Ace the Game: Your Guide to the Best Baccarat Games at PokerStars Casino
PokerStars Casino isn’t just home to the best poker tournaments and cash games, it also has incredible 24/7 baccarat action.
If you ever get tired of 3 bet bluffing with 2-7, pop over to the baccarat section and wager up to $30,000 per hand. This exciting game of pure chance was a favorite of James Bond and offers one of the lowest house edges of any casino title. Join us as we explore the different baccarat games at PokerStars Casino and share some helpful tips!
Baccarat at PokerStars Casino
Pokerstars Casino has a single in-house online baccarat game where you can bet between $1 and $30,000 per hand. This fast-paced version has a 98.94% Return to Player percentage (RTP), and you can easily play 200+ hands an hour. Like with all baccarat games, it pays to avoid betting on a tie where the house edge is 14.36%. To maximize your chances of winning, stick to bets on the banker, where the house edge is just 1.06%.
In this standard online baccarat game, there are no fancy features or side bets. You simply wager on the banker, player, or a tie and then watch the cards be drawn. The only other thing you can control is your wager size.
Immerse Yourself with Live Baccarat Dealers
Thanks to live baccarat on PokerStars Casino, you get to play baccarat with a real deck of cards dealt by trained professional dealers. PokerStars Casino’s live baccarat games are powered by none other than Evolution Gaming.
Evolution Gaming is the gold standard when it comes to live baccarat, boasting high betting limits, 24/7 HD streaming, and luxurious gaming studios. Not to mention the number of baccarat varieties it seems to invent every year, more on those a bit later!
Live baccarat PokerStars Casino works by transporting you to a gaming studio, thanks to the power of HD streaming, where you’re welcomed by a real dealer who will take your bets, deal your cards, and squeeze the cards. Apart from running the action, the dealer will respond to your live chat messages.
Live baccarat takes the best bits of land-based and online gameplay and meshes them together to create arguably a superior gaming experience. The RTP is exactly the same as online baccarat, clocking in at 98.94%, and you can bet anywhere from $1 up to $25,000 per hand, so all bankrolls are welcome!
Modern Baccarat Twists at PokerStars Casino
While PokerStars Casino only has a single online game, it boasts all kinds of variations of live baccarat, including:
- Golden Wealth Baccarat: This game takes place in a luxurious gaming studio dripping in gold and red that will make you feel like you’re in a high roller room in Macau. This features five golden cards with multipliers from 2x to 8x. If you win on a hand that has matching Golden Cards, your win is multiplied.
- Prosperity Tree Baccarat: This baccarat type is similar to Golden Wealth, except there are multiplier cards per game round, and they have 2x or 3x multipliers.
- Lightning Baccarat: Lightning Baccarat features RNG-powered multiplier cards, which emerge from a 52-card virtual deck. Multipliers range from 2x to 8x.
- XXXTreme Lightning Baccarat: This a supercharged version of Lightning Baccarat which features more multiplier cards and higher multipliers. The multipliers range from 2x to 10x, and with three matching Lightning Cards, the total winnings could be multiplied by up to 1000x. If you win on a tie with six matching Lightning Cards, the multiplier can reach 2,850,000x!
- Peek Baccarat: In this variation, you get to peek at one to four cards mid-game and then increase your bet size if the cards you see help your hand. However, there is a 20% fee!
- Speed Baccarat: Your standard baccarat round takes 48 seconds. Speed Baccarat slashes the game round down to just 27 seconds.
- Salon Privé: Get your own private baccarat table and experience VIP customer support, a deal now button, increased betting limits, and even pick your own dealer!
Baccarat Mastery: How To Hone Your Baccarat Skills
Baccarat is the easiest game in the world to master because it’s a game of pure chance. Betting on the banker has slightly higher odds of winning, as this wager has a house edge of 1.06% while the betting on the player has a 1.24% edge, and a tie has a 14.36% house edge.
Once you’ve selected a bet, you can’t make any other in-game decisions. This is because, unlike blackjack, drawing follows pre-determined rules based on your hand value, so you're forced to draw or not and have zero say in the matter.
Apart from selecting your bet type, the only other thing you have control over is your baccarat bet size. There is a lot of disinformation out there when it comes to betting strategies.
The most important thing you need to realize is that when there is a house edge, like in baccarat, it doesn't matter what betting strategy you employ; it won’t decrease or increase this edge. However, by only risking a portion of your bankroll, you can extend your playing time and reduce the game’s volatility, which is why most baccarat vets don’t bet more than 2% of their bankroll per hand.
While baccarat strategies won’t turn you into a winner, some players swear by these two methods, and they do make the game more engaging:
The Martingale Strategy
With this legendary betting strategy, you double your wager every time you lose and keep doubling until you finally win a hand. This betting strategy would guarantee a win every session if only baccarat betting limits didn’t exist and you had unlimited money!
The Paroli Strategy
With the Paroli betting system, you bet a flat rate until you win a baccarat hand, then you double your bet and continue doubling after every win. The goal is to win three hands in a row, and then you return to your initial bet size.
Ready for more Baccarat Strategy tips?
We've got a full guide dedicated to the best Baccarat strategies - try your hand and find your next winning strategy!
PokerStars Casino Promotions and Bonuses
Are you physically located in PA, MI, or NJ? PokerStars Casino has a fantastic welcome offer for you! Verify your account, opt-in to the bonus, bet $1 and you’ll receive $150 worth of free play.
How it works is you open six chests over five days, and you receive the following rewards:
Day 0 from completion - 2 x $5 Spin & Go tickets & 50 x $1 Spin & Go tickets
Day 1 from completion - $10 casino instant bonus (casino)
Day 2 from completion - 2 x $5 SAG tickets & 1 x $10 ticket (poker)
Day 3 from completion - $10 casino instant bonus (casino)
Day 4 from completion - 2 x $10 ticket (poker)
Day 5 from completion - $30 casino instant bonus (casino)
The rewards you receive on days 1, 2, and 5 give you a total of $50 worth of free play, which you can use to play online and live baccarat!
Read our full guide to find the best PokerStars Casino bonuses, offers and their latest promotions!
GET BONUSAre you based in the UK? Then you’re in luck! PokerStars Casino has a 100% first deposit bonus up to £500. To claim the offer, enter promo code FIRST500 and deposit at least £20. To convert the bonus to cash, you need to earn 5 redemption points per £1. To earn a redemption point when playing baccarat, you need to wager £30. You can even use the bonus cash to play live baccarat on PokerStars Casino and our personal favorite, Lightning Baccarat!
PokerStars Baccarat FAQs
What are the differences between Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer?
Punto Banco is a game of pure chance where all drawing decisions are predetermined, and you play against the dealer, who is the banker. However, in Chemin de Fer, players take turns being the banker and have the option of accepting or refusing cards, similar to blackajck, which adds a strategic element to the game.
Which baccarat game offers the lowest house edge at PokerStars Casino?
PokerStars Casino’s in-house online baccarat game and Live Baccarat by Evolution Gaming have the lowest house edge of just 1.06% when you bet on the banker.
Can I play live dealer baccarat with high stakes at PokerStars Casino?
You can play live dealer baccarat with high stakes at PokerStars Casino. You can bet $25,000+ per hand.
What are some advanced baccarat strategies I can learn?
There are no advanced baccarat strategies that actually work, as this is a game of pure chance. However, you should always bet on the banker as it reduces the house edge to just 1.06%.
How can I practice baccarat for free at PokerStars Casino?
While you can’t play live baccarat for free at PokerStars Casino, you can play their online baccarat game for free by opening the demo version.