Baccarat, explained
Baccarat is the most important game in Macao and Singapore, and a fixture of every high-limit room in Las Vegas. It looks formal, but it is one of the simplest games in the casino.
Last updated 21 September 2026 · Adults onlyThe bet
Before the cards are dealt you choose one of three outcomes: the Banker hand wins, the Player hand wins, or they tie. “Banker” and “Player” are simply the names of the two hands—you are not playing against anyone at the table, and you do not have to act as the banker.
Counting the cards
Aces count as one, cards two to nine at face value, and tens and picture cards as zero. Only the last digit of the total counts, so a seven and an eight make five, not fifteen. The hand closest to nine wins.
Drawing rules
Each hand starts with two cards. A total of eight or nine is a “natural”, and the round ends. Otherwise the Player hand draws a third card on a total of zero to five and stands on six or seven; the Banker then follows a fixed table that depends on the Player’s third card. The dealer applies these rules automatically—there are no decisions to make after you bet.
Why the Banker bet pays less
The drawing rules give the Banker hand a slight advantage, so it wins about 45.9% of rounds to the Player’s 44.6%, with ties making up the rest. To balance this, winning Banker bets pay even money minus a 5% commission. Even so, Banker remains the cheapest bet on the table.
No-commission tables
Many casinos now run “no-commission” baccarat, where Banker wins pay even money except in one situation—commonly a Banker win with a total of six, which pays half. It is simpler to settle, but it usually costs a little more than the classic game.
Tie and side bets
The Tie bet pays generously but carries a house edge above 14% at 8 to 1. Side bets such as player and banker pairs or dragon bonuses are entertaining but expensive; most carry edges several times higher than the main bets.
The squeeze and the scorecards
In Asian casinos, the highest bettor on a hand may be allowed to “squeeze”—peel the cards back slowly. It is ritual, not strategy. So are the roadmap scorecards on every table: each hand is independent, and past results do not predict the next.
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker, 5% commission | 0.95 to 1 | 1.06% |
| Player | 1 to 1 | 1.24% |
| Banker, no-commission (6 pays half) | 1 to 1 | about 1.46% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 14.36% |
| Tie | 9 to 1 | 4.84% |
| Player pair side bet | 11 to 1 | about 10.4% |
Standard values for eight-deck games. Check the payout printed on the layout; it varies between casinos.
The house always
has an edge.
Every casino game is designed so that the casino wins over time. If you play, treat it as the price of an evening’s entertainment, with a fixed budget and a fixed finish time. Never chase losses, and step away when it stops being enjoyable. Adults only.
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