â How to Play Baccarat with Casino Bonuses
All of the online baccarat bonuses provide excellent value, but you might face some restrictions in the bonus and conditions that limit the games you can play. So, before picking a baccarat online casino bonus, check if the bonus funds are exclusively for online slots.
Another point to note is the bonus wagering. Online casino bonuses come with playthrough requirements preventing you from claiming the bonus and leaving immediately. Different games contribute differently toward these requirements, with wagers on online slots contributing 100%. Table games like baccarat always have a lower contribution rate, usually 20% or less. Pay attention to wagering requirements, especially when claiming deposit match bonuses.

BonusFinder went on a mission to find the best online baccarat sites for American players. If youâre curious about our findings, check out the rankings below!
â How We Ranked the Best Baccarat Casinos
When ranking the best online baccarat casinos, there are a few main categories that we pay special attention to. Naturally, all of the online gambling sites recommended are regulated and licensed sites accepting US players. Our evaluations of these real money online casino sites take the following factors into consideration:
- Selection of baccarat games: this is a bit of a no-brainer, but the best online baccarat sites need to have a good variety of baccarat game options. Weâre looking for online gambling sites that preferably offer multiple baccarat games, both live dealer baccarat games and software-based games. Furthermore, if a casino operates in various states and offers baccarat on all its sites, it will reflect positively in our review.
- Best online casino bonuses: weâre looking for casino sites that have either welcome bonuses or ongoing promotions that also baccarat players can enjoy.
- Overall online gambling experience: at the end of the day, the best baccarat casino will offer an overall enjoyable gaming experience. Weâre seeking smooth live baccarat games, easy registration processes, and professional customer staff.
Many How We Review page.
â Baccarat Versions
There are different versions of online baccarat, some more popular than others. Weâve listed some examples below. The mainstream version of an online baccarat game in the U.S. is Punto Banco, but you will also encounter other online baccarat variants.
- Punto Banco
- Mini Baccarat
- Chemin de Fer
- Baccarat Banque
- Speed Baccarat
- Baccarat Squeeze
Live Dealer Baccarat
Like many other casino games, baccarat also has various live dealer versions. Live dealer baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in US live casinos. Despite being overshadowed by the blackjack supply, most online casinos offer at least one or a few baccarat live dealer games. Evolution Gaming provides most live baccarat games in the US.
Live dealer baccarat is as close to playing baccarat at a real casino table as possible. There is a real person whoâs dealing cards live while you and other players place your wagers, which adds novelty and excitement to the game. Live baccarat also allows playing a popular game mode that a software-based game canât replicate: squeeze.
Baccarat Squeeze
Squeeze is a technique a baccarat dealer uses to make the game more exciting. In all simplicity, itâs a ritual to reveal the cardâs value as slowly as possible by bending it. The squeeze doesnât affect the gameâs outcome, but itâs an exciting mechanic that adds to the suspense.
â How to Play Online Baccarat
Online baccarat has the same base rules as real-life baccarat. Instead of sitting at a physical table, youâre sitting in the comfort of your home, taking on a virtual or a real live dealer. Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games for a good reason: itâs incredibly beginner-friendly. If youâre new to card games and would like an easy game, baccarat is an excellent option!
If youâre not familiar with the rules of baccarat, you can find extensive guides on your chosen casino site to help get you started. Weâve also introduced the basics of the game below, but for a more thorough read about baccarat, visit the BonusFinder Baccarat Guide.
Basic Rules of Baccarat
Baccarat is a very simple game. When a round starts, you bet on one of three possible outcomes: the banker bet, the player bet, or the tie bet (not considering any variations of side bets). The dealer then deals two cards for the banker and the player. Then, the dealer counts the value of the playerâs two cards and, depending on the hand, either deals an additional card or doesnât. The baccarat hand thatâs the closest to 9 wins. Itâs simple, but thereâs a bit more to it.
Baccarat has different card values from the usual, but theyâre pretty easy to :
- Ace: worth 1 point
- Cards 2-9: worth their face value
- 10 and face cards: worth 0
After the dealer has dealt the first two cards, there are a few possible outcomes depending on the hand values. If the hand total value is more than 9, only the second digit counts (so, for example, cards 5 and 9 would equal 5+9 = 14, where only the latter digit 4 counts). The dealer moves to the banker after the playerâs hand has set.
- If the playerâs hand value is 0-5, it will be dealt a third card. The value of the playerâs third card, alongside the bankerâs initial two-card hand value, determines if the banker draws a third card. Banker always draws on 0-2.
- If the playerâs hand is 6 or 7, it stands. If the player stands and the banker has 0-5, the banker is dealt a card.
- If the player or banker hand scores 8 or 9, the hand is considered a natural win and ends immediately.
The three bet options have different payouts: Banker pays 1 to 1 and commission, Player even money 1 to 1, and Tie 1 to 8. The banker bet has the highest odds of winning.
