UK's Best Online Baccarat Sites - 2024

How We Review Baccarat Casinos

With so many baccarat casinos to choose from, we understand that it can be difficult to know where to place your bets, so here’s what we take into consideration in our reviews. 

Licensing

The first thing we look for when reviewing online casinos is whether they are licensed by the UKGC – the UK Gambling Commission. If a casino doesn’t pass this initial test, then it can’t be held to the same standards and assurances as the other casinos we recommend, and we don’t continue with the review. 

Rest assured, then, that each of these recommended baccarat casinos hold a UKGC licence, and therefore must adhere to strict guidelines surrounding game fairness, player protection, safe transactions and ethical responsibility. 

Game Selection

Another important factor in how we rank baccarat casinos is the selection of games on offer. A number of online casinos won’t offer any baccarat titles at all, and those that do aren’t likely to offer the same variety that exists for more popular table games like blackjack or roulette, so we generally exercise a quality over quantity policy when it comes to reviewing the game selection at baccarat casinos.

Having said that, the best online baccarat casinos like Duelz Casino and Hyper Casino manage to deliver both variety and quality, which is why they sit at the top of our rankings. 

Site Design

Consideration of a site’s design is crucial to any baccarat casino we review. What good is a baccarat online casino if you’re unable to find the games it has on offer?

When looking at site design we assess navigability, design and usability, so you can be certain that any baccarat online casino we recommend will provide a sleek and intuitive gambling experience.   

Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses and promotions are a considerable factor in choosing any gambling site, and online baccarat casinos are no different. While certain bonuses at other casinos only apply to slot games, every baccarat casino we recommend features welcome packages or ongoing promotions that will benefit baccarat players. 

Though most of the welcome offers at these baccarat casinos relate to free spins and matched deposit bonuses – many of which place baccarat rather low down in game weighting – casinos like Duelz also offer cashback bonuses that will return 10% of any losses you may suffer on the baccarat tables.

Payment Options

We like to recommend baccarat casinos that will cover every player’s payment preferences. That’s why every baccarat online casinos we endorse will allow you to both deposit and withdraw with a variety of payment methods, from debit cards and e-wallets to prepaid cards and Open Banking. 

Although some methods are more readily available than others, we’re confident that every player will be satisfied with the payment options at these online baccarat casinos.

Software Providers

We always look out for the top online baccarat software providers when reviewing baccarat casinos. The top providers to look out for here – all of which are represented in the list of baccarat casinos we recommend – are Evolution Gaming, NetEnt and Pragmatic Play, all of whom also offer live baccarat. 

Customer Support

The availability of round-the-clock customer support is crucial to our assessment of online baccarat casinos. All of our top-rated baccarat casinos offer live chat customer support services, and are quick to respond to any questions or problems that may arise while playing. 

The Beginner’s Guide to Playing Online Baccarat

The origins of baccarat are widely disputed, with some sources claiming it was introduced in the 19th century, and others stating the game can be traced back to the end of the 15th century. All we know for certain is it sure has aged well. Hundreds of years on, thousands of people are discovering the joy of playing online baccarat. Below, you’ll find a no-nonsense guide to playing baccarat, so you can join in the fun yourself. 

Baccarat Overview

Baccarat is a card game that compares two hands — the Player and the Banker. Each round of play is known as a baccarat coup and sees the Player and the Banker dealt two face-up cards each. In baccarat, bets are placed before the cards are dealt and there are no further actions required from you as the player. Remember, there’s no such thing as the dealer’s hand in this popular casino game, nor will you receive a hand yourself. It’s purely coincidental that one of the hands is called the Player hand. 

There are three possible outcomes in a baccarat coup. The Player or the Banker hand can win by dealing closest to nine, or the two hands can draw and the round will end in a Tie.

Baccarat Hand Value

To determine the value of a hand, simply add the individual card values together. Tens and face cards are equal to zero, while cards 2–9 carry their face value. Aces equal one. Only the last digit is used if the cards add up to a two-digit number. This means that every baccarat hand has a value in the range of 0–9. A hand totalling 14, for example, is worth 4. 

