Baccarat table layout explained: The difference between big and mini table layout

There once was a time when few gamblers understood how to play at a baccarat table. Games in casinos were often set aside for high-rolling guests only, adding a mystique that would not fully disappear until online platforms like TwinSpires Casino introduced the game to the masses.

The truth is that baccarat itself is not sophisticated; it’s simple to learn, and anyone can play – and the game is wildly popular in the Far East in places like Macau. Further, in online games, at least, the stakes do not have to be high, and you get to bet for only a few bucks.

With that being said, there is often a difference between high-roller and what we’ll call "normal" baccarat games in brick-and-mortar casinos. This is where big and mini-table layouts come in.

Mini Baccarat Table Layout

To most players, the mini-baccarat table is the one they will recognize. It looks more like a blackjack table, with a dealer behind and up to seven seats fanned out in front for players to sit down and play.

The action on a mini-baccarat table is kept simple, with the dealer running the game. Each player must bet on Banker, Player, or a Tie by placing their chips in the relevant box in front of them. The dealer then deals two sets of two cards, one representing the Player and the other the Banker. Whichever results in closer to nine without going over (any totals over ten have ten removed, so 16, for example, becomes 6) wins. There will be various house rules as to whether one hand or another can draw a third card.

Once the totals are determined, the dealer automatically rakes in the chips from losing players and pays out the winnings to those who guessed Player or Banker correctly.

You can see, therefore, that the mini-baccarat table layout is nice and simple. It explains why you are more likely to see it for smaller stakes in live casinos – and why it is used in online casinos.

Big Baccarat Table Layout

The big baccarat table is physically much bigger, wrapping around almost full circle to allow up to 12 or 14 players to fit at once. Note that 13 is not allowed owing to its association with bad luck.

With more players, in real casinos at least, there is more work required to administer the game, and there will likely be not one but two dealers and a caller to lead the ongoing action.

If you visit Las Vegas or other gambling cities, you might not see a big baccarat table layout. That’s because they most often remain in the VIP areas, which you might never see unless you have bottomless pockets. In addition, these areas may have a specific dress requirement, which only adds to the exclusivity.

Aside from the size of the minimum stake requirements in these VIP areas, the actual game is the same, whether you play on the mini or the big baccarat table.

Online Baccarat Options

Playing baccarat tables online is easy. You have the regular animated tables, using real number generators to select the cards, or live dealer casino games streamed from a studio.

Either way, the baccarat layout online is invariably the mini-baccarat table game. Because the players are "virtual," there is no need to squeeze as many high-paying customers as possible around each table online.

If you were thinking of trying out baccarat for the first time in a real casino, it’s a good idea to try online first, so you get used to how the game works without worrying about what’s going on and feeling foolish in front of other people.

Confident in your new-found knowledge, you can then sit down feeling like a real James Bond and hope to take the house for piles of cash.

Play Baccarat Tables at TwinSpires Casino

You can experience baccarat at a wide variety of stakes today at TwinSpires Casino. Register for your account, and be sure to collect your generous welcome package when you make your first deposit.

Then, find the baccarat table under the table games section – and choose whether to play 2D real number generated versions of the game or the full live dealer baccarat experience. Good luck!