The Core Bets: Banker vs. Player House Edge
The fundamental choice in baccarat is between the Banker and the Player hand. Even though the names suggest otherwise, you can freely bet on either. The Banker hand wins slightly more often because it acts second, giving it a positional advantage based on the third-card rules. Specifically, the Banker hand wins 45.86% of all hands, while the Player hand wins 44.62%. The remaining 9.52% of hands end in a Tie. Because of this natural advantage, casinos apply a 5% commission on winning Banker bets to keep their edge.
- Banker Bet Edge: A low 1.06% house edge makes this one of the safest wagers in any casino game.
- Player Bet Edge: At 1.24% house edge, it is a solid alternative if you want to avoid calculating commissions.