Which Variant of Baccarat Should Your Company Buy?
There are multiple different versions of online baccarat game software for online casino websites, as well as live dealer baccarat. Each variant has similar core mechanics but slightly different rulesets. In this article, we’ll view some variants of online baccarat casino software or live dealer games your company can purchase from online casino providers like Nautilus. This article also explores how the different versions can cater to your different target audiences.
Table of Contents
1. Dragon Tiger
2. Chemin de fer
3. Punto Banco
4. Mini Baccarat
5. Baccarat Banque
6. Conclusion
1. Dragon Tiger
One of the simplest versions of online baccarat casino software that appeals to customers, especially new players, is Dragon Tiger. Dragon Tiger is a two card variant of baccarat with very stripped-down rules. One card is handed to a ‘Dragon’ and the other to a ‘Tiger’. Players have to bet which side has the higher value.
If your company is aiming at newbie players, Dragon Tiger is a good baccarat software for iGaming websites. Regular baccarat, despite its relative straightforwardness, may still be a little too complex as these players try to learn the ropes.
2. Chemin de fer
Chemin de fer is a very, very old and famous variant of baccarat. In fact, it is the origin of what became modern baccarat.
Instead of betting against a single banker, each player takes their turn (counterclockwise) being a banker and betting against each other.
The banker has to set a bet on the table before they deal out hands of cards. Afterwards, each other player, in order, can choose to declare “banco”, meaning all-in against the Banker. Alternatively, they can place their own wagers.
If multiple players declare banco, the player sitting on the banker’s right is the ‘banco prime’. If no players call “Banco”, and the banker’s original wager cannot be covered by player bets, viewers watching the game must help to pay and match the wager.
When the banker’s original bet is exceeded by player bets, the bank will either raise its original bet, or remove excess wagers.
After cards are drawn, if the players’ totals exceed the banker, players win. If the result is a tie, their bets are kept on the table for the next hand. If the banker’s hand is the highest, whichever player is the banker wins the money pool.
After its introduction in France, Chemin de fer became popular in physical casinos in Britain and the US. Today, its popularity has waned, but there are online casino providers who still offer it as a live dealer option. Some of your casino’s older players may still prefer this version for nostalgia’s sake. It also offers very attractive earnings, as one player can easily sweep everyone else’s bets.
3. Punto Banco
Punto Banco is another very popular and simple version of baccarat, well-loved by American, British and Australian players.
Punto Banco differs from regular baccarat, as players bet against the dealer, like how it’s done in blackjack.
There are three bet options in this game: the bank (Banco), the player (Punto), or a tie, known as Egalite..
The house edge for Punto Banco is low, meaning many players may be drawn to it if your company offers this online baccarat gambling software game at your online casino, as they have the chance to win more money.
The higher betting limits also make it attractive towards high rollers, so you should consider adding Punto Banco to your library of baccarat software for igaming website library to attract this demographic.
4. Mini Baccarat
In Las Vegas, Mini Baccarat is one of the most popular table games. No doubt that popularity carries over to online casinos and live dealer games as well, especially for players who enjoy this baccarat variant but can’t spare the time or expenses to travel to Vegas.
Mini baccarat is played using eight decks, and only two hands are dealt no matter how players are at a table. This makes it a smaller, optimised version of the full game that also runs much faster as a result.
This game has the standard Player, Banker and Tie bets, but aside from that, players can also choose to make side bets on the ‘Dragon Bonus’. There are two win conditions for a Dragon Bonus. One, a player’s hand is a ‘natural’. Two, the player’s hand wins by at least four points. In baccarat, a natural hand is a two-card hand worth eight or nine total.
Another reason many players flock to Mini Baccarat, aside from the speed of play and simplicity, is that it offers safer options for low-rollers. The game has a very low house edge, at 1.17% on a Banker hand.
Players who aren’t willing to risk betting large amounts can still enjoy playing this online baccarat casino software variant comfortably at your casino, should your company choose to partner with a baccarat software for igaming website provider that offers it.
5. Baccarat Banque
Last on this list, there’s Baccarat Banque. Baccarat Banque is a sub-variant of Chemin de Fer, with further modification to the rules. Some players may not be comfortable playing without a banker, or taking on the risky banker role themselves. Baccarat Banque gives them the option to have a dedicated banker at the table.
Today, this variation is still popular and widely played at physical and online casinos.
Compared to Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer, Baccarat Banque is played with an even smaller amount of card decks: only three! Gameplay-wise, it has similarities with Chemin de Fer, but players don’t play against each other. Instead, like modern baccarat, the goal is to beat the banker.
And, if players do choose to play without a dedicated banker, there’s also another rule that lowers the risk. Whichever player is the banker in a round does not need to cover the bets of the other players.
If your company is targeting lower-risk players who still like the intense playstyle of Chemin de fer, perhaps this online baccarat gambling software game is right for your casino.
Conclusion
Whatever your choice, make sure you know your target market well, and choose a suitable baccarat game software for online casino website, or a live dealer game, that suits your plan best. Partnering with the right game provider, like the highly-reputable Nautilus, is also vital.