How to Play Baccarat at Online Casinos NZ?

If Blackjack is a popular table game among New Zealand punters, so is the game of Baccarat. Do you know How to play Baccarat at online casinos NZ with real money?

Online Baccarat is no less exciting than the real Baccarat tables at Skycity. You can play Baccarat at online casinos NZ in real time even with your mobile whenever and wherever you want. You needn’t visit the real land casino now to play Baccarat. It is one of the classiest casino games with a low house edge and simple rules. This makes it one of the most enjoyable games of luck and strategy for online casino players, and ideal for both beginners and advanced casino players.

What is Baccarat?

Baccarat is a popular card game that you can find in many New Zealand online casinos. It’s known for its simplicity and elegance, making it a favorite among both beginners and experienced players. Here’s what you need to know about Baccarat in New Zealand:

Baccarat Basics:

• Baccarat is a card game played between two hands: the Player and the Banker.
• You can bet on the Player’s hand, the Banker’s hand, or a Tie between them.
• The goal is to predict which hand will have a total value closest to 9, or if both hands will tie.

Card Values:

• In Baccarat, card values are a bit different from other card games:
  • Cards 2 to 9 are worth their face value.
  • 10s and face cards (King, Queen, Jack) are worth 0 points.
  • Aces are worth 1 point.

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Rules of the Game

Every baccarat game offers three staple bets, including the banker hand, player hand, and tie. When placing a banker or player bet, you’re gambling on one of these hands beating the other. Here’s an example. You wager on the banker’s hand, if the banker gets a score of 8 and if the player gets a score of 7 and the banker’s hand wins, you win your bet.

• Each hand (Player and Banker) is dealt two cards initially.
• The value of a hand is determined by adding the points of its two cards.
• If the total exceeds 9, only the last digit is considered. For example, if a hand has a 7 and an 8, the total is 5 (7 + 8 = 15, but only the 5 is relevant).
• In some cases, additional cards may be drawn based on the following rules:
• If either the Player or Banker has a total of 8 or 9 with the first two cards (a “natural”), no more cards are drawn.
• If the Player’s total is 0-5, they draw another card.
• If the Player doesn’t draw a third card, the Banker follows these rules:
  • If the Banker’s total is 0-2, they draw another card.
  • If the Banker’s total is 3, they draw unless the Player’s third card is an 8.
  • If the Banker’s total is 4, they draw if the Player’s third card is 2-7.
  • If the Banker’s total is 5, they draw if the Player’s third card is 4-7.
  • If the Banker’s total is 6, they draw if the Player’s third card is 6 or 7.

The hand with a total value closest to 9 wins. If you bet on the winning hand (Player or Banker), you receive a payout based on the odds. Betting on a Tie (both hands having the same total) pays out at higher odds but is less common.

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These are the fundamental rules of Baccarat. It’s a game of chance, and the simplicity of its rules makes it accessible to players in New Zealand and around the world.

A tie wager is based on the banker and player ending up with the same score and you win a large payout when both hands tie.

House edge in Baccarat

The banker’s hand has a 1.06% house edge, the player hand has a 1.24% house advantage, and the tie bet normally has a 14.36% house edge which can vary based on payouts.

You can see that the banker bet offers the best chance to win. Even with the casino taking a 5% commission from winning banker wagers, it still maintains the lowest house advantage.

The player bet isn’t far behind in terms of the house edge. Some punters enjoy making this wager when they feel that recent trends suggest doing so. The tie bet should be avoided at all costs. With a 14.36% house advantage, this is one of the worst wagers in all of gambling.

After this, all you need to know is how the scoring system works to play baccarat like a pro.

The scoring system in baccarat

The hand that has a score closest to nine wins. The first digit of a score is dropped if it’s 10 or higher.

Here’s how baccarat scoring works.

• Ace = 1
• 2-9 = Face value (i.e., 5 is worth 5)
• King, queen, jack = 0

The banker and player both receive two cards to start each round. The score of each hand determines whether the player and banker receive another card.

How to Play Baccarat online in NZ?

