Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco, is a game commonly associated with James Bond as the game is quite prominently featured in Ian Fleming’s novels and later film adaptations. However, the history of the game actually goes as far back as the 15th century, and some scholars suggest that the game may have originated from the Chinese game Pai Gow.
Whatever the case, baccarat today is one of the most popular casino games in the UK, and it has maintained its popularity even as the industry has transitioned into the digital realm. Online casino operators have since played around with the original gameplay formula to provide novel gameplay experiences for their players. From single- and multi-player experiences to traditional and “Turbo” variations, players are quite spoiled for choice. And on this page, we’ll learn a bit more about the game and what to expect when playing it at one of the UK’s best online casinos.
Baccarat’s goal is to bet on the hand with the closest value to nine. In this game, the tens and face cards (jacks, queens, and kings) are worth zero, the aces are worth 1, and the rest of the cards keep their face value. The suits of the cards are ignored here.
Baccarat is often played using six or eight decks of cards, depending on the variation. No matter how many individuals are taking part in the game, the dealer only deals two hands—the banker hand and the player hand—and players have to place bets on either of the hands. An important thing to remember is that the banker’s hand is not necessarily the casino’s hand; it is simply a hand that’s dealt to fulfill the game.
The game’s core rules follow:
Now, playing baccarat online isn’t all that different from playing at a real table; the only real difference is that all of your interactions are done with clicks and taps on on-screen buttons.
In the game of baccarat, there are several types of bets that one can place, which are split into the categories of main bets and side bets. While certain variations of the game will have different betting rules, baccarat will generally let you place the following bets:
Even though baccarat is an incredibly simple game, truly mastering it takes a bit more effort and planning. We’ve shared a few helpful tips to help you get the most out of your baccarat gameplay sessions.
Even though the James Bond novels have given baccarat a sophisticated (if a bit snobby) atmosphere, playing the game is actually quite accessible nowadays. With thousands of baccarat games available in the hundreds of online casinos in the UK, you can jump in and play baccarat on computers, tablets, and smartphones over WiFi or cellular data.
To find the best baccarat games and online casinos, be sure to stay tuned to Inside Casino. We keep you updated on all of the latest developments in the UK’s online casino industry, reviewing new games and casino sites as they come out so you know which are good and which are not.