
EZ Baccarat, a simplified version of the classic game, has become a regular addition at many online casinos in the US. But, if you’re not able to access those where you live, sweepstakes casinos are a brilliant alternative.
While most sweeps casinos don’t offer EZ Baccarat currently, they do offer several Baccarat variants, with similarities to the EZ format. This includes an excellent choice of Baccarat games at Stake.us and Jackpota, where you can play for free using virtual currencies. In addition, if you play with Sweepstakes Coins and win, they can be redeemed as real prizes.
Introduced in 2004, EZ Baccarat was developed as an easier-to-play, more streamlined version of the traditional card game. It quickly gained popularity for its simplified rules and fast pace and is now one of the most widely-played varieties of the game.
EZ Baccarat follows the same basic setup and objective as traditional Baccarat but has a few key differences, summarized below:
Commission | The usual 5% commission is removed in EZ Baccarat when you back the Banker to win. |
Dragon 7 & Panda 8 | In traditional Baccarat, whether a third card is drawn is determined by specific guidelines. Under EZ Baccarat rules, there are only two cards. |
Side Plays | EZ Baccarat has two unique side options which are not included in the main game. If the Banker’s hand wins with a total of 7, this is known as a Dragon 7 and results in a win multiplier of 40x. If the Player’s hand wins with a total of 8, this is known as Panda 8, and has a multiplier of 25x. |
At the moment, EZ Baccarat is not widely available at sweepstakes casinos but you’ll find many other Baccarat variants which are almost identical to the EZ Baccarat game.
The aim of the game when playing Baccarat at sweeps casinos is to build a hand with a total as close to 9 as possible, using cards with the following values:
As mentioned earlier, the major difference with a sweepstakes casino is that you’ll be using virtual currencies, typically called Gold Coins (GC) and Sweepstakes Coins (SC), instead of real money.
Gold Coins are used to play for entertainment only, but Sweepstakes Coin winnings can be redeemed for real life prizes. These include cash and digital gift cards for major retailers.
Each sweepstakes casino has its own set of SC redemption requirements, including a specific playthrough requirement, and a minimum amount of eligible SC. At McLuck for example, bonus Sweeps Coins at McLuck have a 1x playthrough requirement, and you’d need a minimum balance of 10 eligible SC for gift cards and 75 SC for a cash prize.
The availability of Baccarat at sweepstakes casinos is perfect for those living in US states where real money gambling is not allowed. As you’re using freely obtained virtual currencies, sweepstakes casinos are completely legal. They offer an authentic casino-style experience and access to top-rated games including live dealer tables.
As I’ve mentioned, EZ Baccarat is not currently available at sweepstakes casinos. However, many of top-rated sweeps sites have a great array of Baccarat games that offer a similar playing experience to the EZ version. Let me take you through six of my favorites.
Stake.us is one of the best sweepstakes casinos and its game selection encompasses six Baccarat games, including one exclusive to Stake. One of my favorites is First Person Baccarat from Evolution Gaming. It has a house edge of just 1.24% and a maximum win of 200:1. I especially like the Scorecard feature in this game, which is similar to an EZ Baccarat hit chart and allows you to easily track trends – ideal for first time players.
Signing up to Stake.us is simple and, thanks to my special bonus code STFSOCIAL, you can grab an exclusive bonus of 560,000 Gold Coins, 56 Stake Cash and 5% rakeback on losses for the lifetime of your account.
RealPrize has quickly established a position as one of the top sweepstakes casinos. Although you won’t find EZ Baccarat among its many games, it offers the live dealer game Grand Bonus Baccarat, made by Iconic21. Like the EZ version, this variety is great for beginners and offers a fast-paced game, with 15 seconds between rounds. It has a house edge of 3.06%, higher than the EZ Baccarat house edge but still impressive.
As well as Grand Bonus Baccarat, RealPrize has well over 500 live dealer games and slots. That includes a variety of slot types from makers such as Booming Games, Kalamba Gaming and Evoplay. To check them out, you can get started at McLuck with a welcome bonus of 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweepstakes Coins.
