Baccarat is a favourite casino card game across many Asian countries, and it’s easy to see why. As well as being easy to learn, its fast-pace makes it super exciting for total beginners and experienced players, alike.
With the evolution of online casinos, players in India have a rich and varied choice of baccarat games at their fingertips. This page will take you through the fundamentals of playing online baccarat. Also, we’ll reveal some of the most popular variations and look at the RTP of each so that you can pick the tables offering the best value.
Of course, if you prefer a hands-on style of learning, check out our specially-created list of the top online baccarat casinos in India. Compare the bonuses each site has to offer, find your favourite, and start playing.
How we choose India’s top baccarat casinos
With the online casino market in India growing rapidly, new players can feel overwhelmed by the number of options. Of course, when you intend to play for real money, you want to make the right decision – first time.
These are the essential factors our team at Casino Select assesses when deciding which sites are worthy of a place on this page.
Licensed and regulated
Although India doesn’t have an online casino licensing body and regulator itself, there are international authorities, such as the MGA and GBGA, that can be used as a benchmark. Casino Select India only chooses sites that have a stellar reputation and are licensed to accept Indian players.
Bonuses and promotions
Online casinos use bonus offers to attract new players and retain their existing customers. However, there is plenty of variance between sites in the T&Cs of these bonuses. We delve into the small print to find the best value for our readers.
Games
Baccarat is your number one game, but we all like to mix things up every so often. The casinos that we’ve handpicked offer a diverse range of high-quality casino games, so you have a plethora of options on both desktop and mobile platforms.
Banking
One of the issues with India not hosting any online casinos within the country is payments. To make things simpler, several operators accept deposits (and process withdrawals) in rupees. We dive into this crucial area and highlight which casinos these are.
Baccarat basics: rules and how to play
Baccarat is a ‘card comparing’ game involving two hands: the banker’s and the player’s. The only involvement you have is betting on what you feel the outcome will be. Like roulette, baccarat is a game of chance.
- Baccarat bets
The three betting options on the baccarat table are:
- Banker’s hand – pays 1:1 minus 5% commission
- Player’s hand – pays 1:1
- Tie – pays 8:1 or 9:1
- Card values
Online casino baccarat games are commonly played under punto banco rules with six or eight standard 52-card decks used.
- Aces are worth one point (each)
- The cards two through to nine are equal to their face value
- Tens and face cards are worth zero points
- Objective and scoring system
The objective of baccarat is to guess which hand will have a total of nine points, or be the closest to that number. If the hand total is 10 or higher, only the single digit is counted. For example, 8 + 7 = 15, so the points total is 5.
After placing your bet, two cards are dealt, face-up, to each hand. If either hand has 8 or 9 points, both hands stand and winnings bets are paid. However, if neither hand totals 8 or 9, the baccarat tableau of drawing rules comes into play.
Firstly, the dealer completes the player’s hand:
- If the two-card total is 0 – 5, a third card is drawn.
- If the two-card total is 6 or 7, then the hand stands.
The game now moves over to the banker’s hand:
- If the two-card total is 0 – 2, a third card is drawn.
- If the two-card total is 3 – 6, a third card may be drawn depending on the player’s hand final total.
- If the two-card total is 7, the hand stands.
The result is declared, and winning bets are paid to the players.
Baccarat software and game variations
Baccarat is one of the original online casino games, and there are still variants that were developed more than 20 years being played today. Through the years, many of the world’s best software providers have developed their own baccarat games. These include Microgaming with Classic Series Baccarat, Baccarat Pro by NetEnt and IGT Baccarat.
It’s fair to say that in recent years, live dealer casino software providers have picked up the baton and continued to innovate with a range of new and exciting titles for players to enjoy.
These are a few of the best baccarat games we recommend you try.
Classic Baccarat
Simply known as baccarat, this variation plays according to the standard rules described above. Classic Baccarat is the perfect version for those new to the game, and it can be found in both the virtual and live casino. The RTP (return to player) is around 88.91%. This can vary slightly, depending on the payout for the tie bet.
No Commission Baccarat
Traditional baccarat plays 5% commission to the house on winning banker bets. However, as the name of this variant suggests, that rule has been changed. With no commission, all winning banker bets pay the full 1:1; unless the winning hand total is six points. Then the payout is cut to 1:2. This minor rule adjustment favours the casino; giving No Commission Baccarat at RTP of 88.51%
Lightning Baccarat
This variant, which was developed by Evolution Gaming, is only found in the live casino. Lightning Baccarat follows the same rules as the classic version, but it has a very interesting and unique twist. At the start of each game, between 1 and 5 lightning cards are randomly selected, and each one has a multiplier value (up to 8x).
If these lightning cards match the winning cards on the table, the payout is multiplied. For example, the lightning cards are four of clubs and 5 of hearts – both have an 8x multiplier. You bet on the player’s hand, and the deal reveals the same cards. The hand wins, and the payout is multiplied 64x (8×8).
Baccarat on your mobile
Many players enjoy playing baccarat on their mobile devices. The simple layout of the game means that nothing is lost in terms of playing experience. All of the best variants are available to mobile players – both virtual (RNG) games and live dealer.
For recreational players, Lightning Baccarat is a good choice because you can play for small stakes while having the chance to win big. Other mobile players may want to check out the VIP tables or play Speed Baccarat.
Baccarat bonuses
It’s no secret that most casino bonuses are tilted in favour of slot players, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pick up offers on the baccarat table.
No deposit cash bonus
Unlike free spins, a no deposit cash bonus gives you the freedom to explore the casino and play the games that entertain you the most. Although live dealer baccarat is usually off-limits, you can still play RNG games with your bonus cash.
Welcome bonus
Using a matched deposit welcome bonus is another way to play online baccarat with bonus money. At some casinos, the live dealer tables are also open to you. Before claiming any bonus, we recommend that you read the terms and conditions; in particular, the wagering requirements and game weighting rules.
Reload bonus
Like the welcome offer, a reload bonus is a deposit match. These are for existing players; to give them more funds to play with each time they make a deposit. A reload bonus is an excellent way for you to increase your time at the tables without breaking the bank.
