Bet on Player or Banker and watch the cards decide. The simplest game on the floor.
Baccarat is the simplest game in the casino — and one of the best for your money. You don't play a hand; you just bet on which of two hands wins: Player or Banker. There are no decisions to make once you've placed your chip, and the Banker bet carries a tiny 1.06% house edge.
Two hands are dealt — Player and Banker — and the goal is to be closest to a total of 9. Cards 2–9 are worth face value, 10s and face cards count as zero, and Aces count as one. Only the last digit of the total counts, so a 7 and an 8 (15) is worth 5. Whether a third card is drawn follows fixed rules the dealer handles automatically — you never decide.
There are only three bets, and the math clearly ranks them:
| Bet | Pays | House Edge | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | 0.95:1 (5% commission) | 1.06% | Best bet |
| Player | 1:1 | 1.24% | Good |
| Tie | 8:1 | 14.36% | Avoid |
Baccarat strategy is refreshingly short because there are no in-hand decisions:
The Banker bet has the lowest house edge at 1.06%, making it the best bet in baccarat. It wins slightly more than half the time, which is why casinos charge a 5% commission on Banker wins.
The Banker hand wins more often than the Player hand due to the drawing rules, so casinos take a 5% commission on Banker wins to preserve their edge. Even with the commission, Banker is still the best bet at a 1.06% house edge.
No. The Tie bet pays 8:1 but carries a 14.36% house edge — by far the worst bet in baccarat. Stick to Banker or Player.
No. Baccarat involves no decisions that affect the outcome — the drawing rules are fixed. Your only choice is which of the three bets to place, which makes it one of the simplest casino games to learn.