Playtech Live Baccarat

Playtech have been offering live baccarat tables for over two decades now. In that time the range has seen constant change. But throughout, it has been among the industry’s most comprehensive live baccarat offerings.

At certain points in the range’s evolution there was quite a bit of inconsistency in presentation across tables – particularly when it comes to the user interface, but also considering things like video and audio quality. At times you’d be forgiven for thinking 4 or 5 different software companies were responsible for independently providing the games.

Today, all their live baccarat tables are presented with complete UI uniformity. And while the number of available tables is not a big as it once was, there’s still plenty of variety.

Main Game

As is apparent above, Playtech offer many different look & feel baccarat tables.  Aside from the many ways the game is presented (different studio’s, regular deals, speed deals, multi-camera angle squeeze tables, player controlled squeeze on the VIP tables etc) for the most part, and considering the main game only (Banker, Player, Tie bets), there are essentially 2 rule sets.

1. Punto Banco baccarat with regular payouts…
   Banker win bet pays: 0.95:1 (even money less 5% house Vigorish)
   Player win bet pays: 1:1
   Tie bet pays: 8:1
2. No Commission baccarat with payouts…
   Banker win for all values except 6 pays: 1:1
   Banker win for all values except 6 pays: 0.5:1
   Player bet pays: 1:1
   Tie bet pays: 8:1
   Super 6 bet: pays 12:1 for Banker win value 6

In all other respects the games are the same. Standard baccarat card values, 3rd card rules and win conditions apply. If you’re unfamiliar with these check our baccarat tutorial, or the house rules link below.

What’s more, all of Playtech’s baccarat tables can be played in either rule set. Same table, same dealer, but different payouts on Banker and Player bets.

You can choose whether to play Punto Banco (Commission) or No Commission when you open your table…

6 Scanner Baccarat table with dealer Hailee – Commission or No Commission

Or you can swap between payout structures while the table is open by clicking the Commission or No Commission button just left of the bet selector.

Below is the VIP Baccarat table being played in No Commission payout mode.

Switched at a click to Commission (regular payout) mode.

Side bets

Playtech are big on side bets on their baccarat tables. Note the conventional wisdom with regard to side bets – avoid them…they often look attractive but offer horrible returns. Should you wish to indulge, all tables will offer:

• Pairs side bets
  Player Pair, Banker Pair, Either Pair, Perfect Pair
• Big/Small side bets
  Betting on total cards drawn. Big = 4. Small = 5 or 6
• Egalite side bets
  Betting on the specific value of a Tie.

Side bet payouts are clearly displayed on the game bet selector, as shown on the selectors above. The Egalite payouts are in green (Tie value 0 through 9) across the top.

Side bet Multipliers

Playtech have also decided to apply random multipliers to certain side bets and the Tie bet across all their baccarat tables. After bets close, on certain rounds multipliers can be applied to to these bets to elevate the payout. Those bets and possible multipliers are:

• Tie – x15, x20, x25, x50, x88, or x100
• Player/Banker Pair – x15, x20, x25, x50, x88, or x100
• Perfect Pairs – x40, x50, x88, x100
• Either Pair – x10, x15, x25, x50, x88, or x100

In the below bet round, both the Perfect Pairs and Tie bets were randomly multiplied.

Return to player

RTP rates playing Commission (regular) payout mode are:

• Banker bet: 98.94%
• Player bet: 98.76%
• Tie bet: 95.30%

RTP rates playing No Commission payout mode are:

• Banker bet: 98.54%
• Player bet: 98.76%
• Tie bet: 95.30%

RTP for all the side bets set out below. Even with the multipliers added to the mix tbey’re not a great bet.

But, it has to be said, returns are now substantially higher than before when multipliers were not in play – shown below.

COMPLETE HOUSE RULES

A good proportion of Playtech’s live baccarat tables are streamed from their Asian dealer studios (Manila, Philippines). Makes sense really. After all this is a favorite game in Asian playing markets.

Point being, if you are a live baccarat enthusiast and are hunting for a casino to play at, you really want to  choose one that carries both Playtech’s European and Asian studio tables. Here’s the list…

• Bet365…Read review | Visit
• Mansion…Read review | Visit
• Dafabet…Read review | Visit
• Europa Casino…Read review | Visit
• Casino Tropez…Read review | Visit

This is what Playtech’s European studio live baccarat tables looked like back in 2009.

This is what Playtech’s Asian studio live baccarat tables looked like back in 2009.