Baccarat has a reputation as a high-roller game wrapped in mystery, but the actual rules are some of the simplest in the casino. You don’t make any real decisions during a hand – you just bet on which of two hands, Player or Banker, will land closer to a total of 9.
This guide covers how baccarat is scored, how a round actually plays out, which bets are worth making, and why the game has a reputation it doesn’t entirely deserve. It’s one part of our broader casino games in Ontario guide, covering slots, table games, and live casino too.
What Is Baccarat?
Baccarat is a card game where you bet on the outcome of a hand rather than play the hand yourself. Every round has exactly three possible outcomes to bet on: Player wins, Banker wins, or Tie. You’re not sitting behind either hand – “Player” and “Banker” are just the names of the two hands being dealt, and you’re simply predicting which one ends up closer to 9.
There’s no bluffing, no bet sizing decisions mid-hand, and no strategy chart to memorise. Once your bet is placed, the outcome is entirely down to the cards.
How Baccarat Cards Are Valued
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| Ace | 1 |
| 2 – 9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
Hand totals only ever count the last digit. So 7 + 6 = 13, which counts as 3. A hand of 9 + 8 = 17 counts as 7. This is why 9 is the highest possible total in baccarat – there’s no way to “bust” the way you can in blackjack.
How a Round of Baccarat Plays Out
Both the Player and Banker hands start with two cards each. If either hand totals 8 or 9 right away, that’s called a natural, and the round ends immediately – no more cards are drawn. If neither hand has a natural, a fixed set of rules (built into the game itself, not chosen by anyone at the table) determines whether either hand draws a third card. You never make this decision yourself, and neither does the dealer – it’s entirely automatic.
Once all cards are dealt, whichever hand is closer to 9 wins, and bets are settled accordingly.
Baccarat Bets and House Edge
Banker Bet
- House edge: ~1.06% – the lowest at the table
- Pays 1:1, minus a 5% commission on wins
- Statistically the strongest bet in the game
Player Bet
- House edge: ~1.24%
- Pays 1:1, no commission
- A close second to the Banker bet
Tie Bet
- House edge: 14%+ – by far the worst bet available
- Pays 8:1 or 9:1
- The payout looks tempting, but the odds don’t support it long term
The commission on winning Banker bets exists precisely because the Banker hand wins slightly more often – it’s the house’s way of balancing an otherwise favourable bet, and it’s still the better long-term choice even after the commission.
Is Baccarat Skill or Luck?
Baccarat is almost entirely luck-based once the cards are dealt – there’s no decision-making during the round and no way to influence which cards come out. What you can control happens before the cards are dealt: which bet you place, how much you wager, and how you manage your bankroll across a session. Betting systems can change your bet size from hand to hand, but they can’t change the underlying odds.
Online (RNG) Baccarat vs Live Dealer Baccarat
Both versions use identical rules and odds – the difference is presentation. RNG (random number generator) baccarat deals instantly and tends to have lower table limits, making it well suited to casual, fast-paced play. Live dealer baccarat streams a real dealer and physical cards from a studio, which slows the pace but adds a layer of transparency some players prefer. For more on how live-streamed tables work generally, see What Is Live Casino? and Is Live Casino Fair?
Common Baccarat Myths
Myth: The shoe develops patterns you can predict
Reality: each round is statistically independent of the last. Past results don’t change the odds of the next hand, no matter how a scoreboard display might make it look.
Myth: Betting systems beat baccarat long term
Reality: systems only change how much you’re wagering on a given hand, not the actual odds of winning it. See our myths about casino systems guide for more on this.
Myth: The Player bet is the “safe” choice
Reality: the Banker bet actually carries the lowest house edge of the three main bets, even after commission.
Is Baccarat Beginner-Friendly?
Yes – baccarat is one of the easiest casino games to pick up. The rules are simple, there’s no strategy chart to memorise, the house edge on the Banker and Player bets is low compared to most table games, and it plays the same way on desktop and mobile. If you want a table game without a learning curve, baccarat is a solid place to start.
Baccarat’s low house edge doesn’t make it risk-free – it’s still a real-money game with no way to guarantee a result. Set a budget before you sit down and treat losses as the cost of entertainment. If gambling stops being fun, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) offers free, confidential support any time.
