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Card Table Game

Baccarat Casinos

Bet Player or Banker. The side closest to nine wins. No skill required, just a 1.06% edge on the best bet.

104 US venues offer baccarat.

House Edge
1.06% Banker, 1.24% Player
RTP
98.76% to 98.94%
Typical Min Bet
$10 to $25
Pace
Moderate
Category
Card Table Game
Beginner-friendly

Casino Directory

Where to play Baccarat in the US

Showing 12 of 104 venues

Baccarat is one of the simplest games in the casino and carries a famously low house edge. You do not control a hand. You simply bet on whether the Player or Banker side will come closest to nine, or that the two will tie. The drawing rules are fixed and handled by the dealer. The Banker bet carries a house edge of roughly 1.06 percent after commission, making it the best bet in the casino outside of craps with free odds. Baccarat requires no skill, no strategy, and no decisions beyond which bet to place. You'll find live tables at most major properties. See our full US casino directory for venue contact details and hours.

Baccarat is the game of choice for high rollers and players who want the best odds with the fewest decisions. The Banker bet carries a 1.06 percent edge, which beats nearly every other bet in the casino. The Player bet is close behind at 1.24 percent. The Tie bet is a trap at 14 percent. The game requires zero skill and has one of the slowest paces on the floor, making it ideal for players who want to settle in for a session without constant decision pressure. For no-commission variants, see EZ Baccarat.

How to play Baccarat

  1. Bet on Player, Banker, or Tie. You are not dealt a hand to control. You simply pick which side you think will win.

  2. The dealer deals two cards each to Player and Banker. Tens and face cards count as zero, ace as one, and only the last digit of the total counts.

  3. If either side has a natural 8 or 9 (two-card total of 8 or 9), the hand ends immediately.

  4. Otherwise, the Player hand acts first: draw on 0-5, stand on 6-7. The Banker hand then draws based on a fixed rule chart.

  5. The side closest to nine wins. Banker pays even money minus 5 percent commission. Player pays even money. Tie pays 8 to 1.

  6. Commission is tracked on a box. Pay your commission when the marker is cleared.

Baccarat Rules and Third-Card Rules

Baccarat is played with 8 decks from a shoe. The Player and Banker each receive two cards. A natural 8 or 9 ends the hand. The third-card rules are fixed: Player draws on 0-5 and stands on 6-7. Banker then draws based on the Banker total and the Player third card. The rule chart is posted at every table but is never needed by the player since the dealer handles everything.

The Banker bet wins more often than the Player bet (roughly 45.9 percent vs 44.6 percent), which is why the house charges a 5 percent commission on Banker wins. The commission nets out to a 1.06 percent edge. Some casinos offer commission-free baccarat variants like EZ Baccarat that replace the commission with a push rule. Side bets like Dragon Bonus, Panda 8, and Lucky 6 are common optional wagers. See our Dragon Bonus Baccarat guide for side bet details.

  • Should I bet Banker or Player in baccarat?

    Bet Banker. Even after the 5 percent commission on wins, the Banker bet has the lowest house edge at about 1.06 percent, compared with 1.24 percent for Player. The Tie bet should be avoided entirely.

Editorial Strategy

Strategy & etiquette for Baccarat

  • Bet Banker by default. At roughly 1.06 percent, it has the lowest house edge of any bet in the casino.

  • Player is a fine alternative at roughly 1.24 percent and avoids commission tracking.

  • Never bet Tie. The house edge is roughly 14 percent on standard paytables.

  • Scorecards and patterns are entertainment only. Each hand is independent and the past does not predict the future.

  • Side bets carry higher house edges than the main bets. Treat them as entertainment.

  • Baccarat is a game of pure chance. No betting system changes the long-run edge.

Where to play in the US

Top land-based casinos to play Baccarat

Editorial picks for visitors who want a real-floor Baccarat session. Ranked by directory depth (table counts, amenities, and floor quality). Tap any card for the full property review.

  1. #1Casinos
    Editor's pick
    Foxwoods Resort Casino — nashantucket

    Foxwoods Resort Casino

    Nashantucket, Connecticut

    4,800 slots · 380 tables · 147 poker tables · 24/7

    Selection100
    Value67
    Experience100

    Games available

    • 3 Card Poker
    • Baccarat
    • Bingo

    Property

    • Bar
    • Open 24 7
    • Restaurant
    Rate for Baccarat0 votes

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  2. #2Casinos
    Mohegan Sun — uncasville

    Mohegan Sun

    Uncasville, Connecticut

    5,532 slots · 377 tables · 42 poker tables · 24/7

    Selection100
    Value70
    Experience100

    Games available

    • 3 Card Poker
    • Baccarat
    • Caribbean Stud Poker

    Property

    • Golf
    • Open 24 7
    • Pool
    Rate for Baccarat0 votes

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  3. #3Casinos
    The Borgata — atlantic city

    The Borgata

    Atlantic City, New Jersey

    3,000 slots · 186 tables · 85 poker tables · 24/7

    Selection100
    Value68
    Experience100

    Games available

    • 3 Card Poker
    • Baccarat
    • Big 6

    Property

    • Bar
    • Open 24 7
    • Pool
    Rate for Baccarat0 votes

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    Read review →

Rankings reflect directory data depth (floor counts, game variety, amenity tags) re-verified quarterly. They are not a substitute for current operating status; confirm hours and game spread directly with each casino before visiting.

Baccarat Strategy

Baccarat has no skill element. Bet Banker most of the time. Bet Player occasionally to mix it up. Never bet Tie. That is the complete strategy. Scorecards are a tradition and many players enjoy tracking patterns on the derived roads (Big Road, Big Eye Boy, Small Road, Cockroach Pig), but they have no predictive value. Each coup is independent, and the cards have no memory.

The only real strategic decisions are which table to play and how much to bet. Full-size baccarat tables in high-limit rooms offer a slower, more formal experience. Mini baccarat on the main floor is faster and has lower minimums. Midi baccarat splits the difference. Baccarat is also one of the best games for comps because the house rates your action based on a low edge game played at reasonable stakes.

Common Baccarat variants

Where to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is available at most US casinos. Full-size tables are in high-limit rooms and Asian gaming sections. Mini and midi tables are on the main floor. The game is extremely popular in Asian markets and at casinos that cater to Asian clientele.

Before you sit, check the commission structure and available side bets. Browse our US casino directory to find venues near you.

  • Can you use skill to win at baccarat?

    No. Baccarat outcomes are fixed by drawing rules and the cards. There are no decisions that change the odds, so scorecards and betting systems do not give you an edge.

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