Best Online Baccarat in Canada

Todd Knowles

Playing online Baccarat in Canada is a popular pastime, thanks to the game’s simple rules and player-friendly main bets. However, if you want to play Baccarat for real money in Canada, learning how to play this game with a strategy is critical to your success. Also, playing at the best online casinos in Canada is equally important.

In this article, we’ll show you how to play Baccarat with a winning strategy. We’ll also discuss the different types of casino baccarat games and the most common baccarat bonuses.

Of course, we’ll also list and review the best baccarat online casinos in Canada.

Best Casinos with Baccarat

What is Baccarat?

Baccarat is a table game available in most licensed casinos in Canada and Ontario. In this casino game, players receive two or three cards on either the player or banker position, and the strongest hand wins the round. To win the game, players must create a hand value of 8 or 9, also called a natural.

How to play Baccarat online

Before playing Baccarat online, remember that Baccarat uses 6 to 8 decks of cards. The aces are worth 1 point, not 11 or 1 like blackjack. Also, the 2 to 9 cards represent their face values, with 10, jacks, queens, and kings having zero points. So, if you get 9-K, that’s a natural. The baccarat card deck doesn’t have jokers, and cards 7 to 10 might be removed in some versions.

Rules of Baccarat

Each round in online Baccarat starts with the croupier dealing two face-up cards to the banker and two to the player positions. The objective is to create a hand closest to 9 points. Whenever the total exceeds 8 or 9, like 13 (7+6), subtract 10 from the total to find the new value. In this example, you’ll have a total hand value of 3.

What happens if one of the positions has a hand value of 8 or 9? In such a scenario, both players will stand, and the stronger hand will win.

However, if the player’s hand has five points or less, they can stand or hit (request another card). If you choose to stand, the dealer will hit if they have five points or less. And another thing, you can place a tie bet and win an 8:1 payout if the wager is successful.

Although, things can get even more complex after the player has drawn an additional card. Below are the rules after dealing the third card to the player:

Tips and tricks for winning at Baccarat games

Baccarat is purely a luck-based game. Therefore, there is no strategy real to reduce the house edge. With that being said, you should not play the game blindly.

Use these tips to increase your winning odds:

Tip #1: Play free Baccarat online casino games

Before playing Baccarat online with real money, learn the ropes of the game by playing for free. Most baccarat game developers offer free demo versions of their titles for players to understand how the bets work and the payouts. Also, the best online casinos in Canada offer deposit match bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, and cashback to use on any casino game. So, don’t skip a free chance to play online Baccarat in Canada.

Tip #2: Play the player bet

Baccarat has three main bets – banker, player, and tie. The banker bet has the most favourable house advantage of 1.06%. Despite this advantage, it is advised that you avoid this bet, as there is a 5% commission to the house on all banker bet wins. Rather, choose the player bet which has a 1.24% house edge. The tie bet has the worst house edge of 14.36%. So, avoid this “sucker” bet at all costs.

Tip #3: Use a playing strategy

There are many betting strategies to use while playing Baccarat. For example, use the Martingale strategy that requires bettors to double their initial stake after a loss until they register a win. This strategy works perfectly with even-money bets like player and banker wagers. Note that a baccarat player wins an average of 50% of the time. This rate is perfect for a betting strategy.

Tip #4: Play games with more decks

As mentioned, baccarat games use six or eight decks of cards. The six-deck option gives a slight advantage to the banker at 1.06%, but in an eight-deck game, the player gets a 1.23% house edge. While the 0.01% house edge difference can look small, it might be precisely what the player needs to win more bets in the long run.

Tip #5: Practice bankroll management at online casinos

Bankroll management is an essential aspect of gambling, whether playing Baccarat, slots, blackjack, and other online casino games. Set aside funds strictly for gambling and divide the money into smaller units. For example, divide a CA$3,000 bankroll into six units covering Monday to Saturday. Then, don’t play more than 5% of the CA$300 unit per bet. If possible, place 1% of the bankroll per hand.

4 of the best online Baccarat Casinos in Canada

We understand that choosing baccarat casinos in Canada can be a little overwhelming, as there are many options. So, we’ve done some digging to bring you these four excellent options:

Yukon Casino

Launched in 2004, Yukon Gold Casino is a legal gambling website in Canada. This casino is approved by the reliable Kahnawake Gaming Commission to offer its services in Canada. You’ll play over 550 games at this trusted casino, including roulette, blackjack, Baccarat, slots, and more. Unfortunately, the casino doesn’t offer live dealer games.

Grand Mondial Casino

Grand Mondial Casino was launched in 2006. In Canada, the casino has a licence from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Grand Mondial is also licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority in Europe. However, similar to Yukon Casino, Grand Mondial doesn’t offer live dealer baccarat games.

