Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games and also the simplest to play. There is no need to count cards or learn any specific strategy. If you’re a fan of Baccarat and live in India, you’ve come to the perfect place. For those looking to play Baccarat online in India, this page is a gold mine of knowledge. We live, breathe and eat casino gaming and we specialize in the Indian market.
On this page, you can learn everything you need to start your online Baccarat journey on the right foot. Our experts have even compiled a list of the best Indian-friendly online casinos with high-quality baccarat games.
Here’s what you can expect to learn from this 5-minute read: the legality of online baccarat in India, why to play baccarat online, which baccarat casino to join, and how to play baccarat online.
So, if you’re ready to play baccarat online and make some real money, let’s dive right into the why, where, and how.
Best Baccarat Online Casinos In 2022
Best Real Money Casinos For India
Baccarat Online Game: A Fantastic Casino Game
Baccarat is a top choice among seasoned casino gamers and there are several reasons for this.
To start with, Baccarat is easy to learn and simple to play. Baccarat’s basic concepts are easy to grasp. Due to the game’s simplicity, even novice gamers can partake. The main thing players need to understand is that they can bet on the player, the banker’s hands, or a tie. Bets are made before the cards are dealt.
The second compelling reason to play Baccarat is that it is quite affordable compared to other casino games. Players may gamble on this game with a modest contribution factor at numerous casinos. Even when there are many players betting, the stakes are fairly small, and players see this as a positive aspect of the game.
Baccarat Online Free Games
Furthermore, for Baccarat, online games have minimum bets as low as zero, and some websites even provide a free play option. So, if you’re on a budget, Baccarat is a fantastic choice.
However, the thing that really makes Baccarat a favorite among players is the fact that the possibilities of winning are high. In Baccarat, the average house edge tends to be just 1.30% when the bet is placed on a player. It is even lower (1.06%) when you bet on the banker. A tie bet has a house edge of around 14.40%. If you want to play at the highest theoretical advantage, you can simply bet on the banker.
Why Play Baccarat Online?
We’ve already gone over the reasons why Baccarat is such a popular game. For the same reasons, Baccarat is a perfect choice even when playing online. If you love baccarat and wish to play regularly, you might not always be able to go visit a land-based casino. In India, land casinos are only available in Goa, Daman, and Sikkim.
So, playing online is simply way more accessible and convenient. All it takes is an internet connection and you can play from the comfort of your own home. Are you always on the move? You can simply use your smartphone or a tablet to play Baccarat online.
Playing online is also advantageous because many online casinos offer a variety of bonuses where you can get free casino cash and other incentives that boost your chances of winning money.
Where Do I Play Baccarat Game Online in India?
There are thousands of online casinos that offer Baccarat games, however, not all of them are created equal. In fact, some casinos are better avoided. As a player based in India, you may find various offshore casinos offering Baccarat games, but you must ensure the casino is regulated, safe and trustworthy.
Otherwise, you might simply become a victim of a frivolous scam operation in the disguise of an online casino.
Worry not, we’ve done all the homework for you. Below, you will find a list of premium baccarat casinos that welcome players from India. Our expert casino analysts have tested each casino thoroughly to assure a safe and quality gaming experience for our readers.
Best Real Money Casinos For India
How To Play Baccarat Online In India?
- First, choose a casino from our list of Baccarat casinos
- Click on the casino link and you will be taken to the casino website
- On the website, click on ‘sign up’ or ‘register’
- Fill out the registration form with details as requested. Ensure you enter details as per your identity and address proof documents
- Once the registration form is completed, submit the form and your casino account is created
- Log in to your casino account
- You can play some Baccarat games in demo mode (this is optional, but we recommend it)
- Once you are ready to play for real money, go to the cashier and click on deposit
- Choose your preferred deposit payment method (options usually include credit card, debit card, net banking, Google Pay, PhonePe, etc)
- Once your deposit is approved, the funds are available in your casino account
- Click on the baccarat game of your choice and start playing!
Baccarat Rules
As I mentioned in the intro playing Baccarat does not require strategy, however, understanding how the game is played will make it more exciting; you’ll know which cards to cheer for. The game starts with players making a wager on either player or banker.
