The Basic Online Baccarat Game Rules

In its simplest form, Baccarat is a card game played between a player and the banker, with the objective to get a score as closest to 9 as possible. Bets are placed on either your hand to win, the banker's hand to win, or a tie between the two of you. It is considered an easy casino game to learn, and it's quite fast. You start by placing your bet, then wait for the cards to be dealt. The banker deals two cards each. The value of the cards is added together and the score that’s closest to 9 wins. If the sum of the cards is greater than 9, the first digit is dropped (so if for example, you're dealt a 10 and a 7, that's 17, which means the 1 is dropped and your score is 7). There are several variants of the game, so let's take a look at these next.

Different Types of Baccarat Games

Because it is such a popular game, the best baccarat online casinos stock many different variants. Sure, baccarat may be a simple casino game on the surface. However, these different versions all offer an exciting twist on standard baccarat. We recommend checking out all the popular variants, including the following common games:

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is a very popular baccarat variant that is virtually identical to standard baccarat. Therefore, it boasts super speedy gameplay and is pretty easy to learn. In Punto Banco, you will play against the Banker only, and after making your bet, the dealer will handle the game. Regarding the house edge, Punto Banco delivers 1.17% for the Bank, 1.36% for the Player, and 14% for a Tie.

Speed Baccarat

Speed baccarat is baccarat but at a hundred miles per hour, taking the standard version of the game and turbocharging it. Regular baccarat rounds last between 45 and 60 seconds. Speed baccarat drastically reduces the time of games, allowing you to play with more hands during a session.

Single Player Baccarat

Baccarat is typically a game where multiple people sit at a table and will all make bets during a game round. Single-player baccarat is a variant where all the focus is on you. This means it will be just you and the dealer as you compete against the bank. Virtual online baccarat is typically single-player, whereas live dealer games are multiplayer.

Multiplayer Baccarat

Multiplayer baccarat is the most common baccarat configuration. You will see other players at the table, but you will not be competing against them. Each player will individually play the standard baccarat game, betting on the Player, Bank, or Tie.

Progressive Baccarat

Some online baccarat casinos will offer progressive jackpot variants, although these are rare. While the gameplay will match standard baccarat, this version provides a side bet where you can potentially win a jackpot that grows over a network every time someone bets on the game (at any online casino).

Mini Baccarat

Mini baccarat is a perfect option for beginners or players who want super-simple gameplay. As the name suggests, this is a smaller version of the game with a smaller table and lower betting limits. If you prefer to bet with a low bankroll, Mini Baccarat is an exciting choice.

Live Dealer Baccarat

Want to experience the thrill of land based casinos with the convenience of online baccarat? Live dealer baccarat is perfect for you. Many online casinos now offer live dealer games, where you’ll see a real baccarat table streaming from a remote studio. Available in many variants and streaming in high resolutions, these games have human dealers who welcome you and chat with you during games.

If you are a beginner, on a budget, or simply want to play without risk, you can play for free at many online baccarat sites. Online casinos also offer games in demo mode alongside real money gameplay. Of course, playing at a real money online casino allows you to claim bonuses, get cash wins, and have a more dramatic gameplay experience. Even so, playing for free also has plenty of advantages that you should consider before playing:

Online Baccarat Software and Payment Providers

To play the smoothest online baccarat, picking games from the top iGaming software providers will give you the best possible gameplay experience. There are many casino software developers out there, as there are online casinos. Dozens of them are excellent, but there are a collection of elite studios that are known for high-class baccarat games:

• NetEnt: Baccarat Professional Series, Punto Banco
• Playtech: Premium Baccarat, Squeeze Baccarat
• iSoftBet: Punto Banco, Baccarat
• Games Global (Microgaming): High Limit Baccarat
• Evolution Gaming: Live Baccarat, Golden Wealth Baccarat
• Pragmatic Play: Baccarat, Speed Baccarat LIVE

To get the most out of the top games above, you’ll need to deposit money to play for cash prizes. Online casinos provide a range of secure casino payment methods for depositing and withdrawing funds. When reviewing online baccarat casinos I look for those offering support for debit/credit cards (Visa, Mastercard.), e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Interac), prepaid options (PayNearMe, Paysafecard), cryptocurrency and traditional banking (bank transfer).

