The Best Irish Baccarat Sites 2023

How to Play Baccarat Online

Settling into a game of baccarat online is easy. Simply browse the best baccarat sites on TopRatedCasinos.ie, comparing everything from the games library and bonuses to promotional offers and support for certain payment methods.

Once you sign up, you’ll be able to click or tap your way through to the baccarat games available – these may range from the classic online version or live baccarat, which takes things to another level with real croupiers.

Baccarat Rules

Baccarat is a game of chance, and it’s easy for newcomers to pick up because you don’t actually play the cards yourself – that’s all done automatically by the dealer.

The only decisions you have to make come at the start of each round, when you decide how much you’d like to bet on either the player, the banker or a tie. Bear in mind that the word “player” here is just a naming convention for one of the hands, and has no connection to you or any other players at the table.

Each round sees the player and banker each dealt two cards, face up. Cards two to nine have their face value, Aces are worth one point, while 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings are all worth zero. Before the cards are dealt, you’ll be betting on whether the player or banker will come closest to nine, or whether it will be a tie.

If either the player or banker is dealt two cards adding up to nine, that’s known as a natural nine and is deemed the winning hand. The next best hand is a natural eight, which wins in the absence of a natural nine. If the two cards add up to a number higher than eight, the first digit is removed. So if, say, the player is dealt a nine and eight, the combined score is actually a seven.

When playing baccarat online, the only real complexity comes if a third card is dealt for the player. The gameplay goes like this:

• If the player’s initial two cards add up to five or below, the player is dealt a third card;
• If, however, the player stands after the first two cards, the Banker will only be dealt a third card if the banker’s initial two cards up to 5 or below;
• If the player is dealt a third card, the banker may then be dealt a third card depending on either the banker’s total so far, or the value of the third card the player received.

If all that sounds a little too much to wrap your head around, don’t worry. When playing baccarat online, all of this plays out automatically. As we said above, all you have to do is decide which way to bet at the very start, and then sit back and see which hand wins.

Pros and Cons of Playing Baccarat Online

Baccarat’s been ever-present at casinos of all stripes for centuries, but it’s not to everyone’s taste. Here are some pros and cons of playing online baccarat games. 

History of Baccarat

The history of baccarat is murky and difficult to pinpoint. It is thought of as a distinctively French game, but it is also thought that Italy gave birth to all card games at some point in the 1300s. 

Whatever the precise dates around baccarat’s origin, we can be sure that it came to existence like all other card games: through the inspiration and modification of existing games. One theory goes that Italian Felix Falguiere invented baccarat using Tarot cards in the fifteenth-century. Other theories suggest its derivation comes from other card games like macao, le her, or blackjack. 

The most convincing theory – and the most widely-accepted – is that baccarat arrived in France via soldiers returning from Italian conflicts in the 1490s. We know that it became popular within the French nobility during the nineteenth-century, and the game is believed to have been a favoured pastime of Napoleon. 

Casinos were banned in France in 1837 by King Louis Phillip, but baccarat’s appeal survived, and the game continued to be played in underground clubs. It remained popular throughout Western Europe, travelling across the Atlantic at some point prior to its reference in a New York Times article in 1871. 

What is indisputable is that baccarat punto banco – the most popular variant at modern casinos – is the youngest variant of them all. This version of baccarat was developed in Havana in the 1940s, and is favoured by modern gamblers because it has a player-friendly house edge.

Baccarat Strategy

So, what’s the best strategy to have in mind when you sign into any of the best baccarat sites? The bottom line is this game is almost entirely down to luck, as you can’t affect the outcome of each hand. You just bet before any cards are dealt, then do nothing more except sit tight and see whether you’ve backed the hand that comes closest to nine.

That said, many players like to bet on the banker every time, as the banker does have a fractionally higher chance of winning due to the third hand rules and the fact that the banker completes its hand after the player’s. The casino will generally make up for this by charging a 5% commission on banker payouts.

One very good rule to follow is never to make a tie bet when you play baccarat online. Yes, the payout on a win is greater, but as ties are statistically infrequent, this is often dubbed a “sucker’s bet”.

If you do want to adopt a betting strategy, a popular one for baccarat is the Martingale system. It’s a simple one to remember: you just double your bet with each loss, ensuring you’ll recoup your losses when a win eventually happens. Just bear in mind there’s always a risk you’ll run out of funds, or max out the betting limit, before that win does come.

Remember – no strategy can guarantee a win, baccarat games are determined by chance.

Like other table games, there are some popular baccarat strategies to take to the table. These strategies don’t offer any guarantee of winning, but they can help players decide how they should wager and thereby manage their play more effectively. Here are a few famous ones. 

1324

Known as a positive progression strategy, 1324 states that players should increase their wager amounts at certain rates and in a certain order. The numbers are substituted for betting units, let’s say €1: in the first hand players wager €1, in the second it’s €3, then €2, and finally €4. 

