An Expert Guide to Online Baccarat

No character in movie history has been able to inject aura and coolness into the idea of casino gaming in quite the same way James Bond has. Ever since the original depiction that Sean Connery treated us to in 1962, a catalogue of actors has tried their hand at showcasing just how cool Bond is when he's flaunting his wealth and strategy on the casino floor.

Recent films have portrayed Bond as a poker player, but for those who have checked out the films and the books, they'll know that his main game is baccarat. While baccarat might not get the same level of attention as other casino games, especially online games, it has hundreds of years of history on the casino floor, and it's been able to move online just as easily as all of the other casino games we encounter.

Today, we will review some of the key features of online baccarat, why it's still a casino powerhouse, and how it has adapted to some of the significant changes we've seen in the online casino industry over the last 20 years.

Why listen to the experts?

This may sound like a rhetorical question, but in an age where experts can have their expertise called into question by anyone with a semi-decent social media following, the weight of expert opinion mustn't be something we lose sight of.

Granted, in the internet age, it is more challenging to seek out credentials and see who actually has the right to identify as an expert, but if you enjoy playing baccarat, experts can be a great resource to guide you to sites that have a better overall package, especially considering how saturated the market has become.

Before you play baccarat or listen to the experts, though, you need to learn how the rules work, and today, our expert guide is going to teach you all you need to know about how to play baccarat, how to navigate the online platforms that host the games, and the sort of things to look for when registering for a promotion that is tailored for baccarat players.

Picking up the basics

In all honesty, baccarat isn't too tricky a game to understand. Unlike some other casino games, such as poker, which can have a myriad of different strategies and techniques, baccarat focuses primarily on a cluster of components.

There are three outcomes in a game of baccarat: your hand wins, the banker's hand wins or it's a tie. Ultimately, the main aim is to bet on which hand you believe is closest to a grand total of 9. It could be your hand or the banker's - but unlike other card-based casino games, you're not in direct competition with the dealer's hand; you're betting on the outcome. Some online baccarat tables can host up to a dozen players, double the maximum number in a traditional setting. As all areas of entertainment have moved into online services, it has helped to expand the audience for so many industries. The casino industry is no exception to this, and one of the many advances of online baccarat is that you can now play a game against a much bigger table than you can in a land-based setting.

Each player at the table, including the dealer, receives two cards. All of the cards between 2 and 9 are worth their face value. An Ace is worth 1, and the royal suits (Jack, Queen and King) are all worth zero. This might sound tricky, but believe me, the concept is not difficult to grasp once you have played a few demo games or played for real money.

Dissecting the odds and strategy

While you can get a better idea of how the game works as you gain experience, there's nothing you can do in baccarat that will put the odds in your favor. Poker is the only exception to this rule in online casino gaming - even then, strategy is reserved for the elite players. Baccarat is a complete game of chance, but here's how the odds look:

● The banker's hand has a slight edge of just over 1%.
● The likelihood of a tie is around 9.5%.
● The player's hand has a 44.6% winning probability.
● The banker's hand has a 45.8% winning probability.

Other nuances to consider

If you have a double-digit score with your two cards, the first number is dropped from your total. For example, if your two cards total 16, the 1 is dropped, and the overall score is 6. A third card can be introduced into the game if a player's hand is worth anywhere between 1 and 5.

The same principle applies to the banker's hand, although it is within a smaller scope of between 0 and 2. Not all online baccarat games apply the third card rule, so check the rules before registering. From my experience, this rule is far more common than games that only allow two cards.

As with all types of online gambling, once you have grasped the rules of the game that we have been through today, the next stage - and it's arguably the more critical stage - is to remember the importance of safe gambling.

Only bet with money you can afford to lose, and do not get drawn into revenge or emotional betting with other players at the table. Those who exceed time and deposit limits or chase losses should not ignore the signs of problem gambling, and they should immediately seek out assistance from a problem gambling charity or a support group like Gamblers Anonymous.

Conclusion

Online baccarat has many similarities to the land-based game; the only difference is the table size. At peak periods, online baccarat tables are much busier than in a traditional setting, but that's because the technology provides space for a much bigger audience. The same applies to all other types of casino games, too.

While expert guides are essential, nothing can substitute for gaming experience, which can be found on demo gaming platforms. Vlogs detailing live baccarat tables, walkthroughs and how to bet safely in a quickfire environment are among the most effective tools in modern iGaming marketing. But it's crucial to get information from different sources and be secure in your knowledge and safe gambling protocol before making the leap and playing online baccarat for real.