How to Play Baccarat and Why High Rollers Love It So Much
KingCasinoBonus may earn a commission when you click a link or sign up through our site, and this can affect where products appear. To be clear, that commission never changes our scores, our analysis, or our recommendations. Ratings are based solely on our 11-step testing process, and we publish a casino’s drawbacks alongside its strengths.
Baccarat is the favorite game of high rollers, and we understand why. You can learn the rules in just a few minutes and they’re much simpler than those of blackjack. In this guide, we’ll show you how to play baccarat, what the actual odds are for each type of bet and share a few extra tips from us.
On this page
What Baccarat Actually Is
At almost all online casinos, you’ll find the Punto Banco version of Baccarat. Here, there are two hands, called Player and Banker. Don’t be fooled, this doesn’t mean that one hand belongs to the player and the other to the casino. You simply choose which one to bet on.
Even the card values are different from those in blackjack. Here, an ace is worth 1, cards 2 through 9 retain their face value, and the remaining cards are worth 0. If the total exceeds 9, only the last digit counts. That’s the basic idea of the game. You choose who to bet on, and the winning hand is the one that comes closest to 9.
How a Hand Actually Plays Out
After you place a bet, two cards are dealt one to the Player and one to the Banker. That’s it from this point on everything happens automaticaly, you don’t have to make any more decisions.
| Hand | Total | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Player | 0-5 | Draws a third card |
| Player | 6-7 | Stands |
| Player | 8-9 | Natural – stands (round typically ends) |
| Banker | 0-2 | Always draws |
| Banker | 3-6 | Draws or stands based on the Player’s third card (fixed table) |
| Banker | 7 | Always stands |
The good news for you is that you don’t have to make any more decisions after placing your initial bet. That’s exactlly why baccarat is one of the simplest games you can try.
What Are Your Chances in Baccarat?
If you bet on the Banker, the casino has a house edge of approximately 1.06%. However, you should know that this is the lowest of the three main bets. Still, we’re not talking about a 1:1 payout because the casino charges a 5% commission on Banker winnings. This is also why this bet remains more favorable to the casino.
If you bet on the Player, the house edge is 1.24% and it pays 1:1. This is why some players prefer this bet.
There’s also the Tie bet, but that’s a whole different story. It pays out much better, but the house edge is also higher. With a typical payout of 8:1, the casino has a 14.4% edge.
However, to help you better understand how these bets work, Alexandra Camelia Dedu, the editor of this article, has prepared a table with all this information.
| Bet | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95:1 (5% commission on wins) | 1.06% |
| Player | 1:1 (even money) | 1.24% |
| Tie | 8:1 (most common) | 14.4% – avoid |
| Tie (rarer) | 9:1 | 4.85% – still worse than Banker/Player |
Why High Rollers Like Baccarat
Baccarat is a truly popular game among high rollers, thanks to its practical advantages.
It’s a good choice if you’re looking for something simple. Once you’ve placed your bet, you don’t have to make any further decisions. Everything happens automatically, and for a player betting large sums, this means there’s no risk of losing a hand because of a wrong choice.
Even the house edge is lower. If you bet on the Banker, the house edge is lower than in Blackjack. When playing with high stakes, every little difference counts.
We can’t help but notice that the game moves very quickly. You and the other players have placed your bets, and that’s it, you don’t have to wait for any further decisions. The cards are dealt automatically, and the hand is over in a few seconds. If, however, you choose classic VIP tables, you should know that they’re a bit slower. But the basic idea remains the same. You’ve placed your bet and have no further decisions to make.
Common Mistakes Players Make
We, the experts at KingCasinoBonus, have noticed that there are a few mistakes many players make.
Many players bet on the Tie too often. Although the high payout can be tempting the house edge is much higher than on other bets.
We’ve noticed that some players track past Banker and Player results on scorecards and try to bet based on them. You should know that past results do not influence the next hand. Each hand has its own odds.
Don’t think that Mini-Baccarat has different odds. Although it’s played faster and has a slightly different format, the underlying calculations are the same.
There are players who constantly switch their bets between the Player and the Banker. Depending on who just won, they switch their bet again and again. However, there’s no pattern you can predict. Don’t forget, we’re talking about a game of chance, not just mathematical calculations.
How Is Mini-Baccarat Different from Classic Baccarat?
Mini-baccarat is played at a smaller table with a single dealer who handles all the cards. You should know, however, that the minimum bets are lower and the pace of play is faster. This means you’ll play more hands in a single hour.
Classic baccarat is played at a larger table and has a more elegant style of play. The cards are turned over more slowly in a much more dramatic maner and the minimum bets are significantly higher.
At traditional tables, the role of the dealer can rotate among the players. However, in Punto Banco, the casino acts as the banker for every hand. The pace is slower, and even fewer hands can be played per hour. However, iin terms of odds and rules, there is no difference between the two variants.
If you want to play online baccarat, you’ll find both RNG variants and live dealer tables at most licensed online casinos in Canada. Rest assured, the basic rules are the same.
The Bottom Line
The appeal of this game lies in its simplicity. It’s a fast-paced and easy-to-understand game, and the casino has a relatively small edge. That’s why it’s so appealing to players and maybe to you, too. Especially if you like high stakes, it’s the perfect choice.
We recommend sticking to the variants with the lowest house edge. The good news is that you don’t have to memorize strategies, so the risk of making a wrong decision during a hand disappears. You place your bet, and everything depends on the cards.
However, if you feel that gambling is having a negative impact on you, there are several free support services available through the Responsible Gambling Council.