Best NJ Online Casinos To Play Baccarat Games

Baccarat is a casino game that’s often feared by novices but loved by professionals. Due to what seem like complicated rules, beginners often shy away from baccarat in favor of other cards games such as blackjack.

However, the pros know not to make this mistake. As well as the rules of baccarat being simple to master, the dynamics can be extremely positive.

Yes, the house might still have an edge, but it’s a smaller one than you’ll find in other casino games. In fact, if you understand how to play and what are the best baccarat bets, the house only has a small advantage.

In our guide, we’ll explain all of this and more. So, if you’re ready to play baccarat online or live, come with us as we take you through the nuances of this misunderstood game.

Don’t be intimidated to play baccarat online in New Jersey

Baccarat is a hard game to find online. Not many NJ gambling websites offer it, as it’s not a standard game. Not many people have experience playing baccarat.

However, a great aspect of online play is you can demo a game and play for fun until you get the hang of it. You can practice on the demo games available for free at VirginCasino.com, Golden Nugget online casino and Caesars NJ online casino.

Baccarat is not as hard to play as you think.

In baccarat, you can bet on the player, the banker or bet on a tie. Sometimes you can bet on a tie and the banker or player. The winning hand is the hand closest to 9, and the banker and player must hit or stand, depending on house rules and on what is dealt.

How to play baccarat

Learn how to play Baccarat in 7 steps (Via Wiki How):

In baccarat, no decisions occur during play; you decide whether to bet on the house, player or for a tie. You will not have the option to choose hitting or staying like in blackjack.

The object of the game is to have a hand that is closest to a 9.

The play is decided by what the totals are for the player, and bank acts accordingly. Both have different rules for their play.

The face card counts as zero while an ace counts as one.
Having an 8 or 9 total is considered a “natural” and a good hand.
Having a 0-1-2-3-4-5 card total usually draws a card for the banker, depending on the player’s hand.

That’s why it’s better to bet on the bank. This banker bet has the advantage because of the options based on what the player’s hand draws.

Basically, it’s like flipping a coin, but more fun.

Baccarat Odds & Baccarat Rules

If you scroll down to the next section on why you should play the bank, you’ll see the basic odds of baccarat.

For the majority of you, merely knowing the bank has a 45.8% chance of winning versus the 44.6% chance for the player will be enough. However, if you’re looking to improve your potential returns, there are things you can do.

Now, we’re not saying you can learn the odds of baccarat, play the probabilities and win every single time. Furthermore, there’s no move you can make that will improve your chances of winning.

However, as a savvy player, you can do something known as “counting.” Similar to card counting in blackjack, this technique requires you to track cards as they’re dealt to determine the position of a specific card.

In other words, you can count down the cards and, in theory, identify if the next six cards to be dealt will favor the player or the bank.

Baccarat Strategy

Counting cards in baccarat

Counting down cards in baccarat isn’t easy. What’s more, it’s far from an exact science. To try and predict a known card, you need one to be exposed.

If you’re playing live baccarat, you may have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of an exposed card during the ribbon spread.
After the cut, the dealer will remove approximately 20-25 cards from the front of the eight decks.
Once they’ve identified the 14th card, the dealer inserts the plastic cut, and the entire spread is then put into the shoe.
If the bottom card is exposed during this process and you can get an exact count of how many cards were removed, you can use the said card as a marker.
From there, count the cards as they’re dealt and, once you hit the magic number, you’ll know that the exposed card will appear within the next six-card spread.
When you know that, you’ll also see whether it favors the bank or the player.

Theoretically, this knowledge will give you a 7.4% edge. Of course, this is a complex process and one that can falter at multiple points. Moreover, it is only useful in live games.

However, if you can perfect the technique, there’s a chance you can swing the odds of baccarat in your favor. If you can’t, don’t worry because we’ll tell you the best move to make in the following section.

Play the bank

The probability of the bank winning at baccarat is 45.8% on a single-deck game compared to 44.6% for the player hand. The other 9.5 or so percent comes from the probability of a tie, which usually pays 8:1.

So, it’s not in your best interest to play it unless you can track previous hands. So far, we have only seen an 8:1 payout for a tie at the online casino sites in New Jersey; however, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a 9:1 payout.

If that ever happens, it’s a better bet, leaving a house edge of 4.9% on a six-deck shoe.

Does No Commission Baccarat exist online in New Jersey?

Some online casinos do offer No Commission Baccarat, but there is a catch. The catch is that you only get paid 1:2 on a natural 8 hand. Essentially, you only win half your bet.

The odds of the banker winning with an 8 is a whopping 10.6%, which is high enough to make the player bet, by far, the better one for this variant. The house edge on banker bets is 4.06% versus 1.24% for player bets.

The upside to No Commission Baccarat at top NJ gambling websites is the minimum wager. All sites that support this format have a $1 minimum bet, but you can increase it to $500.

