UK Live Baccarat Online Casino Sites
What is Live Baccarat?
Baccarat is a comparing card game pitting the “player” against the “banker.” Rather than referring to the player and the casino, these two terms refer merely to the two different sides the player can bet on. The objective is to predict which side will win, i.e., have a hand total closest to nine without going over.
According to some accounts, baccarat may have originated more than 600 years ago. The game is believed to have been invented by an Italian named Felix Falguiere in the 1400s. As a matter of fact, the word “baccarat” is Italian in origin. It means “zero” — referring to the value of tens and face cards in the game.
How We Rank the Best Baccarat Live Casinos for British Players
Finding the best online casinos offering baccarat requires carefully examining the potential candidates. Let’s take a look at the main criteria our expert team uses to conduct this process:
- Safety — To make our list, a baccarat live casino must have a United Kingdom Gambling Commission licence. Moreover, it should also use security protocols like firewalls and SSL encryption to prevent unauthorised access to players’ info.
- Bonus offers — We check whether casinos offer regular and lucrative promotions. We also read the Terms and Conditions to check whether these offers come with reasonable rules.
- Range of games — A casino must offer a good selection of live baccarat games. It should also feature a variety of other live dealer and RNG titles.
- Payment system — A casino should make various popular and safe payment methods available. It should also allow for fee-free and fast withdrawals.
- Customer support — Operators should enable professional customer support via multiple communication channels, ideally live chat and phone. The agents should respond in a fast and efficient manner.
- Mobile platforms — Players should be able to play the casino’s games on the go, either via an app or an optimised mobile website. We check these platforms for functionality, performance, and speed.
Pros and Cons of Live Dealer Baccarat
While baccarat attracts many players, it’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. This section will explore the main pros and cons of playing live casino baccarat.
Pros
- Widely available — Most online casinos in the UK have at least one live baccarat title in their portfolio, so you won’t have trouble finding a place to play this game.
- Realistic gameplay — Live casino games feature a real human dealer and are played in real time. They provide a realistic casino experience you can enjoy without leaving your home.
- Secure and fair — Live baccarat games are facilitated by trusted game developers. Thus, you can rest assured the titles aren’t rigged, and their outcomes are fair.
- Human interaction — Baccarat live casino titles enable chatting with other users and the dealer themselves.
- Available on mobile — These days, most online casinos have mobile websites or apps, allowing you to play live baccarat games wherever you are.
Cons
- No free play — Live dealer games in online casinos, including live baccarat, aren’t available in demo mode. Since they are expensive to run, they require real-money bets for participation.
- Low variety — Compared to other casino games, such as slots, live baccarat has fewer variations.
- Slow pace — Live casino versions of games are always a bit slower than their RNG counterparts. This may be a turn-off for players accustomed to fast gameplay.
What Makes Live Baccarat Attractive?
Live online baccarat wouldn’t be so widely available in online casinos if it weren’t sought after. Here are the main reasons players love this game:
- Easy to learn — Baccarat is one of the least complicated casino games to learn and play. Because of this, it is suitable even for absolute beginners.
- Suspenseful and fun — Live baccarat may be easy to play, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. The uncertainty of the outcome builds up the suspense, providing the thrill some players seek.
- Great for practice — Online live baccarat provides an excellent opportunity for practice before playing the game in a land-based casino.
- High-quality software — Top baccarat live casinos for UK players offer games from some of the best game developers. Therefore, you can enjoy the most reliable software with the best dealers.
How do Online Live Baccarat Games Work?
Baccarat live online games are hosted by real human dealers. After the game loads, you can see a baccarat table and the dealer sitting on the other side. Everything that happens on the table is recorded with HD cameras and streamed in real-time. Games also usually feature multiple camera angles for a more immersive experience.
Live casino baccarat games also enable you to communicate with the dealer and other players via chat. You and other participants can type in the chat box, whereas the dealer replies by speaking into the microphone.
Live Baccarat Online Compared to RNG and Land-Based Baccarat
Online baccarat games, whether RNG or live, let you get in the action directly from your computer or smartphone without the need to travel to an actual establishment. They may also have lower table limits, making them suitable for all budgets.
There are also some notable differences between the two online game versions. Namely, RNG baccarat plays much quicker than live dealer versions. It has no seat limits, so you won’t have to wait to join. These titles also often feature much lower table limits, so everyone can afford to play them.
Live online baccarat, on the other hand, provides a more realistic casino gaming experience thanks to human dealers and live streaming. There is also a greater variety of online games, with some titles offering more immersive gameplay than others. Finally, they enable communication with the dealer and other players, facilitating socialisation during the session.
How to Play Baccarat Live Games
We’ve already praised baccarat for being a breeze to learn and play. This section will outline the basic game rules and types of bets to help you get started.
