Top Casinos In South Africa
Your #1 Guide To
South African Online Gambling
The Most Complete Guide to Playing Baccarat Online
Baccarat was James Bond's favourite game in the 1953 hit Casino Royale. What was once popular with royals and wealthy elite has now become the go to choice for people looking to have fun without spending hours a day perfecting their strategy. Although the game gives off the impression of being difficult, it is really simplistic in nature, and popularity is growing in 2015.
Here are your top reasons to play at a South African online baccarat casino:
- Simple, easy and to the point game
- Low house advantage
- It does not require your undivided attention
- An overall fun game for your bankroll
In this guide to playing SA online gambling baccarat games, we show you the basics of playing and then give you the best sites to get started on.
How to play online baccarat
The object of the player or bankers hand is to get closest to a total of “9”.
Baccarat is centred on 2, two-card hands. One is yours and the other is the dealers’ (banker). You will then make a bet on which hand is larger. Alternatively, you can bet that there will be a tie. Up to 14 people can then bet on the banker or player to win the hand at the table. Once bets are made, the banker deals the two hands of 2 cards. The winner is whoever gets closest to the number 9. In some cases a third card is dealt, but never more than this.
Adding up the cards
There are few basic rules to determine the total number of points of a hand.
- Aces count as “1”
- Face cards and tens count as “0”
- Pip cards 2-9 count as their face value
Baccarat offers the best odds when you bet on the dealer winning the game versus betting on your own hand.
If the total is more than 10, you drop the first digit. For example, if you have an 8 and a 3 in your hand, your total is 12. You must drop the 1, so now your total is actually 2. A set of 10’s or a total of 20 becomes 0. Hands worth 9 or 8 are called "neutral," but 9 beats 8. If you or the banker has an 8 or 9 and the opposition has a lower hand value, the neutral hand will win.
The third card rule
There may be a time when a third card is dealt onto the SA baccarat table.
Player- If your total is 5 or less, another card will be dealt. Your play is now finished.
Banker- If the total is 2, a third card will be drawn. If the total is 3, the banker will draw a third card unless your card is an 8. A card with a value of 4 will mean the banker draws unless your third card is a 0, 1, 8 or 9. Should the banker have a 5, he or she will draw if your card is a 4, 5, 6 or 7. If the banker has a 6, they will draw a third card as long as your third card is a 6 or a 7. If the bankers’ total is 7, they will stand.
It may sound overwhelming, but you can always refer back to this online guide for baccarat, write them down or check the casino displays on the screen interface. By making a note of these simple rules, you can focus more on your South African Rand wagers.
The best bets and odds for gambling online baccarat
Online baccarat gives you the chance to bet on multiple hand outcomes. These include betting that your hand will win, the banker's hand will win or that it will be a tie. Pay-outs will be given at even money odds for both the player and banker bets. In other words, you being the player would win an equal amount to your initial bet, minus a 5% commission for the house.
If you wager and win on a tie, you will be given the generous 8-1 pay-out. For example, a $10 wager would give you an $80 win. Keep in mind a tie is rare. Wagering on this outcome is not recommended.
When playing at an online gambling casino, baccarat betting variations may be offered to keep things interesting. These are known as side bets and include Big, Small, Player Pair, Banker Pair or Perfect Pair. Be sure to check with your real cash online casino pay table for the odds and pay-outs.
Variations of baccarat
There are 3 main variations of online baccarat. They have different names and rules, but the object of the game is the same: to get as close to 9 as possible.
Avoid the tie bet whenever possible, it comes with the lowest odds by far.
Punto Banco is the most popular for SA gamblers. Chemin De Fer and a Baccarat Banque are older versions, which still have a fair amount of loyal enthusiasts. They are also generally found in high roller rooms. Mini Baccarat is a favourite of American players. It is set around a table, which seats 7 rather than 14 players
New to online gambling sites' baccarat selection is Live Dealer Baccarat. This can spice things up a bit because you will have the chance to play against other real players from around the globe. The banker is also a real person whom you can have a chat with. Definitely give it a go at least once.
Strategy for South Africa baccarat playing
You may read about a lot of baccarat strategies. Some are based upon previously dealt cards; others include implementing the Martingale system or betting always on the banker. While a strategy to online gambling can be profitable, Baccarat results cannot be influenced by anything more than the bet, which you make. This is because the cards are shuffled after every deal and the hands change value as soon as the total is over 9. Essentially baccarat is a game of luck.
If you want to know what will work best when you are playing SA online gambling baccarat games. Then try to remember the following tips:
- Baccarat is supposed to be fun; you should play it for fun and the chance of having a lucky day.
- Set a bankroll for your session and stick to it.
- If you lose real money, walk away when you reached your set limit. Do the same if you win. Although this may cut your online sessions, you avoid putting your bankroll in the red zone because eventually the house edge will win.
We found the best baccarat sites
Are you ready to try your luck at a game or two of baccarat? Fantastic! To save you from scouring the internet for the top baccarat gambling online websites, take a look at our reviews from our own in-house experts (who are also baccarat aficionados).
Our picks for best real money online gambling baccarat games culminate a balance between good odds, efficient pay-outs, quality customer service, nice graphics and top-notch security. Take a look around and give a free demo version a try before you make a ZAR deposit. Most importantly, have fun.
How does online baccarat work?
Online baccarat works by putting a casino dealer, or dealer software, up against your player hand. You will bet on whether your hand or the dealer’s hand is better and then win if you bet correctly.
Where can I find the best games?
You can find the best baccarat games at highly rated casinos that are known for using quality software.
How does it compare to live casino baccarat?
Online baccarat is typically more fast-paced and simpler to play. You don’t have to remember the rules as well because simple buttons and guides walk you through the steps as you play.
Is it popular in South Africa?
Baccarat is a widely played game in South Africa, but it isn’t played as often online as it is in person.
How much is it possible to win?
It’s possible to win thousands in ZAR while playing baccarat. Casinos often allow players to bet up to R10,000 when playing baccarat making large wins quite possible.
Can I use a baccarat system?
There are systems designed to enable players to win at baccarat more consistently, but many of these are difficult to use without very large betting limits to play with.
Is it fair?
While the casino has an edge in baccarat that’s larger than many other table games, it’s still a fair game that the player can potentially win when playing properly and getting just a little bit lucky.