Baccarat Odds Explained: House Edge on Banker, Player and Tie

Baccarat odds explained: card values, the fixed drawing rules, and the house edge on Banker, Player and Tie bets. Plus the law in Singapore and Malaysia.

Quick answer: Baccarat (punto banco) is a game of pure chance: players only choose which hand to bet on, and fixed rules decide every draw. With eight decks, the house edge is about 1.06% on Banker, 1.24% on Player and 14.4% on a Tie paid at 8 to 1.

How baccarat works

Two hands are dealt, called Player and Banker. Cards 2 to 9 count at face value, tens and picture cards count as zero, and an ace counts as one. Only the last digit of the total counts, so the highest hand is 9. If either hand has 8 or 9 from the first two cards (a “natural”), no more cards are drawn.

Otherwise a fixed table, the “tableau”, decides whether a third card is drawn. The Player hand draws on 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7, and the Banker’s draw depends on its total and the Player’s third card. Nobody at the table makes a decision, so there is no skill involved in how hands are played.

Baccarat house edge by bet

Bet	Usual payout	House edge (8 decks)
Banker	1 to 1, minus 5% commission	1.06%
Player	1 to 1	1.24%
Tie	8 to 1	14.4%
Tie	9 to 1	about 4.85%

The house edge is the average share of each bet the casino keeps over the long run. No betting pattern, such as following “streaks” or road maps, changes these figures, because each hand is dealt under the same fixed rules.

Is online baccarat legal in Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand?

Singapore: Singapore Pools is the only operator licensed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) for remote gambling. Playing baccarat with an unlicensed online operator while in Singapore can lead to a fine of up to S$10,000, up to 6 months’ jail, or both. See online casino Singapore: is it legal?

Malaysia: online gambling is prohibited under the Betting Act 1953 and the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, and there is no online casino licensing system. See online casino Malaysia: is it legal?

Thailand: online gambling is illegal under the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935). See online casino Thailand: is it legal?

Baccarat FAQ

Which baccarat bet has the lowest house edge?

The Banker bet, at about 1.06% with the usual 5% commission. It still loses money on average.

Is the Tie bet worth it?

At 8 to 1 the Tie bet carries a house edge of about 14.4%, many times higher than Banker or Player.

Is online baccarat legal in Singapore?

Only Singapore Pools is licensed by the GRA for remote gambling in Singapore. Playing baccarat with any unlicensed online operator while in Singapore is an offence.

Getting help

If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline (Singapore) on 1800 666 8668 (daily, 8am–11pm).

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Sources

AuthoritySlot does not link to, promote or earn from any gambling operator. This page explains how a game works; it is not an invitation to gamble and not legal advice. Last checked: 24 October 2026.