Online Baccarat for Real Money in New Zealand Online Casinos

Like other card and table games, baccarat also features a rich history. However, its origin is somewhat debatable. Its chronicles take us back to medieval Italy in the 1400s, where Felix Falguierein, an Italian croupier, is believed to have invented the game. Initially, the game was called “baccara” and was played with Tarot cards. “Baccara” is an Italian term that translates to “zero” or “nothing” in English since all face cards and tens were valued at zero. In this version, four dealers dealt cards, and every player could be a banker. Also, players could wager against other players and the house. Over the years, the game spread in popularity and was particularly famous in 17th-century France.

In France, the game was known as “Chemin de Fer” or “Chemmy” (translating to “railway baccarat”). This baccarat version was well-liked by King Charles VIII and his noblemen and remained a hit for centuries. With time, the game spread to England and was famously adopted in the 007 (James Bond) films, spurring its popularity further. Later the game extended into the Caribbean and South America under the name Punto Banco or American Baccarat as we know it now.

Currently, you can play several online baccarat variations with a few additions like side bets and other modern interpretations. Some even feature high RTP (return to player) percentages.

Online baccarat can be played with a standard six or eight deck of 52 cards, shuffled after each round. The gameplay rules are easy to grasp. When you play baccarat online, the objective is simple: predict which hand (the player or the banker) will be closest to 9 points. The one closest to nine wins the round. In addition, you can wager on the tie bet, predicting that both hands (player and banker) will be dealt hands with the same point values. In online baccarat, the tie bet has the highest payouts of the three main bets. Suppose there’s a tie outcome; players with a wager on the tie bet will receive a corresponding payout, while other players with bets on the player or banker will get their stake back.

Please note that all wins on the banker’s hand come with a 5% commission. Also, there are baccarat gameplay rules regarding when the player or banker will draw the third card. We’ll look at this later in this article. Finally, a baccarat table can host up to 14 players in a land-based setting. However, an online casino with baccarat games has no player limit since they compete against the software. 

The game’s interface is easy on the eye as the table features three segments (banker, player, and in the middle, the tie section). At the bottom, you’ll see your balance, the “Deal” button, and your total bet amount for each round. You can also access the game’s rules and paytable through the settings option. Remember, top baccarat online casino sites offer free play mode, allowing you to enjoy the game before starting real money gameplay.

Like other card casino games, you should learn the card rankings when playing baccarat online for real money. That way, you can calculate the value of the hand you’re dealt quickly. In online baccarat, cards 2-9 take the pip value. So, for example, a three is worth three points, a six, 6 points, and so on. In addition, all face cards such as Queens (Q), Jacks (J), Kings (K) and all tens are worth o points. Lastly, aces are worth 1 point. As mentioned, the hand with the closest value to nine wins the game round. Notably, joker cards are not used in the baccarat game online. That’s true for most card games, except for poker and video poker variations where the joker cards are used.

Away from that, how would you calculate your dealt hand in online baccarat? It’s simple. Suppose on your first round, your side receives two cards (5 and 6), equalling 11. That means your hand will be worth 1 point since the outermost digit decides the hand’s value. So, you’ll drop the first digit (1) and have a hand value of 1. If the total was 16, you drop the one and remain with a hand value of 6. Suppose, on the first two dealt cards, the banker or player gets a hand value of 8 or 9, regarded as a Natural; the game will end with no further drawn cards and all bets settled. 

Suppose neither the player nor the banker has a Natural hand; the game will continue as per the third-card rule in online baccarat:

• The player’s side will draw a third card if the initial hand total is 5 or less
• The player stands (doesn’t draw another card) if the first two-card hand is worth 6 or 7
• Also, the player’s side doesn’t get additional cards if there’s a Natural

If the player’s hand doesn’t draw a third card, the banker’s hand will follow the player’s rules above. That is, the banker’s hand only gets a third card if its hand total is 5 or less and it stands on a hand total of 6 or 7.

The banker’s third card rules are a tad complex and apply if the player draws a third card.

• Suppose the player’s third card is a 2 or 3; the banker will draw a third card if its total is between 0 and 4 and will stand with a total of 5 to 7.
• If 4 or 5 are the player’s third card, the banker will draw a third card if its initial total is between 0 and 5 and stands with a total of 6 or 7.
• Suppose the player’s third card is a 6 or 7; the banker will draw a third card if the first two-card total is between 0 and 6 and stands with a total of 7.
• In case the player’s third card is an 8, the banker will only draw a third card if the initial total is between 0 and 2 and will stand with a total of 3 to 7.
• Finally, if the player’s third card is an ace, 9, 10, or a face card (K, Q, J), the banker will draw a third card if its two-card total is between 0 and 3 and stands with a total of 4 to 7.