Fundamentals of Baccarat
Unlike some other card games, baccarat doesn’t pit the players against each other or the house. Instead, the players’ goal is to correctly predict which of the two sides in a game will win. Winning in baccarat means getting a hand total as close as possible to nine without going over.
The two sides you can bet on in baccarat are the “banker” and the “player.” At the beginning of each round, each side receives two cards. The sum of the side’s hands is calculated using the following values:
- Cards 2 to 9 — face value
- Aces — 1
- 10s, Js, Qs, and Ks — 0
If the sum of the cards exceeds nine, the left digit of the sum is dropped. Therefore, a sum of 10 is 0 (also called baccarat), a sum of 13 is 3, a sum of 17 is 7, and so on.
Bets in Live Baccarat
Live baccarat tables are divided into sections signifying the different bets you can make. In land-based casinos, these sections are marked right onto the felt, whereas they are often digitalised in online versions of the game.
To place a bet in live baccarat, simply choose the bet size and click on the area of the screen signifying the bet you’d like to make. Here are the basic types of bets you can make in live baccarat:
- Player — Betting that the player side will win. The payout for this bet is 1:1.
- Banker — Betting that the banker side will win. The payout for this bet is 1:1.
- Tie — Betting that the outcome of the round will be a tie between the player and the banker. Depending on the game variant, this bet can come with payouts of 8:1 or 9:1.
The banker side in baccarat has a slightly higher probability of winning. Casinos take a 5% commission on all banker wins to cover the difference.
Third-Card Rules
In certain situations, the dealer may have to add a third card to either player, banker, or both. Let’s take a look at the rules determining when this should happen.
Player Hand
Every time the player side has a hand total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, the dealer will draw a third card for this hand. If the player’s hand total is over five, nothing will happen.
Banker Hand
The hand receives another card if the sum of the banker’s two initial cards is between 0 and 2. However, the banker can also draw an additional card in other circumstances. Namely, this can only happen after the player has drawn a third card in the following scenarios:
- If the sum of the banker’s original cards is three and the player’s third card is any other than 8.
- If the sum of the banker’s original cards is four and the player’s third card has a value of between 2 and 7.
- If the sum of the banker’s original cards is five and the player draws a 4, 5, 6, or 7.
- If the sum of the banker’s original cards is six and the player’s third card is either a 6 or a 7.
- If the sum of the banker’s original cards is seven, they stand, regardless of the value of the player’s third card.
Online Live Baccarat Variations
The range of available online baccarat live games is impressive. Some of the most popular variations you can find include:
- Mini Baccarat — This game features lower minimum limits and a smaller table, allowing less time to place bets. Otherwise, it uses the same rules as regular baccarat.
- Midi Baccarat — This baccarat variation is similar to mini-baccarat in that it has lower table limits. The crucial difference is that it allows players to touch the cards. However, this doesn’t apply to live online casinos.
- VIP Live Baccarat — These games are intended for the most high-paying customers of a casino. They feature high table limits and have limited numbers of seats.
- Progressive Baccarat — Like certain slot games, this baccarat variation features a progressive jackpot prize that increases with the number of bets made.
- Single-Player Baccarat — As the name of the game suggests, it is intended for only one player at a time.
- Multi-Seat Baccarat — This variant accepts up to seven players at a time.
- Live Speed Baccarat — The pace of this game is noticeably quicker than that of other variants. Depending on the provider, rounds can take anywhere from 12 to 27 seconds.
- Baccarat Squeeze — In this game, dealers “squeeze” the cards before revealing them to the players. This means that the dealer shows the cards from many angles without revealing their values, building up the suspense.
- Control Squeeze Baccarat — This is a Baccarat Squeeze variation by Evolution Gaming. It gives the players control over squeezing the cards and revealing their values.
- No Commission Baccarat — Players in this variant don’t pay the standard 5% commission on banker wins. However, they do receive a 50% reduced payout if the banker’s winning hand has a total of six.
- Punto Banco — This variation is no different from standard blackjack. It has been very popular among UK players.
- Prestige Baccarat — This is a mega-popular baccarat version made by Playtech. It features high-end visuals and professionally trained dealers.
What Do Best Live Baccarat Casino Sites Bring to the Table?
When you play live casino games in any of the recommended online casinos on our list, you can expect only the best. Here are some of the most prominent advantages of these sites:
- Licensed and safe — The baccarat gambling sites we promote hold operating licences from the UKGC. They also use top-grade security measures to protect your data.
- Excellent game choice — Not only can you find a fantastic variety of baccarat titles, but you’ll also be able to play other live casino games, slots, and RNG table games.
- Highest quality software — Reputable online casinos work with the finest providers in the industry. Therefore, they offer games from live casino giants like Evolution, Playtech, and Microgaming, to name a few.
- Quick withdrawals — The best online casinos enable a wide range of payment methods and facilitate fast payouts.
