Best way to play your chances with an online baccarat casino bonus
Baccarat is the smart person’s game! That’s the impression the French card gambling game gives in any case. The French game calls, the swish of the dealer’s equipment, and the placing of the game behind the VIP curtain in most real-life casinos is a strong signal that you need to put your sophisticated shoes on to play “punto” or “banco”.
Don’t let any of that put you off though, and if you see a Canadian online casino baccarat bonus – a rare beast indeed – grab it with both hands and cash it in quickly!
How to win with a Baccarat bonus
Behind all the mystery and ritual, there’s a relatively simple gambling game (there almost always is!), that, with a few minutes of reading any player can understand.
Better still – and perhaps the best way to win at baccarat – explore the game in a free-play or demo mode in a simulation version. You’ll soon have the routine of the totals you need to hit, the way play is handled, and betting protocols down pat. This is best done on simulated versions rather than live streaming games, where the fact that you’re playing in real-time can put players under pressure.
Using an online baccarat bonus well
Here’s where a baccarat bonus might come in. Baccarat – like many table games – is not always treated the same way as slot games in casino bonuses. There may be restrictions on how much you are allowed to stake or how the money you spend on baccarat is used to pay off the amount of money you must contribute before you are allowed to withdraw your bonus funds – the wagering requirements.
If you’d like a baccarat bonus that gives you a good deal then, it’s a good idea to use a site like ours to find bonuses that put baccarat in their headline offer.
The other sensible thing is to treat bonuses as free play, rather than as a way of winning money. With so many restrictions on the cash, it can become counter-productive to chase wins and, instead, to consider bonus cash the equivalent of a free tour.
With that approach, cashing your bonus on a baccarat binge could be the best gambling decision you ever make.
Why Claim Online Baccarat Bonuses & Promotions?
While Baccarat might not be as big in Canada compared to Asia and Europe, Baccarat is actually the number one casino game of choice when looked at globally. In Macau in particular, casinos make more from this card game than any other type of casino game and even more than they do from slot machines.
Its popularity is certainly growing globally and that is why almost every online casino will have Baccarat as one of the games they list.
Just like with any other casino game, however, you will want to get a bonus and that is why it is always a good idea to claim a Baccarat bonus whenever you get the chance.
What sort of Baccarat Bonuses and Promotions are there?
While some casinos might offer specific Baccarat bonuses, most offers will be general bonuses that allow you to play any games at an online casino.
General Welcome Bonuses that can be used at Baccarat
Any Canadian online casino worth the salt will offer up some kind of a welcome bonus as a way to attract new players to sign up with them and make deposits. These bonuses can often be worth quite a lot of free money depending on how much you decide to initially deposit.
A good example of a welcome bonus would be a 100% match deposit bonus, which essentially means they will double the amount of money you have deposited. That is quite an amount of free money to play with when at the Baccarat tables.
Dedicated Online Baccarat Bonus Offers
Rarely, some online casinos could offer dedicated baccarat bonuses. These baccarat bonus offers can only be used for playing baccarat and those who like this game will surely appreciate a dedicated baccarat bonus.
About Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games being played in Canadian casinos today. While it may not have been the most popular, over the years, it has gained more and more attention and is now one of the most played games in any casino setting.
Many believe Baccarat to have Asian origins, when in fact, it first appeared in France in the early 1400s. The name of the game is derived from the Italian word that means zero.
The reason for this is due to the fact that all of the tens, jacks, queens and kings have a zero value and are not counted as Tens or at face value.
Even though Baccarat dates back to the 1400s, it took around 500 years for it to become a recognized casino game when it started being enjoyed in Europe, specifically by those of French Royalty.
Betting options in baccarat
| Bet type | Odds | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Player
|
45.86%
|
1:1
|
1.36%
|
|
Banker
|
44.62%
|
1:1
|
1.06%
|
|
Tie
|
9.52%
|
8:1 or 9:1
|
14.4%
|
Popular Versions of the Baccarat Game
Since the game has been introduced, there have been three versions of Baccarat that have remained very popular for gamblers. These include Punto Banco, Baccarat Banque and Baccarat Chemin de Far.
Most of these games have identical rules and the main difference lies in how the cards are dealt when playing.
The most popular version of the game being played today is Punto Banco, also referred to as Mini-Baccarat. In this game, the Dealer will deal all of the cards and players merely bet on the outcome of the game.
When Baccarat was first introduced back in the 1400s, there was a single version of the game. As it became more popular, three major versions of the game have been developed and these remain the most popular games played today.
These versions each have different game options, though the basic rules of the game remain the same.
With these three versions of baccarat, players can decide how much involvement they have with the game and the dealing of cards.
All basic baccarat rules are followed with each game version, so once players master one, they will be able to enjoy all versions when playing in a casino setting.
It will be up to the player to choose the version that they enjoy best and this will determine whether they have a chance to deal or shuffle the cards.
Punto Banco
When playing Punto Banco, players can play at a large table or a mini table. This is the most popular version of baccarat played today and it is played with four top-six decks of cards.
The main difference between the mini and big table versions is that the dealer will deal all cards based on a set of rules. At the mini tables, players will only be able to bet on the three betting options.
When playing at the big table, as many as 14 players can be active and the dealer will do all the shuffling. However, the dealing will be done by each player at the table.
The player that is dealing will have to follow croupier rules and will pass the shoe if they have placed a losing bet on the game.
Baccarat Chemin de Fer
This version of baccarat will provide players with the chance to be more involved with the game. Each player at the table will have the ability to shuffle and deal the cards.
