How do you play baccarat?
You play baccarat by betting on the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie before any cards are dealt. These are names for two hands and not for people: you can bet on either, and “Banker” does not mean you are betting for the casino. The steps:
- Place your chips. Put them on Player, Banker or Tie. There is no fee to bet on Player.
- Watch the deal. Each side, Player and Banker, starts with two cards from the dealer.
- A third card may follow. Fixed rules decide this, covered below.
- Get paid or lose. The hand closest to 9 wins. If your hand ties and you bet Player or Banker, your bet is returned.
Baccarat comes in three formats: big table, mini and midi.1 Big table baccarat sits in a roped-off area and the players may deal, while in mini baccarat the dealer turns over all the cards, so it plays faster. Midi uses the mini rules on a larger table, usually in high-limit rooms. Baccarat is also known as punto banco, and it draws high rollers and Asian players, and dominant in Macau1.
How are baccarat hands scored?
Aces count 1, cards 2 to 9 count their face value, and tens and face cards count 0.1 The game is usually played with eight decks. You add up the cards and keep only the last digit, so a 9 and a 7 make 16, which scores 6. The best hand is 9.
When is a third card drawn?
A third card is drawn by fixed rules, and neither you nor the dealer chooses. A first-two-card total of 8 or 9 is a natural, and if either hand has one both hands stand.1 Otherwise:
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Player has 0 to 51 | Player draws a third card |
| Player has 6 or 7 | Player stands |
| Player stood, Banker has 0 to 5 | Banker draws a third card1 |
| Player drew a third card | Banker follows a fixed table of its own total and the Player’s third card |
What do the baccarat bets pay, and what is the house edge?
The house edge is the share of each stake the casino expects to keep over many hands. Figures for an eight-deck game:
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95 to 1 (a 5% commission)1 | 1.06%1 |
| Player | 1 to 11 | 1.24%1 |
| Tie | 8 to 11 | 14.36%1 |
| Pair (side bet) | 11 to 11 | 10.36%1 |
A 1.06% edge means that, on average, RM100 staked on Banker returns about RM98.94. The Banker hand wins 45.86% of hands, the Player hand 44.62% and a tie occurs 9.52%1. Banker wins slightly more often, which is why it pays less than even money. Side bets and special tables may use different rules, so read the layout before you place a chip.
Does a betting system work in baccarat?
No, a betting system does not work in baccarat. The house edge is built into what each bet pays, so doubling after a loss, following a streak on the scoreboard or switching between Player and Banker does not remove it. Each hand is dealt from a shuffled shoe. A system changes only how fast you spend. House edges of 1% to 2% still mean the casino keeps a share of every stake over time, and the Tie and Pair bets cost far more. Stake only money you can afford to lose.
What is known about baccarat at Genting?
Resorts World Genting has not published its baccarat rules, so the commission and side bets on offer are unconfirmed3. iGB listed baccarat among the most popular games at SkyCasino2, and reported that squeeze baccarat on the main floor started at RM3002 in December 2023. That is one reporter’s observation and not a tariff, and “main floor” is not defined. The Genting minimum bets page sets out what has been reported for each game, and Genting casino rules covers entry and chips.
Players must be 21 or over4, and Malaysian Muslims are barred from Genting casinos (see can Muslims enter Genting?). Baccarat is gambling and every bet has an edge against you. Our responsible gambling page lists free help in Malaysia, the sic bo guide covers another Genting table game, and the Genting hub covers the rest of the trip.