Are real money online casinos legal in the US?
It’s only right that we begin this live baccarat guide by discussing the legality of online casinos in the US.
The legality of regular online gambling, particularly online casinos, faces very stringent laws, with only a handful of US states accepting online casinos. So, if an online
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isn’t legal in most states of the US, how can I play live dealer baccarat?
Well, first I will tell you in which US states it actually is legally possible to play live dealer baccarat, which are the following:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Rhode Island
For players outside the above US states, there is an alternative option to real money casinos, which are sweepstakes casinos. Those social casinos have virtual currencies which are Gold Coins and Sweepstakes Coins that players use to play games, like live baccarat, on their sites instead of using real money.
Why is live baccarat so popular?
Let’s now talk a bit about why many players love this game.
It’s a very easy game to learn and play
Many table game enthusiasts opt to play live baccarat because it’s easy to learn and play.
Baccarat involves one betting on which hand between the dealer/banker’s and player’s hand will have cards with the highest total value without going over 9, or if both hands will tie. That’s all. There’s little decision-making to be made on the part of the player, making it a very straightforward game.
Baccarat mostly has a low house edge percentage
Probably the number one reason many people love baccarat is its low average house edge percentage. Two of the betting options in this game, that is, the banker’s hand and the player’s hand, have a 1.06% and a 1.24% house edge percentage, respectively. With a house edge percentage as low as this, the odds of winning are definitely high.
It has faster game rounds
Live baccarat also stands out among other live table games for its fast game rounds. Like I mentioned earlier, the game involves you betting on which hand between the banker’s and the player’s hand will win or if they’ll tie. Not much occurs in between the game, making the rounds shorter.
Pros and cons of live baccarat
- It’s a straightforward game to play
- Its game rounds are shorter
- Two of its betting options have a low house edge percentage
- The tie bet has a high house edge percentage
A closer look at how to play baccarat online live
Let's now take an in-depth look at how to play baccarat. But first, let's look into the cards used to play this game. Like
live blackjack, the cards used to play baccarat have allocated values. It is these values that are added during the game to determine which hand, between the banker's or the player's hand, or if they'll tie.
Here's an outline of the cards and their allocated values:
- Ace cards' value is 1
- Queen, King, and Joker cards' value is 0
- The cards numbered 1-9 are their face value
Here's a step-by-step guide to playing live baccarat:
- Step one: The game kicks off with the player, that is, you placing a bet on which hand between the banker/dealer's and the player's hand will win. You can also bet on the fact that they'll tie (tie bet)
- Step two: After you've placed your wager, the dealer gives you two cards, and they take two cards as well
- Step three: The dealer then turns over your cards and adds their value, and turns over theirs and adds their value. The hand with the highest value without going over 9 wins. And if they tie, and you did place a wager on the tie bet, you'll also win. In the event that both hands tie, and you did not place a wager on the tie bet, you'll get your original stake back
In normal circumstances, this marks the end of a live baccarat game round. However, the game doesn't always end here. If a player's hand or the banker's hand value is more than 9, the first number of that value is dropped, and the second number remains as the original hand value. For example, if the player's hand or banker's hand value is 13, 1 is eliminated, and 3 becomes the original hand value.
If the player's hand value is 0-5, the banker will give them a third card. However, if their hand value is 6 or 7, they'll have to stand, which means they won't take a third card and the game round ends. The same also applies to the dealer's hand value.
If the player gets a third card, the dealer can also get a third card, but this is dependent on what the player's third card value is. To fully grasp how this works, here's a table summarizing when the dealer gets a third card depending on the value of the player's third card.
| If the banker's hand with the first two cards is 2 |
They get a third card regardless of the value of the player’s third card |
| If the banker's hand with the first two cards is 3 |
They get a third card, but only if the player's third card value is any number except 8 |
| If the banker's hand with the first two cards is 4 |
They get a third card, but only if the player's third card value is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 |
| If the banker's hand with the first two cards is 5 |
They get a third card, but only if the player's third card value is 4, 5, 6, or 7 |
| If the banker's hand with the first two cards is 6 |
They get a third card, but only if the player's third card is 6 or 7 |
| If the banker's hand with the first two cards is 7 |
They don't get a third card regardless of the value of the player’s third card |
Popular strategies for playing live baccarat
There are popular strategies used by many people for playing not just baccarat but other live table games, like
live dealer roulette. So, it’s only fitting I talk about them in this guide.
The Fibonacci strategy
The Fibonacci strategy is one of the most popular strategies for playing live casino baccarat. This strategy is likened to the Fibonacci sequence in mathematics, where the next number on the sequence is a sum of the last two numbers on the sequence.
