Baccarat is a card game where you bet on the outcome of a round: the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie. If you are looking at baccarat, you probably want to know which versions exist, how the rules work and what to check before you play. The sections below cover the game in general: the common variants, how a round is scored and paid, and how RNG and live dealer versions differ.
Common baccarat variants
Baccarat comes in several common variants. They differ mainly in the rules for Banker wins and in the pace of play. The versions most often seen online are Punto Banco, Speed Baccarat, Lightning Baccarat, No Commission Baccarat and Mini Baccarat. Each keeps the core of the game, but some change the commission on Banker wins, while others deal faster or shorten the round.
The providers behind these versions are Evolution, Pragmatic Play, Playtech and NetEnt. The same name can play differently depending on the supplier, so read the table limits and round rules shown in the game before you join.
The game range at Kong Casino may differ from this list. Check what Kong Casino offers before you play, using the games page on its website, and compare the version you find with the rules described here.
How baccarat is played
Baccarat uses a standard deck of 52 cards. Cards from 2 to 9 count at face value, aces count as one, and 10s and picture cards count as zero. A hand is scored by adding its cards and keeping only the last digit, so the highest possible total is 9.
Each round has two hands, Player and Banker. Two cards are dealt to each hand first. A third card may be drawn under fixed rules that depend on the totals, and the hand closer to nine wins. You do not make decisions during the draw. You only choose which result to bet on: Player, Banker or tie.
In the standard version, a commission is charged on Banker wins, which is why that bet pays slightly less than even money. The No Commission variant removes that charge but changes the payout on a Banker win with a total of six. Check the payout table shown in the game before you bet.
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RNG and live dealer baccarat
An RNG version uses a random number generator to shuffle and deal the cards. The round starts when you place a bet and usually finishes within seconds, and you set your own pace.
A live dealer version is streamed from a studio. A real dealer deals from a physical shoe, and the cards and result are shown on video. Live rounds tend to be slower, because the dealer deals each round for the whole table and you wait for the others to act.
Both versions use random outcomes. The difference lies in how the cards are dealt and how the game is presented. Check from the table name and preview whether a game is live or RNG before you sit down.
Practical tips before you play
Read the rules and the payout table for the version you choose, and know what each bet pays. No betting system changes the odds, so a run of previous results or a fixed staking plan does not make a bet more likely to win.
Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and choose a stake you are comfortable losing. If you find it hard to stop, the safer gambling page explains the tools available. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline and can also help you think through your play.