Captain Cooks Casino

Captain Cooks is a simple and stylish online casino with more than 300 games. The casino welcomes Canadian players with a 100% up to CA$475 match deposit bonus. On top of this, the welcome package includes 100 free spins. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission licenses Captain Cooks and the games are eCOGRA-certified.

Zodiac Casino

Zodiac Casino is an exciting gaming website licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This casino offers more than 550 games, mostly slot machines from Microgaming. With that being said, new players get 80 free spins to play on the legendary Mega Moolah jackpot after making a CA$1 deposit. The casino also offers match deposit bonuses for second to fifth deposits. Unfortunately, Zodiac Casino has no live games.

Play Baccarat on the go

Most casino players want to play games remotely in this era of smartphones and tablets. Fortunately, most online casinos know this. Players are able to enjoy real-money Baccarat on dedicated casino apps or mobile browsers.

But don’t worry if you don’t want to play mobile Baccarat for real money. Hundreds of mobile baccarat apps use virtual coins, so you don’t have to use you hard earned dollars. These games present an excellent opportunity to sharpen your baccarat skills.

3 of the best free baccarat apps on the market 2024

Let’s discuss the best apps to play Baccarat online for free on mobile devices:

Free Baccarat App by Funstage

This free baccarat app is compatible with Android 5.0 or newer. It’s fast, fun, and sexy, and intended for adults aged 21 and above. This live baccarat game boasts stunning graphics and uses authentic Punto Banco rules. You can play against the computer or compete against other online baccarat lovers. It also has mini-games like Scratch ‘n’ Match and Lucky Wheel, where players can win virtual chips and diamonds. Moreover, build an avatar and dress up like a hero on the table.

Free baccarat App by Fil Games

This free baccarat app has a 4.3-star rating on Play Store, which shows that most users are happy with it. The game is compatible with Android 4.4 or newer and has in-app purchases. This app allows you to learn Baccarat using free daily and level-up bonus chips. It also has a “Learning Mode” for gamers to sharpen their Mini and Punto Banco skills. It also uses a variety of rules from Vegas, European, and Atlantic City casinos. However, the ads can be overwhelming.

Free Baccarat App by Infocam Studios

This baccarat app by Infocam Studios has an impressive 4.6-star rating on Play Store and is compatible with Android 4.0 or newer. It’s a simple game that allows players to bet on the banker, player, and tie positions without complications. If you’re still a greenhorn in Baccarat, the game comes with a simple-to-understand tutorial, which will transform you into a pro overnight. Along with this, players get free daily bonus chips. Unfortunately, players pay a 10% banker commission instead of 5%. It’s not a big deal, though!

Best Online Mobile Casino Baccarat Sites

Most online casinos offer mobile experiences these days. However, the experience can vary between casinos.

So, what makes the best mobile baccarat casino?

First, the casino should allow players to catch all the action on a standalone mobile app or via instant play. The service should be smooth, intuitive, and engaging, regardless of your chosen platform. An online casino that is most responsive on desktops and sluggish on mobile browsers isn’t worth considering. And yes, the mobile app should offer all services like banking, live games, promotions, support, etc.

Below are our tried and proven mobile casino baccarat sites in Canada:

What is the difference between Real Life, Online Casino and Squeeze Baccarat?

You don’t need any introduction to online and land-based casino baccarat, do you? The games use identical rules, just that you’ll be playing online baccarat remotely in your home. In other words, you don’t need to factor in land-based casino expenses for drinks, fares, tipping the dealer, and more. What’s more, you can play online Baccarat for free using casino bonuses, something you won’t get at land-based casinos.

In the meantime, increase the excitement of playing Baccarat by playing the squeeze version. As the name hints, the dealer will squeeze the cards before revealing them to the players. Although you can play this version at most land-based casinos, you can also enjoy the excitement online at live baccarat casinos. An excellent example is Baccarat Squeeze by Evolution, which has more than 15 camera angles to capture every detail on the table.

The rise of Live and Squeeze Baccarat Dealers in Canada

Squeeze Baccarat by Evolution Gaming is a single example of a live dealer baccarat game. You can also play live baccarat versions by Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Ezugi, and other software developers. These games are trendy because players don’t need to visit a land-based casino to play Baccarat. Live baccarat is streamed live from land-based casino studios in HD/4K quality. Like Evolution, other developers fit their studios with omnidirectional cameras to make the game more transparent and exciting. Moreover, minimum bet limits can be as little as CA$0.10.

What is Red Envelope Baccarat?

Red Envelope Baccarat is a live version of the game by Evolution Gaming. The game maintains the core principles of this classic card game by using eight decks of cards and offering typical player, banker, and tie bets. The only exception is the red envelopes that keep popping up randomly throughout the game. And guess what? The envelopes can come with maximum multiplier values of 88x the stake.

