Online Baccarat
The thrill of scoring a big win at the baccarat table is one of the key factors that make it one of the most popular card games found at today's casinos. Baccarat is a favourite at today's online casinos and one of the most-played games by Canadian customers. Leading casinos have a trusted reputation within the gaming industry. They also offer quick deposits and payouts through leading Canadian banking methods. Patrons who want to play baccarat online also appreciate additional perks such as VIP/loyalty clubs, regular promotions and customer support provided through a live chat option.
Introduction to Baccarat
Baccarat adopted a reputation for being a game of sophistication ever since the famous 1962 movie 'Dr. No.' A Monaco casino scene with the dashing James Bond, dressed in a black tuxedo, playing the baccarat variant chemin de fer forever burned in our collective memories. Some believe that baccarat was first played in the 19th century among the French nobles and spread to gambling salons throughout France and Italy. However, its exact origins are unclear. The card game spread in popularity to French homes even before casino gambling was legalized in France in 1907.
One of the earliest variants of baccarat was Baccarat Banque, a three-person contest. It was followed by Chemin de Fer, which was a two-person variant. Baccarat Punto Banco is a modern variant where bettors bet on one of two hands: the bank (Banco) or the player (Punto). It became a house-banked game in 1940s Havana, Cuba, where it has become the most popular variant.
Baccarat in Canada was traditionally only available at land-based, provincially-run and First Nations-run casinos. Some provincial crown corporations, such as the OLG in Ontario or the ALC on the East Coast, also began to offer a minimal selection of online baccarat. Here, Canadians might find variants such as Squeeze Midi-Baccarat and Mini-Baccarat. Offshore online casinos have brought Canadians much more variety.
What is Baccarat Online?
Baccarat is one of the popular casino games enjoyed by Canadian players. Each round in the game is called a coup. The card game pits the player against the banker with three possible outcomes for each round. A coup can end in a win for the player or for the banker with the higher score taking the round. There is also the possibility of a tie. There are three primary variations of the casino classic that are played online. They include Punto Banco Baccarat, Baccarat Banque and Baccarat Chemin de Fer.
Punto Banco is the most popular variation that Canadians play at online casinos. It offers them three main bet types as well as a variety of available side bets. Choosing a live dealer option is also one of the popular options that are enjoyed by Canadian baccarat players. This option allows players to join single and multi-player baccarat tables. Canadian customers enjoy the large variety of gameplay styles and bet types that are available when they choose a live dealer option at their favourite online casinos.
Casino bonuses at top online gambling operators help Canadian players to enjoy their time trying their luck at the baccarat tables. Many of these casinos offer welcome, match, VIP, no deposit and reload bonuses for customers. It is also common for them to offer weekly and ongoing promotions. With these points in mind, these are the top 10 best online casinos for baccarat that are available for Canadian players.
Top 10 Online Casinos for Baccarat
1. Spin Casino
Spin Casino enjoys an outstanding reputation in the online casino industry for its extensive selection of slots, jackpots, table games and live casino options. It is also known as one of the best online operators offering baccarat for Canadian players. There is always the opportunity to score a big win at Spin Casino when Canadian patrons hit the tables at the live casino. Regular bonus opportunities add to the draw of playing baccarat at Spin Casino. Additional features that make it easy to play baccarat at this online casino include its downloadable app that is compatible with iPhone and Android devices. There are plenty of banking options that players can use to withdraw their winnings at the baccarat tables. These include Skrill and Neteller online wallet transactions, bank transfers through iDebit and Mastercard/Visa deposits/withdrawals.
2. Ruby Fortune
Ruby Fortune enjoys a trusted reputation amongst Canadian players. It is also one of the best online casinos for baccarat. There are always available tables at Ruby Fortune, and the casino offers regular promotions that help players to add to their chances of scoring a big win. The games are available 24 hours a day and so is the live chat feature that provides customer support to players in Canada. Other compelling features that make Ruby Fortune one of the most popular online casinos include The VIP and Loyalty Clubs and the option to deposit and withdraw funds through Visa, Mastercard, Paysafecard, Trustly and Skrill. There is also a huge menu of other popular casino games, including slot, video poker, roulette, blackjack and a live casino.
