Live dealer baccarat is an excellent game for players who enjoy the excitement of in-person baccarat and the convenience of online baccarat. Live dealer baccarat brings the land-based casino experience to your device, wherever you are. In this guide, we’ll cover the top live dealer baccarat casinos, how to play, tips, game types, and much more.
Top Live Dealer Baccarat Casinos
Your state doesn’t currently allow real money online casinos. However, there’s good news! You can play live baccarat at sweepstakes casinos to redeem cash prizes. Take advantage of our exclusive bonuses for new players below.1 SC Daily for 5 Days On 700 GC & 400 Diamonds $29.99 Purchase 3 SC, 400 GC & 300 Diamonds on Sign Up 1200+ Slots & Live Dealer Games! FREE Daily Rewards Authentic Brand, Made in the USA 1 SC Daily for 5 Days 3 SC, 400 GC & 300 Diamonds on Sign Up 1200+ Slots & Live Dealer Games! FREE Daily Rewards Authentic Brand, Made in the USA Get 100,000 GC + 2 FREE SC on Sign Up Daily 5,000 GC + 0.3 Free SC Login Bonus Choose from 500+ Games To Claim: Click Play Now Get 100,000 GC + 2 FREE SC on Sign Up Daily 5,000 GC + 0.3 Free SC Login Bonus Choose from 500+ Games To Claim: Click Play Now 7,500 Gold Coins PLUS 2.5 Free SC on Sign Up 150% Extra Coins on 1st Purchase: GC 50,000 + SC 25 FREE for $9.99 Fast and Reliable Prize Redemptions To Claim: Click Play Now 7,500 Gold Coins PLUS 2.5 Free SC on Sign Up 150% Extra Coins on 1st Purchase: GC 50,000 + SC 25 FREE for $9.99 Fast and Reliable Prize Redemptions To Claim: Click Play Now Get 500,000 GC + 2 SC FREE on Sign Up PLUS Up to 100% Extra Coins on 1st Purchase Top Free-to-Play Exclusive Slots Games To Claim: Click Play Now Get 500,000 GC + 2 SC FREE on Sign Up PLUS Up to 100% Extra Coins on 1st Purchase Top Free-to-Play Exclusive Slots Games To Claim: Click Play Now
Gambling is for entertainment purposes only. Stay safe and ensure success when you gamble responsibly. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for confidential support. Visit SAMHSA’s National Helpline website for resources that include a treatment center locator, anonymous chat, and more.
What Is Live Dealer Baccarat?
Live dealer baccarat gives online casino players the opportunity to play like they’re in person at a retail casino. Dealers are live-streamed in from a studio at physical tables, and players place digital chips down on the table. There’s a social chat function to interact with other players, dealers can chat with the players and receive tips, and the studio offers a lively atmosphere of other dealers and tables. Live dealer baccarat is as close to traveling to the casino as you can get without actually leaving your house.
What Makes a Good Online Casino for Live Dealer Baccarat?
There are many puzzle pieces that fit together to create an excellent live dealer baccarat experience. Let’s take a close look at which online casinos are good for live dealer baccarat and why.
-
Low minimums, high maximums.
When playing any online casino game, you should be able to bet at your comfort level. Casinos that are good choices for live dealer baccarat feature a wide range of betting denominations, often much wider than you’d find at land-based baccarat tables. Thus, if you’re a beginner, you can bet very small, and if you’re a high roller, you can bet very large (sometimes up to $10,000 per game).
-
Game quality.
Make sure to hop into the live dealer baccarat rooms before you commit to playing at a specific online casino. You want to ensure a high-quality experience before you spend any money. In almost all cases, you can visit live dealer baccarat rooms before you even make a deposit, making it easy to gauge quality quickly.
-
Variety.
Variety doesn’t often come to mind when you think of baccarat. However, in the live dealer baccarat world, there is plenty of variety to be explored. For this reason, we recommend looking for an online casino that offers multiple types of baccarat (Speed, Lightning, Peek, etc.).
-
Bonus eligibility.
Of course, every online casino has control over the terms and conditions of its bonuses. While some may choose to include live dealer baccarat as an eligible game, others may not. If live dealer baccarat is not an eligible game for bonuses, that means that any bonus playthrough you must complete cannot be done on live dealer baccarat. If you’re looking to play live dealer baccarat, make sure the game is eligible for bonuses.
-
Easy deposits and withdrawals.
Our last point on what makes a good online casino for live dealer baccarat stands true for all games. Look for easy and convenient cashier options. Making deposits and withdrawals is obviously an integral part of the online gaming experience, so having payment options that work for you is important.
Types of Live Dealer Baccarat
Baccarat
Of course, those looking for the classic baccarat experience can easily hop into a regular live dealer baccarat game. This option follows typical rules and format without any surprises or added features (aside from the usual Pairs side bets).
Speed Baccarat
Live Speed Baccarat is exactly what you imagine—a regular baccarat game that is played in 27 seconds per round rather than the usual 48 seconds per round. This is great for experienced baccarat players who know how to follow the action and want more play in less time.
Lightning Baccarat
If you’re familiar with live dealer games, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with “Lightning” variants. Like other live dealer games, Lightning Baccarat introduces multipliers that may multiply winning hands by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 8x. In addition, if two or more Lightning cards are dealt to the same bet spot, those multipliers will be further multiplied.
