Online Baccarat Australia 2024
Baccarat has been gaining popularity at Australian online casinos thanks to its easy gameplay and great odds. You can play online baccarat in first person or live dealer format on desktop and mobile devices from as low as A$0.5 per round. The game supports three betting options and two sides. You can bet on the dealer, the banker, or a tie. The side that gets 9 or comes closer to it wins. Baccarat payouts are 1:1 for the banker and the player bets, or 8:1 for the tie. The house edge is close to 1% for the two standard bets.
Speed Baccarat, Peek Baccarat, Baccarat No Commission, 3D Baccarat, and Lightning Baccarat are my favourite variants of this casino game. You can play them online for free or real money at any of the listed casinos. Our top baccarat casino picks for Aussie players are SpinJo, 21bit, and SkyCrown casinos.
What is Baccarat?
Baccarat (Punto Blanco/Baccara) is a comparative card game played for real money at physical and online casinos. Players can bet on the player, the banker, or tie to win 1x or 8x per round.
Baccarat is a simple, fast-paced card game with a commendable casino edge close to 1%.
Each baccarat round involves two sides and three potential outcomes: the player wins (1:1), the banker wins (1:1), and a tie (8:1 or 9:1). You win by predicting the side that will get a 9 or come closer to it.
The most popular variants of baccarat are Punto Banco (also called North American Baccarat), Chemin De Fer Baccarat (or just Chemmy) and Banque Baccarat (often referred to as a Deux Tableaux).
Here, though, we will explore the mainstream version of baccarat, which was pioneered in the 19th century. Nowadays, you can play it online from home in Australia with a real dealer or in video format.
Best Australian Online Casinos for Real Money Baccarat
Baccarat ranks fourth in popularity among Aussie casino players. Roulette, Blackjack, and Poker surpass it, while online pokies is the most played casino game online. Baccarat has been gaining ground due to its simple and fast-paced gameplay. It is among the few casino card games that require little prior experience and no strategy to achieve a house edge as low as 1%.
For these reasons, online gambling sites have been offering the game across the board. However, not all baccarat online casinos are equal. Our team created the above list after comparing 200+ casino sites with real money baccarat games. Factors we considered during our rating process include:
- Variety of baccarat games and supported formats; we only considered baccarat sites with 10+ variants available in single player, live, free, and mobile formats.
- Safety and security; only sites with a valid iGaming license, secure connections, solid reputation, and public company info made it to our list.
- Banking and support; to play baccarat for real money, you need to have at least a few deposit and withdrawal methods at your disposal. We searched for casinos with AUD banking methods and around-the-clock support in case problems arise.
- Bonuses and promotions; baccarat bonuses are rare, however, we searched for casinos that let you wager their standard offers on this card game. Our top picks also offer live casino cashback and free chips for baccarat weekly.
- Great UI and UX; online casinos for baccarat we’ve approved make it easy to find all featured games in a single click. Beginners can sign-up, deposit, and start playing real money baccarat in less than 60 seconds at any of the above operators.
It would surprise you how much online baccarat casinos differ in their offerings. To help put things into perspective, I’ve expanded on the features of some of our top picks.
SkyCrown
SkyCrown hosts baccarat games from 10+ companies, including iSoftBet, Evolution, Pragmatic, Playtech, and Hacksaw. You can join SkyCrown, claim a 100% bonus up to A$4000, and start trying out your predictions.
The low house edge of baccarat combined with the regular and easy-to-rollover bonuses offered by SkyCrown even the playfield, you could easily end up in the black here.
SkyCrown is licensed, safe, and one of the most popular casino sites in Australia. You can play using the desktop site, a mobile browser, or via the casino apps.
Wazamba
Wazamba has partnered with 100+ iGaming vendors to pack a lobby with over 10,000 casino games. I counted over 30 baccarat games during my review, including classic first person variants from over five companies. Live dealer baccarat is streamed from three studios, and you can even try unique variants of the game such as Lightning and Speed Baccarat.
Wazamba welcomes new players with a stellar 110% match bonus up to A$2200. Baccarat bets contribute towards the 40x wagering requirement. Weekly live casino cashback and baccarat challenges can help your bankroll stay afloat in the long run.
Our team considers Wazamba one of the best all-around casino sites, not just for baccarat. You can sign-up in less than 2 minutes and make deposits from A$10 using eWallets, PayID, or traditional bank cards.
21bit
21bit has been serving Aussie punters since 2022. Although it is the number one choice for crypto payments, it supports fiat deposits from as low as A$15 too. Baccarat variety is one of the strongest suits of 21bit, you can start playing today with a welcome package of A$2550 and 250 free spins after five deposits.
Players who decide to play baccarat at 21bit should 100% check out the tournament sections, it is the place to be if you are a card games enthusiast. Beginners should check out Betsoft’s Classic Baccarat featured at the casino, it provides a solid 101 in the rules section and comes with a demo version to put your skills to the test.
20+ other games await at 21bit when you are ready.
How to Play Real Money Baccarat at Online Casinos
The first step to play baccarat online for real money is selecting one of the listed casinos. Use our links to register, this will ensure your first deposit unlocks a special bonus. With your account fully set up and loaded, you can join a baccarat game and expect the gameplay process to follow this pattern:
- Select the chips you prefer; each will amount to the displayed value. Baccarat stakes usually range from A$0.5 to A$500 per chip.
- You can place the chips on the table to bet. The three betting options are the Player, the Banker, and the Tie. You can bet on the Player or the Banker and the Tie during each round.
- When ready, hit the deal button. Live Baccarat rounds begin when the timer reaches zero instead.
- The Player hand is dealt two cards first, and then the Banker hand. Depending on the rules, a third card might be drawn.
