It would be wrong to consider baccarat live dealer games as the third wheel in the classic live casino trio. It did not catch on as much as roulette and blackjack did, but contrary to popular opinion, the rules are not complicated, and it offers an excellent casino gaming experience.
Live baccarat is about getting the real-life casino feel without a land-based lobby's noise and loud music. UK web streams are broadcast from gaming studios that run round the clock. Connected through integrated software, players remotely move chips and place bets. Baccarat Live dealers speak into the camera, and players respond through the live chat system on the casino.
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Card games were reserved for the bourgeoisie in medieval times, and baccarat was not exempted from this tradition. Created by Italian aristocrat Felix Falguiere in the 1400s, the first mention was in the southern European country.
Originally coined "baccara", meaning "zero", the game later adopted the French spelling "baccarat", by which it is widely known today. For over 500 years, the base game has remained unchanged.
It migrated to the UK and then to the Americas, where Punto Banco, a game variant, was developed (more about this variant later). It did a complete 180 with the onset of the online casino and the abolishment of class segregation.
Nowadays, the rights reserved to the aristocrats are now open to all players granting access to live baccarat from any casino in the UK.
The game has an aura of sophistication, and to some members of the UK online casino public, baccarat is still considered an exclusive option for the elite and high-rollers.
Newcomers to live dealer baccarat can pick up the basics of the game in no time because it is very simple and straightforward. Playing baccarat live is one thing, but starting on a good foundation is another.
Reputation is not just baseless talk. It can make or break an online casino, and in the same way, your casino gaming experience. The purpose of reviews is to save you the trouble of falling prey to scam operators. Remember that you are looking for a licensed baccarat UK live casino with efficient customer support and quick payment processors.
Once you have made up your mind, sign up with the UK live casino of your choice. The process should be quick and easy, only taking up a couple of minutes.
Live dealer games are not available in demo mode, so the only way to play baccarat live is to make a deposit. You can fund your account using any of the payment solutions available on the casino site.
Different versions are featured on UK online casinos, so you need to select the variant you would like to try out. Choose a spot at any open tables, choose your bet size, and place a bet.
The classic table game uses playing card decks. The cards are placed in a device called a "shoe", and the dealer draws them out in each round. The live baccarat table can host up to 12 players. The possible outcomes are a player win, a banker win or a draw.
Playing live baccarat requires you to know the card values. Ace is valued at 1; all number cards carry their face value, while tens, jacks, queens, and kings count as 0.
There is a counting table for when to deal a third hand, but generally, In Live baccarat, if any side has a hand total equal or less than 5, a third card can be dealt.
The betting window opens, and in most casinos, it lasts for about 20 seconds. At this point, you can place your bet. Two cards are dealt to each side of the table.
Note that the terms Player and banker refer to the parties to bet on; they do not refer to you or the casino.
The side bets in UK live baccarat are some of the most interesting out of all casino games. These bets have a higher house edge because the returns are in higher multiples of the stake.
Player/Banker pair - Here, you are betting that the first two cards dealt to the player or banker will be a pair.
Either pair - This bet is similar to the one cited above. But you are betting on any one of the two hands to be a pair.
Perfect pair - You are placing a bet on the initial two cards, forming a pair of the same suit; for example, a hand containing two 8 of spades. It works for both sides.
Small & Big - The small bet wins if the total of the cards dealt on the table is 4, and Big wins if the total equals 5 or 6. These side bet options were developed by a top casino software company, Playtech.
Interacting with people in baccarat live games is as realistic as it gets. You see the action going down in real-time. You can also chat with the live dealer and other players connected to the casino.
Other benefits of the live casino include:
RNGs (Random Number Generators) are losing the trust of some UK casino enthusiasts who are sceptical of the randomness of outcomes despite the approval of these systems by independent audits. Live dealer casino games are viewed in a different light because you witness the game's results, so there is no room for doubt.
Live Baccarat has a high variance in table limits, allowing all levels of UK players to have a chance at it. Live baccarat tables allow bets as low as £1 to as high as £25,000. The house edge stands at 1.06% for the banker bet and 1.45% for the player bet. The draw is a lot more in favour of the house going as high as 14%.