The top online casinos with baccarat games in NZ usually offer players numerous game variations from multiple software vendors. As such, you can pick the one that best suits your style of play. Some of the most popular variations at fast payout casinos in New Zealand include Chemin de Fer, Punto Banco, and Baccarat Banque. Besides these titles, you can find others such as No Commission Baccarat, Mini Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Speed Baccarat, live dealer baccarat, etc. That said, below are brief reviews of the most famous versions available on top baccarat online casino sites.

Punto Banco

This is the most widely accepted and popular version of online baccarat. It’s also known as American Baccarat, and the name Punto Banco arises from the two popular bet options, player (punto) and banker (banco). This version is the one described on this page.

No Commission Baccarat

This baccarat game online features the same rules as Punto Banco, except for a few differences. For starters, the 5% commission deducted on all winning banker’s bets is eliminated in this version, hence the name, No Commission Baccarat. That means a banker’s hand pays even money, 1:1 in this version. However, there’s an exception. Bankers’ hands that win with 6 points will be paid 50% of their wagers (1:2).

Moreover, No Commission Baccarat provides additional betting options through side bets. One side bet is Lucky 6, which pays out when the banker’s hand wins with a total value of 6. For example, if the banker’s hand comprises three cards and its value is 6, the payout is 20:1. If the banker’s hand has only two cards and its value is 6, the payout is 12:1.

Live dealer baccarat is the best choice if you fancy a more realistic baccarat gameplay that replicates a brick-and-mortar gambling environment. Like online baccarat, there are multiple variations of live dealer baccarat, and whichever you choose, the rules are pretty much the same. The primary difference comes in gameplay since live dealer baccarat has real-life dealers dealing and shuffling the playing cards while conducting the game instead of the RNG software. 

In addition, with some games streaming in real-time from land-based casinos and others in dedicated studios, Kiwis can get a more authentic and immersive gaming experience. Notably, you can play live baccarat from any device, desktop or mobile. The objective is the same; predict which side will win by getting a hand value as close as possible to nine.

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Online baccarat is a game of chance, but you can calculate the odds of a particular outcome based on probability. However, when you play baccarat online for real money, your chances of winning will mainly depend on the baccarat variation. Therefore, based on a baccarat game using an 8-card deck, the banker’s hand has the highest odds of winning at 45.87%. That’s why the banker’s bet is considered the safest bet when playing baccarat online. The banker’s hand pays at 0.95:1 since it wins more times statistically. Nevertheless, please note that a 5% commission is subtracted from all wins on this bet. 

On the other hand, the player’s hand pays even money (1:1) with a 44.63% chance of winning. The tie bet has the lowest statistical chance of winning at 9.51%. That’s why it’s considered a risky bet, and most experts will advise against placing tie bets. Despite that, the tie bet offers the highest payouts of 8:1 or 9:1, depending on the variation. The optimal RTPs for the player, banker and tie bets in real money online casinos with baccarat games are 98.76%, 98.94%, and 85.64%, respectively.

We’ve comprehensively covered the baccarat game online, featuring its gameplay rules, odds and payouts, variations, side bets, and more. So now that you’re well-equipped with that, how do you increase your winning chances when playing at a baccarat online casino? Below we’ll recommend some tips, tricks, and betting systems you can use to get the edge while playing for real money. However, remember that these tips don’t guarantee 100% success. So, here we go:

• Play the demo versions of online baccarat to learn gameplay and rules before playing for real money.
• Manage your bankroll appropriately by setting loss and win limits. Also, keep your gaming sessions short, especially after a winning streak. As a gambling thumb rule, winning streaks are followed by losing streaks, mostly. So, know when to stop to avoid chasing losses.
• The banker bet is the safest in online baccarat as it has a higher probability chance, despite the 5% commission. As such, you can play this bet most of the time. Still, you should trust your instincts as it’s a game of chance. Any outcome is possible.
• Avoid the tie bet. Although it has better payouts (8:1 or 9:1), the chances of winning on a tie bet are low, and the bet features a high house edge (about 9%).
• Choose your side bets wisely; some come with an outrageous house edge. However, the Big/Small side bets are considered safer.
• You can use betting systems such as the Martingale strategy. With this system, you double your bet after every loss. The principle is that you’ll recoup all your losses with just one lucky winning bet.

Online baccarat is one of the easiest table games available at top Bitcoin online casinos in New Zealand. The rules and the gameplay are elementary, unlike other table games where you have to make crucial decisions during the game. More importantly, with our exhaustive guide, Kiwis can learn the game rules, typical gameplay, and the different bets and side bets available when playing online casino baccarat in New Zealand. Moreover, the odds and payouts section will help you make wise bets and know the number of winnings to expect. Finally, with our recommended online baccarat tips and tricks, you can start online baccarat gameplay for real money and play like a pro, mathematically increasing your winning chances.