Online baccarat for real money is the same game you find in a casino: bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and the hand closest to 9 wins. In the US, it is legal only in states that license online casinos, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The best bet is Banker, with a house edge of 1.06%.
This guide covers where online baccarat is legal, the versions you will see online, the odds on every main bet, live dealer games and what to check in bonus terms. For the rules of the game itself, see how to play baccarat.
Where You Can Play Baccarat Online for Real Money
In the US, real-money online casinos, baccarat included, are legal only in states that license them. Seven states have live licensed online casinos: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island. Maine has also legalized online casinos, but licensed sites there cannot take bets until the state finishes its rules and licensing. Licensed sites in those states are regulated by each state’s gaming regulator and offer baccarat from the same gaming software developers that supply slots and table games to land-based casinos.
Many offshore sites also accept US players. They are not licensed by any US state regulator, so you have no state regulator to turn to if a withdrawal or dispute goes wrong. Our online casino reviews cover the offshore brands and their current status.
Outside the US, online casino rules depend on the country. See our regional guides, such as Asia casinos, for local details.
How Online Baccarat Works
The rules are fixed and the dealer, or the software, makes every drawing decision. Your only choice is what to bet:
- Player pays 1 to 1.
- Banker pays 1 to 1, less a 5% commission.
- Tie pays 8 to 1 at most tables, 9 to 1 at some. Player and Banker bets push on a tie.
Cards count at face value, 10s and face cards count as 0, aces count as 1, and only the last digit of a total counts. A two-card 8 or 9 is a natural and ends the round. Otherwise the third-card rules decide whether each hand draws.
You will find two kinds of online game:
- RNG baccarat: a computer game that uses a random number generator to deal. You play alone, at your own pace, and rounds take seconds.
- Live dealer baccarat: a real dealer deals real cards from a studio, streamed to your screen. You place bets on screen and can usually chat with the dealer.
Online Baccarat Odds
Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges in the casino on its two main bets. These figures are for the standard game with an eight-deck shoe:
| Bet | Payout | Probability of winning | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1 to 1 less 5% | 45.86% | 1.06% |
| Player | 1 to 1 | 44.62% | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 9.52% | 14.36% |
| Tie | 9 to 1 | 9.52% | 4.84% |
With six decks, the Banker and Player edges are unchanged and the 8 to 1 Tie edge rises slightly to 14.44%. When you compare games online, look for the standard payouts above. A Tie paying 8 to 1 instead of 9 to 1 almost triples the house edge on that bet.
Types of Baccarat You Will Find Online
Punto Banco
Punto banco is the standard house-banked game played in US casinos and at most online casinos. When a site simply says “baccarat,” this is usually what it means. Mini-baccarat uses the same rules at a smaller table.
EZ Baccarat and No Commission Games
EZ Baccarat drops the 5% commission on winning Banker bets. Instead, a Banker bet pushes when the Banker wins with a three-card 7. The Banker edge is about 1.02%. It adds two side bets: Dragon 7, which pays 40 to 1 on a winning three-card Banker 7 (7.61% house edge), and Panda 8, which pays 25 to 1 on a winning three-card Player 8 (10.19% house edge). Other no-commission games use different rules, so check the help screen before you play.
Chemin de Fer and Baccarat Banque
These are older European versions in which a player, not the casino, holds the bank. In chemin de fer the bank rotates among the players; in baccarat banque one player holds it for the whole shoe. Punto banco, by contrast, is always banked by the casino.
Live Dealer Variants
Live dealer studios stream the standard game and also their own branded variants, some with extra side bets or changed payouts. The odds in the table above apply only to standard payouts, so read each variant’s paytable before you bet. Any change to the payouts changes the house edge.
Online Baccarat vs. Land-Based Baccarat
| Online | Land-based | |
|---|---|---|
| Rules and payouts | Same rules for the same variant | Same rules for the same variant |
| Pace | RNG games run as fast as you click | Set by the dealer and the table |
| Minimum bets | Often lower | Usually higher, especially at full-size tables |
| Atmosphere | Solo play, or chat in live games | Shared table, card squeezing, tipping |
| Rewards | Deposit bonuses with wagering rules | Comps through loyalty programs |
Speed cuts both ways. Faster rounds mean more bets per hour, and more bets per hour means you lose more per hour at the same house edge. If you play RNG baccarat, set a budget and a time limit before you start.
Baccarat and Online Casino Bonuses
Online casino bonuses come with wagering requirements: you must bet a multiple of the bonus, or of the deposit plus bonus, before you can withdraw. Because baccarat has a low house edge, many casinos count baccarat bets at a reduced rate toward those requirements, typically somewhere between 0% and 50%, and some exclude it altogether. Always check the game weighting in the bonus terms before you accept an offer. Our guide to rollover requirements explains how they work.
Tips for Playing Baccarat Online
- Bet Banker or Player. Banker has the lowest edge even after commission.
- Avoid the Tie bet, and avoid side bets unless you accept their much higher house edge.
- Choose games with standard payouts: Banker at 1 to 1 less 5%, Tie at 8 to 1 or better.
- Ignore result trackers. Past hands do not change the next one, and betting systems do not change the house edge.
- In the US, stick to sites licensed in your state if your state licenses online casinos.
Online Baccarat FAQ
Is online baccarat legal in the US?
Only in states that license online casinos, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Offshore sites that take US players are not licensed by US state regulators.
What is the best bet in online baccarat?
Banker, with a 1.06% house edge after commission. Player is close behind at 1.24%.
Is punto banco the same as baccarat?
Yes. Punto banco is the house-banked version of baccarat played in US casinos and at most online casinos.
Are live dealer baccarat odds different?
Not for the standard game. The rules and payouts are the same. Variants with multipliers or no commission change the payouts, so check the game’s paytable.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET. You can also find more casino games guides on Gamboool.