Can I play free baccarat online in New Jersey?

Yes, even though it’s not as popular as slots, blackjack or roulette, baccarat is available at New Jersey’s best online casinos. In practice, this means you can play baccarat for free.

Now, we’re not saying you can never make a real-money bet and bank some cash. However, there are ways to watch the cards fly without paying a cent upfront. The obvious way to play baccarat online for free is via practice tables.

Just as you can spin slots using virtual money, the same is true for baccarat. You can load up a demo game, receive some play money and place a bet.
The benefit of these games is that you get full functionality without the cost.

Therefore, you can learn the rules of baccarat, master the basics and test out some strategies without blowing your bankroll. Of course, you can’t use free baccarat games to win real money. However, they are a fantastic way to have some fun and get a feel for its dynamics.

Baccarat bonuses, free credits

Alongside demo games, the top online casinos in New Jersey have a bevy of bonus money to give away. By following our secure sign-up links, you can unlock various promos. In some instances, the offers will relate directly to baccarat.

Other times, you might be able to claim some free credits to use to play the game. Whichever method you use, bonuses are a great way to play baccarat for free. The only caveat is you have to place real-money bets before attempting to withdraw your bonus/winnings.

Unless it’s a particularly unique promotion, every operator will apply wagering conditions to its promos. So, even though you can play for free, there will be some costs further down the line.

Can I win real money when I play baccarat online?

Of course. The beauty of joining a licensed online casino in New Jersey is that it’s equipped to offer real-money gaming. Thanks to regulations that came into effect in 2013, Garden State licensees have to abide by strict standards.

In practice, this means the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) oversees everything from the games you play and offers you collect and your deposits. When you log in, every regulated site will offer secure payment options such as Visa, PayPal and in-person transactions.

Additionally, for online deposits and withdrawals, SSL-encryption software keeps the bad guys at bay. Finally, every baccarat table will be tested and certified as fair.

If it’s a virtual game, a third party will assess the random number generator (RNG) software. The NJDGE continuously monitors live dealer baccarat.
With these provisions in place, you can enjoy real money online baccarat at a level that suits you.

From low-stakes games where you can wager as little as $1 to high-stakes tables where thousands can change hands, the top sites provide something for everyone.

Where to find baccarat at NJ online casinos

No Commission Baccarat is available at the following NJ gambling websites:

And the standard version, which we deem to be by far the better variant, is found at:

Virgin Casino
Caesars Casino
Golden Nugget Casino (live dealer)
Betfair Casino (live dealer)

FanDuel Casino also supports a third baccarat variant, called EZ Baccarat.

This game, manufactured by GAN, is the same as the no-commission version of the game except for receiving half a win when the banker wins with an 8, players push when the banker wins on a three-card 7. The house edge for banker bets under this rule is a scant 1.02%, making it the best baccarat play in New Jersey.

The game also comes equipped with two side bets: Panda 8 and Dragon 7. However, players will generally want to dodge these bets as they’ll be giving up between 7.6 – 10.2% to the house.

Live dealer baccarat in New Jersey

Let’s cover what online baccarat is like at New Jersey’s top sites. As you can probably guess, live dealer baccarat tables feature live-action. By combining webcams, RFID technology, cards and dealers, you get a real-time overview of a live game.

To ensure the action ticks over at a relatively swift pace, you have to act within a certain time limit. In most instances, you’ll have around 20 seconds to make a move. In addition to time limits, live dealer baccarat isn’t free.

Because of additional overhead, operators can’t provide practice tables in the same way they can for virtual games. However, every site does its best to keep the stakes as accessible as possible.

If the prospect of playing with real dealers sounds appealing, here are the tables and times available at our recommended NJ casino sites:
• Golden Nugget online casino: Live baccarat available 24/7, stakes range from $1 to $2,000 per bet.
• PlaySugarHouse Casino: Live baccarat available from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily; the minimum bet is $1.
• PlayMGM NJ: Live baccarat available from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily; the minimum bet is $1.
• 888 Casino NJ: Live baccarat available 24/7; the minimum bet is $1.
*Virgin Casino doesn’t offer live dealer casino games.
**Caesars Online Casino doesn’t offer baccarat.

Where can I play baccarat in New Jersey?

If you like the idea of playing live baccarat, but you want to do it offline, the Garden State has plenty of options. By visiting the following Atlantic City venues, you can take your skills and apply them in a live setting. Of course, you won’t be able to take advantage of our NJ online casino promos when you play offline.

However, you’ll still have just as much fun when you play baccarat at these NJ casinos:
• Bally’s Atlantic City: 1900 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa: 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Caesars Atlantic City: 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Golden Nugget Atlantic City: 600 Huron Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Hard Rock Atlantic City: 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City: 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Ocean Resort Casino: 500 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Resorts Casino Hotel: 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
• Tropicana Casino Resort: 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401