While baccarat is a popular game, finding specific bonuses is a challenge. Most online casinos focus their promotions on slots and other games. However, some types of bonuses can be used to play online baccarat and are available to both new and returning players. 

Whichever online casino bonus you want to claim, it is essential to read the terms and conditions carefully. Look for the wagering requirement, which is the number of times you must play through your bonus before cashing out winnings. Also, look to see if baccarat contributes to the wagering requirement because, for some promos, it will not.

Nonetheless, bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, and you can see the most popular promos below:

• Welcome Bonus - When you register with a new online casino, it will typically greet you with a welcome bonus. You can usually grab a lucrative bonus amount either automatically or through a promo code. While only available for new users, these offers tend to be the most generous.
• Deposit Bonus - This is a type of casino promo where you will gain a prize when you deposit money into your account. The casino operator will spoil you with bonus funds, free spins, or another reward. A deposit match is the most common promo where the casino matches your deposit with a bonus amount. The extra funds you get can then be used to play baccarat.
• No Deposit Bonus - As an alternative to the deposit bonus, you can occasionally find offers at online baccarat casinos that do not require you to fund your account. You may get free play, bonus funds, or free spins when you claim a no deposit casino bonus.
• Reload Promotion - You’ll often find various ongoing promotions as a returning customer at an online casino. A common example is a reload bonus, which rewards you when you “reload” your casino account by making a deposit.
• VIP/Loyalty Rewards - Loyalty programs are a casino’s way of saying thanks to its customers. Usually available to all players, you can accumulate points with every bet you make. Points help you progress through levels and claim increasingly lucrative benefits. VIP programs are similar but are by invitation only for high rollers.

The more, the merrier, even when it comes to online casino games. And Baccarat sites follow this saying, offering a range of casino games to satisfy the needs of their players. Apart from slots and jackpots, you will also find classic table games and popular live casino tables such as Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker.

Video Poker

There are plenty of variants of online video poker, all stemming from the traditional card game that has become so popular all around the globe. Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, All Aces, and many more can all be found at the top Baccarat online casinos recommended here.

Roulette

The Roulette wheel has become one of the icons of casinos worldwide. Players love this game and the anticipation they feel watching the little ball spin and waiting for it to land when the wheel stops turning. Many Baccarat casinos offer several versions of Roulette, Live Roulette, and free Roulette online, with various betting options available for each game.

Blackjack

The race to 21 has perhaps become the most popular online table game at casinos all over the world. The objective of free online blackjack is to beat the dealer by getting as close to 21 as you can. Offered as a table game or as a live table with a real person as a dealer, this game continues to grow in popularity, especially with the introduction of several variants that make the race to 21 even more exciting.

Our comprehensive casino reviews have helped countless readers find online baccarat casinos that offer a great user experience. Because we leave no stone unturned, you can use our recommendations to select a baccarat site based on your individual needs. Aside from the quality of baccarat collections, online casinos have plenty of other aspects that my colleagues and I test, including:

• Baccarat game selection: Of course, when I review online baccarat sites, the casino must offer a broad selection of baccarat games.
• Other casino games: Alongside interesting baccarat variants, we find casinos with the best casino game catalogs, including slots, roulette, poker, blackjack, and live casino options.
• Baccarat bonuses: Our casino recommendations boast generous bonuses you can easily claim. Moreover, we also find promos that cater to baccarat players.
• Licensing: You will never find an online casino on this page that does not have a license from a known regulator.
• Trustworthiness: Equally, we only list operators with a reputation for providing fair games tested independently. Our casino sites also have a track record for resolving disputes efficiently.
• Mobile capabilities: When you register with the online casinos we recommend, you can play on your mobile device through your browser or a dedicated iOS/Android app.
• Payment methods: Whether you deposit and withdraw with debit/credit cards, e-wallets, or prepaid cards, the online casinos we list provide flexible and secure payment methods.
• Customer support: We put customer support to the test by contacting online casinos to check response times and how knowledgeable live chat agents are.