McLuck is a leading sweepstakes casino famous for its ongoing promotions. The McJackpot is the piece de resistance of these and offers a progressive prize pot that can strike while you’re playing any game on the site. There are also many ongoing social media competitions for free Gold and Sweepstakes Coins and an outstanding welcome bonus of 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins.
McLuck focuses their lobby on slots but you’ll find a solid mix of table games including Grand Bonus Baccarat. The game includes lots of neat features including two game jackpots. Four consecutive wins triggers the Mega bonus and five the Grand, providing a maximum win of 690x your initial play amount.
Jackpota is an up-and-coming sweeps casino building a lot of fans. The lobby includes over 700 games from industry-leading providers such as Pragmatic Play, 3 Oaks and Playson. It’s also home to a growing collection of live casino games although currently the only Baccarat variety on offer is Grand Bonus from Iconic 21. If you fancy branching out to other live casino games, you’ll also discover roulette, blackjack, sic bo and live slot games.
Sign up to Jackpota today and you’ll receive a welcome bonus of 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweepstakes Coins.
WOW Vegas is a leading sweepstakes casino particularly known for its extensive ongoing bonuses. Once you’ve joined WOW Vegas, and claimed the welcome bonus of 250,000 Wow Coins and 5 Sweepstakes Coins, you’ll discover a generous daily login, and more than 1,200 casino style games.
In common with McLuck and Jackpota, WOW Vegas currently only offers one Baccarat variety; the popular Grand Bonus game from Iconic 21. As mentioned, this game retains many of the original features of the original but, thanks to its quick rounds and simplified gameplay, is perfect for anyone seeking an EZ Baccarat alternative.
Alongside Baccarat, WOW Vegas has a full games portfolio that includes more live dealer games. It’s also home to hundreds of slots from providers like Pragmatic Play, Betsoft and Booming Games.
Sidepot.us is a recently-launched sweeps casino, and a sister site to the Fliff social sportsbook. Along with a standout selection of slot games from developers such as Playson, Booming Games and 3 Oaks, Sidepot.us is home to several Baccarat variants. This includes a zero commission game which is similar to EZ Baccarat as well as American Baccarat from Habanero and Baccarat 777 by Evoplay.
You can explore all of these Baccarat options using the Sidepot.us welcome bonus of 10,000 Fliff Coins and 1 Fliff Cash.
If you’re new to the game, my guide to Baccarat strategy is essential reading and should give you all of the tools you need to get started.
Once you’ve decided on the sweepstakes casino for you, signing up for a new account shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Use the links on this page to go directly to your chosen sweeps casino and hit ‘Sign up’. You’ll then be prompted to input some personal details to complete your registration. Some sites, such as Stake.us, make this process even easier by allowing you to use your Google account to set up a site profile.
While it isn’t possible to play EZ Baccarat at sweepstakes casinos, you’ll find a strong selection of Baccarat games that have similarities to the EZ version. Playing at sweepstakes casinos is a good option for anyone looking to learn how to play Baccarat or increase their knowledge of the game. Sweepstakes casinos are also accessible in most US states where real money gambling is not permitted.
I’d recommend heading to Stake.us as your number one choice. Not only does it have an exceptional game selection, and the largest choice of Baccarat games, you can use my code STFSOCIAL to receive an exclusive bonus of 560,000 Gold Coins, 56 Stake Cash and 5% rakeback as a new player.
At the moment, the EZ Baccarat isn’t in the lobby at any sweepstakes casinos but you can enjoy many other varieties of Baccarat online for free. You’ll also be able to explore live dealer versions of other casino style games such as roulette, poker and blackjack. All of these can be played for free using Gold or Sweepstakes Coins.
As sweepstakes casinos use virtual currencies rather than real money, they are completely legal under US law. However, although they are widely available, some sweeps casinos are not accessible to players in all regions. Each brand will have its own list of eligible states which can be found in their terms and conditions. You can also explore more guides on our site about sweeps casinos in your location.
It’s not possible to play Baccarat online for real money at sweeps casinos such as Stake.us and Wow Vegas. However, one of the two virtual currencies you’ll be using, Sweepstakes Coins, can be redeemed for alternative prizes, subject to the individual brand’s T&Cs.
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