- The hand that amounts to 9 or closer to it wins. The payouts take place automatically, 1:1 for the Banker and the Player bets, and 8:1 for the tie.
The same process can be repeated as many times as you like. Below, I explain the baccarat game rules, odds, and payouts – check them out to play strategically and avoid rookie errors.
Note: After placing your bets and hitting the deal button, the draw takes place automatically. Players do not have control over the dealer’s actions, these are determined by the rules of the online baccarat game you are playing.
Online Baccarat Rules
- Typically, baccarat is played with eight decks placed in a shoe.
- Two open cards are dealt on each side. These are the dealer and the banker. Extra cards might be dealt depending on the outcome, on one or both sides. More than three cards are never dealt on the same hand during a single round.
- The hand that hits 9 or is closer to it wins. Face and 10 cards count as 0, while Ace counts as 1.
- A hand can never exceed 9, when a card combination exceeds 10 the first number is dropped. For example, 8 and 7 are equal to 15, so the card counts as 5.
- You can place three possible bets in baccarat before the start of each round. Either on the banker or the player and on the tie. The first two pay 1:1, while the tie pays 8:1 or 9:1 depending on the version. A 5% commission is applied on the banker bet unless otherwise stated.
- The Dragon Bonus is a Baccarat side bet. To win it, you must correctly guess that the banker or the player will draw a natural (8 or 9 with the first two cards) or that the selected side will win with a 4+ point difference.
- The Dragon 7 side bet pays 40:1 when the banker’s hand wins with three cards equal to 7.
- The Panda 8 side bet pays 25:1 when the player’s hand wins with three cards equal to 8.
Player Rules: for combos from 0 to 5 the dealer draws another card. With 6 or 7, the dealer stands, and 8 or 9 are a natural.
Banker Rules: when the player’s hand is 6 or 7, the banker draws at 0 to 5 and stands at 6 to 9. When the player doesn’t have a natural, the banker draws on 0 to 2 totals and follows the third card rules displayed below:
Banker’s 2-cards total | Actions depending on player’s 3rd card |
3 | Anything but 8 |
4 | 2 -7 |
5 | 4 – 7 |
6 | 6 or 7 |
7 | Stand |
8 and 9 | Stand |
Top Online Baccarat Games
Online casinos we’ve recommended usually host over 5000 pokies, and 20 blackjack, roulette, and poker games each. Baccarat is a straightforward game and therefore doesn’t leave much room for innovation. Unlike with other casino games, top Aussie gambling sites host between 5 – 10 online baccarat versions. You can find them by searching directly or visiting the table games and live casino sections.
Baccarat games can be separated into two main formats – first person (RNG) and live dealer. The above distinction has to do more with the gaming experience and less with the rules. The majority of online baccarat games support the three standard bets (Banker, Player, Tie), while others also include the dragon, panda, and more side bets.
How every baccarat game works will ultimately depend on its developer. Make sure to read the rules, watch video tutorials, and go through the paytable before using your real funds. There is no better way to get accustomed to online baccarat games than demoing them.
My personal favourite real money baccarat titles include:
- Speed Baccarat
- Baccarat No Commission
- 3D Baccarat
- Lightning Baccarat
- Peek Baccarat
Below I expand further on the main types (not variants) of baccarat you can play at online casinos.
First Person Baccarat
All major casino developers have at least one baccarat game in this format. Video, RNG, Single Player, or First Person is what we call a casino game you are playing against the computer. All outcomes are determined by a random number generator, while the experience is singular. You bet at your own pace without any players or dealers involved.
Video baccarat games are excellent for beginners and usually support classic gameplay.
Live Baccarat
Evolution, Pragmatic Live, BetGames TV, Ezugi, and Playtech are some of the casino developers streaming real baccarat tables and dealers live to online casinos. Such games are usually listed under the live casino lobby. Every live dealer game provides a tutorial to help you learn the rules, while you can also enter the lobby and see how the action unfolds in real-time.
Live baccarat games come with fun twists and helpful features, such as betting history, the odds of each bet winning based on the last 100 plays, live chat, and more.
Free Baccarat
RNG baccarat games provide two modes of play, real money and free play (or demo). Baccarat might not be the hardest game at the casino; however, beginners can benefit from trying out free baccarat. Among other benefits, strategies and tips can be tested at free online baccarat tables without risking a dime.
Mobile Baccarat
Casino games developed after 2010 are powered by HTML5. This feature makes them compatible with any device connected to the internet. As a result, all baccarat games you find at recommended online casinos double up as mobile baccarat games. You can place your bets from anywhere in Australia, without being confined to your home.
Baccarat History
Early Days
Baccarat first became popular among the French nobility during the early 19th century. Over 100 years before the rise of online casinos, and a few years prior to the legalisation of land-based casino halls in France – baccarat was already the most popular card game played in private gaming rooms.
Chemin de Fer
Baccarat Banque was the initial form of the casino game, which was played between three people. Chemin de Fer followed a few years later as the second version of Baccarat Banque.
Punto Banco
Baccarat Punto Banco, which is very similar to the baccarat we all know and love, emerged after the 1940s in Havana. It was in this baccarat variant that people could bet on the player and the banker.
Baccarat Gaining Ground
In the last 15 years or so, baccarat has been topping the revenue charts among casino table games in the US. In 2012, 18.3% of the overall casino card game revenue in Nevada was generated by baccarat; this number tripled in 2013 and 2014, indicating that blackjack, poker, and roulette are being slowly left behind. One could argue that the solid odds and simple gameplay of baccarat have won the hearts and minds of gamblers.
- About the Author
- Affiliate Disclosure
Michael has reviewed and verified all information on this page. Having worked in the iGaming industry for over 8 years, he is the most capable person to help you navigate online casinos, pokies, and the Australian gambling landscape.