Baccarat, which is also known as punto banco, is an immensely popular card game in casinos. In Nevada, it generates annual profits of around $1.2 billion for the casino industry and dominates the casino scene in Macau, accounting for an astounding 88% of all casino activities.
These figures clearly demonstrate the popularity of baccarat among casino game enthusiasts. Let’s delve into the odds of winning in baccarat and how payouts are calculated. We’ll also compare this game to other card games in terms of odds, so you can make informed betting decisions.
Baccarat Odds and Payouts Explained
Baccarat payouts are not designed to make you instantly wealthy. You can’t simply place your bets and retire to a luxurious beachfront property after one win. However, baccarat does offer some of the most favorable payouts and odds compared to other casino games.
Odds represent a player’s chances of winning (or losing) a bet against the house, which is represented by the banker or dealer. Among all casino games, baccarat possesses the lowest house edge.
The house edge, also known as the casino advantage, is the average gross profit the casino expects to make from each game. In baccarat, the house edge on a banker bet is 1.06%, while on a player bet, it is 1.24%.
On a tie bet, the house edge increases to 14.36%, but the payout is significantly higher compared to player and banker bets.
If we exclude tie bets and evenly distribute the odds between the player and banker, the banker has a 51% chance of winning all the time. Please note that casinos may vary in how they calculate the odds and house edge.
Theoretically, if we divide tie bet odds between the banker and player, we get 4.76% (9.52% ÷ 2 = 4.76%).
Banker bet odds plus 4.76% equal 50.62% (rounded off to 51%). Therefore, if tie bets are not considered, banker bets have approximately 51% odds of winning every time.
In the past, the baccarat card game seemed quite complicated, but contemporary rules have simplified it. Now, players only need to choose one of three betting options: the banker, player, or tie. These bets offer different odds and payouts.
For instance, a 1.24% house edge on the player bet means that a $100 bet could yield a $98.76 profit if won.
100% – 1.24% house edge = 98.76% of the bet (profit)
98.76% of $100 bet = $98.76
A player bet has a 1-to-1 payout. Therefore, the total payout would be the profit (which is $98.76) plus the initial bet ($100), equaling $198.76.
For a banker bet, a 1.06% house edge means that you could win $98.94 for every $100 you bet.
100% – 1.06% house edge = 98.94% of the bet (profit)
98.94% of $100 bet = $98.94
A banker bet has a 0.95-to-1 payout, which means that for every $1 you stake, you receive $0.95 when you win. If you include the house edge, your potential win is $93.99 ($98.94 x 0.95 = $93.99).
However, if you bet on a tie and win, the 14.36% house edge means you could theoretically receive an $85.64 profit for every $100 you stake.
100% – 14.36% house edge = 85.64% of the bet (profit)
85.64% of $100 = $85.64
Tie bets have a high payout of 8:1 because the odds of winning this bet are low.
Baccarat Odds, House Edge, and Payouts – Common Bets
Whether you play baccarat online or at a local casino, you can choose from three common bets: banker, player, or tie.
It is essential to know the odds and payouts for these bets before placing your chips on the table. Understanding these figures will help you make more informed betting decisions when sitting down at a baccarat table.
The table below lists the odds and payouts of the three common bets in a standard baccarat game using eight decks:
| Bet | Payout | Odds | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | 1 to 1 | 44.62% | 1.24% |
| Banker | 0.95 to 1 | 45.86% | 1.06% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 9.52% | 14.36% |
The house edge or juice is the casino’s take from the players’ winning bets. Baccarat usually has a relatively low house edge.
Baccarat Odds, House Edge, and Payouts – Side Bets
If you want to add variety to your baccarat game, consider placing side bets. These bets provide more options beyond betting on the banker, player, or tie.
Both online and land-based casinos have their own side bets to add excitement to the baccarat tables. However, not all online baccarat games have the same side bets.
Here are some popular baccarat side bets based on an eight-deck game, along with their respective odds and payouts:
| Bet | Payout | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Player pair | 11 to 1 | 7.47% |
| Banker pair | 11 to 1 | 7.47% |
| Perfect pair | 25 to 1 | 3.34% |
| Either pair | 5 to 1 | 14.2% |
| Big | 2 to 1 | 31.8% |
| Small | 3 to 2 | 37.8% |
Odds of Baccarat vs. Other Games
When comparing the odds of baccarat to other games, it’s important to choose bets with the highest chances of winning. According to the table above, banker bets have odds of 45.86%, making them among the bets with relatively better odds.