If your wager wins, proceed to the next number in the sequence; if it loses, go back to the beginning of the sequence; and if you complete the sequence, return to the start and repeat. The idea is that wins in this sequence will cover any losses, but this depends on whether enough wins come before your budget is blown.

One-Sided

Since baccarat games have only three outcomes – the dealer to win, the player to win, or a tie – one strategy is to simply just stick to betting on either the dealer or player. Betting on the dealer to win has a slightly friendlier house edge, but online casinos know this and will take a 5% commission on these successful wagers. 

Paroli

If strategies like Martingale and 1324 increase betting units after a loss, the Paroli system does the opposite. This theory is all about taking advantage of winning streaks, and therein lies its fatal flaw: pushing your luck too far, at increased betting amounts, and your budget will soon be blown. That’s why followers of the Paroli strategy cap their streaks at three successes in a row, before returning to a low-stakes bet and repeating the process. 

How to Choose the Best Baccarat Site

There are a lot of baccarat sites out there, which is good news for players because it means they’ll be trying to offer the best perks to elbow each other aside and get your attention.

At TopRatedCasinos.ie, our team of industry experts ensure you’re presented with the best baccarat sites, all of which are regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, or the Alderney Gambling Control Commission.

The Irish government is currently working on its own regulatory body, but in the meantime Irish licences are predicated on sites holding licences from reputable regulators from abroad.

That means you can relax in the knowledge you’ll be choosing from secure and trustworthy casinos, and can make your decision based purely on factors such as:

• What baccarat variations they offer;
• Whether they offer live baccarat;
• How they let you deposit and withdraw money;
• What kinds of welcome incentives they provide.

Baccarat Variants

We favour sites that host multiple variants of casino games, because we know it’s what our users want. The more variants available, the more variety in the games library – and we believe that equates to a better all-round casino experience. 

Live Baccarat

Just as multiple variants keep things entertaining, so too does the inclusion of live dealer baccarat games. Baccarat is considered the classiest table game around, and live casinos allow players to soak up this atmosphere.

Payment Methods

The longer the list of payment methods, the more convenience given to baccarat players. This is important on both the deposit and withdrawal ends; for the latter, e-wallets like PayPal are better-placed to provide fast withdrawals.

Bonuses

Is there a decent welcome bonus on offer, and is this followed up by generous bonuses to existing members? Bonuses can really make a baccarat site, so make sure you pick the bonus that’s right for you, and not simply the one with the biggest value, by carefully reading the T&Cs. 

Customer Support

There are often a few details to discuss when joining a new casino: details around bonuses, which payment methods are accepted, and other minor things. When you have a query, it’s important to receive first-class customer support whenever you need it – the best baccarat casinos will offer 24/7 support, all year round. 

Different Types of Baccarat

There are several different variations of baccarat available right now. Here are some of the most popular variants available at the top baccarat sites. 

Punto Banco

Punto Banco is the variation you’ll see most often at online baccarat casinos, and it’s also the simplest to get to grips with. As covered in our rundown of the rules above, Punto Banco baccarat is a game of pure chance – all you have to decide is whether to wager on the banker’s hand, make a player bet, or put your money on a tie.

Playing virtual versions of the game involves a random number generator (RNG), but with live dealer baccarat you can soak up the authentic atmosphere of James Bond’s favourite card game. Some casinos offer a variation known as mini baccarat, which has fewer players and a faster pace. 

Chemin de Fer

Chemin de Fer adds an element of strategy to the game, as players take it in turns to be the banker. The player-banker has to take on the other players, with the gameplay resembling Punto Banco. However, there’s a significant difference here: players have the option of drawing a third card or holding with the first two.

As there’s active involvement here, Chemin de Fer will suit those who want to do more than simply bet on the banker hand or player hand. 

Banque

Baccarat Banque is another long-standing favourite among baccarat buffs. With Banque, there are three hands in play at the same time, with the player in the banker role taking on two players simultaneously. Particularly popular with high rollers in bricks-and-mortar casinos, Banque is also known by the name Baccarat a Deux Tableaux – meaning ‘on two tables’.

Best Baccarat Bonuses

When comparing the best baccarat sites and best live sites, you’ll want to carefully consider the various welcome bonuses which may be offered by certain casinos. There are a few common types:

• A matched deposit bonus, where your initial deposit will be matched by the casino, up to a certain percentage – often 100% or even 200%;
• A no deposit bonus, where you’re given a small amount of money to play without having to deposit any money at all;
• A no wagering bonus, which usually requires a deposit, but means any bonus winnings are available immediately – no need to play through them to make your bonus winnings withdrawable.

Whichever one you prefer, it’s important to bear in mind that these bonuses will usually come with wagering requirements. That means you’ll have to bet a certain number of times before you’re able to withdraw any winnings earnt from your initial bonus. The other thing to remember is that different casino games will contribute different amounts to that wagering requirement.

