Baccarat has a reputation for being a high-roller game wrapped in mystery, but the rules are some of the simplest in the casino. There are exactly three bets on the table, and the math behind each one is easy to lay out plainly.
The three bets, in plain terms
You're not betting on your own hand of cards — you're betting on which of two hands, Banker or Player, will end closer to a total of 9, or whether they'll tie. The dealer plays out both hands according to fixed rules; there's no skill-based decision-making during the round itself.
Banker carries the lowest house edge on the table
Thanks to a small commission the house takes on Banker wins (usually 5%), the Banker bet still ends up with a house edge around 1.06% — one of the lowest of any bet in the casino, rivaling well-played blackjack. The Player bet sits close behind at roughly 1.24%, still a solid, low-edge choice.
The Tie bet is the trap worth avoiding
A Tie bet typically pays 8 to 1 or higher, which looks tempting next to Banker's modest payout. But ties are rare enough that the house edge on this bet often runs above 14% — by far the worst number on the table. The bigger the advertised payout, the more the odds usually work against you.
Why simplicity is the actual strategy here
Unlike blackjack, there's no decision tree to memorize, no card-counting edge to chase. The entire strategic advice for baccarat fits in one sentence: bet Banker, skip Tie, and treat the rest as the house's built-in cost of playing a fast, simple game.