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Baccarat Odds and Payouts — Every Bet, Ranked by House Edge
A clear reference for baccarat odds and payouts: banker, player, tie and the pair side bets, with exact house-edge figures and win probabilities. Know what you are really being paid before you bet.
Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game — but only if you bet the right way. This is a plain reference to every baccarat bet, what it pays, how often it wins, and the edge you are really giving up.
The main bets
In a standard eight-deck game:
| Bet | Win probability | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | ~45.9% | 1:1 − 5% commission | ~1.06% |
| Player | ~44.6% | 1:1 | ~1.24% |
| Tie | ~9.6% | 8:1 | ~14% |
| Tie (9:1 tables) | ~9.6% | 9:1 | ~4.8% |
The banker hand wins more often than the player hand, which is why casinos take a 5% commission on banker wins — without it, the banker bet would have negative house edge. Even after commission, banker is the best bet in the game. Our baccarat guide explains the drawing rules behind these numbers.
Why the tie is a trap
An 8:1 payout on the tie looks tempting, but ties happen less than one hand in ten, so the true cost is a house edge near 14% (or ~4.8% on rarer 9:1 tables). That is many times worse than banker or player. Skip it — as our baccarat strategy guide explains in detail.
Side bets: pairs
| Side bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Player Pair | 11:1 | ~10.4% |
| Banker Pair | 11:1 | ~10.4% |
Pair bets — the first two cards of a hand being the same rank — pay 11:1 but carry a ~10.4% edge. They are a long-shot thrill, not value. Our baccarat side bets guide covers the full range.
How baccarat compares
The banker bet’s ~1.06% edge beats European roulette (2.7%) and most slots, and rivals blackjack — but unlike blackjack it needs no strategy to get there. You simply bet banker. That combination of low edge and zero skill requirement is why baccarat is a favourite of both high rollers and beginners.
See the odds in action
You can play Punto Banco free on our table with a running session-edge display, so you can watch these probabilities play out with no risk. When you play for real, pick a licensed operator — see our best baccarat casinos.
Bottom line
Bet banker (~1.06%), consider player (~1.24%), and avoid the tie and pair bets. Baccarat gives you near-best-in-house odds with no strategy required — as long as you ignore the tempting long-shots. Play only what you can afford to lose, and only where it is legal for you.
FAQ
- What are the odds of winning in baccarat?
- In a standard eight-deck game, the banker hand wins about 45.9% of hands, the player hand about 44.6%, and about 9.6% end in a tie. Excluding ties, the banker wins roughly 50.7% of decided hands — which is exactly why it carries the lowest house edge and why a 5% commission is charged on banker wins.
- What does the banker bet pay in baccarat?
- The banker bet pays 1:1, minus a 5% commission on winnings — so a winning 100 banker bet returns 95 in profit. That commission exists because the banker hand wins slightly more often than the player hand; even with it, the banker bet has the lowest house edge at about 1.06%.
- Why is the tie bet a bad bet?
- The tie pays 8:1 or 9:1, which looks generous, but ties only happen about 9.6% of the time. That gives the 8:1 version a house edge near 14% and the 9:1 version about 4.8% — several times worse than the banker (1.06%) or player (1.24%) bets. It is one of the worst wagers on the casino floor.
- What is the house edge on baccarat pair bets?
- Player Pair and Banker Pair side bets typically pay 11:1 and carry a house edge of about 10.4% in an eight-deck game. They are a fun long-shot but poor value over time. Treat them as entertainment spending, not a way to lower your overall edge.
- Is baccarat better odds than blackjack or roulette?
- The banker bet's ~1.06% house edge beats European roulette (2.7%) and is competitive with blackjack, though optimal-strategy blackjack can be lower (around 0.5%). Crucially, baccarat requires no strategy to achieve its low edge — you just bet banker — whereas blackjack demands perfect play to reach its best numbers.
