For those players who want to make the game of Baccarat more exciting, other than playing the usual Banker/Player bet, a plethora of Side Bets are available, depending on the casino where you play and the game you choose.
In this article we will focus on the Live Baccarat Side Bet options, looking at individual games by the most renowned live casino game developers.
We will also take a look at the odds and payouts for each individual side bet.
Without further ado, let's take a look at all the live baccarat side bet options.
Neil’s BACCARAT RECOMMENDATIONS
Game Options
Before we dig into the individual side bets, I must explain the three general types of live baccarat you can play.
Single Player - This is where there is one player position and one Banker position. Multiple players can bet on either position, but you only ever see your bet on the table.
Multiple Player - The table will be laid out with up to 7 betting positions. Multiple players will be able to place bets on those positions. You can see the bets other players are making.
Mini-Baccarat -This is the same as normal baccarat, the only difference you're likely to see is that betting times (15 seconds) are quicker than the normal game (20-25 seconds).
List of Baccarat Side Bets
Progressive
This is a side bet that has a Progressive jackpot attached to it. You are limited to a minimum and maximum bet, but you're able to win with several different hand combinations. This is exclusive to Playtech Baccarat.
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Players hand with suited Ace and 8 with the Banker matching | Jackpot !! |
| Player suited Ace and 8 and Banker suited Ace and 8 | 10,000 x |
| Player & Banker Ace and 8 | 1,000 x |
| Natural 9 | 25 x |
| Natural 8 | 20 x |
| Natural 7 | 15 x |
| Natural 6 | 10 x |
Pairs
A side bet where you can bet on the banker's or players' cards forming a pair.
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Perfect Pair - Same suit, same number | 25:1 |
| Players Pair - same number | 11:1 |
| Bankers Pair - same number | 11:1 |
| Any Pair - a bet covering both hands that one forms a pair. | 5:1 |
Small / Big
This is another side bet where you are betting on the total number of cards being dealt to a hand. The House edge is 5.27% and 4.35% for Small and Big bets respectively. You'll find this side bet in Playtech Baccarat games.
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Small - wins if the total number of cards dealt are 4 | 1.5 : 1 |
| Big - wins if the total number of cards dealt are 5 or 6 | 0.54 : 1 |
Banker/Player or Dragon Bonus
Just like in normal baccarat, you bet on whether the Player or Banker has a higher value than the other, but the amount of bonus paid is determined by the points difference between each hand. Betting on Player comes with a house edge of 2.65% while the house edge for Banker bets is 9.37%.
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| Non Natural hand Win by 9 points | 30:1 |
| Non Natural hand Win by 8 points | 10:1 |
| Non Natural hand Win by 7 points | 6:1 |
| Non Natural hand Win by 6 points | 4:1 |
| Non Natural hand Win by 5 points | 2:1 |
| Non Natural hand Win by 4 points | 1:1 |
| Natural Hand - Win | 1:1 |
| Natural Hand - Tie | Push |
Sum Bonus
The Sum Bonus bet wins when the combined value of the Banker and Player cards are either below 5 or above 14. In addition, there are other combinations that payout according to the table below.
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| 18 with 2 or more 8's | 50:1 |
| 18 with 1 eight | 12:1 |
| 18 | 6:1 |
| Under 5 | 2:1 |
| Over 14 | 1:1 |
Tie Bonus
The tie bonus wins not only in the event of a tie but also payouts if it misses by 1. If it's a tie then additional odds come into play depending on the number of cards dealt and the number of the tie. The available outcomes are shown below.
| Hand | Pays |
|---|---|
| 5 cards ties at 3 | 50:1 |
| 6 cards tie at 9 | 25:1 |
| 6 cards tie at 8 | 20:1 |
| 6 cards tie at 7 | 10:1 |
| Miss by 1 | 1:1 |
Egalite Extra Bonus
This is a side bet that can be placed on individual Tie Bets. You can normally bet on more than one Egalite position. If the game round does not result in a Tie then all Egalite Extra bets are lost.
| Individual Egalites | Payable Odds |
|---|---|
| 0 | 150 to 1 |
| 1 | 215 to 1 |
| 2 | 220 to 1 |
| 3 | 200 to 1 |
| 4 | 120 to 1 |
| 5 | 110 to 1 |
| 6 | 45 to 1 |
| 7 | 45 to 1 |
| 8 | 80 to 1 |
| 9 | 80 to 1 |
Further Reading
Here are some further articles if you're interested in reading more about Live Dealer Baccarat and the options available to you.
- Baccarat Strategies
- Baccarat Roadmaps
- Baccarat with win Multipliers - Lightning Baccarat.
Baccarat Side Bets Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the side bets in Baccarat?
There is a wide range of side bets available in baccarat, such as Dragon Bonus, Small / Big or Egalite. These side bets add additional betting options such as betting on the total number of cards dealt or the margin of victory by each player.
Can you bet both sides in Baccarat?
You can bet both sides in baccarat, but will be constantly losing 2.5% of your stake as on the Player bet you get a 1:1 payout while on the Banker bet you get a 0.95:1 payout, which represents a 5% commission.
What is the Small and Big bets in Baccarat?
Small and Big baccarat side bet refers to the number of cards that are being dealt to a hand.Up to 4 is Small, 5 or 6 Cards is Big.
What is the Dragon bet in Baccarat?
Dragon Bonus bet in baccarat is essentially a bet on the spread, or the difference between the hand values of Banker and Player. The greater the spread, the larger the payout.
