Always 8 Baccarat

Always 8 Baccarat Game Review

Baccarat game has been one of the main pillars of casino gaming for centuries, captivating players with its mix of luck and strategy. Over the years, this classic card game has seen numerous adaptations. When it comes to its online versions, developer Evolution Gaming surely leads the way. Known as the pioneers of live-dealer iGaming, they consistently innovate and go beyond the boundaries to deliver new and unique experiences that keep players coming back for more.

The baccarat niche is one Evolution has explored extensively previously, capturing players’ hearts and minds with titles like Speed Baccarat, Lightning Baccarat, and Baccarat First Person to name a few. And they don’t seem to stop. Now, with Always 8 Baccarat, we get another reinvention of the timeless classic with an exciting twist that brings a new dynamic to the playstyle, encouraging players to embrace new trends and adopt different betting strategies.

Always 8 Baccarat Slot - Betting Phase

Evolution Gaming’s Always 8 Baccarat plays pretty much like the traditional baccarat game, and the purpose here, as always, is to guess which side, Player or Banker, will have a score closer to 9. The game is played with 8 standard 52-card decks that are shuffled by a machine, and the card values go as follows:

• A’s are worth 1 point.
• Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their numerical values.
• 10’s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 0.

The major twist, as the title implies, is that there’s always an 8! The Banker’s card is predetermined - before the round starts, they receive an 8 as their first card. The remaining cards for the hands are dealt in the usual way - once the betting stage is over, the dealer deals two cards to the Player and one card to the Banker. According to the standard baccarat rules, a third card might be drawn as well.

Always 8 Baccarat Betting & Payouts

Before the round starts and the cards are dealt, players can be either on the Player’s or the Banker’s hand, taking a guess who will reach 9 or get closest to it. Or, there’s also an option to bet on a Tie if you believe both the Player and Banker will have the same result. Opposite betting is not allowed, though, you can always bet both on a Tie and the Player/Banker in the same round.

Additionally, those willing to take a shot at bigger rewards can indulge in side betting and put an extra stake on Banker Pair or Player Pair. Note that in the Always 8 Baccarat online game, it’s possible for the Banker to have only a pair of 8’s, as their first card is, well, always an 8!

If you guess it right and win, you get your bet back plus an xBet payout. The possible values and theoretical return percentages for different bets are the following:

• Player - pays 1.48:1, has an RTP of 98.02%.
• Banker - pays 0.62:1, has an RTP of 98.29%.
• Tie - pays 9:1, has an RTP of 95.89%.
• Player Pair - pays 11:1, has an RTP of 89.64%.
• Banker Pair - pays 10:1, has an RTP of 84.62%.

Always 8 Baccarat Slot - Player Win

Pros And Cons Of Always 8 Baccarat Slot

Our Verdict

To sum things up, Always 8 Baccarat takes everything we love about the classic card game and adds a fresh, exciting twist that makes the game feel unique. The concept of the "always 8" Banker card introduces a new dynamic, encouraging us to rethink strategies and embrace a slightly different playstyle.

I found the gameplay smooth, immersive, and true to the high standards Evolution is known for. While the slightly lower RTP might give some players pause, the overall experience more than makes up for it in terms of entertainment value.

In my opinion, the Always 8 Baccarat live game is a great addition to Evolution's already impressive lineup of baccarat games. If you’re a fan or just looking for a fresh take on a timeless classic, this one is definitely worth a try.