The explosion of online gambling around the world has prompted a change in attitude towards this form of entertainment. Online gambling providers are exploiting the riches of the online world to provide casino enthusiasts with a more convenient and accessible avenue to play their favourite casino games. In Canada, online versions of roulette, blackjack, slots, and poker have proved popular with the millions flocking through the online casino doors. However, there is one game that ranks higher on the popularity scale, baccarat.

For novices, many will view baccarat as a variant of blackjack. But with its own set of intricate rules that make the game of baccarat so unique, the game brings its own individual fun factor and strategic approach. The evolution of online gambling has arrived at the point of video feeds to live dealers who unveil the fate of the round right before your eyes. Live casinos are beginning to catch on in provinces where online gambling is legal, with players taking to the idea of playing right from the comfort of their homes.

Source: Pexels

 But whether you are playing from your armchair, or on a commute somewhere, what are some of the most vital tips to keep in mind once you enter the live online baccarat realm?

1)     Know the odds: Statistically, baccarat is listed as a game of chance. Amongst the three outcomes, betting with the banker statistically has the highest chance of winning, at 45.8%. However, according to some sources, this value can reach as high as 50%. Either way, there is not an overwhelming majority. Betting on the player comes in on average 44.5% of the time, with a tie understandably much lower at just under 10%.

Taking this knowledge into the virtual baccarat room gives you an idea of how to approach each round. Where you place your bet also depends on how much risk you take, or conversely, how risk averse you are. The riskiest strategy would be betting on the tie. But at 8/1, or 9/1 in some online casinos, the rewards are naturally higher.

Statistically, the safest bet is to go with the banker. But even this comes with a kicker. What some players do not know if that the house takes 5% commission on any bets won by the banker. This therefore lowers the payout line to around 0.95:1, instead of the 1:1 reward when betting on the player. This provides a conundrum for players as a slight edge in reward is shaved off when backing the more likely outcome.

2)     Do not read too much into patterns: Due to the element of chance steeply involved in baccarat, there is less to work out for the player. Whereas there are many different hands that players could have in poker, or a higher or lower risk connected with taking another card in blackjack, there is little to read into baccarat. Even card counting is less relevant.

With few patterns to be discovered, Canadians can instead shop around the online casino market to find a platform that perhaps offers lower commission taken on banker wins. There are plenty of online casino operators that provide live baccarat online for Canadians and finding one that takes less than the standard 5% would only be advantageous for you, the player.

3)     Quit when ahead on short sessions: The most common strategy when playing live baccarat, or in online casinos in general, is to quit while you are ahead, or up. Conversely, chasing losses is the least advisable strategy and can avalanche very quickly into greater losses. But committing to a short period of play, perhaps with a specified amount of funds set aside for that short session, you can emerge satisfied from the live baccarat table regardless of the outcome.