Lightning Baccarat from Evolution gives the age-old casino game an extra dimension. More spectacle, excitement, and countless multipliers, which strike like lightning bolts on random cards every game round.
In this guide, you will learn everything about the game. You will find out how it works, how it differs from classic Baccarat and what the best strategy is. Finally, we answer some frequently asked questions.
Table of Contents
Lightning Baccarat Overview
Lightning Baccarat is an exciting addition to Evolution Gaming’s Live Casino games, launched in January 2020. The gameplay is similar to online baccarat, but it introduces an innovative twist with its multiplier functionality. If you’re a fan of Evolution’s live casino games, this is one to add to your collection.
The lightning functionality is also present in other games of the lightning series like the Lightning Roulette and the Lightning Dice. All three games feature thrilling multipliers. If you are familiar with these games, you will find Lightning Baccarat’s gameplay somewhat recognizable.
Playing Lightning Baccarat
Playing Lightning Baccarat is easy if you understand the rules and the winning strategies. Here’s a brief review of how to play the game correctly.
Lightning Baccarat Game Rules
When you play Lightning Baccarat, you do this by placing bets. You can bet on “Player”, “Banker” or “Tie”. You can also bet on various side bets. Lightning Baccarat Rules include the following;
- In Lightning Baccarat, like in the classic version, a natural win happens with 8 or 9 points from the first two cards.
- The Player doesn’t get more cards at 7 or 6 points.
- With 5 points or less, the Player can take a third card, unless the Banker has 8 points.
- If the Player takes a third card, the Banker might also draw, depending on the Player’s third card and the Banker’s current points.
Here is how the game unfolds:
- Placing your bet: Before the game starts you must decide whether you are going to bet. The goal is to choose whether the Player or the Banker will end up closer to 9 or whether the outcome will be a tie. You also choose any side bets to bet on.
- Lightning strikes: When the betting time is over, 1 to 5 “lightning cards” will appear each game. A multiplier is linked to these cards. The cards with multipliers appear on the left of the screen.
- Dealing the cards: After determining the Lightning Cards, the Player and Banker receive their cards. If you make a winning choice using Lightning Cards, the multiplier takes effect.
- Win or lose: If your bet is on the winning hand, you will receive a payout according to the payout table. If the winning hand contains a Lightning Card, the win is multiplied by the multiplier (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 8x). If there are multiple Lightning Cards in the winning hand, they multiply each other. The maximum payout is limited to $500,000.
Lightning Baccarat Bets, Odds, And Rounds
The bets in Lightning Baccarat are simple. You have three options: Betting on the Banker, the Player, or a Tie. Tie implies that neither the Player’s nor the Bank’s bet will win. After that, two cards are dealt to the Banker and the Player.
The value of the cards when playing Lightning Baccarat Online corresponds to their face value. So, a number with the face labeled 3 will have the same value. However, that’s not the case for a card labeled 10 since the value of the cards over 9 is usually 0. The exact value is assigned King, Queen, and Jack. On the other hand, ace has a value of 1.
After dealing all the cards, their values are added to know the points the Banker and the Player have. If it is a tie, there is no winner, and only those who placed a bet on a tie win.
Side Bets
In addition to the standard bets, there are also two side bets in this game.
- Player Pair – Betting on this means that you are betting that the Player’s first two cards will be a pair (for example 5-5). If this is the case, this pays out 9x the bet. If Lightning Cards are involved, the multiplier is applied and you can win a maximum of 576x your stake.
- Banker Pair – Betting on this means that you are betting that the Player’s first two cards will be a pair (for example 3-3). If this is the case, this pays out 9x the bet. If Lightning Cards are involved, the multiplier will be applied and you can win a maximum of 576x your stake.
Rounds
Lightning Baccarat by Evolution Gaming has several rounds. The one that begins right after betting is called the “Lightning Round”. It requires randomly drawing up to 5 cards from the 52 playing cards’ virtual deck. Every selected card also gets a random multiplier among the 5 different values: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and 8x.
Once the lightning round is over, the main card round of lightning baccarat online starts. So, the dealer will deal the cards for the Player and the Banker positions. All the standard baccarat rules apply, including the 3-Card Rule. The existence or nonexistence of the lightning card for each side is also declared. If it exists, players are informed about the multiplier to be used on their payouts if they win.
Lightning Baccarat Casino Game Payouts
When you Play Lightning Baccarat Online, the game payouts can vary depending on whether or not your card receives a multiplier during the lightning round. If your card doesn’t get a multiplier, the payouts are the same as in classic baccarat except for the tie and the side bets.
