What is baccarat?
Baccarat is deceptively simple: you bet on either the player or banker hand, and whoever gets closer to nine wins. That's it. You don't make any decisions after placing your bet - the dealer handles all the third-card rules automatically. Under standard Punto Banco rules, the Banker bet carries a 1.06% house edge (with 5% commission) and the Player bet sits at 1.24%. Online baccarat is available at EMTA-licensed casinos in both RNG and live versions.
Baccarat at a glance
Baccarat rules
Card values
Cards work differently in baccarat than most games you've played. Aces are worth 1 point. Number cards 2-9 keep their face value. Everything else - 10s, Jacks, Queens, Kings - counts as zero. Only the last digit of your total matters, so 7 + 8 = 15 becomes a hand value of 5. The best possible hand is 9 (called a "natural").
Third card rule
This is the part that intimidates new players, but here's the good news: you never need to learn it. The dealer follows fixed rules and handles everything. The player draws a third card on totals of 0-5 and stands on 6-7. The banker's rules depend on what the player's third card was. For example, if the player draws a 6 or 7, the banker draws on 0-6. None of this is your decision to make.
Payouts
Here's what you'll get paid under standard Punto Banco rules: Banker wins pay 1:1, but the house takes a 5% commission. Player wins pay 1:1 with no commission. Tie bets pay 8:1. Side bets like Perfect Pair can pay up to 25:1. The commission on banker wins exists because the banker hand has a built-in statistical edge from acting last.
Baccarat bets
Banker bet
This is the mathematically best bet on the table. Under standard rules with 5% commission on wins, the Banker bet has a 1.06% house edge - the lowest of any bet in the casino. You'll pay that 5% commission when you win, but the banker hand wins slightly more often because it acts last.
Player bet
The Player bet has a 1.24% house edge under standard rules. No commission to worry about, which makes the math simpler. Slightly worse odds than banker, but if you want to avoid the commission hassle, this is your alternative.
Tie bet
Don't let the 8:1 payout fool you. The Tie bet is the worst bet on the table with a 14.36% house edge. A tie only happens about 9.5% of the time. Mathematically, this bet bleeds your bankroll fast.
Side bets
Perfect Pair (two identical cards), Either Pair, Player Pair, Banker Pair - these side bets look tempting with their higher payouts, but their house edges are significantly worse than the main bets. Fun for a flutter, not for serious play.
House edge and odds
Your house edge depends entirely on which bet you pick. Here's how the main bets stack up under standard Punto Banco rules:
Note: These figures apply to standard Punto Banco rules where a 5% commission is charged on winning Banker bets. Other rule variants may differ.
Baccarat variants
Punto Banco
This is the version you'll find in virtually every casino. The dealer makes all the third-card decisions. Your only job is to pick a bet and watch the cards fall.
Speed Baccarat
Rounds last about 27 seconds instead of the usual 48. If you find standard baccarat a bit slow, this version keeps the action moving.
Baccarat Squeeze
The dealer reveals cards slowly, building tension with every fold. It's pure theatre, and it's the reason this variant is a favourite in live casinos.
Lightning Baccarat
Evolution Gaming adds random multipliers to each round. Between 1 and 5 "Lightning" cards get multipliers of 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 8x. If you hold a winning hand with a Lightning card, your payout gets multiplied.
Live baccarat
Live baccarat streams real dealers dealing real cards to your screen. No RNG - the outcome is determined by the physical cards. You can play 24/7 and chat with the dealer while you watch the action unfold in real time.
Baccarat in Estonia
Every EMTA-licensed casino with a live section offers baccarat. The EMTA licence means the games are fair and the casino operates under Estonian law. Evolution Gaming supplies most of the baccarat variants you'll find, including Lightning Baccarat, Speed Baccarat and Baccarat Squeeze.
Minimum bets depend on the format. RNG baccarat starts from €1. Live baccarat tables typically begin at €5, with VIP tables accepting up to €10,000.
Best baccarat casinos in Estonia 2026
These EMTA-licensed casinos have baccarat tables and have been tested with real deposits.
Baccarat: key takeaways
- ✓ Banker bet is the mathematically best choice under standard Punto Banco rules (1.06% house edge)
- ✓ Player bet is the second best (1.24% house edge), no commission
- ✓ Tie bet is the worst choice (14.36% house edge)
- ✓ Third-card rules do not need to be memorized. The dealer handles them automatically
- ✓ Live baccarat offers an authentic experience without RNG
- ✓ All EMTA-licensed casinos offer baccarat games
Responsible gambling: Baccarat is a game of chance. No betting system removes the house edge. Set a budget before you play and never stake money you need for bills. Our responsible gambling page has tools and resources to help you stay in control.
Frequently asked questions
Editorial disclosure: CasinoRoyale.ee contains affiliate links. We may receive commission when you sign up through our links. This does not affect our ratings or recommendations. All casinos listed are licensed by EMTA. Last updated: 17 August 2026.