Third Card

If the Player or the Banker’s hand totals 8 or 9, this is called a natural win, and the round is over. However, in certain situations, a third card can be dealt. For example, if the Player’s first two cards amount to 5 or less, the Player must draw one more card. 

The Banker might also draw a third card. If the Player draws no more cards, the Banker takes a third card if their hand totals 0–5. If the Player draws a third card, whether the Banker follows suit depends on the Banker’s hand value and the value of the Player’s third card. 

Third card rules mean that Banker hands have slightly better odds of winning than Player hands, so you’ll pay 5% commission if you place a winning Banker bet. Despite this cut from your winnings, the lower house edge for Banker bets means that baccarat tipsters often suggest that the best baccarat strategy is to bet on the Banker hand. 

Online Baccarat Bets

Baccarat betting is simple. There are three main baccarat bets you can place, each one correlating with one of the game’s three possible outcomes.

• Banker Bet – a bet on the Banker hand to win. Pays out at 19:20, after the casino takes 5% commission. The house edge is 1.06%.
• Player Bet – a bet on the Player hand to win. Pays out at 1:1. The house edge is 1.24%.
• Tie Bet – a bet that the Player and Banker hands will have the same score. Tie bets usually pay out at 8:1, and the house edge is 14.36%. Some casinos pay 9:1, giving a lower house edge of 4.85%. 

Sometimes, baccarat games offer additional betting options in the form of side bets, such as Player Pair and Banker Pair. Here, you’ll bet that the first two cards dealt for either the Player or the Banker will be a pair. 

• Player/Banker Pair – a bet that the Player’s or Banker’s first two cards will be a pair. This bet pays out at 11:1, and the house edge is 10.36%.
• All Red/All Black – a bet that the Player’s or Banker’s initial hand will be either all red or all black cards. It pays out at 11:1, and the house edge is 10.36%. All Red usually pays 22:1 while all black pays 24:1. 
• Bellagio Match – a bet on whether the Player or Banker hand will be dealt three cards of the same rank. It usually pays 75:1 on the Player hand and 68:1 on the Banker hand.

Claim an Online Baccarat Bonus

Most online casinos give new players a boost to their starting bankroll with some kind of welcome offer. You can use some of these sign-up bonuses to enjoy some free baccarat games, and others to get a feel for the site in general. Let’s look at what’s in store.

Matched Deposit

Matched deposit bonuses work by matching your real money deposit with bonus cash. The value of these bonuses varies, as does the percentage match, though deals like 100% up to £100 are not uncommon. Many casinos allow you to play online baccarat with matched deposit bonus funds. Keep in mind that when it comes to bonus wagering, baccarat may offer a reduced contribution to your playthrough total, and live baccarat is often excluded. 

Free Spins

You can’t use free spins to play online baccarat, but that’s not to say you won’t come across these bundles of fun in your welcome offer! Free spins for top slots like Starburst and Book of Dead may be offered as a standalone welcome bonus, or form part of a welcome package alongside a deposit match offer. Wagering requirements may apply to any winnings.

No Wagering Bonus

With no wagering bonuses, you won’t need to wager any winnings from bonus funds or free spins. Instead, any winnings are paid to your cash balance. Because they’re straight-up freebies, no wagering bonuses might be a bit smaller than bonuses that require a deposit. Even so, no wager bonuses offer you a decent chance to make a small profit from a casino sign-up offer, so they’re well worth cashing in. 

Online Baccarat Variants

Some card game historians trace baccarat’s origins back to the 15th century, and as such there has been plenty of time for other variations of the game to develop. To help you decide which version of baccarat suits you best, or to simply inform you about the many different game rules, here’s some information on its most popular formats:

Punto Banco

Punto banco is a game played between the player (‘punto’) and the banker (‘banco’), and is without doubt the most popular baccarat variant. If you’re playing baccarat online, chances are it’s a game of punto banco, so consult our Beginner’s Guide to Playing Online Baccarat to double-check the rules.

