How We Review Baccarat Sites
We expect a multitude of New York online baccarat sites to launch in the near future and while this is great news for baccarat players, it can also lead to some confusion. This is why we have taken the time to look very closely at each online casino currently operating in the USA to see exactly what it is they have on offer. This way we can safely recommend the best baccarat online casinos in NY for you.
How do we decide which are the best? Well, we examine everything from the security used by the online casino to its reputation for customer service. We also take a look at the different baccarat variants available, but generally speaking, the majority of online casinos offer very similar versions of the game with Punto Banco being one of the most popular.
Top Online Baccarat Casinos Coming to New York
At present, there are no options to play online baccarat in New York. But we expect that to change in the near future and when it does, the casinos listed below, which already operate online sportsbooks in the state, will be your best bet for online baccarat.
BetMGM
BetMGM is the online arm of the legendary casino operator MGM Resorts and currently offers one of the best online casinos in the USA. A major player in the iGaming industry, BetMGM will almost certainly be among the first to roll out its online casino in NY once the industry launches. At the time of writing, BetMGM offers both live and virtual versions of baccarat. Add to that the fact that it has a top class rewards program and this is definitely one online casino that you should check out when it becomes available.
BetRivers
Another famous name in the online casino industry is BetRivers. Currently operating in five states, we can expect NY to be added to that list as soon as legislation is passed. BetRivers has a great live dealer section with a baccarat table available and it also offers a few variants in the table games section. The reason we recommend this particular online casino is not because of the variety of games but instead the reputation of the casino. BetRivers runs a tight ship with only the best of the best games available. For example, its most popular baccarat title is provided by IGT.
FanDuel
A stalwart of the fantasy sports industry and now one of the biggest names in sports betting, many people are surprised to learn that FanDuel also runs a great online casino. As with the majority of online casinos these days, FanDuel offers a wide range of live dealer games including a live dealer baccarat table. Meanwhile, baccarat players who prefer a quieter game can take advantage of the three baccarat titles available in the table games section.
DraftKings
Anything FanDuel can do, DraftKings can do just as well and that includes online casino gaming. Like its closest competitor in the industry, DraftKings offers an extensive live dealer casino section that includes live baccarat tables. However, this variant is slightly different with Dragon Bonus baccarat offered instead of standard baccarat. DraftKings also has a slightly better range of baccarat games available in the table game section such a first person baccarat and exclusive high stakes baccarat games.
How You Can Start Playing Real Money Baccarat
When NY online baccarat becomes legal we can expect to see many of the same options that are available in states with legal iGaming such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey. That also means that the sign up process for the best New York online baccarat sites will be similar.
Generally speaking, getting started with online baccarat in New York will be a simple matter of registering with a reputable casino, verifying your identity, making your first deposit, and starting your adventure at the baccarat tables. Most internet casinos will allow you to try a variant of their online baccarat games for free through a demo version of the game. This is a good opportunity for you to test the waters and see what the gameplay is like before using your own cash. So take advantage of the chance if you can. You may also want to learn a few basic strategies of the game which you can find later in this guide.
Mobile Baccarat Coming to New York!
iGaming legislation has yet to be passed in NY, but legislative efforts have been much more positive in recent years despite a perceived lack of progress. The unheralded success of mobile sportsbooks in the state has given lawmakers a clear indication of where New Yorkers stand with respect to online gambling. This means that at some point in the very near future we will likely see some of the biggest online gaming operators in the country launch in the Empire state offering the most popular table games. And yes, that means a multitude of live dealer baccarat and table baccarat options for casino players.
As with sports betting, New Yorkers will be spoiled for choice when it comes to online baccarat. From live dealer games at live casinos to traditional video-style online baccarat games, no matter what mobile device you decide to play on, there will be plenty of chances to play online baccarat in New York.
Do all gambling sites offer baccarat games?
While baccarat is a hugely popular game in brick and mortar casinos, it’s not quite the same in many online casinos. For online baccarat players that want to enjoy a few hands of the game, they’re most likely to find some action at online casinos with live dealer game sections. Online casino sites with no live dealer games are more likely to focus on other table games such as video poker titles, roulette, or blackjack. They will have some online baccarat games in the table games section, but not as many as they do for other games.
On a positive note, the growing popularity of live dealer casino games means that virtually all the biggest and most popular legal online casinos that we expect to launch in the state will have live online baccarat options.
Play Free Baccarat Games Online
Baccarat is a game that is most commonly played online for real money. But that doesn’t mean that playing baccarat online for free isn't possible. Many of the biggest online casinos offer free options that will allow you to play a few hands of baccarat without placing a wager using real money. These are usually demo mode games and in some cases you may not even have to sign up for an account to play a few hands.
However, it’s worth remembering that baccarat is most popular as a live dealer game and you will rarely, if ever, be allowed to play live dealer casino games for free. This means that if you want to play free baccarat games online, you’ll need to find baccarat games in the table section as opposed to a live dealer game.
Popular Types of Online Baccarat
As with all card games, there are a variety of versions of baccarat available at online casinos. However, the three listed below are the versions that you are most likely to come across.