Baccarat Bet | Odds | Payout | House Edge |
---|---|---|---|
Player Bet | 44.62% | 1:1 | 1.24% |
Banker Bet | 45.85% | 1:1 (minus commission) | 1.06% |
Tie Bet | 9.53% | 8:1 | 14.36% |
Side Bets
Baccarat tables also offer the option to place side bets. These are less common and, much like tie bets, have a high payout rate alongside a notably high house edge. Common side bet types are pair bets: wagers on the banker or playerâs first two cards being of the same value.
While these kinds of baccarat bets are exciting, theyâre highly unlikely and favor the house.
Dragon Bonus in Baccarat
If youâve played real money baccarat online, youâve probably encountered the term âDragon.â Dragon in baccarat is a popular side bet widely available at American online casinos.
Simply put, dragon is a side bet where you wager on the gap between the banker and the playerâs hands. The bigger the difference between the two hands, the bigger your potential payout. Note that the bet is NOT a win if the difference is less than four points. The payout table for a dragon bet looks like this:
Outcome | Payout |
---|---|
Win by 9 Points | 30-1 |
Win by 8 Points | 10-1 |
Win by 7 Points | 6-1 |
Win by 6 Points | 4-1 |
Win by 5 Points | 2-1 |
Win by 4 Points | 1-1 |
Natural Winner | 1-1 |
Natural Tie | Push |
As the table demonstrates, the payout grows as the gap grows. While the 30-1 payout is juicy, a win by 9 points is extremely rare. Itâs a very risky bet that, most of the time, doesnât pay off.
â Online Baccarat Strategy
If youâre new to the game, youâre probably looking for the best baccarat strategy to increase your chances of bringing home winnings. While some argue that you could apply baccarat strategies in a land-based casino, there are few tips or strategies for starting online baccarat for real money. Playing baccarat online means that you canât, for example, pick the table with the fewest decks.
Still, you should jot down a couple of pointers. However, our tips wonât ensure youâll win, as baccarat is a very luck-based game.
- Manage your bankroll: youâll find this tip applied to every and all casino games that pay real money, but managing your bankroll is something that we canât emphasize enough. Keep your bets moderate if you want to play longer, regardless of whether you are playing a classic baccarat game or different baccarat variants like mini-baccarat. Also, check what are the bet limits in your chosen game.
- Bet on the banker: the banker bet has the best chance of winning. If you want to play it safe, bet on the banker. The odds of the player bet are not that far behind, as the difference in winning probability is just 1.23% in favor of the banker.
- Avoid the tie bet: arguably the best strategy out there. Thereâs simple science behind this tip â the tie bets have a high house edge, and while the 8:1 payout ratio is tempting, the chances of a tie are small.
- Donât bother with counting cards: you canât count cards in online baccarat. Just take it easy, let Lady Luck do her work, and enjoy the game.
Baccarat is an exciting casino game with little to do with technique or strategy. Its simplicity is why we enjoy it: sometimes, itâs nice to just place your bet and wait for the hands to settle. Baccarat offers plenty of excitement and suspense, plus itâs easy to grasp if youâre just starting with card games.
Last updated:
â Online Baccarat Casino FAQs
- Is it legal to play baccarat online?
-
Yes, it is legal to play live dealer baccarat online as long as you are playing at a regulated online casino. There are a handful of states in the US that allow gambling online, and the best casinos have the option to offer live dealer baccarat games. We've tried out a variety of American real money casino platforms and curated a list of best baccarat online casinos in this article.
- How does online baccarat work?
-
The best online baccarat games work very much like playing baccarat at a casino, but the action faster-paced. You will be able to see all of the cards, and in live tables the real dealer will prompt you to make your bets. That being said, if you are familiar with baccarat, then you wonât have any trouble understanding how to play online. And, even if you're new to the game, you'll grasp it in no time!
- Where can I play a free baccarat game online?
-
Generally speaking, most online casinos offer free online baccarat games on demo mode or a trial of the game before playing for money. These free games are a great way to learn a betting system for winning bets. Note that you won't experience all game features in demo mode: for instance, progressive baccarat won't have all its features active. Unfortunately, you can't play live baccarat in demo mode.
Other casinos will offer no-deposit bonuses that you can use to play free baccarat without having to worry about losing your own money. For the best casino experiences, check the wagering requirements before playing real money baccarat; like other table games with a low house edge, baccarat doesn't count 100% towards wagering.
- Can I trust the baccarat game to be fair?
-
Yes. Even if you canât seem to win, you can trust that the gaming experience and baccarat game rules are fair. Online gambling sites are regulated by the state in which they operate and will not host rigged games. Just make sure to pick a licensed, trustworthy site to ensure a safe online casino gambling experience.
In addition, baccarat versions available online are created with a random number generator to ensure impartiality. You can ask customer for more details on how a baccarat table runs. Note that even though the house edge is low, in the long run, you won't end up with 100% returns, and each winning streak will end.