Prestige Baccarat is a top-notch live dealer version of standard baccarat and it was developed by one of the world’s leading suppliers of online casino software, Playtech. The game was released in 2016 as the second title in the studio’s Prestige Series, following the launch of a new live dealer roulette version.
Compared to most of the live baccarat variations that exist today, including some Playtech releases, Prestige Baccarat comes with noticeably better graphics quality, improved audio, and a nice, smooth pace of the gameplay. Players can choose from several languages, enjoy the wide betting range, and explore a handful of new and interesting features.
Rules and Gameplay
Playtech’s Prestige Baccarat is based on the standard rules of the game but several changes are introduced. Up to seven players can be seated on the table and the cards are dealt from an 8-deck shoe. When two decks remain in the shoe, the cards will be shuffled. At the start of a shoe, a certain number of cards are “burned”, i.e. removed from play.
Players can place their chips on either of the three main outcomes of every round – that the Player or Banker will win, or that the result will be a Tie. The payouts are standard and winning Player and Banker bets pay 1:1, except for the 5% commission charged on the winnings from a successful Banker bet. The payout for a winning Tie bet is also the same at 8:1.
Distinctive Features
This game comes with tons of nice and interesting features and it stands out from the rest of baccarat games in Playtech’s Live Lobby in several aspects. The first thing to notice is the exceptional video and audio quality, as well as the beautiful, yet dark and even intimate environment that creates an authentic casino atmosphere. Prestige Baccarat also comes with a Squeeze feature performed by the dealer.
The other exciting aspect of this game is the addition of plenty of side bets, which could be very profitable to the lucky player. They include the Player/Banker Pair bets, which win if any of the two hands constitutes a pair. If the two cards are identical (in both value and suit), this will be Either Pair, while if both hands are perfect pairs, the Perfect Pair side bet wins. In addition, players can bet on the total number of cards with the Big/Small bets or on the value of tied hands with the Egalite side bets.
- Player/Banker Pair – 1:1
- Either Pair – 5:1
- Perfect Pair – 25:1
- Big – 0.54:1
- Small – 1.5:1
- Egalite – 45:1 to 220:1
Conclusion
With its crisp graphics, clear audio, and smooth gameplay, Prestige Baccarat is a really appealing variation of live baccarat. The most exciting thing about, however, is the wide range of side bets that offer staggering payouts of up to 220:1.