Understanding Baccarat Side Bets: House Edge, Types & Payouts
Baccarat is known for simple rules and a clear rhythm, yet it offers more than the standard Player, Banker, and Tie wagers. Side bets sit alongside the main game and cover specific card events.
This blog post explains what those side bets are, how they fit into a round, and what to expect from the most common options. You will find straightforward examples of Pairs, Perfect Pairs, Big and Small bets, and the Dragon Bonus, together with typical payouts and how the house edge compares.
Read on to learn more.
What Are Baccarat Side Bets and How Do They Work?
Baccarat side bets are optional wagers placed before any cards are dealt. Instead of backing a hand to win, they focus on particular outcomes within the deal. That could be a pair appearing in the first two cards, the total number of cards used, or the margin by which a hand wins.
Each side bet has its own rules and paytable. Availability differs between tables and software providers, so the layout you see in one game may not match another. In general, these bets come with a higher house edge than the core Player and Banker bets, which is why many players treat them as occasional add-ons rather than their main focus.
With that in mind, let us look at the side bets you are most likely to encounter if you intend to play and how each one works in practice.
Popular Types of Baccarat Side Bets
Most baccarat side bets fall into a few familiar themes. Some concentrate on whether the first two cards form a pair, some on how many cards are dealt in total, and others on how far ahead the winning hand finishes.
The following sections cover four of the most common options you will see at the table: Pairs, Perfect Pairs, Big and Small bets, and the Dragon Bonus. Understanding these will help make most side-bet menus feel much clearer.
Pairs Bets
A Pairs bet backs either the Player or the Banker to receive a pair in their first two cards, such as two Kings or two Fives. It is decided immediately from those opening cards, so later draws do not affect the outcome.
Many tables allow a Player Pair, a Banker Pair, or both. A typical payout for a winning pair is 11 to 1, although this may vary. Because pairs appear relatively infrequently, the house edge on these bets is usually much higher than on the main game, often above 10 percent depending on the number of decks and the exact paytable.
Some versions also offer an Either Pair option that pays if either hand starts with a pair. It usually comes with a different payout and a higher house edge, so it’s worth checking the paytable beforehand if you intend to play.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is a stricter version of the pairs idea. Here, the first two cards of the chosen hand must match in both rank and suit, for example, two Jacks of hearts. That tighter requirement makes wins rarer, so the payout is usually higher, often listed around 25 to 1 on many tables.
As with regular Pairs, only the first two cards count. Later draws do not change the result of the side bet. The reduced frequency of Perfect Pairs means the house edge is typically higher than for standard pairs, so this bet is best understood as a high-payout, low-frequency option.
Big and Small Bets
Big and Small bets are about how many cards are used in the round, not which hand wins. A Small bet covers rounds that finish after exactly four cards, meaning no third card is drawn for either hand. A Big bet covers rounds that use five or six cards, which happens when at least one hand draws a third card.
Because four-card rounds occur less often than five- or six-card rounds, Small commonly pays at a higher rate than Big. Exact payouts differ by table and can be influenced by the number of decks in play. If you like a clear-cut condition with no reference to totals or suits, these bets are easy to follow.
Dragon Bonus
The Dragon Bonus hinges on the margin of victory. If you want to use this, you’d place it before the deal on either the Player or the Banker, then it pays if the selected hand wins by a specified number of points. The larger the margin, the higher the payout.
Paytables may vary, but many versions pay only when the winning margin is four points or more, with a stepped ladder such as 4 points at 1 to 1, 5 points at 2 to 1, 6 points at 4 to 1, 7 points at 6 to 1, 8 points at 10 to 1, and 9 points at 30 to 1. Some variants also pay for a natural 8 or 9. Because rules and payouts differ, the house edge on the Player side can be noticeably different from the Banker side on this bet.
What Is the House Edge on Baccarat Side Bets?
The house edge is the average share of each bet the casino expects to keep over time. In the main game, the Banker bet sits around 1.06 percent and the Player bet around 1.24 percent, while the Tie is much higher, often near 14 percent, depending on decks and rules.
Side bets usually carry a bigger edge than the Player or Banker wagers. Typical ranges include:
- Pairs bets: often above 10 percent when paid 11 to 1.
- Perfect Pairs: commonly higher than regular pairs due to the stricter match, frequently in the low-to-mid teens.
- Big and Small: usually lower than Pairs bets but still several percentage points, influenced by the paytable and number of decks.
- Dragon Bonus: highly dependent on the payout ladder and whether naturals are included, with the Player side often priced more favourably than the Banker side.
These figures can move with different rules, deck counts, and provider settings. For a clear picture, check the paytable on the table you are playing and compare it with the main game edges above. Keeping to a set budget helps manage the extra cost that higher-edge bets bring over time.
Baccarat Side Bet Payouts Explained
Side-bet payouts reflect how often each event occurs. Outcomes that appear rarely pay more, while common outcomes pay less. That is why a standard Pairs bet might offer around 11 to 1, while a Perfect Pair, being much less frequent, often pays about 25 to 1.
For Big and Small, the Small result happens less often, so it typically pays at a higher rate than Big. Dragon Bonus payouts climb with the margin, usually stepping up from a small return at four points to much larger returns at eight or nine. Exact amounts depend on the table, so the on-screen or felt paytable is the place to confirm the figures before you play.
Remember, higher payouts are balanced by lower frequency. If you already have a sense of how rarely an outcome occurs, the listed payout will make more sense in context.
Are Baccarat Side Bets Worth Playing?
Whether side bets are worth including in your game depends on what you’re hoping to get out of the session. If you’re looking for variety or something a little different from the main action, side bets may offer an extra layer of interest. That said, they usually come with a higher house edge than the standard Player or Banker bets—so over time, they tend to cost more for the added entertainment.
Some people prefer to focus solely on the main game, as it offers the most favourable odds at the table. Others choose to place the occasional side bet when something appeals to them or fits how they like to follow the flow of the cards. Either approach can work, as long as you’re aware of the differences and stay within a budget that suits you.
If you choose to play baccarat, always do so with responsible gambling practices in mind and never wager more than you are willing to lose.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.