3. Jackpot City
Canadian players love trying their luck on the baccarat tables at Jackpot City. The industry-leading online casino offers plenty of game variations for players that enjoy the anticipation and excitement that the game provides them. Available baccarat variations include Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer. Jackpot City is also known for its fast payout processing. Canadian customers can expect their winnings to be deposited into their preferred banking method within 24 hours. Withdrawal options range from Visa and Mastercard to the Paysafecard prepaid option and popular online wallets like Neteller. Beyond the great baccarat action available at Jackpot City, players also enjoy the huge selection of roulette, video poker, blackjack and slots games, as well as the live casino. Player support is open 24 hours a day, and there are regular promotions available to Canadians who spend time at this leading online casino.
4. Casino Days
Canadian players will love the massive selection of classic casino games available at Casino Days. These include slots, video poker, craps, roulette and blackjack games from industry-leading software designers. Canadians also love hitting the baccarat tables when they visit Casino Days. It is easy to find an available table, and the casino offers a wide variety of baccarat variations with something for everyone. The addition of regularly updated promotions and an extensive listing of popular Canadian banking methods adds to the appeal of this leading online casino. These banking options include ecoPayz and Skrill e-wallet transactions and credit/debit withdrawals and deposits through Visa and Mastercard. All of these compelling features have helped Casino Days to build the trusted reputation that it enjoys with players across the Canadian market.
5. Kassu
Canadian baccarat players love the non-stop action that is available on the tables at Kassu. The trusted online casino is known for offering the best in casino games, promotions and bonuses as well as its mobile-friendly layout that works perfectly on tablets, iPhones and Android devices. The huge selection of baccarat games includes options from top developers like Microgaming, NetEnt and iSoftBet. The Punto Banco Baccarat from Red Tiger Gaming is a fan favourite, and so is the High Limit Baccarat from Quickfire. The baccarat lineup at Kassu is complemented by a huge selection of other popular casino games that include jackpots, table games and slots as well as a visually engaging live casino option. The process of requesting a payout only takes a few quick clicks to have funds transferred to preferred banking methods like Apple Pay, Neteller, Trustly, Skrill, Visa and Mastercard. Kassu is also notable for offering Paypal as an option for its Canadian customers.
6. PlayOjO
The baccarat options at PlayOjO are one of the key factors that keep Canadian players coming back time after time. There is always action on the baccarat tables at this top online casino whether it is the middle of the day or the middle of the night. Hitting the tables in the PlayOjO live casino is a popular choice for players from Canada. They also visit the casino for other great gaming options like the selection of poker, blackjack, craps and slots. Players can easily request quick withdrawals by choosing e-wallet banking methods like Skrill or prepaid options such as Paysafecard. Visa and Mastercard transactions are also readily available for deposits and payouts at PlayOjO.
7. Betway
Betway is a leading name in the online casino business for many reasons. These reasons include the operator's long-standing track record as a safe and reliable online gambling destination for Canadian players. The overall selection of top-notch table games, slots, craps, video poker, roulette and blackjack games is another factor that makes Betway one of the top online casinos available to the Canadian market. The selection of baccarat tables is also a primary reason why the casino is so popular with its Canadian patrons. Players will find all of the most popular variations of the classic game when they visit Betway. The options for sports and esports betting are also extensive, and there are plenty of popular banking methods that include iDebit ecoPayz, Visa and Mastercard.
8. William Hill
William Hill consistently enjoys popularity amongst online gambling enthusiasts from Canada. The online casino is known as one of the leading hotspots for baccarat and there is always a virtual seat awaiting players who pay this industry-leading gaming operator a visit. Canadian customers at William Hill enjoy the benefit of 24/7 support. This includes a great live chat feature where players can have their questions answered in real-time. Beyond the non-stop baccarat action, other compelling features of playing at William Hill include the bingo games, jackpots, video poker, blackjack, craps and slots. The VIP club provides Canadian players with the opportunity to cash in on further perks. Beyond the availability of banking transactions through popular credit/debit providers like Visa, customers also have the option of using their PayPal accounts.