Mini Baccarat
Mini baccarat is, as you may have guessed, played on a smaller table. The main difference between this version of the game and traditional baccarat is that in mini baccarat, the dealer is always the banker. Eight decks of cards are used and there can be up to seven players in total. As with all versions of baccarat, the winner of the game is the player with the closest value to nine.
Punto Banco
Punto Banco baccarat is a derivative of baccarat that was developed in Argentina in the 1950s. It’s played with six decks of cards and a maximum of seven players. This is by far the most popular version of the game today and is the standardized format played at most online casinos. Like mini baccarat, the casino/dealer will always be the banker. In this version of the game, you can also bet on the banker, player or tie.
Three Card Baccarat
Three card baccarat is a faster version of the game that only uses one deck of 52 cards. The dealer and each player receives three cards face up. Each player plays against the dealer with the highest score winning. It’s got three additional bonus baccarat bets that are Dragon Bonus, 3 Kings, and Tie.
Understanding the rules of baccarat
Baccarat is a relatively simple game of chance where the goal is to have a points total from your hand that is as close to nine as possible with all cards having predetermined values. Baccarat bets are for three possible outcomes — whether your hand (the player) wins, the banker’s hand wins, or a tie between the two.
All cards from 2-9 are worth their face value. 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings have a value of 0 while Aces have a value of 1.
You get two cards and add both values. Then it is the digit to the right of the sum total that is your hand value. For example, if you get a nine and an eight, the sum total is 17. You take the digit on the right of this total and that is your hand value. In this case it would be 7. The lowest value you can get is 0 while the highest is 9.
In the game itself, the banker/dealer and each player is dealt a baccarat hand. The two cards are face up and if either hand value is 8 or 9, no more cards are drawn and the highest hand wins. In some cases a third card may be drawn based on the individual hand values and the rules of the variation you are playing.
Payouts for baccarat bets made on the banker or player winning are paid at 1:1 with some commission paid on winnings. Betting on a tie will have a much higher return but remember that the house edge is much higher for this type of bet.
Top Baccarat Strategies
Whether you’re completely new to the game of online baccarat or you’re an old pro, it’s always best to use a strategy of some kind when playing baccarat. Below, we’ve listed three strategies ranging from simple to advanced.
Don’t place a tie bet
This is one of the most basic strategies of all and it’s simply to avoid the tie bet. There’s a reason why the potential payouts are so high and that’s because it’s a risky bet as the house edge is so high. Choose either the banker or the player and stick with that bet as your strategy — more on that below!
The Martingale Strategy
This is a very well-known strategy in casino games and is common among seasoned players. The idea here is that you stick to the same wager and double it each time until you win. For example, if you choose to bet on the banker and your first bet is $2 but it loses, your next bet should also be on the banker and for $4. This pattern continues until you win. You then revert back to your original bet. The math behind this suggests that once you have enough money to continue the pattern, your bet will eventually win at some point according to the law of averages.
The Fibonacci Strategy
The Fibonacci strategy is used in so many ways across gaming, marketing, and countless other industries. The idea is to follow a sequence of numbers to determine your bet each time you have a losing bet. The sequence is the Fibonacci sequence where each number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers before it — 1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21-34-55 and so on. Each time you lose a bet you determine the next wager following the sequence. You continue with this pattern until you win a hand and then your wager amount resets. This is a lot more advanced than the Martingale strategy as it involves doing a little quick thinking and math in your head for each hand.
Should I bet more on Banker rather than Player?
For those who are new to the game, it might seem like there’s very little difference between betting on the banker's hand and betting on the player. After all, both get their cards from the same deck. However, there is a slight difference which can have a positive impact on your betting. The banker is considered a better bet as they are the last to draw. This allows them to decide if they need a third card to beat the player if the player stands. This slight house edge means that the banker bet is absolutely the better wager and it’s also why the house charges a set commission of 5% on all banker bets in order to mitigate that house edge.
How can I improve my chances of winning baccarat?
As with any casino game, there are certain things that you can do to improve your chances of winning at online baccarat. While these tips won’t guarantee your success, they will certainly make a positive difference and help you beat the house edge.
Bet on the bank
As noted earlier, the banker bet is always the bet wager as the odds of them winning the hand is slightly better. This is because the banker is the last to play their hand and can make a decision to opt for a third card based on all the other players’ cards.
Never go all-in
This is a good tip for the majority of card games, but particularly with online baccarat and blackjack. A single hand of the game is very hard to predict and you could easily lose it all in one go. Best to wager small and win small at a slow and steady pace.
Pick a strategy and stick with it
Online baccarat strategies are a good way to ease yourself into the game, but they will only work if you stick to them. As with most card game strategies, they are designed to work over a prolonged period of play. So choose the best baccarat strategy that you are comfortable with and stick to it.
What are online baccarat odds and payouts?
The odds and house edge for specific bets in a standard online baccarat in NY using eight decks are as follows:
New York Online Baccarat FAQ
Author
Joss Wood has over a decade of experience reviewing and comparing the best US online casinos to ensure players find their favorite place to play. He has followed the NY betting market for years before it launched, He lives in Arequipa, Peru but his oldest son and two grandchildren live in Manhattan, NY.