Step into any casino, and you will find an elegant crowd around the baccarat table. Baccarat has been around for centuries, and its hook remains due to its simple gameplay and its consistent gameplay. Unlike other games like roulette, baccarat has remained unchanged.
With the dawn of online casinos, classic baccarat continues to win over new legions of devoted players. Discover in this guide all the splendid reasons why baccarat is still the king for casino players.
Very Easy to Learn and Play
Even though baccarat might seem intimidating, it’s actually the opposite. Compared to other popular card games like poker, baccarat is far easier to learn for beginners. And unlike blackjack, you don’t have to worry about busting playing baccarat.
Without this additional burden, it becomes that much easier for beginners to unwind and enjoy themselves. For more seasoned players, baccarat also affords the luxury of using time-tested betting strategies like the Martingale and Paroli to help manage budgets.
The Fantastic Live Dealer Experience
While roulette and blackjack usually dominate the live dealer experience, the classic Punto Banco game remains the centerpiece. Punto Banco is the most widely played version of baccarat around the world and at online casinos.
Thanks to today’s incredible technology, playing Punto Banco has never been more exquisite. With live dealer play, sit back and unwind at home with an authentic live dealer experience that rivals the top casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.
As additional perks, playing live dealer play is the chance to chat with the banker managing the game. Also, playing live dealer baccarat allows the chance to interact with the game table and make precise bets to signal to the banker. This style of betting greatly reduces making false bets.
A Truly Glamorized Game
Of all the casino games, you can make winning bet that baccarat has been the most glamorized and romanticized. Hollywood films especially like to display baccarat as the ultimate chic and elegant card game. It’s no mystery that the rise of baccarat games at casinos took place with the James Bond movies, giving an extra dimension and flair.
Tremendous Betting Flexibility
Any serious casino game player makes betting decisions based on the RTP and house edge. The beauty of playing roulette is the opportunity to make three distinct bets, the player’s, the banker’s and the tie bet. Baccarat is the only game where players can actually bet on the banker and the dealer, ending the playing round with identical card values.
However, with the tie bet, the house edge goes up dramatically to over 14%. So, for beginners, making the tie bet might not be ideal. However, for more experienced players who enjoy the thrills and for those with deep pockets, the thrill of winning 8:1 payouts from winning tie bets is too often too much to ignore.
For those managing budgets or looking for betting odds, going with the banker’s and the player’s bets is the winning ticket. The player’s bet has a favorable 1.25% house edge, which calls on the player having a higher hand than the dealer. The banker’s bet steals the show because of its variable house edge.
The normal house edge for the banker’s bet is 1.05%. However, to encourage members to play, real money and the best sweepstakes casinos typically offer no-commission baccarat. In this scenario, the house edge drops to 1% or even down to 0.5%.
Playing on the Go
Thanks to the explosion in mobile phones, the top casino game developers continue to improve their games to be mobile first. This also includes table games like baccarat. Being able to pick up and play a professional live baccarat game away from home only adds to its mystique.
More Online Variety
When playing baccarat in person, chances are you will only have the Punto Banco version. If you’re playing overseas, you might have the chance to play Chemin de Fer or Baccarat Banque. While still not as abundant as diverse as poker, online baccarat offers new themes.
Squeeze Baccarat is growing in popularity. With Squeeze Baccarat, the dealer purposely drags out dealing the cards to increase the suspense. Also, some live baccarat games now feature a progressive jackpot that hits with a winning side bet. Super 6 and Dragon Bonus Baccarat are usually only available at online casinos for live play.
Final Thoughts
Baccarat’s enduring popularity is due largely to today’s technology. With AI now involved, baccarat players are treated to more personalized gaming experiences. Some online casinos even go as far as using AI tools to create custom guides to help players improve based on their strengths and weaknesses.
