Baccarat is a well-known card game around the world, having been played even in a few James Bond movies! So, if it’s good enough for the famous English Agent 007, it’s good for us!
It is said that the game has its origins in Tuscany in the 800BC, the name ‘Baccarat’ coming from an old Italian and French word meaning zero. However, it gained popularity in France and England, being called Punto Banco in the latter – that’s how this version of Baccarat became the most known in the entire world, Punto and Banco literally meaning ‘Player’ and ‘Banker’.
Pragmatic Play Online Baccarat
Besides the live versions of the game, Pragmatic Play also comes with a Baccarat title that can be played without a live dealer. Below you can find all the details about the Punto Banco version of Baccarat from Pragmatic Play!
How to Play Baccarat Online from Pragmatic Play
The rules of Baccarat are pretty much the same across all online casinos and providers, with small tweaks here and there, and Pragmatic Play is no exception.
First off, the purpose of this game is to bet on the hand with a sum closer to 9.
Second, there are two hands in play: the Player and the Banker. Two cards are dealt to each, with points being calculated according to specific rules. In terms of bets and rounds, the game can go one of three ways:
- The banker wins – the banker’s hand has a bigger number of points than the player’s
- The player wins – the player’s hand has a bigger number of points than the banker’s
- Tie – both hands have an equal number of points
The points are calculated based on the cards’ value. This way, the Ace is worth 1 point, while numbers for 2 to 9 are worth their face values. 10, J, Q, and K cards are worth 0 points.
After the cards have been dealt, they are added, with 9 being the maximum number of points. However, if the number of points is greater than 9, 10 points are subtracted. This way, the final sum remains in the 0-9 range.
Depending on specific rules, sometimes a third card is drawn. If the player has between 0 and 5 points, a new card is drawn. If the total number of points is 6 or 7, the Player stands. Easy, right? Well, things get a bit complicated when it comes to the Banker.
If the Player stood (if he has only two cards dealt), the banker follows the same rule: draws a third card for points between 0 and 5 and stands for 6 or 7 points. However, if the player has three cards dealt, the banker draws a third card in any of the following situations:
- If the Banker’s total is 2 or less (regardless of what the player’s third card is)
- If the banker’s total is 3 and the player’s card has any value, but 8
- If the banker’s total is 4 and the player’s third card is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7
- If the banker’s total is 5 and the player’s third card is 4, 5, 6 or 7
- If the banker’s total is 6 and the player’s third card is 6 or 7
- If the banker’s total is 7, the banker stands
Pragmatic Play Baccarat Payouts
Payouts depend on the type of bet you select:
- Bets on Player wins pay 1:1
- Bets on Banker wins pay 0.95:1 (there’s a 5% commission applied here)
- Bets on a Tie result pay 8:1
The return to player (RTP) value also changes depending on the bet. A Banker bet has the higher RTP, of 98.94%, followed closely by the Player bet, with a 98.76%. The Tie bet has the lowest RTP of the three, reaching 85.64%. Similar to Pragmatic Play’s Roulette, bets in Baccarat range from 1 to 100.
Having unclear origins, Baccarat is considered a French card game with easy-to-follow rules and a low house edge. Some might know it from the famous James Bond film. Regardless of how you came to know it, it’s clearly one of the most beloved cards games. Pragmatic Play, known for its slots collection, developed a Punto Banco Baccarat for card games enthusiasts that can be played without a live dealer. Boasting a high RTP and a user-friendly design, the game invites players to enjoy the thrilling card game that managed to stay at the top across centuries.