However, if there is a lightning card, your payout is multiplied by the lightning multiplier. The possible multipliers are 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and 8x. But these aren’t the only multipliers available. In some instances, there can be more than one multiplier. For example, if there are 4 multiplier cards of 3x, 4x, 5x, and 8x, the payout will be multiplied by 480. This is an incredible feature! It means that your winnings can reach up to $500,000.”
Here is a summary of the Lightning Baccarat Payouts:
BET TYPE | Lightning Baccarat | Standard Baccarat |
Player | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Banker | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Tie | 5/1 | 8/1 |
Pair | 9/1 | 11/1 |
Lightning Baccarat RTP
Lightning Baccarat Online Casinos have an average return to Player (RTP) of up to 98.76%. It is lower than standard baccarat, but the margin isn’t that huge. Despite the relatively low RTP, there are high chances of winning bigger with the lightning version. After all, it uses lightning multipliers, meaning your payouts can be 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 8x. The lightning card determines the multiplier that applies after the game. Sometimes, the multiplier can go up to 480x if more lightning cards appear.
RTP also differs from one bet to another. For the player bet, the RTP is usually 98.76%. Banker bet offers 98.59, a tie has an RTP of 94.51%. When it comes to side bets, the Banker Pair has an RTP of 88.35%, and the same applies to the Player Pair.
Stake | RTP Lightning Baccarat | RTP Standard Baccarat |
Player | 98.76% | 98.94% |
Bank | 98.59% | 98.76% |
Tie | 94.51% | 95.16% |
Side bet | 88.35% | 89.64% |
Pros And Cons of Lightning Baccarat Live
The pros and cons of lightning baccarat live from Evolution Gaming are as follows;
Lightning Baccarat Pros
- Offers huge wins of up to $500,000
- Impressive live studio
- Exciting lightning round
Lightning Baccarat Cons
- You will have little time to decide on the way forward
- Slightly less RTP than standard baccarat
Lightning Baccarat Tips
In Lightning Baccarat it is difficult to speak of a real strategy. This has to do with the fact that as a player you do not influence the course of the game. After betting an amount, there is nothing more you can do. The game is structured in such a way that the live dealer knows exactly what needs to be done. Unlike Lightning Blackjack, there is nothing you can adjust in the meantime.
What you can do is look at the RTP percentages and the bank’s house edge. This way you can see where you will lose the least money. Consider the following Lightning Baccarat Tips when playing this game.
Bet on the Lightning Side
When playing baccarat, the lightning side is more likely to win than its counterpart. After all, it has better odds, thus increasing your chance of betting right.
Understand the Multiplier Distribution
Remember that the lightning card will determine the multiplier. If there are more than two lightning cards, the multiplier also changes. You should understand multiplication well so that it can inform your decisions.
Adjust Your Strategy Based on Multipliers
Don’t overlook the multipliers as you focus on the probability of winning. For instance, a tie bet is known for having a relatively low chance of winning. However, it is also the bet with the biggest multiplier. Therefore, consider even that aspect as you play lightning baccarat online.
Other Live Games by Evolution Gaming
Lightning Baccarat is a unique variant of the classic Baccarat game with incredible multipliers that can provide huge prizes. You can try the game yourself at one of our recommended casinos. In all Lightning Baccarat Casinos, you can also enjoy the rich live game portfolio from Evolution Gaming.
These include other games from the Evolution Lightning series like Lightning Blackjack and Lightning Roulette as well as captivating game shows like Monopoly Live and Deal or No Deal Live. This provider never disappoints when it comes to live casino games. The games are always exciting, and the chances to win big are great. Let’s take a closer look at some of the popular live games from Evolution’s impressive portfolio.
- Monopoly Live: Monopoly Live Casino Game is known for bringing different aspects of Monopoly to life, the famous board game. The combination of the board game and the casino experience is incredible. It also means standing a chance to win big if you place your bet in the Monopoly bonus game.
- Lightning Blackjack: If you are a Blackjack fan, this is a version of the game you shouldn’t miss. First, it uses the rules of standard blackjack. Playing this will be a breeze if you are familiar with the game. On top of the great game action, you also stand a chance of winning big since the game has huge multipliers thanks to the lightning feature.
- Lightning Roulette: From the electrifying graphics to the elegant live dealers, there is a lot to love about this live casino game. The lightning numbers add fun to the game and sometimes mean winning extremely big. Place your bets and watch the host spin the wheel to determine the winners of that round.
- Deal or No Deal Live: This game takes the gambling element to the next level. After all, one also makes decisions during the game. You choose between the briefcase swaps and the banker deals.