Pragmatic Play Adds Korean Card Variant to Live Casino

Pragmatic Play released Seotda Baccarat, a live casino title that fuses Korea’s Hwatu card format with standard baccarat betting. The game gives operators a localised table product for Korean and APAC-focused casino lobbies.

The game uses a 20-card Hwatu deck in place of a standard baccarat shoe. Each card represents a month from January to October and carries a points value. Players bet on the player or banker hand to finish with the higher two-card score.

Pragmatic Play removed baccarat’s standard third-card draw. That decision shortens each round and makes the format more accessible than classic baccarat.

The title includes three special “Bright” cards. These hold the highest values in the deck and anchor side bets with payout potential above standard baccarat wagers.

Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, called it a first-of-its-kind product for live lobbies. “By combining the vibrant Hwatu deck with familiar baccarat betting mechanics, this release gives casinos a first-of-its-kind live casino experience designed to elevate their live lobbies. And, by the way, it’s pronounced soo-da!” McHugh said.

The release follows Pragmatic Play’s Gates of Olympus Roulette launch in April. The supplier provides slots, bingo and virtual sports through a single API and produces up to eight new slot titles each month.

TGJ Take

This release is a localisation play, not just another baccarat variant. Operators that target Korean or APAC players need live casino products that feel familiar and do not force users to learn a complex new format. Seotda Baccarat achieves that: it retains baccarat’s betting model and swaps in a different card identity. For suppliers, the test is scale; regional flavour aids acquisition, but repeat operator demand will depend on table performance, not novelty.