Always 8 Baccarat 

Always 8 Baccarat provides a unique twist on the classic baccarat format, with the banker’s first card permanently being set at 8 each round. This creative rule reshapes the odds and overall format of this game on its own, differentiating this title from many standard live baccarat titles in the process. Streamed from a high-end studio and introducing some dynamic side bets as well, Evolution Gaming have made Always 8 Baccarat distinct in a number of ways.

A traditional baccarat table labelled with the words Player and Banker sits in the middle of the live studio in Always 8 Baccarat. This has various 8’s tassels and other Asian decorations around it, just like games such as Dragon Tiger and Sic Bo Deluxe. A live host sits to the left of a card shoe, drawing a minimum of 3 cards each round. Along the bottom of the screen, the main betting options and extra side bets are displayed clearly in different colours. What’s more, the outcome of prior rounds in Always 8 Baccarat is displayed on a separate interface to its left.

As we have already discussed, Always 8 Baccarat uses standard baccarat rules but adds a constant 8 card to the banker's hand before each deal, different to most live casino games. The aim of play here remains similar to standard Baccarat tiles, with players trying to predict whether the player or banker hand will be closer to 9, or if the hands will be tied in value. Due to the fixed card in the banker's hand, though, the odds are adjusted in Always 8 Baccarat, with the player hand being valued at 1.48/1 and the banker hand being set at 0.62/1, which is lower than usual. Should a tie occur in this game, however, the odds are 9/1, which is also slightly higher than standard baccarat odds.

Each card in Always 8 Baccarat has its own point value; however, 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings are worth 0. Aces are worth a single point, and all remaining numbers between 2 and 9 have points representative of their face value. A short betting window begins each round in Always 8 Baccarat, and once this is finished, the dealer will then proceed to deal 2 cards to the player and one additional card to their own hand.

Once all cards have been dealt in Always 8 Baccarat, the totals are then calculated. If either hand comes to 8 or 9, these values will stand straight away. If this is not the case, though, a third card could be drawn based on standard baccarat rules. If a player's hand comes to 5 or less, an additional card is drawn, with the banker drawing depending on the total of the player's third card. After this, whichever hand is closest to 9 is deemed the winner, with the result being clearly displayed by a message which flashes on screen just like in Bet On Baccarat.

Even though the constant inclusion of an 8 in the banker's hand could be considered a bonus in some ways, there are some more nuanced side bets included in Always 8 Baccarat. One of these is the Player Pair wager, which is valued at 11/1. If the player’s first two cards dealt form any pair, no matter if they are suited or unsuited, this side bet could be deemed successful. The same goes for the Banker Pair side bet as well; however, this can only be claimed if the second card added to the hand is another 8. Compared to the Player Pair side bet, though, this has slightly reduced odds at 10/1.

No matter if a player prefers to use a tablet, computer or smartphone, Evolution Gaming makes sure that Always 8 Baccarat delivers seamless performance across all these devices. This is something that can be said for all of their classic and more nuanced live titles on our UK online casino, thanks to their frequent use of HTML5 technology. As long as users connect to the internet, every bit of quality is retained regardless of the screen size, with the touch controls and high definition video remaining consistent.

The slight alteration to the way in which cards are dealt in Always 8 Baccarat immediately sets it apart from the more traditional variants of this classic Asian card game. By adjusting the odds and adding in some additional side bets, though, Evolution Gaming still manages to provide a new experience whilst capturing the essence of the original rules.

Always 8 Baccarat joins a wide variety of other baccarat titles at BoyleSports, too, with Emperor Baccarat and MGM Grand Baccarat Live being two others housed on site.

Please remember to always gamble responsibly, this is a real money gambling site.