9. Casino Tropez
Casino Tropez is highly rated by Canadian players. The huge availability of a wide variety of baccarat games is one of the reasons why the online casino is such a favourite. The casino is also known for its massive selection of craps, video poker, slots and blackjack as well as its visually engaging and immersive live casino that features real-time dealers. Canadian players at Casino Tropez will find that it is easy to make fast deposits and withdrawals through banking transactions that use Neteller and Skrill. They can also choose to have funds deposited directly into their bank accounts through Trustly. Visa and Mastercard credit and debit transactions are also popular options.
10. Genesis Casino
The highlights of Genesis Casino include its prize drops that occur daily and weekly. The casino offers banking options such as Apple Pay, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and Skrill. It is known as one of the best online casinos for baccarat that Canadian players can choose and there are a variety of tables that are readily available around the clock. Other features that help Genesis Casino to stand out include its VIP option, its selection of slots and its live casino that offers Canadian players a more realistic experience.
What is the Objective of Punto Banco Baccarat?
The objective of the most common variant, Punto Banco Baccarat, is to decide whether the player (Punto) or the banker (Banco) will come closest to a full hand of 9. Really, the game is that the easy! A new player to Punto Banco might be surprised to learn that the 'player' is not actually a person, and the 'bank' is not the house. They simply distinguish between two different hands.
A player can typically make one of three betting options:
- The bank (Banco) wins: House edge of 1.06% and a 1:0.95 payout (includes a 5% House commission).
- The player (Punto) wins: House edge of 1.24% and a 1:1 payout.
- The player and bank tie: House edge of 4.85% and a 9:1 payout OR Choose the player and bank to tie: House edge of 14.4% and an 8:1 payout.
Baccarat Strategy
A baccarat casino game is a game of chance, making it much more straightforward than many other casino games. This means that there is nothing a player can do to influence the outcome of the game.
Choosing a variant with the lowest possible house edge is smart. In Punto Banco, a player can lower the house edge to as low as 1.06% by backing the bank. Backing the player raises the house edge to 1.24%. Although the baccarat odds on a tie is higher at 8:1 or 9:1, the house edge rises to 14.4% or 4.85%, respectively. These higher house edges are the reason why taking a tie bet is ill-advised.
Baccarat Variants
Whether you prefer a strawberry 'dream' donut, a chocolate dip donut or a Canadian maple donut – it's good to have options! The same is true when you play baccarat online, which is why we introduce you to some variants that you may find online:
Live Baccarat
In a country as big as Canada, finding a nearby casino may not be easy! Imagine having to drive hundreds of kilometres if you live along the Hudson Bay in Northern Ontario or in Northern BC. Would you be willing to make the drive or flight? There is no guarantee, of course, that the closest casino is the best one. If we had to be entirely honest, the best land-based casinos in North America for choice are concentrated in Las Vegas. However, this is far from practical if you just want to play a few rounds of baccarat.
Online baccarat Canada offers a perfect solution. Canadian players can play live baccarat online with a real-life dealer alongside other players. There is no expensive commute to worry about, no dress code, no time off from work is required, and you can play any time 24/7. Games are streamed in real-time from the provider's production studio, allowing players to view and listen in on the action. This makes live dealer baccarat the most land-based casino-like form possible.
Macao Baccarat
Macao is a card game that is related to baccarat but uses two decks of cards. History first mentions it in 1783, where it is believed that it may have started in Europe in Italy or Hungary. Austro-Hungarian Empire soldiers in the 19th century enjoyed the game until it was banned. The objective is to beat the banker's card value. A tie goes to the hand with the least number of cards. If the punter has the same number of cards as the bank, then the bank wins. A bettor with a natural 9 gets triple the bet amount back as long as the banker doesn't also have the same.
