What “house edge” means in baccarat
House edge is the casino’s long-run advantage expressed as a percentage of each unit wagered. In standard baccarat, the house edge depends entirely on the rules and payouts of the bet you choose—using crypto for deposits or withdrawals does not change the math. For the three core wagers with an eight-deck shoe: Banker is about 1.06%, Player about 1.24%, and Tie about 14.36%.
Standard payouts and their edges
- Banker pays 1:1, but wins are typically charged a 5% commission; this yields a house edge around 1.06% with eight decks.
- Player pays 1:1 with a house edge around 1.24% with eight decks.
- Tie usually pays 8:1 with a much higher house edge around 14.36% in eight decks.
Minor deck-count differences exist but don’t move decisions for most players. For example, single-deck Banker improves to ~1.01%, and six-deck Tie is ~14.44% vs 14.36% with eight decks.
When the Tie pays more
Some tables pay Tie at 9:1 instead of 8:1, cutting the edge dramatically to about 4.84% with eight decks (still worse than Banker/Player, but far less punitive).
“No-commission” and other variants you’ll see online
Crypto casinos host the same live-dealer baccarat rule sets you find elsewhere, including commission-free formats. The two most common:
- Super 6 / Commission-Free (Banker 6 pays 1:2): Player and Tie edges remain the same as regular; Banker edge rises to about 1.46%.
- EZ Baccarat (Banker win with a three-card 7 pushes): Removes commission while preserving a Banker edge around 1.02% according to published analyses and rule summaries; the optional Dragon 7 side bet pays 40:1 but carries a separate house edge.
Side bets: payouts and typical edges
Side bets add volatility and usually higher house edges. Common examples you’ll encounter in live-dealer crypto lobbies:
- Player Pair or Banker Pair at 11:1: about 10.36% house edge.
- Perfect Pair at 25:1: about 13.03% house edge.
- Either Pair at 5:1: about 13.71% house edge.
- Dragon 7 (EZ Baccarat) at 40:1: about 7.61% house edge; Panda 8 at 25:1 is about 10.19%.
Quick comparison table
| Bet / Variant | Typical payout | Approx. house edge (8 decks) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker (standard) | 1:1 minus 5% commission | 1.06% | Lowest edge in normal play. |
| Player (standard) | 1:1 | 1.24% | Second-best core bet. |
| Tie (standard) | 8:1 | 14.36% | Generally avoid. |
| Tie (liberal) | 9:1 | ~4.84% | Still worse than Banker/Player. |
| Banker, Super 6 | 1:1 except 6 pays 1:2 | 1.46% | “No commission” but worse edge. |
| Banker, EZ Baccarat | 1:1; push on 3-card 7 | ~1.02% | Side bet Dragon 7 is separate. |
| Player/Banker Pair | 11:1 | 10.36% | Side bets; high edge. |
| Perfect Pair | 25:1 | 13.03% | Side bet; very high edge. |
| Dragon 7 (side bet) | 40:1 | 7.61% | EZ Baccarat only. |
What this means for crypto-casino play
- Favor Banker in standard baccarat: it’s the mathematically best core bet in the long run.
- If you must choose a Tie, only consider it at 9:1—not 8:1—and treat it as a rare punt, not a staple.
- Be skeptical of side bets; they’re entertaining but usually come with double-digit edges.
- Commission-free tables aren’t all equal: EZ Baccarat preserves a Banker edge close to classic play, whereas Super 6 makes Banker materially worse than normal.
FAQ
Does using crypto change baccarat payouts or house edge?
No. House edge is determined by the rules and payout table of the game variant, not the payment method. The standard figures for Banker, Player, and Tie are the same whether you play in fiat or crypto casinos.
Do deck counts matter?
They move numbers slightly but don’t change decisions for most players. For instance, single-deck Banker is about 1.01% vs 1.06% with eight decks, while Tie sits around 14.4% in six to eight decks under 8:1 payout.
Are there any “good” side bets?
From a pure math perspective, most are worse than the core bets. Even the better-known options like Dragon 7 or Player/Banker Pair carry edges far above Banker/Player.