Odds of Banker vs. Player Win
Based on the table comparing banker and player bets, the banker’s hand has a slightly better chance of winning at 45.86% compared to the player’s hand at 44.62%.
Even when tie bets are excluded, the banker still wins approximately 51% of the time. Therefore, players often bet on the banker’s hand to increase their chances of earning a profit.
However, it’s important to remember that baccarat is a game of chance, and there’s no guaranteed way to predict the outcome of each hand.
Odds of a Tie
In an eight-deck baccarat game, tie bets win only 9.52% of the time but offer an eight-to-one payout. If you prefer bets with high payouts, consider betting on ties. However, if you want better chances of winning, banker or player bets may be preferable.
Tip:
In the case of a tie where no one bets on it, a push occurs, resulting in no wins or losses. All bets placed during that round carry over to the next.
What Changes with Different Deck Combinations?
A standard baccarat card game is typically played with eight decks. However, online baccarat games can be played with one or six decks. The tables below highlight the differences in payouts and odds for these deck combinations.
Six-Deck Baccarat
For six-deck baccarat, the payout and odds are as follows:
| Bet | Payout | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Player | 1 to 1 | 44.63% |
| Banker | 0.95 to 1 | 45.87% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 9.51% |
Single-Deck Baccarat
Baccarat games using one deck have the following payout and odds:
| Bet | Payout | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Player | 1 to 1 | 44.68% |
| Banker | 0.95 to 1 | 45.96% |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | 9.36% |
Eight Decks
Casinos typically calculate the standard baccarat odds and payouts based on an eight-deck game. In this case, the odds and payout are similar to the first table in this article, with banker bets having 45.86% odds and player bets having 44.62% odds.
What’s the Best Baccarat Bet to Make Based on Odds?
There’s no right or wrong way to bet on baccarat, and your decision will depend on your risk tolerance. If you prefer a safe bet with favorable odds, go for the banker and player bets. They may have lower payouts, but your chances of winning are higher.
On the other hand, tie bets may be more enticing if you enjoy taking risks. The payout is higher, but the odds of winning are lower.
Baccarat vs. Blackjack
Blackjack and baccarat are popular card games offered in offline and online casinos. Which one should you play?
The Major Differences in Gameplay
In baccarat, you have no control over the game’s outcome. Your only action as a bettor is to choose which hand to bet on or whether the result will be a tie. The odds and payouts remain the same regardless of your decisions.
In contrast, blackjack allows you to make decisions that impact the outcome of your hand. You can choose to stand, hit, double down, or split a pair. These decisions can increase or decrease your chances of winning the bet.
Blackjack Odds vs. Baccarat Odds
In a game of baccarat, betting on the banker’s hand in an eight-deck game offers the highest chance of winning at 45.86%.
On the other hand, blackjack played with eight decks has an average winning rate of 42.22%. In other words, your odds in baccarat can be higher or lower depending on your bet.
When comparing the odds between blackjack and baccarat, consider the following elements when making a betting decision:
- Pay amount: The amount paid for winning the bet
- Win rate: The probability of a win occurring
- House edge: The casino’s advantage over the player
- Return to player (RTP): The theoretical bet amount returned to the player
You can consider the RTP as the opposite of the house edge (100% – house edge = RTP).
The table below compares baccarat and blackjack based on the previously mentioned elements. The figures represent an average game and may vary depending on your local or online casino:
| Bet | Pay | Win rate | House edge | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baccarat – Banker bet | 0.95 to 1 | 45.86% | 1.06% | 98.94% |
| Baccarat – Player bet | 1 to 1 | 44.62% | 1.24% | 98.76% |
| Blackjack – Your hand | 1 to 1 | 42.22% | 0.50% | 99.50% |
Comparing Difficulty in Terms of Strategy
Baccarat rules dictate the outcome of each hand and don’t require intricate strategies beyond choosing which hand to bet on. You can make decisions based on which hand offers the highest payout or lowest house edge.
Blackjack is different because the game’s RTP assumes that you’ll always make the best betting option with the highest probability of winning. This assumption poses a challenge because not all gamblers know the correct move, and even if they do, winning is never guaranteed.
