Online baccarat is a big deal in the gambling world, and it's easy to see why. It's super fast, with tables dealing out hundreds of hands an hour. Plus, it's got one of the lowest house edges of any casino game - only beaten by blackjack!

And much like online roulette in Ireland, there are multiple variations of baccarat that each have a unique set of rules, bet types, and wager limits.

On this page, we've compiled a bettor's guide to baccarat, covering the advantages of playing, the top baccarat bonuses in Ireland, and the best online casino sites for Irish punters. So, pull up a seat and discover everything you need to know about James Bond's casino game of choice. 

Advantages of Playing Baccarat Online 

Baccarat is available at all types of irish casinos. However, there are several advantages to playing baccarat online instead of at a brick-and-mortar casino:

• Learn the rules quicker: While many players favour baccarat for having few complexities, there are still rules you’ll need to learn for each variation. It’s far easier to learn the baccarat rules by playing online in “Free Play” mode than in real-time at a busy table in a land-based casino.
• Convenience: Not only can you save yourself the hassle of getting dressed up and the cost of travelling to a casino, but there’s also no risk of not finding a seat. Unless you live on the Vegas strip, there’s a chance your local casino tables may fill up at peak times. When you play online, especially at the best rated casino apps, you’re guaranteed a seat at your preferred table at any hour of the day.
• Bonuses: You can find far more bonuses at online casinos than at brick-and-mortar venues. From sign-up bonuses to deposit matches and reload offers, you can find a baccarat bonus when you wager online.
• Mobile gaming: The birth of mobile casinos means you can wager from anywhere you like. Whether you’re lying in bed or on the morning commute, you have the chance to win big with just a tap of your finger.
• Variety and speed: When playing online, you can choose between live dealer and single-person video baccarat. Playing video baccarat eliminates any time spent waiting for other players, allowing a much more efficient hands-per-hour rate. Meanwhile, the best live dealer casinos offer additional gameplay options like Baccarat Squeeze and No Commission Baccarat.

How We Review Online Baccarat Sites

Aside from finding you the best baccarat bonuses online, there are many other factors we consider when recommending the best baccarat websites. This is not as easy a task as it sounds –  just because many sites feature baccarat in one form or another, it doesn't mean the playing experience is the same at all of them. Online poker sites in Ireland, for example, may not necessarily be the optimum venue for online baccarat, despite the fact they are likely to offer the game to players.

To really get to know what's on offer, our team of casino experts experiences the player journey first-hand by registering an account, testing out game variations, examining bet limits, requesting payouts and contacting the customer support team. 

We test every casino on the following criteria. While big baccarat bonuses are attractive, playing at a site that ticks these boxes and offers an all-round gambling experience is essential.

Baccarat Game Selection

Game selection can make or break an online casino. If the site does not offer a good variety of baccarat games, its players won’t have a good gambling experience. Our top recommended sites offer a good selection of live and instant-play baccarat games.

There are multiple variations of baccarat. Each has its advantages and will suit a different type of player. Mini baccarat, for example, can often be found on the regular casino floor and sees the dealer doing the heavy lifting. Meanwhile, Baccarat Banque is typically reserved for VIP tables and allows the player to assume the role of the banker.

The best online casinos offer several variations and bet ranges to accommodate low-stakes players and high rollers. However, the casino should not sacrifice quality for quantity. The games should have high-quality graphics and knowledgeable dealers, and be from reputable software providers.

Accessibility

If you like playing online, you'll be interested in the best online mobile casino to play baccarat on. Fortunately almost all casinos today place great emphasis on creating a fantastic mobile experience, but that wasn't always the case. Nevertheless, not all mobile site versions are equal, so our reviewers make sure that the ones we recommend are designed with mobile gaming in mind.

Online Baccarat Casino Licensing

Playing at a reputable site with a valid licence is of the utmost importance for staying safe online. Legitimate casinos in Ireland will be licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) or Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). When you wager at a licensed casino, you’re playing at a secure site with provably fair games and the latest encryption technology. Rest assured that every casino site we recommend here at akfxoqsd.shop holds a valid licence from an official regulatory body.