It is important to note banker does not refer to the house, nor does the spot-marked player refer to the casino player; these are just the names of the spots available for wagering. Once all bets are made, the dealer deals two cards to each the player spot on the table and the banker spot.
The dealer then examines the scores to decide if either hand will be dealt a third card. Let me quickly cover the scoring first.
Baccarat Scoring
- Number Cards 2-9 are worth their face value
- Face Cards (K, Q, J) and Tens are worth zero
- Aces are worth 1
Cards are totaled together to determine their value; however, there is a slight catch. Baccarat only uses 0-9 as the scores.
Therefore a hand of 10 is worth 0, a hand of 11 worth 1, a hand of 12 worth 2, and so on. This means if the cards are 9 and 7 that spot has a score of 6 (not 16) because the first number is dropped. Again just remember the score is always 0-9.
Baccarat Third Card Draw
Getting back to the game, where we left off, each the player spot and the banker spot was dealt two cards.
Sometimes these cards are final and no other cards will be dealt.
Other times one or both spots might draw an additional card. Let me explain how this works.
Natural hands
If either spot is dealt a score of 8 or 9 (this is called a natural hand), no further cards will be dealt; the outcome is immediately determined based only on the initial cards dealt with each spot.
When the Player Draws
In the absence of a natural hand, the player will draw a third card when his score is 0-5; on 6 or 7 he stands.
When the Banker Draws
The rules for when a banker draws a third card are a little more complex. If the player stood pat (didn’t draw a card), the banker draws a card when his score is 0-5 and stand on 6 or 7. If the player did draw a card the following rules come into play.
- If the Player drew a 2 or 3, the Banker draws if he has 0–4
- If the Player drew a 4 or 5, the Banker draws if he has 0–5
- If the Player drew a 6 or 7, the Banker draws if he has 0–6
- If the Player drew an 8, the Banker draws if he has 0–2
- If the Player drew an Ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the Banker draws if he has 0–3
Highest Hand Wins
When all cards are dealt whichever spot (player or banker) has the highest score is the winning spot and bets are paid accordingly.
Note: The game is nowhere near as confusing as it might sound. Again, you bet on a spot and watch the dealer do the rest of the work.
Baccarat Odds & Strategy
In baccarat, winning banker bets are charged a 5% commission; this is because the banker wins a little more often than the player. Ignoring ties, which are considered no action (neither player nor banker bets win or lose), the chance of a banker win is 50.685% and the chance of a player win is 49.315%.
Even though a commission is charged on winning banker bets, it is the overall better bet. All things considered the house has a 1.06% advantage on banker bets and a 1.24% advantage on player bets.
The only strategy involved in baccarat is finding a casino that offers a bonus or offers reduced commission.
Final tip: Most casinos offer a side bet paying 8:1 on a tie. This is a sucker bet with a house advantage of 14.36%. and therefore a bet you want to avoid.
Is It Legal To Play Baccarat Online In India?
On the federal level, there are no laws prohibiting internet gambling in India. Every Indian state has the authority to enact gaming legislation as it deems suitable. Baccarat is categorized under “casino gambling”, which means it is viewed as a game of chance rather than a game of skill. While many states have not disallowed games of skill like Poker and Fantasy Sports Betting, games of chance like Baccarat, Bingo, and Blackjack tend to be on the receiving end of state anti-gambling regulations.
Technically speaking, aside from a few states like Sikkim and Meghalaya, most other states don’t regulate online casino gaming. In the states mentioned, operators can offer games of chance to residents as long as they apply for and are issued the appropriate licenses.
In essence, whether online baccarat is legal for you is entirely a question of which state you are a resident of.
That said, you should be aware that you may play online Baccarat without fear of legal repercussions, regardless of where you live. No one has ever been prosecuted in India for playing games of chance on the internet.
Anti-gambling legislation primarily targets suppliers, so players have zero cause for concern. Indian gamers can safely play at offshore online casinos. Just make sure the casino is well-reputed and that it has its virtual doors open to players from the Indian subcontinent.
