What is Live Baccarat?
Live baccarat is an online version of the card-comparing game, which has for a long time been offered in casinos. Players follow the casino dealer’s activity from a video on the screen of their PC or mobile device and bet on the outcome they think will win.
The game follows much the same rules which would be observed in a casino, with variations made on how the game is played, rather than the winning and losing rules. The ‘live’ feature is enabled by the use of a streaming mode, that uses an internet connection on both the casino’s and user’s end.
Basic Rules of Baccarat
The aim of baccarat is merely to bet on the hand which reaches a sum of nine or eight before the other one. Players can also gamble on a tie, although this is quite rare. There are two hands, the player and the banker, each of which is dealt two cards face up.
The sum of cards is compared, when, if either hand has a total of nine or eight, the game ends. If neither has this total, the dealer draws a third card for each hand. Aces have a value of one, 2 to 9 have their actual value, and face cards have a zero or ten value.
Basic Strategy of Baccarat
Baccarat is more about luck than strategy or skill. Since the players do not have any control over the cards, they can neither hold them as rounds progress or even cheat. The basic strategy thus lies on the hand on which to place money on, in each round.
The player is the most popular hand to bet on. Although it has the lowest odds, it is most likely to win and does not attract a commission. Houses usually collect a commission of 5% when the banker’s hand wins. A tie gives the best win returns (35/10), but it is highly unlikely to occur.
History of Baccarat
Baccarat’s early origins can be traced to as far back as the 19th century when it was popular in many private betting houses in France. Back then, baccarat banque was undoubtedly the most popular version of the game. Three players who compared card totals played this version.
After the legalisation of gambling in 1907, Chemin de Fer, a version of baccarat which is played by two people, became popular. Later, casinos adopted the game in the punto-banco version, which is played to date. The game undoubtedly took a while to catch on in the US but has now been popularised by Asian high rollers.
Play Baccarat in Ireland
Many gambling establishments offer baccarat in Ireland. Land-based casinos, however, can only offer the game on a membership basis, and hence serve a limited number of players. To reach more people, these houses have established an online form of baccarat dealership model, which is not member-restricted.
Foreign-based gaming casinos are also exploiting the vast market of baccarat enthusiasts in Ireland. These companies can operate with or without Irish licenses, without breaking the law. The government of Ireland has, in the last two decades, taken steps to legalise online gambling, in a bid to earn some revenue from its widespread practice.