What is the ‘House Edge’?

The house edge is a familiar ‘devil’ in all online casino games you play. Without it, many casinos would close shop because they cannot make profits. Those that survive would probably rig the games in their favour just to stay afloat. With that being said, the house edge is the mathematical advantage that the house has from every wager you make.

For example, the player bet gives the house a 1.24% house edge, meaning players can win a maximum of CA$98.76 from a CA$100 bet. That’s it!

What are the advantages of playing Live dealer Baccarat?

Live dealer baccarat is more like playing Baccarat in a land-based casino. To put it simply, these games give baccarat players a realistic gaming experience right on their mobile phones and computers. Players can also chat with the live dealer on the live chat system.

Another advantage of live dealer baccarat is the low bet limits. These games are often playable with as little as CA$0.10, meaning your bankroll will last longer while playing online than offline. And most importantly, live dealer baccarat games can come in different variations and payouts. For example, Evolution’s Lightning Baccarat has random multipliers up to 8x.

Are there any disadvantages to Live dealer Baccarat?

Everything which has advantages also has disadvantages. In live dealer baccarat, the bet limits can be lower than in land-based casino baccarat. However, players must have a bankroll to play these games. Players cannot use their bonus incentives on live casino games. This is because live casino games can be expensive to stream and manage. Also, don’t forget that you need fast internet to stream live dealer games smoothly.

Baccarat odds

The banker and player bets in Baccarat have a 1:1 payout. This means you’ll receive a single coin for every successful one-coin bet. If you find this payout too low, try your luck on the tie bet, which has an 8:1 payout. However, this doesn’t make mathematical sense considering the 14.36% house edge.

What is the average payout in Baccarat?

The probability of winning on the banker’s position is around 45.8%, whereas the player’s hand maxes out at 44.6%. A tie bet has a win rate of 9.60%. So, if you exclude the tie bet, the banker’s hand can hit 51% of the time. But even with such a high winning probability, avoid this bet because of the high house edge.

Different types of Baccarat

Baccarat comes in multiple variations, like video poker, roulette, and slots. Below are the most common types:

Mini Baccarat

Mini Baccarat is a simple and elegant version of the game. In Mini Baccarat, players can wager on the banker, player, and tie positions. It uses eight or six decks of cards, and the hand closest to 9 wins the round. The main highlight of this game is that players can alternate playing the banker.

Punto Banco

In Punto Banco, players can wager on the player, banker, or tie positions.

Unlike Mini Baccarat, players cannot play the banker. Also, the player makes a decision depending on the type of cards dealt to them. Punto Banco is the most-played version of Baccarat these days.

Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer or Shimmy is a baccarat game with French roots and is common in European casinos. This game allows up to 12 players to join the action on a kidney-shaped table. The objective remains the same as traditional Baccarat; create a two or three-card hand closest to 9.

Baccarat en Banque

Baccarat en Banque or Banque Baccarat is a game played on two tables. It has similar baccarat rules as Chemin de Fer regarding drawing an additional card. In this version, the casino always plays the banker.

European Baccarat

European Baccarat is another version of this exciting card game. In this game, players don’t have to request an extra card if their hand total is 5 or less. Instead, gamers stand on five points, making the game more attractive because you can exceed nine points with an additional card.

Lightning Baccarat

Lightning Baccarat is the live version of standard Baccarat. Unlike traditional Baccarat, players can win a multiplier of up to 8x during the Lightning Round. This round starts after the end of the betting round. A lightning effect will strike one to five random Lightning Cards.

Super Pan 9

Super Pan 9 or Pan 9 is a baccarat version mostly played in land-based casinos. Here, the card decks don’t have 7s, 8s, 9s, and 10s. The dealer will give three cards to each playing position to compensate for that. Also, the players can draw an additional card.

Three Card Baccarat

Three Card Baccarat is another Baccarat version popular in land-based casinos in Macau and Las Vegas. The game is similar to traditional Baccarat, although each playing position gets three cards. Unlike Pan 9, cards 7 to 10 stay in the deck this time.

Baccarat Bonuses and Rewards

Most real money casinos in Canada offer players casino bonuses. These bonuses can be available to new or loyal players. Below are the most common ones:

No deposit bonuses: This is a welcome package where players get a bonus for simply signing up. Players don’t need to deposit anything to claim this welcome reward.

$1 deposit bonus: A CA$1 deposit bonus is a bonus where players get a reward for depositing the said amount. For example, you can get 50 free spins for depositing CA$1.

$5 deposit bonus: Some casinos can get greedy and ask players to deposit CA$5 to unlock the free spins or bonus amount.

