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Always 9 Baccarat is a live casino variant of baccarat with an unusual set of rules, in which the Banker hand always starts with a 9 card. This rule changes a lot about how the game works compared to other baccarat tables, offering different gameplay and a unique payout structure. However, the rewards are generally lower than usual, and the RTP is not as strong as in classic baccarat. It was released by Evolution in 2025 and is available on every live casino that features this provider’s software.
Always 9 Baccarat is largely similar to Always 8 Baccarat, which was released merely a year earlier. The two games share a lot of similarities, though the newer Always 9 variant offers slightly better odds. In this review, we’ll explore the rules, statistics, and features of the game while comparing it to standard baccarat and why players might prefer Evolution’s changes.
Players from United States accepted!
United States
Rated :
3.9/5
| Game Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Game name | Always 9 Baccarat |
| Game provider | Evolution |
| Game type | Baccarat |
| Streaming from | |
| RTP | 98.44% |
| Bet range | €1 - €25,000 |
| Max win | 11:1 |
| Side bets | Yes |
| Supported platforms |
|
| Supported OS |
|
| Languages |
Arabic
Bulgarian
Croatian
Czech
Dutch
English
+22
All supported languages
|
At first glance, the Always 9 Baccarat casino game looks a lot like any other live casino baccarat game you might find. It shares most of its rules and basic features with the standard versions, making it a great choice for fans of classic Punto Banco.
But here’s the fun twist: the Banker’s hand always starts with a 9 on the table! This little change means that Banker hands are way more likely to win compared to Player bets—more than you’d usually expect. Plus, the odds have been adjusted to match this, offering some unique payouts that really favor the Player side.
This brings some interesting changes to how Always 9 Baccarat is played compared to the classic setups. Typically, Player and Banker bets have only minor differences, so picking one often comes down to a gut feeling. But in this game, the two bets are quite different in terms of risk and reward, adding a fresh twist to the usual strategies.
That said, this idea is certainly not new. In fact, it’s largely identical to Always 8 Baccarat, which came out about a year prior. Compared to Always 8 baccarat, Always 9 has slightly different odds that further favor the Banker to be more likely to win.
As far as moment-to-moment gameplay is concerned, Always 9 Baccarat operates pretty much the same as traditional baccarat tables and follows standard rules. If you need a refresher on how it all works, make sure to check out our tutorial.
The objective, as with all baccarat games, is to predict whether the Player or Banker will draw cards with a total value closer to 9, or if the round will end in a Tie.
Each side draws two cards, with the option for a third card based on baccarat third card rules. Most cards count as their face value, though all cards 10 or stronger simply count as a 10. Additionally, any hand total exceeding 10 only counts as its first digit. For example, a total hand value of 16 counts as a score of 6.
As you’ve probably gathered by now, the Banker side of the table always starts with an 9. Considering the likelihood of drawing a 0-value card, this gives it a huge advantage and a much bigger chance of winning than the Player. However, Banker bets in Always 8 Baccarat only pay 0.56:1, which is a considerable drop from the usual 0.95:1.
On the flip side, the Player hand has to draw cards the usual way. It’s less likely to win than usual but pays 1.65:1 to compensate.
To place a bet, use the chips located at the bottom of the screen and select either Player, Banker, Tie, or any side wagers. Once you confirm, the bet will be active for the earliest upcoming new round.
Once the card dealing stage is complete, the Player and Banker’s hands are compared. Whichever total is closer to 9 wins, and all players with the corresponding bet receive a payout as per the game’s paytable.
Importantly, this rule change means that there is no usual 5% commission on Banker bets.
The game features two side bets, though they can be more realistically described as a single side bet with two options. They’re called Pairs, and they’re some of the most common types of side bets in online baccarat. The changes Always 9 Baccarat introduces to the main game do not impact side bets in any meaningful way, which is why they work as usual.
As the name implies, Pair bets are all about predicting that either Player or Banker will draw two cards of the same rank.
For instance, the Player Pair bet wins if both cards drawn on the Player side of the table are of the same value. Due to the special rules of Always 9 Baccarat, this means that the Banker Pair bet wins if the card drawn for the Banker pile is a 9.
Due to these small differences, the Banker pair side bet pays 10:1 while the Player pair side bet pays 11:1. This also means that the Banker side offers slightly higher RTP, though both options have a massive house advantage.
