back bonuses. A high value and a low playthrough requirement make for a good bonus.
User experience
Loading baccarat games (or any other games, for that matter) should be fast and easy. Making deposits, placing a bet and withdrawing should be simple, too.
Live dealer options
We look for online casinos that let you play baccarat with a live dealer. All Michigan online casinos on our top list offer some form of live baccarat. The more games, the merrier.
Payment methods and withdrawals
You should have a wealth of options available for funding and withdrawing from your online casino account. Online baccarat casinos with more options get an edge on the competition.
Which casino offers the best live dealer experience?
Every casino on our list has live dealer baccarat in some form. In live dealer games, the dealer doles out the cards from a remote location, and the feed is live-streamed to your device. You can place bets and sometimes chat with other players from your device.
Baccarat isn’t quite as common in live dealer libraries as its more popular brethren, blackjack and roulette. So if an online casino has two or more live dealer games, it’s a winner. We like BetMGM and Sports Illustrated because they each have live dealer baccarat games.
How to start playing online baccarat for real money
Ready to play online baccarat? Here’s how you can sign up and get betting.
- Choose an online casino (or multiple). Download the app and/or head to the desktop site for your preferred casino(s).
- Sign up for an account by providing the requested details.
- When prompted, enable location services (mobile) or download a geolocation plugin (desktop).
- Make a deposit. Keep your deposit bonus offer in mind if you’re using a casino that has one.
- Find the baccarat game you would like to play and select it. It may take a few minutes to load if it’s your first time opening it.
- Place your bet and hope for a win.
The process is fairly simple. We recommend doing it at multiple online casinos because you can claim a bonus for each one you sign up for. Plus, you can enjoy a wider variety of games by switching between online casinos.
Online baccarat FAQ
Can you play online baccarat for free?
Yes. Many online casinos, such as Golden Nugget Michigan, will let you play demo versions of their games for free. This is an excellent way to give things a go before you put real money on the line. We recommend this for beginners who are just getting the basics of baccarat down.
How does online baccarat work?
In baccarat, two hands compete to get the closest total to 9. The Banker and the Player are each dealt two cards. A third card is drawn by certain sides under certain circumstances. After the third card(s) are drawn (if applicable) the total closest to 9 wins the hand.
Do online casinos have live dealer baccarat?
Yes. Online casinos carry live dealer baccarat, featuring a real dealer live-streamed to your device.
What is a Banker bet in baccarat?
A Banker bet is a bet on the Banker’s hand to win. This is the most likely outcome of any given baccarat hand. As a result, online casinos will often charge a commission if the Banker bet wins.
Is baccarat like poker?
No, there are virtually no similarities between baccarat and poker, beyond the surface-level comparisons (i.e. they’re both card games). Baccarat plays completely differently, offering a unique experience.
Is baccarat easy to learn?
Yes. In essence, baccarat is very simple: both sides are just trying to get close to a total of 9. There are some intricacies to the play beyond the first two cards, but the dealer will handle those. Thanks to its overall simplicity, it’s easy to learn baccarat by simply playing the game.
What is the best baccarat strategy?
Betting the Banker is the most common strategy in baccarat because the Banker has slightly higher odds of winning than the Player. There are plenty of other strategies that players employ, but betting the Banker is the simplest.
What does commission mean in baccarat?
The commission is usually attached to a winning Banker bet. In many baccarat games, a Banker bet will pay .95:1, so the casino takes a 5% cut of your winnings as a “commission” for placing a bet on the Banker, which is the most likely outcome.