Arguably the highest RTP for any table game and UK casino games in general. Live baccarat has an RTP of 98.94%, and this figure is not conditioned by the variant you choose.
Besides the thrill of gameplay, playing baccarat live in the UK represents innovation. Thanks to modern technology, software by top providers like Evolution and Playtech provide HD streaming, multi-angle views, and replays.
Some of the top UK online casinos offer a selection of dealers for you to pick from and other customizable features.
The mobile casino is most UK online casinos is optimized for viewing on Smartphones, Tablets and other portable devices. This allows you to play on the go and at your convenience. Some of the top UK online casinos offer a selection of dealers for you to pick from and other customizable features.
You can't change up the rules and still maintain the original concept of baccarat, so there aren't many versions of this casino game. As far as rules go, the main variants are Punto Banco and Chemin De Fer.
Punto Banco came to light in Cuba after being adapted to the local casino culture. The difference is that there is a fixed dealer in Punto Banco, while Chemin De Fer is a much older live baccarat option offering variable dealer options. Here, players take turns as the dealer, and they effectively bet against each other.
Based on the Punto Banco version, newer casino variants are available on UK online casinos.
As the name suggests, this is a miniaturized casino version of the classic baccarat. The table is simplified, it does not offer as many side bets, and the number of seats is limited. It is played with fewer decks and has a higher house edge on UK casinos. To compensate, it allows very low limits.
Being optimized for a smaller screen, live mini-baccarat is perfect for mobile casino play.
Higher maximum and minimum limits characterize this live baccarat variant. As with everything VIP, it is exclusive and allows special privileges, including facilitated payouts, lucrative casino bonuses and enhanced odds.
Evolution Gaming added an exciting twist to the classic casino game. In baccarat squeeze, one card is placed face down on the table, and the dealer slowly reveals it to players by bending the edges, exposing it bit by bit. The squeeze serves up just the right amount of suspense, and no alterations are made to the rules.
Do you enjoy playing baccarat but are tired of the same old game?
Evolution Gaming has ten different variations of live dealer baccarat online, and Lightning Baccarat adds a lot of excitement to the game.
Lightning Baccarat is the same as punto banco, except it has a lightning multiplier option. Before starting to deal cards and after bets have been placed in gameplay, an exciting random number generator will choose between 1-5 possible card combinations with their corresponding multipliers 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 8x.
If you happen to get two or three multiplier cards in one hand, each of the multipliers will be multiplied before being applied to your payout. This adds an extra sense of excitement and anticipation for players looking forward to getting a huge payout.
Baccarat, Blackjack, and Roulette are casino alternatives, and UK bettors quickly substitute one for the other. Live baccarat games, however, are often left out by many casino gamers. Blackjack, for one, is rather challenging mentally, while baccarat requires practically no thought process.
On the other hand, roulette is not a card game and is the riskiest out of the three because the win ratio is low. Live baccarat is a simple guessing game and offers better chances to win.
When it comes down to it, strategies do very little to help with this card game because there is no skill to be applied here. Nonetheless, there are strategies that experts claim can minimize your losses in the long run, theoretically. The Martingale Baccarat system and the Fibonacci baccarat system are two progressive strategies. You have probably heard of them as an avid gambler, but for those who are oblivious to the terms, these betting systems tell you to increase your stake after a loss.
The Paroli Baccarat system is the third strategy and is the opposite of the first two mentioned above. Here, you will double your wager after every win.
The UK live casino games progress at a much slower pace than the software-based alternatives. There is no autoplay feature when playing live baccarat, and the dealer dictates the actions to be made. However, UK punters will benefit from more than a few advantages, including the low house edge, different table limits and provably fair gameplay. The slower pace lets you take the time to build your bets rather than getting caught up in the moment and drilling through your budget.
The live casino section is the future of the online gaming industry. The baccarat variant on most live casinos is the Punto Banco with a single dealer. The elegance behind the classic game is replicated in live baccarat.