There are three main baccarat betting options: the banker, the player, and the tie. Always avoid betting on the tie, as it carries a huge house edge.
That leaves you with a simple choice when playing baccarat: banker vs. player.
There’s a clear mathematical winner: the banker bet has a 1.06% house edge, whereas the player bet sits at 1.24%.
That gap might look small, but it adds up over hundreds of hands. This guide explains why the banker bet reigns supreme, discusses when the player bet might still make sense, and breaks down the reasons to steer clear of the tie.
The Numbers: Banker vs Player Odds
Baccarat is a simple, fast-paced card game, with three core bets:
- Banker: A bet on the banker’s hand being closer to 9.
- Player: A wager on the player’s hand being closer to 9.
- Tie: A bet on the banker and player hands being equal.
To be clear, you aren’t the player and the dealer isn’t the banker. Those are simply the names of the two hands. You can bet on the player or the banker.
If it’s a tie, any bets on the banker or player push. That means you simply get your money back rather than winning or losing.
This table highlights the baccarat odds on each bet.
| Bet |
Payout |
House Edge |
Win Probability |
| Banker |
19:20 |
1.06% |
45.86% of hands, 50.68% of non-tied hands |
| Player |
1:1 |
1.24% |
44.62% of hands, 49.32% of non-tied hands |
| Tie |
Normally 8:1, but occasionally 9:1 |
14.36% if it pays 8:1, 4.84% if it pays 9:1 |
9.52% |
As you can see, the banker bet wins 50.68% of non-tied hands. We’ve explained why in the next section. If casinos paid you out at 1:1 on the banker bet, you’d have a mathematical advantage over them.
That’s why they take a 5% commission on banker bets. You’ll be paid out at 19:20 instead of 1:1, so a $20 bet would deliver a $19 profit, while a $100 bet would deliver a $95 profit.
Despite the 5% commission, the banker bet is still the mathematically optimal choice on each hand. It carries a 1.06% house edge, compared to 1.24% for the player bet.
Why the Banker Bet Wins More Often
The game’s format ensures the banker bet wins more often than the player bet. Here’s how it works:
- Initial draw: The dealer hands out two cards to the player spot and two cards to the banker spot.
- Natural: If either hand totals 8 or 9 from those initial two cards, it’s a natural and the round ends immediately. Our how-to-play baccarat guide explains the card values.
- Third-card rules: If neither hand totals 8 or 9, the third-card rules come into effect. The player’s hand receives a card on a total of 0-5, but stands on 6 or 7. The banker’s hand then draws or stands, depending on its own total and which third card the player’s hand draws.
The hand closer to 9 wins. If they’re identical, the round ends in a tie. The banker’s hand wins more often, as it acts second. If the player’s hand stands, the banker’s hand follows the same rule, drawing on 0-5 and standing on 6 or 7. If the player draws a third card, the banker follows these rules:
- Banker total 0-2: Always draws.
- Banker total 3: Draws unless the player’s third card is an 8.
- Banker total 4: Draws if the player’s third card was 2-7.
- Banker total 5: Draws if the player’s third card was 4-7.
- Banker total 6: Draws only if the player’s third card is 6 or 7.
- Banker total 7: Always stands.
The rules allow the banker’s hand to adapt to the player’s hand, which gives it an advantage, meaning it wins slightly more than 50% of non-tied hands.
Is the Player Bet Ever Right?
The player bet carries a higher house edge than the banker bet, so it’s generally best to avoid it. However, there are two exceptions.
When You’re Using a Betting System
If you’re following a betting strategy, such as the Martingale, Paroli, or D’Alembert, the player bet is the better option. That’s because it pays 1:1, rather than 19:20.
Betting systems work best on even-money (1:1) bets, as the math is much cleaner. For example, the whole point of the Martingale is to recoup all previous losses with one win, but that doesn’t work if you’re betting on the banker hand at 19:20.
Just remember that no betting system overcomes baccarat’s inherent house edge. If you want to improve your returns, stick to the banker bet instead.
When You’re Playing No Commission Baccarat
No Commission Baccarat follows similar rules to the classic game, but it removes the 5% fee on banker wins, so the banker bet pays 1:1. However, there’s a catch: if the banker wins with a total of 6, you’re only paid out at 1:2.
That rule pushes the banker’s house edge up to 1.46%, while the player bet keeps its standard 1.24% edge, which makes the player the better bet in this game.
What About Betting Patterns and Streaks?
Ignore betting patterns and streaks when deciding which bet to place. Every hand is random, and past results have no impact on future outcomes.
If the banker wins seven times in a row, that doesn’t make it more likely that the player will win on the next hand.
The banker still wins 50.68% of non-tied hands on average, so it’s always the best baccarat bet at a standard game, regardless of what happened during your session.
FAQs
The banker bet carries the lowest house edge in baccarat, so it’s generally the best option. There are two exceptions: if you’re following a betting system like the Martingale or the Fibonacci, the player bet’s 1:1 payout is easier to work with, and if you’re playing No Commission Baccarat, the player bet has the lower house edge
No, it’s never worth betting on the tie. This bet offers larger payouts than the player or banker bets, but it rarely lands, and it carries a much higher house edge. Most games pay 8:1 on the tie, which results in a 14.36% edge. Some games pay 9:1, but that still leaves an edge of 4.84%, which is far higher than the banker or player bets.
The house takes a 5% commission on the banker bet because it wins more than 50% of non-tied hands. If casinos didn’t take that 5% commission, they’d lose money on banker bets in the long term. That’s why it only pays 19:20 instead of 1:1, but it’s still the best baccarat bet.
Ilija is a CCN writer with 7 years of experience covering all things crypto. Ever since a fateful run-in with Litecoin in 2013, he's been an avid investor and writer in the space. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.
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