5 Technologies Behind Live Baccarat Games 

Baccarat is a popular casino game across Vegas, Europe and in the Far East. Although some of the rules and nuances may seem complicated, baccarat is essentially a comparing card game between the ‘Player’ and ‘Dealer’. You simply have to bet on Player to win, Dealer to win, or Draw. 

As casino games have moved online, so has baccarat. It can be difficult to find a baccarat table at a brick-and-mortar casino, especially outside of the major gaming hubs. As such, online casinos have made the game much more accessible.

A fairly recent evolution of baccarat is live baccarat available online, which blends the best of both worlds. It’s a real game of baccarat run by a human dealer from a studio, but broadcasted straight to the player’s PC screen or mobile device. Players can jump in a live baccarat game with others from around the world and experience the authenticity of the brick-and-mortar casino from the comfort of their own homes. 

This popular new way to enjoy baccarat has only been possible thanks to the technological advances that made it so. This article explores those technologies. 

HD Cameras 

First of all, live dealer baccarat games require powerful high-definition cameras in order to capture the gameplay in real time. Usually, there are at least three angles in a live baccarat game; a birds eye view, shots of the table, and the picture to picture display, which is usually eye level with the dealer. 

HD cameras are the starting point of live baccarat technology. Without them, there’s no way you’d be able to see the action. 

Directional Microphones 

Before we move on to some of the more interesting technologies, let’s not forget about audio. It often goes unnoticed, but clear, crisp sound is crucial to the immersive feel of the live baccarat experience. 

Near-perfect audio is achieved using special microphones such as directional microphones, which are carefully positioned in key spots to pick up the dealer’s voice and the turn of the cards. 

Optical Character Recognition (OCR)

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology detects and transmits all of the information about the game as it’s happening. In the case of baccarat, this includes the suit, symbol, and value of the playing cards. The cards have a sensor that is read by the OCR. 

The dealer passes the cards over a scanner, and the OCR collects this data and transmits it live to the player’s computer screens. This means cards, bets and wins can all be presented instantly, making the gameplay smooth and the stream seamless. 

Game Control Unit (GCU)

Every baccarat table in the live casino studio is fitted with a small box-like device known as the Game Control Unit (GCU). This encodes the video data is it’s happening and makes sure the information is transmitted to the screens of players. 

The GCU is essentially the brain of the live casino. Without it, the stream would not be possible. 

Dealer’s Monitor

This is another piece of live baccarat technology that often goes unnoticed, because it is usually hidden out of view of the player in a blind spot of the cameras. The dealers at the baccarat tables have their own monitor, which helps them to keep up with the flow of the game and the player’s actions. 

The dealer’s monitor is their link with the players and allows them to be interactive as the game occurs. It shows information such as bets and usernames, wins, people joining, and other information about the game. 

Where and How to Play Live Baccarat

As mentioned, live baccarat is available at major online casino platforms. Look out for one that has a decent website, licenses and security certificates.

To start playing, register and login to a legitimate online platform and click on the appropriate tab in the casino lobby. This will usually be labelled “Live Casino” or “Live Dealer”. You can then scroll down to find live baccarat tables. 

At online casinos, live baccarat games will usually be running around the clock at a variety of stakes, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding the game that you want. 

Live baccarat is the exact same game as online baccarat or baccarat at the casino. The aim is simply to predict the winning hand, betting on either the ‘Dealer’ hand, ‘Player’ hand, or Tie. Still, it’s useful to learn the rules before playing for real money.

Once bets are placed, the dealer will take care of shuffling the deck and running out the hand. They will pay out any winning bets. This is done automatically online. 

Live dealer baccarat is a fun and entertaining way to play baccarat online. It is closer to the real life experience. The technology mentioned in this article, from the HD cameras to the GCU that helps the game run smoothly, makes it all possible.