The special rules of Always 9 Baccarat have significant implications in terms of strategy that deeply affect the way you should approach and play the game. However, players should still be familiar with the basics of baccarat strategy because it offers a solid foundation for understanding the underlying principles. If you’re not, check out our baccarat strategy guide to get started.
Beyond that, we’ll point out some strategic implications of the rules of Always 9 Baccarat:
| Pros | Cons |
|
✅ Classic baccarat gameplay with a unique twist to its main bets ✅ Solid RTP for Player and Banker bets ✅ 9:1 payouts for Tie bets ✅ Excellent graphics and smooth, fast gameplay |
❌ Higher house edge than classic baccarat ❌ The side bets offer extremely poor RTP ❌ Very similarto the Always 8 Baccarat game released several months prior |
Unlike most other baccarat games, the Player and Banker bets are quite different in terms of odds, offering payouts of 1.65:1 and 0.56:1, respectively.
The Tie bet was a pleasant surprise, thanks to its 9:1 reward. Most other baccarat games in live casinos pay 8:1, which is why the house edge is typically so high.
The Player and Banker Pair bets pay 11:1 and 10:1, respectively.
| Bet | Payout | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Bets | |||
| Player | 1.65:1 | ||
| Banker | 0.56:1 | ||
| Tie | 9:1 | ||
| Side Bets | |||
| Player Pair | 11:1 | ||
| Banker Pair | 10:1 | ||
The game offers a different RTP rate for every available bet. According to Evolution’s information, the rates are as follows:
The game’s main bets – Player and Banker – have a low house edge compared to most other forms of gambling. However, the rates compare unfavorably to standard baccarat, which is their biggest issue.
Make sure to choose the game that suits your taste and budget. For more extensive guides on live baccarat basics, read this article.
The game UI is super similar to what you’d find in any other live baccarat table. It’s a straightforward game with an easy betting system, so the interface is really user-friendly.
You’ve got just three betting options, and you can place them using three buttons: Player on the left, Banker on the right, and Tie in the middle. To make a bet, just pick your stake size and place it in the right spot.
Unlike some baccarat games, Always 9 Baccarat doesn’t have any flashy studio set or anything like that. It includes the usual settings and options menus at the top, but that’s pretty much it.
In the bottom right corner, you’ll find the usual stats and data. It shows the winning percentages for all three bets from the last 100 rounds. Plus, there’s a Small Road scoreboard that baccarat players will recognize. Its main job is to keep track of results and help you out. If you need help with reading baccarat scoreboards, check out this guide.
In true Evolution style, the game’s studio and visuals are really impressive. However, the overall vibe feels more like a classic Baccarat table rather than a flashy title like Lightning Baccarat.
For instance, there are just two camera angles: a wide shot that captures the entire table and a top-down view of the cards. Plus, the game doesn’t bring the same level of excitement that we’ve seen in some other titles from the Lightning family. In other words, it’s a straightforward presentation style for a straightforward game, so we have nothing to complain about.
The presenters also have a more traditional croupier feel rather than that of game show hosts. They share the results and interact with the audience, but they don’t emphasise bonuses and special features.
Much like its predeccesor Always 8 Baccarat, this game offers a sort of re-balanced variant of punto banco that makes the two main bets more starkly different.
On one hand, this makes the choice between the two more meaningful, offering the kind of decision-making that you don’t necessarily get in a classic game of baccarat.
On the other hand, the novelty doesn’t particularly change the experience of playing baccarat. It’s still just a binary choice; only one choice is riskier than the other, but offers a slightly better reward.
This means that fans of classic baccarat can enjoy this variant and feel right at home. That said, opting to play Always 9 Baccarat means that you’re choosing a version with objectively worse odds and no major gameplay differences. It’s a fresh experience, but the novelty wears off quickly.
All things considered, it’s an interesting twist on the age-old formula of baccarat, but we doubt we’ll be coming back to it any time soon.
Very Good
We love sharing our thoughts on live casino games, and our reviews and ratings come from years of playing and analyzing all kinds of live dealer games. This experience has led to a strict set of standards on how we review games. Here are some key things we look at before we give our thumbs up:
While we love playing and reviewing live casino games, we strongly encourage everyone to play responsibly.
Keep the dangers of gambling in mind at all times. Remember to control your bankroll, don’t go over the budget you set up at the beginning of the game, and take regular breaks so as not to damage your health.
Check out this page to find more information about responsible gambling and useful tips on how to avoid problem gambling and control your spending. If you suspect you may be developing symptoms of problem gambling, we recommend contacting such organizations as:
Last Update: November 7, 2025
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