Why New Zealand Players Should Try Baccarat: Expert Insights from Dudley Nader

Have you ever wondered why baccarat is gaining popularity over other casino games? Well, the answer is simple. This classic card game is known for being easy to play, which makes it perfect for beginners. Kiwi players seem to love the game’s elegance, which isn’t surprising as it is often featured in James Bond movies.

While it is often associated with high rollers and pop culture, it really is one of the most approachable games you can find at any casino. Fortunately, you can try out live versions of the game if you are looking to have an experience similar to the ones you’ve seen on your TV screen. It’s also one of the most user-friendly games I’ve found in New Zealand casinos, because most of these gambling sites have free online versions for practice.

In this article, I’ll cover several reasons why I think Kiwi bettors should try playing baccarat at least once or twice. I will discuss the gameplay, which is quite straightforward, along with its low house edge, and many other reasons why you should give the game a go.

Background on baccarat

Baccarat is a very popular casino game whose popularity can be traced back to Europe. It spread through China, Japan and Korea, and later gained recognition in France, and then in Cuba. I did some extra digging and discovered that the game was invented in the 1500s by an Italian named Felix Falguiere who named it “baccara”, which is the Italian word for “zero”.

Naming a card game “zero” seems weird until you consider the game rules which state that all face cards, such as jacks, queens and kings, are all worth zero. I’ll explore more game rules in the later sections of this piece. Many call the game “Bond’s game” because it is popularly played in James Bond movies, but another icon popularized the game decades ago. King Charles VIII and his court were responsible for spreading the love for baccarat among the nobles of France.

As the game grew in popularity in France, the pronunciation of the name changed from “baccara” to “baccarat” as well. The game has many variants, but the Punto Banco version remains the most widely accepted and played variant. Online casinos now offer Kiwis the same baccarat experience that French nobles clamored for, without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

Game rules

French nobles caught a fever at the thought that they could enjoy a good game of baccarat on a little rectangular-shaped item they could take anywhere they wanted. However, before you go and try your luck at a baccarat table, you should read this guide on how the game works.

The game has just three possible outcomes:

• Player wins
• Banker wins
• Tie

The entire purpose of each round of the game is for you to place a bet on whether the banker or the player will have the cards with a total closest to nine. The third betting option, a tie, is a scenario where both hands end up with the same value. The card values are:

• Two to nine have their face value, for instance, a seven is worth seven points
• 10, jack, queen and king are worth zero points
• Ace is worth one point

Since the game is determined by a single digit, the system for ranking these cards is perfect. In a situation where the total of a player’s hand exceeds nine, only the last digit counts. For example, if you get a hand of eight and seven, which naturally would be 15, the total is counted as five.

Step by step gameplay guide

• Place bets: You get to place your bet on the outcome as being in favor of the banker, player or ending up as a tie.
• Deal cards: The dealer deals two cards each to the player and the banker hands, facing up.
• Calculate totals: The value of each hand will then be added together. As I mentioned, any hand with a total of over nine will have its first digit ignored at this point.
• Natural win: A natural win occurs if the first two cards dealt, for either the player or banker, total eight or nine. The win is called, and no extra cards are drawn. The hand with the highest number wins.
• Third card rule: Baccarat can be fast-paced and abrupt at times when a natural win occurs. However, if it doesn't, then a third card can be drawn according to preset rules.
• Winner is determined: The hand closest to nine wins and the game ends as a tie if both hands have the same total.

Favorable odds and house edge

Among the many reasons that I think Kiwi players should give baccarat a try, the low house edge is the main one for me. The house edge is basically the mathematical advantage that the casino has over players. This is why many players say the casino always wins. In baccarat, the house edge can be as low as 1.06%, which makes it one of the casino games with the lowest house edge. In comparison, games like slots can have house edges as high as 15%.

Although you can get a house edge as low as 0.5% on blackjack with optimal strategy, baccarat stands out because it requires no skill. The odds for each betting option are as follows:

• Banker bet: The banker hand is the most popular, and many bettors routinely choose this option because it wins around 51% of the time. The house edge on this bet is 1.06%. You have more chances of winning if you bet on the banker, but you should note that the casino will typically charge a 5% commission on your banker wins, which basically balances out the advantage
• Player bet: The house edge on the player bet is 1.24%, but it pays more (1:1) compared to banker bets. There are no commissions charged on player wins.
• Tie bet: This bet has the most attractive payout, but the probability of a tie occurring is very low. The house edge is approximately 15% and I really would not recommend it to any Kiwi player.

Potential for big wins

Playing baccarat can significantly increase your potential of securing significant wins, particularly with a tie bet, which pays 8:1. Personally, I only choose tie bets when I’m feeling lucky and I make sure not to chase losses. The moment my bet goes against me, I move on to banker bets. The high house edge makes tie bets a very risky choice. I would advise you also approach tie bets with caution, but it wouldn’t hurt to try it sometime.

Social experience

Aside from the fact that this is one of the easiest card games to get started with, it is also one of the very few that offers the social aspect of a physical casino without leaving your home. If this isn’t what you are looking for, you can try out the random number generator-based versions that do not require live interaction.

However, if you are looking to chat with the live dealer and feel like a part of a group while chatting with other players, you should try out the live versions of baccarat.

Many New Zealand casinos have live versions of baccarat from top providers in the iGaming industry, like Pragmatic Play, Games Global and Playtech. Kiwi players should get a feel for the live experience of baccarat, which I’m betting will only get better with the introduction of augmented reality and virtual reality technology to the online gambling industry.

Exclusivity and VIP treatment

Baccarat elevates your status. Casinos know this and offer their best experience and VIP treatment to their elite baccarat gamblers. The game is popularly referred to as a high roller game, simply because it has some of the highest betting limits of any casino game, which attracts players who are willing to spend a lot.

Baccarat players get preferential treatment in the form of loyalty programs, high betting limits, dedicated account managers and a low house edge. If you want a taste of the premium casino experience which elites and nobles enjoy, you should give baccarat a try.

To wrap it up

Baccarat is one of the top games every Kiwi player should give a try. The blend of simple gameplay, exciting rounds, live dealer versions and low house edge makes it an elegant package. Although it attracts a lot of high rollers, the game isn’t meant only for them as it welcomes players from all levels to enjoy VIP treatment and exclusive offers. With many free online versions available for practice at New Zealand casinos, there’s no better time to give the game a go. Step up to a baccarat table, responsibly, and discover the charm for yourself.

Dudley Nader

A University of Otago graduate in Statistics, Dudley Nader leveraged his skills in a decade-long gambling industry career, earning recognition as a top casino specialist in New Zealand. In his free time, Dudley enjoys developing new game strategies and playing baccarat and poker.