Red Envelope
Red Envelope is one of the less common live dealer baccarat variations, but it offers enlarged payouts of up to 88x. In this variation, red envelopes may appear on a bet spot at any time and be filled with randomly generated increased payouts. If the player on a bet spot with red envelopes wins their bet, they’ll receive the aforementioned higher payouts.
Dragon Bonus
Some variations may offer the popular Baccarat Dragon Bonus. This is a side bet that pays independently of the result of the base game, which is based on the final score of the hands. If the corresponding hand wins, the bonus will pay out. The larger the difference, the larger the payout. For example, winning by 9 points pays 30:1, whereas winning by 4 points only pays 1:1.
Other Live Dealer Baccarat Variations
There are plenty more live dealer baccarat variations worth exploring. These include but are not limited to: No Commission Baccarat (no 5% commission to pay on Banker wins in most cases), Peek Baccarat (allows peeking at one to four cards during gameplay and double or triple your bet), Golden Wealth Baccarat (similar multipliers to Lightning), and more.
Live Dealer Baccarat Vs. In-Person Baccarat Vs. Online
Live dealer baccarat is a fusion of in-person baccarat and online baccarat, taking experiences from both to create a hybrid option. Let’s compare them all side-by-side.
| Live Dealer Baccarat | In-Person Baccarat | Online Baccarat |
|---|---|---|
| Can play wherever you'd like. | Must travel to retail casinos to play. | Can play wherever you'd like. |
| More variations than can be found on the casino floor. | Less variations, often regular and high-roller only. | Limited variations, but often more than can be found in land-based casinos. |
| Betting limits are more flexible than in-person and online. | Usually features higher minimum bets and lower maximum bets. | Betting limits are more flexible, but often don't stretch as high as live dealer maximums. |
| Mimics some of the in-person experience. | Offers a unique in-person experience with other real people around. | No social or in-person experience. |
How To Play Live Baccarat
-
Learn.
The first step in playing live baccarat is understanding how. You should never go into any online casino game without knowing the rules and strategies that could increase your chance of winning. We have a full guide on how to play baccarat for your convenience. Beyond reading through our guide, you should dig into the game rules of whatever variant you’re going to play.
-
Find the best online casino for you.
Now that you understand how to play baccarat, you should find a top-rated online casino that fits your interests and play style. For example, if you enjoy playing table games like live baccarat, you should ensure the casino you choose has a large live dealer catalog. If you are a casual bettor, you should look for a casino that offers low minimum bets and bonuses that aren’t always tailored to high rollers. The best place to start your search is at the table at the top of this page, which lists real-money online casinos or live dealer sweepstakes casinos based on your location.
-
Register and claim welcome bonuses.
By now, you’ve found your landing spot. It’s time to register, but before you do, click through our exclusive links and utilize any relevant promo codes to secure your welcome bonus. Then, complete the rest of the registration by providing some personal information. (Don’t worry—the real money online casinos we recommend use the same strong encryption that online banks use.)
-
Choose your live baccarat variation.
Head to the live dealer catalog and hop into some rooms to see which live baccarat variation appeals to you. If you haven’t already, now is the time to read through our “Types of Live Dealer Baccarat” section above.
-
Make a deposit.
Once you’ve found a live baccarat variation that suits you, head to the cashier and make your first deposit. You should choose a payment method that you’d like to withdraw back to when the time comes, if at all possible. Once you’ve completed the deposit, it’s time to play!
-
Play.
Live baccarat, as mentioned earlier, is a fusion of in-person baccarat and online baccarat. When you play, you’ll notice a live stream that has a real dealer on a real table. You’ll also notice controls similar to those of online baccarat, which are used to make the dealer aware of what you’d like to do next. The layout of the game is quite self-explanatory, but make sure you fully understand it before playing for real.
Tips To Play Live Baccarat
Don’t Bet on the Tie
In baccarat, betting on the banker’s hand holds the lowest house edge at just 1.06%. In a close second is betting on the player’s hand, which holds a house edge of 1.24%. On the other hand, the tie bet holds a high house edge of 14.36%, making it the worst statistical betting choice by far.
Avoid Side Bets
Unless you’re ready to tackle high volatility for a potentially large payout, side bets should be avoided. Every side bet holds a high house edge (Perfect Pair at 8.05%, Either Pair at 13.71%, Banker/Player Pair at 10.36%).
Claim Bonuses
If there are any bonuses available that include live dealer baccarat, you should consider claiming them. Read through the terms and conditions as well as the requirements to ensure bonuses won’t push you out of your betting comfort zone and are fair and attainable. We recommend reading through our full guide on casino bonus tips as well.
Play Responsibly
When playing any online casino game (baccarat included, you should ensure that you practice responsible gambling. This includes setting limits such as deposit, wager, and time limits—tools that are available at every real money online casino. Avoid gambling fallacies and chasing losses by using strategies like the Martingale.
Live Dealer Baccarat on Mobile
For players who enjoy live dealer baccarat on the go, it’s available on most real-money online casino apps. While the interface itself is smaller than it would be on a computer screen, it’s still a viable option. Online casino apps feature modified controls to make betting easy, while still showing the live stream of the dealer and table.
Should You Play Live Dealer Baccarat?
If you enjoy convenience paired with the experience of in-person baccarat, live dealer baccarat is a great option. Taking the closest thing to the land-based baccarat experience with you on your devices is an awesome opportunity to enjoy a hybrid game. For those reasons and more, we do recommend playing live dealer baccarat or at least trying it.
More Live Dealer Games
About the Author