While slots, for example, often contribute 100%, table games like baccarat can usually only go a small way to satisfying the wagering requirement. Meaning you’ll have to play a lot of baccarat to get those bonus winnings, unless you mix things up with slots and other games.

Best Live Baccarat Sites

Playing baccarat online is fun, but live baccarat adds that extra level of casino magic. This way, you’ll be playing with a real dealer at a real table, with the action streamed via webcam from swanky casino-style sets. With TopRatedCasinos.ie, you can check out the best live baccarat sites at a glance, compare the bonuses on offer and make an informed choice.

Then, you can get stuck into the game, with the chat window letting you interact directly with the dealer as all the excitement unfolds.

Payment Methods

Baccarat sites accept a variety of banking methods. Here’s a breakdown of the most common options.

Visa and Mastercard Payments

Visa and Mastercard debit cards are a popular and convenient way to make casino transactions in Ireland. For one thing, they’re easy to use: you simply sign up, add your payment details, and make a deposit, just as you would when paying for any item or service online.

An extra perk is that very few – if any -, welcome bonus offers are exempt from debit card deposits. It’s worth bearing in mind that withdrawals can be fairly slow with debit cards, taking up to five working days to process once released by the casino. Some players may also prefer not to share their bank card details whenever they sign up to a new casino site.

Bank Transfers

Many casinos support bank transfers for deposits and withdrawals. You simply use online banking to top up your bankroll, and, if you have winnings, you can cash out to the same account. Possible drawbacks include high minimum deposit and withdrawal limits. Withdrawals with bank transfers can also take up to a week depending on the casino and your bank. 

PayPal

PayPal is an excellent option for those who want to use a bank account or debit card but are worried about giving out their sensitive account information online. PayPal acts as a third party – by linking your bank card or account to your PayPal account, you can make deposits through the e-wallet swiftly and securely.

Fast withdrawals are also available with this method at some online casinos, often taking under 24 hours. However, some casino welcome bonuses can’t be claimed if you use PayPal to make a deposit, so it’s important to check the small print with any sign-up incentive to ensure you won’t be excluded.

Skrill

Skill is another top e-wallet that’s accepted by most casino sites. Again, it provides a way to make deposits from your bank or debit card without having to input your personal account details, and payouts can be processed in a matter of hours. There are fees for withdrawing money from your Skrill wallet to other accounts, which should be checked ahead of time.

Using Skrill can also exclude you from some casino bonuses. If this is the case, you may want to use a different payment method for your initial deposit, then switch to Skrill for future transactions – depending on the terms of ongoing promotions.

Neteller

Neteller stands alongside Skrill and PayPal as one of the popular e-wallets accepted by casino sites. It works in the same way as the others, giving you an extra level of security for deposits and withdrawals, and potentially letting you cash out your money within a day or less.

However, as with Skrill, there will be fees charged for moving money out of the e-wallet account, and some welcome bonus offers may not be accessible if you make your first deposit through Neteller. 

Pay by Phone Bill

Casino banking options can also include ‘pay by phone bill’ – also known as pay by mobile. This is a method of depositing money into your casino account using your phone’s prepaid credit, or by charging the deposit amount to your monthly phone bill.

All that’s required is your phone number, which makes this a highly secure payment system. As there are strict spending caps in place, it’s not a popular option for frequent bettors or high rollers. Also, you can’t make withdrawals this way, meaning you’ll need another method for taking your winnings out of your casino account. 

Paysafecard

Paysafecard vouchers can be bought in person from numerous outlets, or online. You simply purchase the denominations you’d like, then enter the PIN in the casino cashier page to transfer the value of the vouchers to your casino account. As no bank or even e-wallet details are shared, it’s as secure a way of depositing as you could want.

However, it’s largely a deposit-only method, unless you happen upon one of the rare casino sites that supports withdrawals to My Paysafecard accounts.

Other Games at Online Casinos

There are lots of real money games you can play at online casinos, so why not try one of the games below if you fancy a change from online baccarat?

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the simplest card games that you can play. You just need to get as close to 21 as possible, with face cards worth 10, and aces being either high (11) or low (1). The top Irish casino sites have a variety of live blackjack tables available, not to mention RNG games which replicate the action with crisp, lifelike graphics, and usually have a range of side bets on the menu too.

Roulette

While there are plenty of RNG roulette games to discover in online casinos, there’s something particularly satisfying about seeing a physical wheel spinning in live roulette games. Whether you’re the kind of player who enjoys putting money on specific numbers, or prefer to play it a little safer with outside bets, you can approach the fabled table however you like from the comfort of your own home.

Slots

Slots are a huge draw for online bettors. They’re easy to play on the move, as all you need to do is set your wager and hit spin. Online casinos can present hundreds, even thousands of options, from classic, fruit machine-style games to modern, branded slots emblazoned with imagery from popular movies and TV shows. Progressive jackpots are also available, often with sky-high payouts waiting to be won.