Match deposit bonuses: This is the most common online casino welcome bonus. The casino can offer to double your real-money deposit up to a specified amount.

Reload bonuses: A reload bonus is the same as a deposit bonus. However, this bonus is given to players after they make a second, third, fourth, or fifth deposit. The Zodiac Casino welcome promotion is a good example.

Live casino bonuses: Live casinos are not famous for offering bonuses to new and loyal players. However, live casinos are part of traditional casinos, meaning you can claim all the prizes available.

Who develops the software for online Baccarat?

Many online casino software developers cannot miss a chance to offer players a baccarat experience. You can play RNG baccarat from NetEnt, Playtech, Betsoft, and other game developers. But regarding live Baccarat, always play games from Evolution, Ezugi, Pragmatic Play, and Vivo Gaming.

How we rate online Baccarat casinos

You must be wondering how we selected the baccarat sites on this guidepost. It’s easy; confirm if the casino is legal in Canada, Ontario, the UK, Malta, Gibraltar, or Curacao. After that, check if the casino uses SSL encryption to secure financial information like ID, card, and phone numbers. Other vital considerations include reputation, payment methods, payout speeds, customer support quality, game variety, and user interface.

Some Baccarat casinos you should avoid

If you want to enjoy an immersive online baccarat experience, we recommend avoiding these online casinos withe best online baccarat games:

Slots of Vegas

Slots of Vegas is a neatly arranged online casino that offers hundreds of slots and a $2,500 welcome bonus. However, this casino doesn’t have any proof of licensing, raising a red flag. As we said earlier, a reputable body should approve the best casinos in Canada.

Prism Casino

Prism Casino is another casino with an irresistible welcome bonus. The casino offers new players a 200% up to $2,000 match deposit welcome bonus. They also provide a no-deposit bonus of $30 in free chips for your favourite table game. But who would want to play in an unlicensed casino?

Cool Cat Casino

Like the other casinos on this list, Cool Cat Casino doesn’t have any proof of licensing in Canada or abroad. Also, the casino only offers 200+ games, most of which are slot machines. In fact, we didn’t find any baccarat games at Cool Cat Casino.

Final word about online Baccarat in Canada

As you can see, Baccarat is one of the most straightforward casino games to understand and play. You only need to create a hand closest to 8 or 9 with your two or three cards to win the round. But remember not to play the attractive banker bet because of the 5% commission.

In addition, always practice bankroll management using betting strategies like Martingale and Paroli to protect your bankroll. And most importantly, play online Baccarat at a licensed and regulated online casino in Canada, Ontario, the UK, Malta, and other gambling jurisdictions. Have fun with online gambling!

FAQs: Online Baccarat

Can I play Baccarat online for free?

Yes, most online casinos allow players to play RNG baccarat using welcome bonuses and loyalty rewards. You can also play the free demo versions and mobile baccarat apps to sharpen your baccarat skills and understand the game.

Is online Baccarat legitimate in Canada?

It’s illegal to operate an online baccarat casino from within Canadian borders. However, there’s no law barring players from joining offshore casino websites. Note that Ontario introduced its own gambling laws as of April 2022. So, play on casinos licensed by the AGCO (Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario) only.

Can you count cards in Baccarat?

No, you can’t count cards in Baccarat. The thing is that this game allows players to hit only once during the entire round, making card counting useless. So, try another betting strategy.

Is Baccarat easy to play?

Yes, online baccarat games are super simple to play. Players will create a hand closest to 9 using the two cards dealt to them. You can request an additional card, depending on what you have.

Is Baccarat easier to play than blackjack?

Blackjack is a skill-based casino game, unlike luck-based Baccarat. Therefore, it’s only logical that you need a lot of practice to play it effectively. For instance, know when to split, hit, or double down while not giving the dealer the advantage.

Can you play Baccarat in all online casinos?

No, some casinos can offer limited game libraries that don’t include Baccarat, while others don’t offer live dealer games. So, join a casino with an extensive game library to increase your chances of playing Baccarat. Luckily, the best online baccarat casinos are easy to find.

What’s a good strategy to follow when playing Baccarat?

First, bet on the banker bet because you won’t have to pay the 5% commission on your winnings. Second, create a baccarat bankroll and use playing strategies like Martingale, Paroli, and Fibonacci. And above all, play this game for fun because winning any gambling game is uncertain.

Todd Knowles
Todd Knowles
Chief Editor
49 Articles
4 Reviews

Chief Editor and slot-aficionado Todd Knowles is our go-to guy for everything related to iGaming. Todd has a wealth of online casino knowledge since he has worked in the industry for more than 11 years and in the digital media industry for more than 15 years. In his spare time, Todd is a family man, but still finds time to play his favourite slotmachines.

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Last updated: 16/10/2023