So, when you want to implement the Fibonacci strategy while playing live baccarat, you start by determining a minimum bet you’re okay with (remember to consider the casino’s minimum betting limit). Then, use that to forge your own Fibonacci sequence. When you lose a bet, the next number becomes your stake in the next round. When you win a bet, move two numbers back on your sequence.
Martingale strategy
Martingale is another strategy most individuals use when playing live baccarat and other live table games. With this strategy, the player doubles their bet each time they lose and returns to their initial bet when they win.
Paroli strategy
Also known as the reverse martingale strategy, the Paroli strategy involves the player doubling their bet each time they win, and they return to their original bet when they lose.
It’s claimed that these and other strategies enable you to win your losses back and help gain consistent wins. While this is a known strategy for regular players, it should be made clear that a win can never be guaranteed when it comes to online gaming.
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Helpful tips for playing live baccarat
Here are some valuable tips for playing baccarat.
🎲 Understand Baccarat’s Rules and Gameplay
There’s no doubt that baccarat is an easy game to play. However, it’s still crucial to know how to play the game and its rules. As you’ve read in this guide, baccarat’s gameplay and rules are simple to learn.
The banker’s bet or the player’s bet is always the best choice. When playing baccarat, especially if you’re a beginner, always bet on the banker’s or player’s hand. As I mentioned earlier in this guide, these two hands have a house edge percentage of 1.06% and 1.24%, respectively.
Their low house edge percentages give you higher odds of winning, which is what every player wants, don’t you agree? There’s something else I need to discuss regarding the banker’s bet: the banker’s commission. Since the banker’s bet has the lowest house edge percentage, many casinos deduct what is known as the banker’s commission, usually about 5%, from the payout when this bet wins.
What if I don’t want the banker’s commission to be deducted from my payout, you may ask. Well, there are online casinos with no-commission baccarat. However, the banker bet in these baccarat games are lower.
Refrain from betting on the tie bet. Another useful tip when playing baccarat is to pass up on betting on the tie bet. Sure, the tie bet has a higher payout of 8:1, which is way higher than the banker bet and the player bet.
However, it has a high house edge percentage of approximately 14%. So, it’s actually better not to place a wager on the tie bet, and there ends up being a tie between the banker’s hand and the player’s hand, and you get your original stake back than betting on it and losing.
🎯 Betting Strategy Considerations
Don’t just use any betting strategy. We’ve looked at the common betting strategies people use when playing baccarat and other live table games. Again, while they are effective, it’s still important to consider some factors, like your bankroll, before using a particular strategy. Also, stick to one betting strategy when playing baccarat.
🛑 Be Mindful of Betting Patterns
Be mindful of your betting patterns. It’s also important to be mindful of your betting patterns while playing baccarat and know when to stop. If you have a tendency to chase your losses, stop playing when you lose your first or even second baccarat round.
On the other hand, if you have several winning streaks while playing, it’s advisable to stop playing after a couple of wins. This will prevent you from being frustrated when you lose.
What to consider when choosing a casino to play live baccarat
Before you decide which casino you want to look into for playing live baccarat, there are a few key points you should consider. For the best possible gaming experience, a well-designed platform with an easy-to-use interface is something I would definitely recommend and the same goes for the below:
- Selection of games:
A casino which offers different variations of live baccarat, like no-commission baccarat and high-stakes tables, can make your gaming experience more exciting.
- Available payment methods:
When it comes to deposit and withdrawal options, most players prefer convenient options that are easy and straightforward to use, like e-wallets for instance.
- A well–rounded user experience:
Some areas that can easily be overlooked are a well-designed interface, the option to play live baccarat via mobile, and a responsive customer support, which are all part of providing a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience for players
Conclusion: Enjoy playing live baccarat at the best online casinos
We’ve come to the end of this guide on live baccarat. I hope you’ve learned all you need to know about this table game. While real-money online casinos face restrictions in most US states, baccarat fans can still play this game at as long as they reside in one of the US states from where live baccarat can be legally accessed from.
For players that are in a different location, sweepstakes casinos would be the alternative to real money casinos. Just remember to consider the factors I’ve discussed in this guide to choose the best casino for playing live baccarat.
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Live baccarat- FAQs
🎲 What are the basic rules of baccarat?
The basic rule of baccarat is that the bettor must bet on which hand between the banker’s and the player’s hand will win or if they’ll tie.
🏦 What is the safest bet on baccarat?
The safest bet on baccarat is the banker’s bet, as it has the lowest house edge percentage, however there is no 100% guarantee for a win. Even with the banker’s bet, a loss is still possible.
🌐 Can I play live baccarat online in the US?
While real money online casinos are restricted in most US states, you can still play live baccarat online when you are in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia or Rhode Island. Outside of those US states, players can still access the game by checking out available sweepstakes casinos.
