We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: baccarat is the most underrated casino game out there.
The reason isn’t hard to understand!
When players take the smart money and stick to the Banker Bet, they’re rewarded with RTP of 98.95%, which easily rivals (or surpasses) the odds offered by just about any other offering out there.
Players seem to be realizing this undeniable fact more and more these days, and the outstanding team at Ezugi has stepped in to make sure that those gamblers have winning options available to them when they do see the light.
That’s the needs that Speed Cricket Baccarat so excellently fills.
Certainly there are other solid options for players who already love this game! Evolution’s Live Baccarat Squeeze is one certainly worth considering. But there are a couple of options that make Ezugi’s latest release stand out from the crowd…
… and they aren’t not just the reputation of its designer!
When it comes to actual differences in gameplay, this title follows more or less all of central rules that discerning players can expect in a quality baccarat title. There are two elements that set this title apart, though.
The first is speed.
As the name suggests, the pace is considerably quicker here than what you’d find at your average baccarat table – whether online, or brick-and-mortar! This is a huge plus for gamers who hate waiting, or just prefer a brisker tempo.
And the second?
Why, cricket, of course!
It’s Not Cricket
It’s nor exactly surprising to see sports taking up a lot of oxygen in the casino space these days.
After all, sportsbook play is booming across the gambling sector at this particular moment. This is likely driven more by technology and infrastructure than culture, however – humans have been wagering on sporting events for millennia, it’s just that more of us are forsaking bookies to do so at registered sportsbetting sites instead!
What is surprising, at least from a North American perspective, is the choice of cricket as a theme. Is this even a real sport? Does anyone care about cricket?
Well, as a matter of fact, the answer is a resounding yes.
Cricket is a wildly popular sport, particularly in several countries, where it is considered a major national sport. It is especially popular in countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies, among others. In these nations, cricket enjoys a passionate following, and major cricket events like international matches and domestic leagues can attract large audiences both in stadiums and on television.
The popularity of cricket extends beyond these countries as well, with a global following and participation in the sport. The International Cricket Council (ICC) governs the sport globally and organizes major international tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC T20 World Cup, and various bilateral series. Cricket also has a significant presence in countries with expatriate communities from cricket-loving nations.
Overall, cricket is one of the world’s most popular sports, with millions of fans and participants worldwide. Its popularity continues to grow, particularly with the advent of Twenty20 (T20) cricket, which has introduced a shorter and more fast-paced format of the game, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Some of that audience will be reached via the live cricket matches streamed behind the game screen here.
It’s a bit unclear to us just who will benefit from this, as it isn’t exactly easy to enjoy watching a match while also giving one’s best attention to gambling activities… especially in a setting where speed counts even more than usual! Still, for some sports fans, this will be an instant smash hit.
The Heart of the Matter
Talk, themes, and context aside, the success or failure of any Live Dealer game comes down to its overall quality, as well as the fine points of how it is structured. So let’s take a good, hard look!
The betting range starts at $1.00 and can go as high as $5,000.00. This may leave some folks with smaller bankrolls priced out, but just about everyone else will be able to find a comfortable bet here (except for the largest of whales).
Cards are dealt out of an 8-deck shoe. Once the cutting card is out, there will be a change of shoe with a fresh one that has been chemmy shuffled.
There are six side bets available: Player Pair, Banker Pair, Big, Small, Perfect Pair, and Either Pair. Although the Perfect Pair side bet offers the best payout of them all, at 25:1, these are all mathematically inferior bets which offer the house much better odds than the standard banker bet. We suggest avoiding them more or less all the time.
Strategy
Like just about every casino card game (with the possible exception of poker), baccarat is largely based on luck, and there isn’t a surefire strategy that can guarantee consistent wins.
With that said, though, there are a few strategies and tips that players commonly use to try and improve their odds or make more informed decisions while playing. Here are some common strategies and tips for playing Baccarat:
- Bet on the Banker: Betting on the Banker hand has a slightly better statistical chance of winning compared to betting on the Player hand. The Banker hand typically has a lower house edge, so many players choose to bet on it.
- Avoid the Tie Bet: The Tie bet in Baccarat has a much higher house edge compared to the Banker and Player bets. It’s generally not recommended to bet on the Tie because it’s less likely to occur.
- Bankroll Management: Set a budget for your Baccarat sessions and stick to it. Don’t chase losses or bet more than you can afford to lose.
- Pattern Recognition (or the lack of it): Some players look for patterns in the outcomes of previous hands and try to bet according to these patterns. However, Baccarat is a game of chance, and past results do not influence future outcomes. Betting systems based on patterns are not reliable.
- Flat Betting: This strategy involves consistently betting the same amount for each hand, regardless of whether you win or lose. It helps to control losses and avoid significant swings in your bankroll.
- Quit While You’re Ahead: If you find yourself on a winning streak, consider taking your winnings and walking away. Avoid the temptation to keep playing and potentially losing your profits.
- Learn the Rules: Make sure you understand the basic rules of the game thoroughly before you start playing. Knowing when the third card is drawn and the specific rules for the Player and Banker hands can be important.
The Designer
Ezugi has been delivering terrific live casino titles for quite some time, including both before and after it came under the umbrella of Evolution Gaming. This firm was founded in 2012 and is, as far as we know, the only major designer based in Israel.
While they certainly have engaged in some robust expansion on the B2B side, Ezugi’s primary focus has been on developing and offering live dealer casino games. They’ve distinguished themselves not only in quality, not only in quantity, but also in breadth and variety of games – their diverse portfolio of live dealer games includes traditional casino classics like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and casino hold’em, as well as unique games such as Teen Patti and Andar Bahar, which cater to a global audience with a variety of preferences. As such, it’s not at all surprising to see a global sport like Cricket appear in a catalogue like theirs.
They’ve further distinguish themselves by their innovative features and side bets, which tend to add an extra dash of flavor in their already well-built titles; their commitment to a mobile-friendly approach that allows bettors to enjoy the luxurious live casino experiences on devices (and in settings) of their choice; the reliable professionalism and friendliness of their dealers, which adds a great deal to the player side; as well as exemplary compliance with regulators worldwide.
(This last point is in their own best interest as well: in today’s highly integrated marketplace, no designer can afford problems with their licensure or certification agreements! This gets in the way of making money, which casinos can do reliably without cheating.)
Add in their impressive commitment to the aforementioned global, multilingual audience, as well as their well-regarded White Label solutions to ensure smooth integration and customization on the presenter side, and the result is a brand that just about everyone in the industry has no choice but to respect as one of the very best in its midst.