- Generous casino promotions — You’ll be able to take advantage of lucrative offers both as a new and returning player.
Online casino sites with live baccarat games offer a wide range of promotions you can claim. Unfortunately, bonus funds in online casinos are rarely valid in live dealer games, but you can spend them on RNG table games and slots.
Some of the most common types of these offers include:
- Sign-up bonuses — These offers usually come in the form of a first-deposit match, free spins, or a package containing both types of bonus funds. It is available exclusively to new players.
- No-deposit bonuses — Some casinos offer the chance to grab a bonus without even making a deposit. Usually, the only requirement is to register or verify your phone number or email.
- No-wagering bonuses — These promotions have no rollover requirements, letting you release your winnings quickly and effortlessly. However, casinos rarely offer them.
- Deposit bonuses — These incentives can bring you a percentage of your deposit in bonus money. Some sites offer them regularly, so you can top up your bonus balance with every deposit.
Baccarat Online Live Games For Real Money
Live casino baccarat games don’t come in free-play mode, so you need to spend real money to play them. However, this doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to afford a seat at the baccarat live table.
Some games feature stakes lower than £1. If you’re on a budget, a good choice can be Pragmatic Play’s Live Speed Baccarat, with minimum bets starting at just £0.20. Other options are Live Baccarat by Ezugi with a £0.50 minimum or Evolution’s Golden Wealth Baccarat with a £1 minimum.
On the other hand, if you’re a high-roller, you may want to try NetEnt’s and Playtech’s High-Stakes Baccarat variations. These games accept bets of between £10 and £1,000.
Baccarat Live Casino Games With the Highest RTP
Baccarat live dealer games are pretty straightforward when it comes to RTP. The game’s payout percentage depends on the bet type and is relatively uniform across the different game variations.
Player bets have a house edge of 1.24%, and banker bets come with a house edge of 1.06%. Tie bets have the highest house edge of all bets — 14.36%. These discrepancies are why players pay a 5% commission on banker bet wins and tie wins pay 8:1 or 9:1.
Top Software Providers of Live Baccarat Casino Games
Baccarat’s enormous popularity has prompted many notable online casino game developers to create variations of the game. Here are the top live casino game providers whose games you can find in the best casinos on our list:
- Evolution Gaming — This live casino game developer was established in 2006 and has since been creating games of unbeatable quality. Some of its most prominent baccarat titles are Live Baccarat Squeeze, Speed Baccarat, and Lightning Baccarat.
- NetEnt — While it is most widely known for its slot games, NetEnt has also been producing table and live casino games. Its popular baccarat title is Speed Baccarat Gold. In 2020, NetEnt was acquired by Evolution Gaming.
- Pragmatic Play — This is another game developer famous for its slot titles. It has been around for over seven years, enough to prove the reliability of its software. Its newest live baccarat titles include Fortune 6 Baccarat and Super 8 Baccarat.
- Microgaming — Founded way back in 1994, Microgaming is one of the most well-established providers in the industry. Its slots need no introduction, and its live baccarat titles are some of the best. The games you may want to try are Live Baccarat Turbo, High-Limit Baccarat, and Real Baccarat.
Live Online Baccarat Casinos: Payment Methods
There are no specific payment methods explicitly intended for blackjack live games. The casinos offering these titles enable different banking options you can use to deposit money and withdraw your winnings. These include:
- E-wallets — Most gambling websites work with payment processors like Trustly, Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal. These e-wallets let you perform casino transactions without sharing sensitive data with the operator. They enable swift payouts — completed in only one day.
- Debit cards — UK players can’t use credit cards in online casinos, but they are welcome to use debit cards like Visa and Mastercard. These banking options are famous for their reliability and security. On the flip side, they can take several days to complete a withdrawal transaction.
- Prepaid cards — These payment methods let you deposit using a simple code, without entering your personal or banking details. Cards like AstroPay are similar to e-wallets, and they can enable withdrawals, whereas Paysafecard is only available for deposit transactions.
- Pay by Phone — Boku and Siru are examples of pay-by-phone methods you can use to deposit money. To do this, you must enter your mobile number and pay the deposited amount at the end of the month with your phone bill. These methods don’t support withdrawals.
Live Baccarat and Responsible Gambling
Being able to play casino games responsibly is paramount. Therefore, the gambling websites we recommend encourage players to set deposit limits to control their spending. Players are also advised to set session and loss limits to manage their gambling habits better.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with gambling problems, feel free to refer to these agencies:
Final Thoughts
Live baccarat is a top-rated online casino game you can find in most online casinos. However, if you want to make sure you play on secure sites with high-quality service, feel free to pick a casino from our list on this page. We recommend only the best online casinos with the most generous bonuses and the best payout conditions. Pick your operator today and start playing the best live baccarat games in 2023!
