Baccarat is one of the simplest online casino games, which is possibly why it has such a dedicated following online and in land-based casinos. The game has a simple goal: correctly choose whether the Player or Banker hand will finish closer to nine, or place your bet on whether the game will end in a tie. This makes this game of chance relatively easy to understand. However, many baccarat games also offer side bets. Learn more about these bonus wagers and how they differ from standard wagers.
What Are Side Bets in Baccarat?
For players who are new to baccarat and haven’t yet learned the rules of baccarat, here’s a quick breakdown of the basic gameplay.
In baccarat, there are three main betting options: Banker, Player, and tie. The player places their bets on one of these wagers before any cards are dealt, then waits to see whether the condition they wagered on is met. Players often explore baccarat tips to better understand the game and learn more about its odds, structure, and common betting patterns.
With such simple gameplay, it’s understandable why some might struggle to choose between baccarat and blackjack. But just like blackjack, there’s much more to this game. Side bets are one of the additional gameplay features that add more depth to this otherwise straightforward card game.
Side bets are additional wagers that players can place alongside the game’s main bets. However, unlike the Banker or Player bet, which have almost even odds of roughly 45% each, or the tie bet, which has the odds of about 10%, the chances of winning a side bet are much lower. As a result, payouts are much larger than the approximately 1:1 return on the Banker or Player, or the 8:1 reward on the tie.
Ultimately, the purpose of these side wagers is to add some variety to the gameplay, as well as the potential for higher payouts, though at the cost of much higher risk.
How Are Baccarat Side Bets Made During a Game?
Here’s how to play baccarat side bets in the majority of baccarat games:
- Check the paytable: Each game will list the available betting options and their odds.
- Place a wager: Decide how much you want to place on a side bet, alongside any main wager.
- Wait to see the results of the game: Let the round resolve, and the dealer or game software will confirm whether the side bet hits or misses automatically once the relevant cards appear.
- Collect any potential payouts: If a player guesses correctly, they will be paid their winnings.
The Pros and Cons of Baccarat Side Bets
Before a player places a side bet, they must consider the pros and cons of these wagers.
The Pros of Baccarat Side Bets
Players might choose to wager on a side bet if they’re interested in:
- The entertainment value of these high-risk, high-reward wagers
- They are comfortable with the higher risk associated with larger potential payouts
- They prefer more varied wagering formats
The Cons of Baccarat Side Bets
If players are curious about the cons, they might be wondering, “Are side bets bad in baccarat?” The answer to that isn’t a simple yes or no. Players might choose to avoid side bets if they’re:
- Interested in optimising the returns on each of their bets
- Prefer to avoid high-variance bets
- Want to minimise the impact of a bad run of luck
Common Baccarat Side Bets
Now that some of the baccarat side bets have been explained, below are some of the side bets the player will encounter, along with typical payouts. Note that some of these baccarat side bet odds can vary, depending on how many decks are in play, so please check accordingly with each version of the game.
Big and Small
The player bets on the total number of cards in the game being Big or Small. Big is the total number of cards being equal to five or six cards and pays 0.54:1. Small is the total number of cards being exactly four and pays 3:2.
Dragon 7
This side bet pays out when the Banker’s hand is worth a total of seven using exactly three cards and is of a higher value than the Player’s hand. This side bet pays 40:1 if the specified conditions are met.
Dragon Bonus
The bettor wins when the chosen hand is correct, but the amount that the bettor receives increases depending on the difference in the strength of the hands, or whether the bettor wins by a natural hand. This side bet pays from 1:1 up to 30:1, depending on the value of the hands.
Panda 8
The Player wins with a three-card hand worth a total of eight. It has payout odds of 25:1.
Perfect Pair
The bettor wins when the first two cards of the Player or Banker are an identical pair. It pays 25:1.
