The objective in Punto Banco is to predict whose hand will win by having the value closest to 9. Live Baccarat Italian-speaking croupiers can speak the language of players in every sense and maximize the potential for online interactions and entertainment. These casino professionals understand the intricacies of Italian culture and casino etiquette and, as a result, can provide exceptional localized service and establish a great rapport with players.
Game Rules
The game is hosted by a dealer and is played with eight standard 52-card decks. Card values are as follows:
- Aces are the lowest cards and are worth 1 point each.
- Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their numerical face values.
- 10s and face cards (jacks, queens and kings) are each worth 0.
Only the numeric value of each card is relevant in the main Baccarat game; each card’s suit (hearts, spades, clubs or diamonds) is irrelevant.
Prior to each deal, you must place your bet on whether the Player or the Banker will win the round by having the hand with a value closest to 9.
If you believe that both the Player and Banker will hold hands of equal value, you also have the option to bet on Tie.
In addition, you can also bet on Player/Banker Pair (P/B Pair), which will pay if the first two cards dealt to the Player/Banker constitute a pair.
The dealer begins by dealing two cards each to the Player and to the Banker.
Two hands are dealt in Baccarat: one hand to the Player and one hand to the Banker.
If the Player and Banker hold hands of equal value, the round ends in a tie. The Tie bet wins, and bets on the Player and Banker push (are
returned).
Each hand’s value is calculated by dropping the tens digit in a hand otherwise worth 10 or more. For example, a hand consisting of a 7 and a
9 is only worth 6 in Baccarat (because 16-10=6). Similarly, a face card plus a 9 will be worth 9.
If the Player or the Banker receives an initial two-card hand worth 8 or a 9 (a “natural” 8 or 9), no additional cards will be dealt to either hand.
If the Player and Banker receive initial two-card hands worth 0-7, the “Third Card Rule” is consulted to determine if a third card is to be dealt to either hand or both hands. The Player always goes first.
Punto Banco By Evolution Gaming
Player’s Hand
| Player’s initial two-card hand | |
| 0-1-2-3-4-5 | Player draws a third card. |
| 6-7 | Player stands. |
| 8-9 (a “natural”) | No third card to either hand. |
Banker’s Hand
| Banker’s initial two-card | Value of third card drawn by Player | ||||||||||
| No third card | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| 0 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 1 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 2 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| 3 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | D |
| 4 | D | S | S | D | D | D | D | D | D | S | S |
| 5 | D | S | S | S | S | D | D | D | D | S | S |
| 6 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | D | D | S | S |
| 7 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| 8 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
| 9 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S |
D – Draw; S – Stand
If the Player’s hand stands on a 6 or 7, then a Banker hand totaling 3, 4 or 5 must draw, while a Banker hand totaling 6 must stand.
Whoever gets the hand closest to a total of 9 wins.
Side Bets
| Side Bet | Description |
| P Pair | Pays if the first two cards dealt to the Player constitute a pair. |
| B Pair | Pays if the first two cards dealt to the Banker constitute a pair. |
Payouts
Your payout depends on the type of bet placed.
| BET | PAYS |
| Player | 1:1 |
| Banker | 0.95:1 (5% commission is charged) |
| Tie | 8:1 |
| P Pair | 11:1 |
| B Pair | 11:1 |
Please note that any malfunction voids the game round and all eventual payouts for the round. Bets will be returned.
Return to Player.
The optimal Return to Player (RTP) percentage for Baccarat is 98.94%*.
The following table displays the return-to-player percentage on the different optional side bets.
| Side Bet | Return to Player |
| P Pair | 89.64% |
| B Pair | 89.64% |
*RTP based on optimal strategy for Banker bet.