Customer Support for Online Baccarat Players

Every casino will have some form of customer support, whether a live chat function, email support or a dedicated FAQs page. Some Irish casinos have restricted operating hours, though plenty offer 24/7 support. The best baccarat casino sites will also have extensive responsible gambling safeguards to protect vulnerable players.

Top Baccarat Payment Methods

Feeling unprotected when making real-money deposits online will result in a bad gambling experience, which is why having a wide variety of popular and secure payment options is essential. The best Irish casinos, including those highlighted on this page, will offer a range of debit card options, alongside pre-paid cards, bank transfers and e-wallets such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Neteller and Skrill.

However, be aware that your preferred choice of method may not allow you to active bonuses. This is often the case among Neteller casinos in Ireland, for example, since the anonymity afforded customers by the e-wallet can lead to bonus abuse. As always, check the small print before making a final decision.

Trustworthiness

Alongside performing our own examinations, we assess the casino’s awards and credentials, look for confirmation of third-party testing and check how the casino treats its players regarding payout times and internal disputes. We also consider reviews that players post to peer review sites. By combining our research with existing testimonials, we can form a complete picture of the trustworthiness of a casino.

Best Baccarat Bonuses in Ireland

Most casinos aim their bonuses at slot players. While a casino welcome bonus is usually targeted at the best real money online slots, plenty of casinos offer bonus credit that you can spend on exciting table games. On the other hand, you can often find bonuses specifically for table games like baccarat. Some Irish sites even offer live casino bonuses that you can wager on live dealer games. 

It’s easy to be enticed by large bonuses. However, the terms and conditions – particularly the wagering requirements, game contributions and maximum win caps – can be more important than the bonus itself.

Deposit Bonuses for Baccarat

This casino bonus is where the casino site will either fully or partially match whatever money you first deposit upon signing up, thereby expanding your bankroll. While this is a great way to play for longer, be aware that the bonus will come with wagering requirements that you'll have to fulfil before you can claim any winnings.

Here are some of the best casino bonuses available in Ireland right now:

Online Baccarat No Deposit Bonuses

A no deposit bonus does exactly what it says on the tin: it is an incentive that casinos offer to attract new players to sign up. The promotion is usually a token gesture, consisting of a handful of free spins or a small amount of casino credit, but it’s free and doesn’t require you to make a deposit. A casino will offer this type of bonus in the hope that you’ll then make a further deposit.

Baccarat-eligible no deposit bonuses are an excellent way for players to test a casino’s game selection. If your wagers are unsuccessful, it hasn’t cost you any real money. However, if you manage to score some decent wins, you have the opportunity to withdraw your bonus funds as cash. Even if the no deposit bonus consists of free spins, you have the chance to turn it into withdrawable winnings, which you can then stake on baccarat games.

Since they’re free handouts, no deposit bonuses typically come under stricter conditions than deposit bonuses. For example, they might have a higher wagering requirement or a lower maximum win cap. 

Best Baccarat Promotions

Alongside welcome bonuses, you can find some great online baccarat promotions at our recommended sites. Some typical examples of baccarat bonuses include cashback offers (where you receive a portion of lost bets back in casino credit), reload rewards (where the casino matches a percentage of your deposit) and weekly baccarat tournaments with large prize pools. Some casinos even offer baccarat bet matches, where they will match your average bet in casino credit if you play for a certain length of time.

Always check for the best baccarat bonuses, because unlike other casino bonuses, such as free spins, special baccarat bonuses aren't as common.

Online Baccarat Tournaments

Bettors who enjoy the camaraderie of live dealer tables should consider participating in baccarat tournaments. Unlike regular baccarat games, players compete against each other instead of the dealer. These multiplayer games typically involve a buy-in fee contributing to a progressive prize pool. It is not unheard of to see six-figure jackpot prizes up for grabs. 

While it’s less common to see baccarat tournaments at slot-focused casinos, many sites focus on live game tournaments. Some casinos even offer satellite tournaments, where the prize is a seat in a larger buy-in event.

Top Live Baccarat Casino Sites and Bonuses

Live dealer baccarat is incredibly popular among Irish players. Many bettors believe it offers a more immersive and thrilling gameplay experience than instant play baccarat. With live baccarat, you play at a table alongside other bettors and can communicate with each other (and the dealer) via live chat. While all our recommended casinos offer fair games, many players prefer live dealer baccarat because they can see the croupier shuffling and dealing cards in real time. 