EZ Baccarat
The variant EZ Baccarat is relatively new, having been introduced in 2004. Here, wins by betting on the banker or player pays even money. The exception is when the banker wins with a total hand of 7 when the third card is drawn, which results in a push on banker bets. Furthermore, there are two additional side bet options. The first is called Dragon 7, which pays 40 to 1 rather than pushing when the banker gets a winning three-card 7. This side bet increases the house edge to 7.61%. The second is called Panda 8, which pays 25 to 1 when the player gets a winning three-card 8. This particular side bet increases the house edge to 10.19%.
Mini Baccarat
In this variant of baccarat, a smaller table is used. Also, the table minimums and maximum tend to be smaller. The cards are dealt from a standard shoe by the croupier. Play'n GO has this variant appropriately called Mini Baccarat.
Punto 2000/Super 6
Punto 2000 is also known as Super 6. In this variant, even money is paid on winning bets on the banker (instead of 1:0.95 in Punto Banco). The exception is when the banker wins with a 6 (hand), in which case the payout is 50% of the bet. It has a house edge of 1.46%. It is a faster variant of baccarat as its cuts back on time spent calculating and collecting the commission on winning banker-backed bets that do not equal 6.
Mobile Baccarat Online
Mobile baccarat has grown in popularity as Canadians spend more time away from their desktop PC or laptop at home. This can come down to several reasons, such as the commute to and from work which seems to get longer. If you've ever been caught in a winter snowstorm in Saguenay, Quebec or St. John's, Newfoundland, you no doubt know what we mean! Waiting for public transport to get you from A to B can be an excellent time to play a few hands of baccarat online.
Of course, when you have your Android or iOS mobile phone in your pocket, opportunities to play can sneak up on you at any time. For example, you could be waiting for your late friends to arrive to meet you for a coffee at Tim Hortons or lunch at A&W or Boston Pizza.
iOS and Android mobile baccarat can be played online from an instant-play browser or sometimes from your downloaded casino app.
Online Baccarat for Real Money
It may seem somewhat unreal that online baccarat real money games have some advantages over free online baccarat. However, this is as real as ice is in ice hockey with some key benefits:
- You can keep your winnings when you play baccarat online real money games.
- Live Baccarat variants using real-life dealers can only be played with sufficient real money in your player account.
- Some online casinos offer promotions and other bonuses when playing online baccarat real money games.
- Baccarat is more exciting when you can win money that you can keep.
Why Canadians Like to Play Baccarat online?
What Canadian wouldn't want to feel even a little like James Bond from Ian Fleming's 'Dr. No'? Aside from that, there are a few other reasons why Canadians like to play baccarat:
- Online casino baccarat is similar to baccarat at land-based casinos.
- Baccarat has a house edge that can be as little as 1.06%.
- Baccarat is available in several variants.
- Baccarat online is a pure game of chance, and there is minimal strategy involved.
- Live Baccarat is available for players who enjoy playing against a real-life dealer, among other players.
- Some baccarat games come with side bets and other features.
Providers of Online Baccarat
The possibilities of online baccarat games can be pretty significant, but it depends on the casino. It's sort of like Canadian craft beers. You have your Steam Whistle brews in Ontario, your Beauregard Brasserie brews in Quebec, and The Grizzly Paw Brewing brews in Canmore, Alberta. There is just so much variety that it's hard to choose your favourite!
Likewise, there are many quality baccarat online games providers, and it's hard to decide which one is the best. These include Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Play'n GO, Microgaming and Red Tiger Gaming - but there are so many more!
Final Word on Online Baccarat
The large number of top online casinos that offer baccarat means that Canadian players have a lot of great options. This list of the top 10 best online casinos for baccarat offers a variety of options that include different variations of the game and live dealer tables. These casinos also offer a list of other compelling features such as live chat and multiple banking options for deposits and payouts. Canadian players can enjoy many other classic casino games like slots, poker, craps, roulette and blackjack when they visit these industry-leading online casinos from the comfort of their own home or any other remote location.