Dealing with this version is a bit different than with Punto Banco, the most popular version. With Chemin de Fer, players with the largest bet on the table will have the chance to see face-down cards while all other players at the table will have to wait for the game outcome.
This version of the game is the only one where players will have a choice of whether they will take an additional card. This is the least played version of baccarat and it is not a common one to find in casino settings.
Baccarat Banque
This version of the game is quite similar to Chemin de Fer but one player will always remain the dealer and banker for the shoe. The drawing and turning of the cards remain the same.
To determine who will be the banker, the table croupier will choose the player with the largest wager or the first player located to their right at the table. This version of the game is often played with fewer decks than Punto Banco or Chemin de Fer.
How to Play Online Baccarat
While Baccarat is a fast-paced game that is typically enjoyed by high rollers, it is not a difficult game to understand. The rules are very basic and there is not much that players can do to alter the outcome of the game.
However, they do need to be aware of the different bets that are offered and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
When playing this casino game, the cards are shuffled prior to each deal and the dealer will discard the first card from the shoe. The bets will then be called for and this is when players will make their sole decision in the game.
There are just three betting options with baccarat and these are the banker hand, player hand or a tie.
Playing the Game
After players have selected their bet amount and have placed it on one of the three bets offered, the dealer will deal two cards to the player’s hand and also two cards to the dealer”s hand.
Should either hand have a natural, where the two cards total 8 or 9, the game will end and all winnings will be paid. However, in most cases, there is no natural and there will be a need for the third card rule to take effect.
Players at the table will have no say in whether any extra cards are dealt. Once the final cards are dealt, the dealer will announce the hand values and will pay the appropriate bet with the win.
The goal of the Game
Many players are intimidated by Baccarat because they do not understand the hand values or how winning hands are determined.
With this game, the goal is to bet on the hand players believe will have a value that is as close to nine as possible. Remember, there are no 10 value cards in the game.
The two or three cards are added at face value. If the total is more than 10, the first number is subtracted. For example, if the cards are a 5 and 7, the value is 12, but after removing the first number, the actual hand value is just 2.
Players will bet on whether the dealer or player hand will have a value closer to 9 and this will determine wins and losses. There is also the option to bet that the hands will be tied.
The tie bet does offer the highest payout in the game, but it is also considered a sucker bet because it has a huge house edge. It should also be mentioned that dealer hand bets will cost a 5% commission, so most players will bet on the player’s hand.
Regardless of how players bet, the goal is always the same and those that have mastered the game will quickly be able to place their bets and enjoy this thrilling casino game and the payouts that are offered.
Baccarat card values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Picture cards (kings, queens, etc) | 0 points |
| Number cards | face value |
| Aces | 1 point |
Online Baccarat in Canada
Seeing as Baccarat has grown in popularity over the years, many Canadian online casino software developers have incorporated the game into their portfolios.
When playing baccarat online, multiple versions of the game can be found and in some countries, one version may be more popular than the others.
No matter what baccarat game is being played online, players will have the ability to play for free or for real money wagers. The game is easy to learn and many learn the game quickly, however, it does remain a game that is very popular among high rollers in the casinos.
With online baccarat, a random number generator is used to present players with fair chances of winning. The cards are all dealt at random so there is no chance of altering the deal or giving one player an advantage over another.
There are also some Canadian online casinos that feature a live version of the game, where it is played in real-time and presented by live dealers. These games are simulcast from land locations and are played following the same set of rules.
Online baccarat is now one of the more popular card games found at casino sites in Canada and with more and more players worldwide taking an interest, it will remain a popular choice and one that will always be featured at casino gaming sites.
So what baccarat sites are the best?
Based on my ratings, this is a list of baccarate sites I’d recommend to my fellow Canadians:
Live Baccarat
With Baccarat being a popular table game at many online casinos, players are always looking for games that provide a lifelike experience.
This is why many of the leading software developers are offering live dealer games, where players can enjoy real-time baccarat games right from the comforts of home.
These live dealer games are far more enhanced than the standard versions of the online games, so they appeal to those that have enjoyed baccarat in a land casino and are seeking the most realistic online gaming experience possible.
How Live Baccarat Works
With online baccarat, the game is streamed to the player and this allows all players at the table to see and hear every action that is performed.
The players will have the ability to communicate with the dealer as well as all other players at the table through live chat. With live online baccarat, there is a graphic interface that will always be in sync with the broadcast of the game.
Live baccarat games are all played in real-time and there is a limit as to how many players can sit at the table. This creates a true-to-life experience because in some cases, players will have to wait for an open spot to get in on the game.
Live baccarat is played following the same rules as online baccarat, but with the ability to interact and see all of the table actins, the game is much more exciting and realistic, making players feel as though they have just taken a seat in a land casino!
Why Play Live Baccarat
There are many great advantages to playing live baccarat over the standard versions that are presented at Canadian online casinos.
As mentioned, these games are played in real-time, so there is no game lag and players will see every action unfold live. The dealers that are presenting the game are professional dealers that are filmed at a land casino or a casino studio.
With live baccarat, players who are enjoying the game will have the unique ability to interact with the dealer and other players, just as they would if they were to visit a land casino.
One of the great benefits of playing live baccarat is that the game is played in the most realistic manner. With these games, there is no random number generator in use, so the game is not computerized. Some players feel this provides them with better chances to win.
However, the results of the game remain random and as with all baccarat games, there is no way to predict which bet will win.
The live dealer version of the game will bring players as close to the real thing as possible and since these games can be played at home at any time, they have become a top choice for those that wish to enjoy a true baccarat experience without having to travel to a land casino.
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