The online casino industry is highly competitive, and almost every Irish casino offers a welcome bonus to attract new players. While these are typically aimed at slots, some online live casinos may allow you to spend your bonus money on live games for a lower wagering contribution (typically around 10%). However, many sites offer live casino bonuses, which you can use exclusively on live dealer games and count 100% towards the wagering requirements.

In our experience, the following are some of the best live casinos to play baccarat in:

Baccarat Wagering Requirements

Unless you stumble across the elusive ‘no wagering’ bonus, any bonus you claim will likely come with wagering requirements. Simply put, this is the number of times you must wager your bonus and deposit before withdrawing any winnings as cash. The industry average for general casino bonuses is around 35x. However, it’s not uncommon to find rates as low as 20x or as high as 70x.

Knowing the wagering requirements before claiming a bonus is important, particularly regarding game contributions. Promotions that aren’t explicitly geared toward table games will often restrict how much your gameplay contributes to the requirements. Since baccarat has a low house edge, it’s unlikely it will contribute 100%.

High Stakes and Low Stakes Baccarat Casinos Online

Every table game has upper and lower limits. High-stakes games have high minimum bets and generous upper bet limits, whereas low-stakes games have minimal entry fees but lower maximum wins. The best baccarat casinos cater to high rollers as well as low-stakes players.

Games such as High Limit Baccarat cater specifically to high-rolling players. However, there are other factors that big-budgeted bettors should look out for when wagering at an online casino. Most sites will implement deposit and withdrawal limits. Although there is a little more flexibility for VIPs, it’s important to note the maximum daily and withdrawal limits before depositing at a casino. Another factor to consider is table limits, especially when using betting systems.

How to Find and Choose the Best Real Money Baccarat Casinos

All in all, there is a lot to consider when deciding where to play real money baccarat. Alongside generous bonuses, other criteria that make a top online baccarat site include game selection, payment methods, betting limits, customer support and the casino’s reputation.

This guide is designed to help you find a site that suits your style. We continually update this page whenever a brand new online casino emerges with an impressive baccarat offering, so be sure to bookmark it and return regularly for some fresh suggestions. All that’s left to do is browse through our list of recommended casinos, select the one that’s right for you, and start wagering!

Different Baccarat Game Types

Just like blackjack sites in Ireland, the finest casinos for baccarat include a wide range of variations. Each of these variants presents a fascinating twist on the game of baccarat. Here are some of the most popular versions you may want to check out:

Speed Baccarat

The traditional game of baccarat is turbocharged in Speed Baccarat. Normally baccarat rounds often last 45 to 60 seconds, whereas in Speed Baccarat rounds are typically completed in under 30. This of course allows you to play more hands in a session by substantially reducing the playing time.

Punto Banco

The popular baccarat variant Punto Banco is almost identical to traditional baccarat. As a result, it has incredibly quick gameplay and is fairly simple to pick up. However, in Punto Banco, the dealer will run the game once you place your stake and you will only play against the banker. Punto Banco offers a different house edge: 1.17% for the Bank, 1.36% for the Player and 14% for a Tie.

Multiplayer Baccarat

The most popular baccarat configuration is multiplayer baccarat. Other players will be present at the table, but you will not be competing with them. Each participant will play the normal baccarat game, placing bets on the Player, Bank, or Tie.

Single Player Baccarat

In a regular game of baccarat, several players will gather around a table and place bets simultaneously. In Single Player Baccarat, however, you are the only player is single-player. This means  only you and the dealer will be competing against the bank. Live dealer games are multiplayer, but virtual online baccarat is mainly single player. 

Progressive Baccarat

Progressive jackpot versions are available at some of the greatest baccarat sites, but they are scarce. While the gameplay is similar to traditional baccarat, this version includes a side bet that allows you to win a jackpot that rises throughout a network every time someone bets on the game (at any online casino).

Mini Baccarat

Mini baccarat is an excellent choice for novices or those seeking a basic game. This is, as the name implies, a miniature version of the game with a smaller table and lower betting limits. Mini Baccarat is an intriguing option if you wish to wager with a small bankroll.