Accessibility
If you’re in Michigan, New Jersey, or West Virginia, WynnBET.com offers live dealer blackjack and baccarat, along with other online casino table games. Additionally, when you’re in New Jersey, you can receive a casino bonus of up to $30 when depositing $200 or more on Wednesdays.
Popularity
Blackjack and baccarat are popular casino games in the United States, alongside roulette, slots, and poker. While it’s not surprising that baccarat may be less familiar to non-gamblers, there’s a good chance that most people are familiar with blackjack. Blackjack is an iconic game featured in many movies set in casinos.
Variety
Both baccarat and blackjack have several variations, and many online casinos offer multiple options for these games. WynnBET.com, in addition to being an online sportsbook, provides casino games such as live baccarat, live dealer blackjack, and multihand blackjack.
Does Entertainment Value Count for Anything?
When choosing between baccarat and blackjack, consider which game offers the best odds for your preferred level of difficulty and the highest entertainment value.
If you believe that baccarat provides the best entertainment value based on these considerations, feel free to play the game. If you’re unsure, try playing baccarat for free until you feel ready to bet real money.
So How Does Baccarat Work?
In baccarat, both the banker and player hands consist of two cards. The winning hand has a total value, excluding the second digit, closest to nine. Your goal is to bet on the hand that you believe will win.
Aces are worth 1, and face cards count as zero. For example, if you have a 7 and a face card, your hand’s total value is 7. If your hand consists of a 5 and an ace, your total is 6. If your hand includes an 8 and a 6, the total is 14, but the hand’s value is 4 after excluding the second digit.
Player
If the player hand’s total is 6 or 7, you stand (meaning you don’t draw a third card). If the value is 0 to 5, you draw a third card. If you receive an 8 or 9, the hand is considered natural, and you win unless you have an 8 and the banker has a 9.
Banker
If the player has a 6 or higher, the banker can take the following actions based on the hand’s value:
- 0 to 5: Draw a third card
- 6 or 7: Stand
- 8 or 9: Stand (natural)
Rules
In baccarat, you must place your bet before the dealer deals the cards. Your betting options are the banker, player, or tie.
After you place your bets and the cards are dealt, the dealer plays the player’s hand first and then the banker’s. Both the player and banker receive two cards each.
The hand with a total value closest to 9 wins, with 9 being the highest score. If you win, the house pays you based on the specific bet’s payout.
House Edge in Baccarat Explained
When people think of baccarat, high rollers like James Bond often come to mind. One reason for baccarat’s popularity is its low house edge. Among casino games, baccarat has one of the lowest house edges.
However, it’s important to note that house edge calculations may vary, and the juice can change depending on the casino or the number of decks used in baccarat.
House Edge of Banker vs. Player
Based on the tables shown earlier, the house edge on banker bets is usually lower than on player bets. If you prefer betting on a hand with the lowest house edge, consider choosing the banker’s hand.
Play Baccarat for Real Money Payouts at Online Casinos
If you’re ready to play baccarat with real stakes, sign up with WynnBET.com and fund your account to start betting with real money. You can also access other casino games such as video poker, roulette, and blackjack.
Try Baccarat Today
If you’re not yet ready to bet real money on baccarat, you can practice your bets for free. Some online casinos offer free baccarat games to help you gain enough experience before betting and winning real money.
To save you time searching for sources to learn baccarat, WynnBET.com provides helpful articles and betting guides.
What Are the Best Baccarat Casinos Online? WynnBET.
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Baccarat Odds FAQs
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Is it easy to learn baccarat odds?
- Baccarat is easy to learn since you don’t need complex strategies to win. The game primarily relies on chance, so there’s not much to do except place your bets and wait for the card values to be revealed.
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Is there any baccarat strategy I should learn?
- Baccarat doesn’t require any specific strategies when it comes to choosing between the banker’s or player’s hand. If you seek the highest winning rate, consider betting on the banker with 45.86% odds.
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What casino game has the best odds of winning?
- Video poker, blackjack, and baccarat are some casino games with the best winning odds and relatively low house edge. However, baccarat is the easiest to play while offering great odds.
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Is baccarat a 50-50 odds game?
- Baccarat is not a 50-50 game, but the winning chances come close to that figure. In an eight-deck baccarat game, banker bets have 45.86% odds of winning.
References
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Baccarat Statistics, Facts & Figures for 2023
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Best Casino Odds 2023 – What Game Has the Best Odds in a Casino?
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