Wagers beyond the primary game in baccarat

In the world of online baccarat, side bets can add an extra layer of excitement to the game. However, these additional wagers often come with higher house edges compared to the main bets. Here's a breakdown of some common side bets, their typical payouts, and approximate house edges.

Perfect Pair / Player Pair / Banker Pair

This bet is placed on the first two cards dealt to the player or banker forming a pair. The payout for a Perfect Pair, which is a pair of the same value and same suit, is usually 25:1. A Player or Banker Pair, which is a pair of the same value but not necessarily the same suit, typically pays around 8:1 to 11:1. The house edge for these bets is approximately 10-11%.

Super 6 (Banker 6)

This side bet is placed on the banker winning with a total of 6. The usual payout for a win is 12:1. The house edge for this bet is not explicitly stated but is generally known to be higher than the base game.

Big and Small

This bet is placed on the total number of cards dealt between the player and banker hands. "Small" wins if exactly 4 cards are dealt (both hands stand), while "Big" wins if 5 or 6 cards are dealt (third card drawn). The payout for "Small" is 3:2 (1.5:1), and for "Big" is about 0.54:1. The house edge for "Small" is ~5.28%, and for "Big" is ~4.35%.

Dragon Bonus

This side bet pays depending on how much the winning hand beats the losing hand, with payouts up to 30:1. The house edge for this bet is not explicitly given but is generally higher than the main bets due to its volatility.

Tie Bonus

This side bet is similar to a tie bet but for specific tied totals, with payouts ranging from 45:1 to 200:1 depending on the exact tied score. The house edge for this bet is not specified but is generally very high.

Lucky 8 (and variants like Unlucky 8 or Double 8)

This bet is placed on the player or banker having a winning hand of value 8. The payout varies widely from 4:1 to 200:1 depending on the specific hand composition.

When it comes to house edge, typical baccarat main bets have low house edges: the player bet has a house edge of ~1.24%, the banker bet has a house edge of ~1.06%, and the tie bet has a much higher house edge, around 14.4%. Side bets, however, generally have much higher house edges, often 10% or more, making them attractive for high payouts but disadvantageous over the long term.

In summary, while side bets can offer large payouts and extra excitement, they come with significantly higher house edges compared to the base game, making them riskier long-term propositions. Players should be aware of these differences when deciding whether to place side bets in online baccarat.

[1] https://www.wizardofodds.com/games/baccarat/side-bets [2] https://www.gamblingsites.org/baccarat/side-bets/ [3] https://www.baccaratpro.org/baccarat-side-bets/ [4] https://www.888casino.com/baccarat/rules [5] https://www.royalvegas.com/en-gb/games/card-games/baccarat

What's the opportunity cost of taking a side bet in casino-and-gambling, such as Perfect Pair or Big and Small, compared to sticking with the traditional casino-games main bets like the player or banker bets in baccarat?
While casino-games like baccarat can be amped up with side bets offering big payouts, remember their higher house edges mean they may not be the best long-term strategy, so consider the potential risks associated with such high-stakes wagers.