Home » Vegas Betting Guide » How to play Baccarat in Vegas
Baccarat is one of the toughest card games for the average bettor to pronounce, and perhaps to play. We can’t do anything about the former, but we can about the latter. Maybe baccarat isn’t as simple as blackjack, but the game also isn’t that hard to learn. That’s why in this guide, we’ll be telling you everything you need to know about baccarat — how to play and key strategies for finding success on the Las Vegas tables!
Baccarat began in Italy, a game they say was created in the 1400s by a gentleman named Felix Falguiere. The term Baccarat is Italian for “zero”. The game is named as such because all the tens and face cards are worth zero — not ten like you’re probably used to.
Baccarat Las Vegas offers some of the best odds and although it isn’t a game many of the younger generation are used to, it’s certainly one of the easiest games in the city of lights. The basic principles of the game involve just a few decisions, which dictate how much you want to bet on the bank, the player or the tie bet. The basic objective is to bet on one of two hands, with the winning hand the one which totals closest to nine – nine is the highest hand.
Baccarat is one of the more popular games on the Vegas strip. The best Baccarat tables in Vegas aren’t hard to find. Though, it does largely depend on what your definition of “best” is, as there are many factors to consider.
The best tables could be those that offer the biggest payouts, or those that are situated in the biggest casinos. There are many tables that offer great Baccarat minimum bets in Vegas, which give you more playtime, but less opportunity to hit big payouts. Many of you will wonder where to play Baccarat in Vegas, which we would always say take a look at our recommended list of Vegas sportsbooks for the latest information.
One more thing: if playing baccarat on the Strip, expect to pay higher prices on the minimum bet. Very few things are cheap when playing on the Strip and that includes minimum bets. Head off the Strip if you want to play baccarat for cheaper.
Much like playing in a casino, playing Baccarat online is easy. We have a comprehensive list of the best online providers offering baccarat markets. The way online providers display the game does vary from one bookmaker to the next, but overall it’s fairly similar.
One thing we would say is be sure of the table limits before you start wagering. These figures can fluctuate quite dramatically, so make sure this is clear. For those that are still wondering how do you play baccarat in Vegas? Read on and we’ll clear that up.
Bettors always ask us how to play Baccarat in Las Vegas. The game is simple. Eight decks are shuffled together and the players in the game place a wager on either the Bank or the Player—a kind of side-bet system, if you will. All the bets must be placed before the dealer calls “no more bets”.
The first card goes to the player, the second to the bank, third to the player and the fourth to the bank. This leaves both with a 2-card hand. Then, the first and third cards dealt are placed face down for the player’s hand. The second and fourth cards are placed face down until the players’ hand is called. At which point, the banker’s hand is placed face up.
Another important term in Baccarat is “Natural”, which is what is called by the dealer when the hand is 8 or 9. If the bank doesn’t have Natural, then the player draws a third card on totals of 0-1-2-3-4-5 and stands with 6-7-8-9. A winning tie bet pays 9 to 1, but the player’s and banker’s hand neither wins nor loses.
Face cards and tens have no value. Aces value as one. One thing that can be confusing is that the cards that are dealt total more than nine on either hand, they acquire the value of the second digit. For example:
When there are multiple players, the deck of cards is passed from player to player counter-clockwise every time a player’s hand wins. This involves more players and gives each participant an opportunity to deal. Before dealing commences, bettors must wager on the banker or player. Note that in casinos, bets placed on the bank will often have a 5% commission attached to them on money won.
The aim is to bet on which hand will have the highest value. Beyond what we’ve explained already, there are also some other rules. Let’s take a look at the things players should be aware of when playing baccarat.
Baccarat betting can be founded on the casino tables of Las Vegas, which is a prime spot for betting markets. We’d strongly advise taking a look at Baccarat betting options in Las Vegas.
Yes. It is like any casino game. If you’re betting correctly and making sensible bets, then you are in with a chance of winning big.
The game was first founded in the 1400’s and the name of the game stands for “zero” in Italian, which is the nationality of the person who created the game.
Not at all. There are a few basic ground rules that need to be grasped. But, once you’re going, it’s one of the easiest games around.
No, the game is played entirely using a deck of cards. Though there are many casino games that use dice.
Chris Wassel is someone who has covered a little bit of everything: business, writing, sports, food, grilling, the Olympics, injuries, politics, and more. He has climbed mountains like Mount Washington and Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California, and for those who don’t know, he is also big into food challenges. With friends like Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has tackled eating feats like finishing a 16-pound turkey or a 32-inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, he has focused on fitness, fishing, and sports while managing to fit in running, hiking, rock climbing, and even the occasional mini-triathlon. He can lift more than his body weight with ease and is the person you turn to when you want to know if a NASCAR rain delay means a Monday race. Over his career, Chris has worked at places like Amazon, USA Today, and various rumors and fantasy sports sites. He has been nominated for awards such as the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hockey Writer of the Year and has a collection of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings on display at home. With all this, Chris sums it up best with his motto: "Shut up and play."