• Find an online casino NZ that offers Baccarat. (almost all online casinos of repute offer the game of Baccarat).
• Now type the online casino URL on your web or mobile browser and hit enter to access the online casino instantly without any download.
• Create your online casino account, if not before and register yourself as a player.
• Playing real money Baccarat means you have to make an initial sum of real cash to play the game.
• Visit the banking page or the cashier and make a deposit in real NZD
• Now head to table games section or special games section and locate the game of Baccarat
• Click on the game and the game table opens on your gaming screen be it your PC or mobile or tablet.
• Now tap or click to play now.
• After you’ve placed a bet, every round of Baccarat sees the Player and Banker draw two cards. The hand scores dictate whether more cards need to be drawn by either side:
• Player and Banker rule: If either of the Player or the Banker has a score of 8 or 9 then they have a ‘natural hand’. The outcome of the round is decided without more drawing.
• Player only hand rules: If the Player’s score is 0-5 then they will always be dealt a third card. If their hand is 6 or 7 then they always stand.
• Dealer only hand rules: If the Banker’s hand is zero, 1 or 2 then they will always receive a third card. If the Banker’s hand is a 7 then they will always stand (even if the Player takes a third card). However, if the Player stands with 6 or 7, then Banker takes another card if their score is 0-5.
• Lastly, if the Banker’s score is 3-6 then they mirror the Player’s move (either standing or drawing a third card).

While this might sound a bit confusing, remember that the gameplay in online Baccarat is automated; simply make your bet and watch the round unfold.

Types of Baccarat games at online casinos

Now that you have understood the standard game of Baccarat, generally, the game comes in two types: Mini Baccarat and Big Baccarat.

Baccarat comes in two main types: Big Baccarat and Mini Baccarat. Big Baccarat, as the name suggests, is played on large tables with 12-14 spots. In this version, players can take turns as the banker, which adds excitement but slows down the game. It also has a formal dress code, with men wearing tuxedos or suits, and the minimum wager is usually $100 per hand.

On the other hand, Mini Baccarat is played on smaller tables with only seven seats. The dealer manages all aspects of the game, including banking, making it faster-paced. Mini Baccarat has lower minimum wagers, ranging from $5 to $25 per hand, and there’s no formal dress code.

Due to its accessibility and action-packed nature, many gamblers prefer Mini Baccarat over the larger version.

Different Baccarat Variations

Baccarat variations don’t differ wildly from mini baccarat but do have a slight difference from the standard mini version including the rules and house edge.

1. No Commission Baccarat

As casinos take a 5% commission out of winning banker bets to retain their edge over players, no commission baccarat differs, though, by not taking any commission.

This gives you a long-term edge over casinos in theory, which is why so many players are attracted to the no commission variant. But the rules are slightly modified to ensure that the house keeps its advantage.

If your banker hand bet wins on six points, then you only win 50% on your original wager (as opposed to 100%, or 1:1). This scenario has a 5.39% probability, which pushes the house edge to 1.46%. The player hand is your best option when considering that you have a worse chance of winning the banker bet in no commission baccarat. Ideally, though, you’ll avoid this game altogether. You can play this game at online casinos or land casinos.

2. EZ Baccarat

This baccarat is similar to no commission baccarat in that it doesn’t take 5% commissions from banker’s hand wins. It also features modified rules to ensure that the casino retains its edge. A banker bet that wins with a three-card 7 is a push, rather than a 1:1 payout. But this scenario only has a 2.25% probability of happening.

EZ baccarat features a 1.02% house edge on the banker’s hand when combining the three-card 7 push with no commissions. It’s definitely worth playing EZ baccarat due to its low house advantage. You can find this variation at a number of real land casinos including the casinos at Las Vegas.

3. 4% Commission Baccarat

As the name suggests this game only takes a 4% commission from winning banker wagers. The reduced commission drops the banker hand house edge from 1.06% to 0.60%. You nearly double your chances of winning with 4% commission baccarat as opposed to standard games.

You obviously want to play the 4% commission variation whenever possible. This game variation is found at very few land based casinos.

4. 6-Deck Baccarat

Most baccarat games use eight decks, but there are certain casinos that feature tables with six decks. 6-deck baccarat lowers the banker hand house edge from 1.06% to 1.056%. This won’t make much of a difference to the average player. However, it does aid gamblers who play lots of baccarat and/or bet big. 6-deck baccarat can be found at online casinos that are powered by NetEnt or Playtech software.

The Playtech version also offers interesting side bets in addition to only featuring six decks. The available side bets in Playtech baccarat are:

• Small – Betting on the total number of the banker’s and player’s combined score being 4
• Big – Wagering on the total number of banker’s and player’s cards being 5 or 6
• Either pair – Betting on the banker’s or player’s first two cards forming a pair
• Perfect pair – Wagering on the banker’s or player’s first two cards forming a suited pair

While it’s always fun to take a chance on side wagers, the problem is that these particular bets all feature high house edges. Here are the house advantages for each of the side bets.

