Live dealer casino games have become quite popular in the last few years, and baccarat is one of the games that work very well in this environment.
For those of you who have never seen or heard of live dealer games, they are exactly as they sound – games you are playing online with a human dealer instead of the computer’s random number generator. Here are Things to Consider for Live Dealer Baccarat in SA.
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How to play Baccarat
The game itself is played the same way that baccarat would be played in a land-based casino or online with an RNG. The game runs through two hands – the dealer and the player.
Unlike blackjack, where there are multiple player hands that you control from your side of the table, in baccarat there is only one, and everyone bets on the outcome of that hand.
This makes the game move quickly, as the cards are only dealt with two spots instead of 6 or 7.
Easy Rules
The rules of baccarat are quite simple. Before every hand, you can bet whether the dealer hand will win, the player hand will win, or it will lead to a tie. After wagers are placed, the dealer deals out two cards to the player and dealer spots.
The object in baccarat is to get a hand as close as possible to a total of nine, unlike blackjack, where you try to get to 21.
The main difference between blackjack and baccarat is that all 10s and face cards in baccarat have a value of 0.
After the two hands are dealt, each is added up to ascertain the score and the subsequent action. First, if either hand adds up to 8 or 9, then it is called a “natural,” and the hand is over, with the higher hand winning.
If the hands do not add up to 9 (remember that an 8 and a 9 would be a 7, not 17), then there is a specific set of rules that must be adhered to for the remainder of the play.
Dealer’s Action
First, the player’s hand is played. If the player’s hand has a 6 or a 7, then it stands. In case, it has a 5 or less, one more card is dealt, and that brings with it the final number. If the player did not receive a card, then the dealer plays by the same rules as the player had to. However, if the player’s hand has been dealt a third card, then the dealer acts as follows:
- If the banker hand value is 2 or less, a third card is always dealt.
- When the banker hand value is 3, a third card is dealt unless the player’s third card was an 8.
- If the banker hand value is 4, a third card is dealt if the player’s third card was 2 – 7.
- In case the banker hand value is 5, a third card is dealt if the player’s third card was 4 – 7.
It is a little complicated, which is why the players don’t control their own hands – the game would go on forever.
Live dealer Baccarat in SA – 3 things you should consider
Now, when we know how live dealer baccarat works. The next step is to find a place to play! Here are a few of the considerations we look at while reviewing a place to play live dealer baccarat.
1. Software
As you will spend hours playing these games, it is necessary that the software you are using is the best you can find. There are only a handful of companies that offer this game currently, but that number is very likely to increase with the growing popularity of live casinos. This is one of the Things to Consider Live Dealer Baccarat in SA.
Another thing to consider is the number of tables and dealers a software company provides. Industry leader Evolution Gaming has 8 studios around the world and hundreds of dealers on staff.
It means that you are able to select many different table limits, along with picking what dealer you want to play with. This range of choice makes live dealer baccarat a more personalized experience than with an RNG-based game.
2. Bonuses
Having great software is also necessary. Many casinos are trying to convert players to this delivery method because they have noticed how much longer players stay at these tables. As a result, you can find bonuses that are specific to playing live dealer games such as baccarat.
We will make a note of a site that has this kind of offer, so you can take advantage of it when you are ready to give live dealer baccarat a try. This is one of the Things to Consider Live Dealer Baccarat in SA.
3. Support
How a site approaches customer support is a critical part of our rating system. The dealer you see on the live stream will not be able to help you; as they are focused on dealing. You should be playing with a casino that offers 24/7 real-time customer support; especially if you are having problems with a streamed game.
Live chat is the preferred way of offering support these days, but bonus points are given to a site that gives you a telephone number; as sometimes it just takes the sound of a voice to calm the nerves of a gambler having an issue at the table.
Why would players play live dealer baccarat?
There are a few reasons why people choose to play live dealer baccarat over the RNG version. Hands play more slowly; which means you aren’t burning through bets at an alarming rate (many players complain about this when playing RNG games).
Also, the game is far more social. Even though you are sitting in your home or wherever you have chosen to play; you are sitting at a table with more players, and with the chat feature; you can engage in discussions with them while the hand is taking place.
Synopsis
There is no doubt that live dealer games are the way of the future for the online casino industry. Games like blackjack, and baccarat benefit from the live-stream version of the game.
- It gives players a chance to play in an environment similar to what they have seen in a land-based casino.
- It allows them to learn the game, so it isn’t as intimidating to walk up to one of these busy tables.