Chemin de Fer

Chemin de fer – French for ‘railway’, in reference to its comparatively faster pace than standard, punto banco baccarat  – is a variation of baccarat that is most commonly played in France, although it is also famous for being James Bond’s game of choice. Perhaps due to the notoriety granted to it by 007, you might still come across chemin de fer at online baccarat casinos. 

Unlike punto banco, where one plays against the bank, chemin de fer is played between 6-12 players, one of whom is designated the role of the banker until they lose a round, at which point the banking responsibilities are passed onto the next player. 

At the beginning of each round the banker deals two cards to themself, and two cards held in common by the rest of the players. The winning hand remains the one which is closest to 9 – and the cards all carry the same value as they do in standard baccarat – but players can only bet on their own hand. Conversely, in punto banco players can also bet on either the banker’s hand or a tie.

After the cards have been dealt, the banker sets the wager, and then the rest of the betting round proceeds in similar fashion to a game of poker, with the other players having the opportunity to match the banker’s bet, which is referred to as ‘going bank’. The player who places the highest wager – or whoever is first to do so in the order of play – plays for the rest of the punters.

If neither the banker’s or the players’ cards total a natural win of 8 or 9, a third card can be dealt to each hand. If the players win, those who bet are paid out in the ratio of 1:1. So if you bet £100, you would get your money back plus another £100, and the banker would pass on his role to the next player. If the banker wins, however, they keep their place and collect all other players’ losing bets. In the event of a tie, all bets remain on the table for the next round.

Playing against a number of other gamblers makes chemin de fer more suitable for live dealer casino games, but it’s still rarely seen in both online and live dealer markets.

Baccarat Banque

In baccarat banque, the role of the banker is auctioned before the start of the game. Once declared, the banker sits between two groups of 5 players and deals three hands: one to their left; one to their right; and their own.

The game then continues in the same manner as chemin de fer, except the punters are split in half, each side betting for their own hand against the banker. Punters can also choose to bet on both hands at half the stake. If both sides of the table ‘go bank’ and win, the share is split.

Again, it is rare to find baccarat banque at online casinos, but it is still played at many land-based casinos.

Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat is essentially a faster version of punto banco baccarat, played with smaller wagers and at smaller tables. It’s a good option for more casual players, or perhaps those who are looking for an introduction to other variations of baccarat. 

Outside of punto banco baccarat, mini baccarat is the variation you are most likely to come across at online baccarat casinos.

Live Baccarat Sites

Live dealer casinos bring a new element of excitement to playing real money baccarat online. Instead of playing a software-based game, as you do with RNG games, live online baccarat games are played with a real dealer — just like in a land-based casino. During live games, you can often interact directly with the dealer through text-based chat, and sometimes with other players too. 

Some of the industry’s most respected developers contribute to the choice of real dealer games at our favourite baccarat casino sites, with some of the most creative studios blending live casino action with RNG technology to create a unique experience! Let’s look at a trio of top live baccarat games you can enjoy at live baccarat casinos.

Top Live Baccarat Games

Other Online Casino Games

If you grow tired of online baccarat, there are plenty of other options when it comes to online casino games. Here are some of the best alternatives:

Blackjack

If you aren’t too familiar with baccarat, you’ll no doubt have heard of blackjack. A similar game in many respects, blackjack is all about getting as close to 21 as possible without going bust, and is available at all the same online casinos that offer baccarat. If you want to mix things up a bit whilst staying on the card tables, you have a number of top RNG (Random Number Generator) and live dealer blackjack titles at your disposal.

Roulette

Roulette is a popular choice both live and online, with a great deal of games on offer from the industry’s top providers. Roulette is a simple game in which you bet on where the ball will land after each spin of the roulette wheel. You can bet on a number, a group of numbers – i.e. odd/even, high/low – or a colour, which will be either red or black. Once you’re at a top roulette site, all you have to do is choose your game, place your bets and watch the wheel spin – hopefully in your favour. 

Slots

It may be that you want to ditch the casino table altogether and try your luck at the slots. Slots are comfortably the most popular type of online casino game, and as a result there is an overwhelming variety of titles to choose from. Although these online baccarat casinos have a lot to offer in the slot department, you can also check out our top-rated UK slot sites to find the best option for you.