Overview
Baccarat, played in the Punto Banco format, compares two hands: Player and Banker. You are not dealt a hand yourself; you bet on which hand will finish closer to nine, or on a tie. Cards from two to nine count at face value, tens and picture cards count as zero and aces count as one. Only the last digit of a total counts, so 7 and 8 make 5.
How a Round Works
- Bet on Player, Banker or Tie before the cards are dealt.
- Two cards are dealt to each hand. A total of 8 or 9 on two cards is a natural and ends the round.
- Otherwise a third card may be drawn for either hand according to the fixed drawing table.
- The hand closer to nine wins. Banker wins are typically paid at even money less a 5% commission.
Rules
Player third card
The Player hand draws on totals of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.
Banker third card
The Banker hand's drawing decision depends on its own total and on the Player's third card, following a fixed table published in the game rules.
Commission
Because the Banker hand wins slightly more often, Banker wins are charged a commission, usually 5%. No-commission tables instead pay reduced amounts on specific Banker wins.
Ties
If you bet on Player or Banker and the round is a tie, your stake is returned.
Common Variants
- Punto Banco
- The standard casino format described on this page.
- No-commission baccarat
- Banker wins pay even money except for one specified total, which pays less.
- Speed baccarat
- The same rules with a shorter betting window and faster dealing.
- Live baccarat
- Cards dealt from a physical shoe by a studio dealer.
Payouts and House Edge
Figures below are the standard values for an eight-deck shoe. Side bets such as pairs carry a substantially higher house edge than the main bets.
| Bet | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1:1 less 5% commission | about 1.06% |
| Player | 1:1 | about 1.24% |
| Tie | 8:1 | about 14.4% |
Figures are standard mathematical values for the rules described. Each game displays its own rules and RTP, which apply if they differ.
Fairness
RNG baccarat shuffles a virtual eight-deck shoe with certified software. Live baccarat uses physical cards read by scanners, with the drawing rules applied automatically.
Play Responsibly
Scorecards and "road" displays show past results only. They do not predict the next hand, because each hand is dealt independently. See responsible gambling for the tools available in your account.