• Small = 5.27% house edge
• Big = 4.35%
• Either Pair = 14.54%
• Perfect Pair = 17.07%

Either Pair and Perfect Pair each have bigger house edges than the tie wager, which makes them reprehensible in the overall scope of gambling.

Big and Small both have reasonable house edges in comparison to side bets in other games. But you’re still better off simply wagering on the banker’s hand every time.

5. Baccarat with Higher-Paying Tie Bets

The majority of baccarat games offer an 8:1 payout for winning tie bets. But some games offer a more generous 9:1 payout. The 9:1 prize lowers the tie bet house advantage from 14.36% to 4.84%. Although still not a great house edge, 14.84% at least makes the tie wager worth considering if you like large payouts. Note that your best odds of beating baccarat lie with the banker wager.

6. Baccarat Games with Side Bets

Considering that baccarat doesn’t offer much in the way of betting variety, some casinos add side bets to the equation.

Here are common side wagers that you’ll find in land-based and online casinos forming a variation in the gameplay- of Baccarat

• Big bet: Wager on if the player and banker will combine for 5 or 6 cards. It pays 0.54:1 on your bet, and the house edge is 4.35%.
• Small bet: Wager on if the player and banker will combine for 4 cards. It pays 1.5:1 on your bet, and the house edge is 5.27%.
• Dragon 7: This EZ baccarat bet is based on whether the banker will win with a three-card 7 total. The payout is 40:1, and the house advantage is 7.60%.
• Dragon Bonus (player side): Bet on the player side winning with a natural (8 or 9) or by 4+ points. The house edge is 2.70%.
• Lucky Bonus: Wager on the banker winning with a score of 6. The house advantage is 2.66%, and you must risk up to 10% of your banker bet.
• Panda 8: This EZ baccarat side wager is based on the banker winning with a three-card 8. The payout is 25:1, and the house edge is 10.19%.
• Royal Match: Wager on the banker or player being dealt a suited or unsuited king-queen combo with their first two cards. The suited king-queen pays 75:1, and the unsuited combo pays 30:1. The house edge is 2.13%. These bets are nice for those who want to chase big payouts. You can especially win big with the Royal Match, Dragon 7, and Panda 8 wagers. Royal Match and Lucky Bonus also give you good chances to win because they feature a 2.13% and 2.66% house edge, respectively.
• Macau Baccarat: Macau baccarat differs, though, by allowing players to pick up their cards and even perform good luck rituals. Macau players will slowly bend back card corners to reveal the value. This superstition is based on the belief that slowly looking at your card value will improve your chances of winning. The rules aren’t any different at Macau tables than they are in any other mini-baccarat game. But the superstitions, player passions, and ability to touch your cards make this a baccarat experience to remember.

Though Baccarat variations don’t differ greatly from the original versions you can still find enough variety to make trying different games worth your while.

You can check out the different game variations. Most of these games merely have subtle rule changes, but they’re still worth trying for something new and fun.

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Best Strategy to Win the Game

Baccarat is technically a game based on chance like pokies, but much like roulette, there are endless strategies available that can create winning sessions. Your best option is to test different strategies and systems to analyze the results using small stakes or free Baccarat bonuses.

1. Banker Bet: It has a low 1.06% house edge, making it a favorable choice.
2. Player Bet: With a modest 1.24% house edge, it’s a popular option.
3. Tie Bet: Offers an attractive 8/1 payout but carries a high 14.36% house edge, relying mostly on luck.
4. Martingale Strategy: A famous system involves doubling bets until a one-unit profit. Be cautious about potential risks.
5. A mix of Luck and Intuition: Baccarat combines luck and intuition. Beginners find it easy – select your bet size, choose Player or Banker, and enjoy the game.

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FAQs

Conclusion

Playing Baccarat at online casinos in New Zealand offers an exciting and accessible way to enjoy this classic card game. With its simple rules, favorable odds, and the availability of various Baccarat variations, players of all levels can engage in thrilling gameplay.

Whether you’re a novice looking for an easy-to-learn casino game or an experienced player seeking strategic challenges, Baccarat caters to a wide range of preferences. Additionally, the convenience of online casinos and the option to play live dealer Baccarat provide an immersive gaming experience.

Just remember to gamble responsibly, manage your bankroll, and choose reputable, licensed casinos to ensure a safe and enjoyable Baccarat adventure in the vibrant world of online gaming in New Zealand.