Banker, Player and Tie Bets Explained

In punto banco you choose between three main bets. They look similar, but they pay differently and carry very different house edges. This page explains each one.

Player bet

The player bet wins if the player hand finishes closer to 9 than the banker hand. It pays 1 to 1. The house edge is about 1.24 percent.

Banker bet

The banker bet wins if the banker hand finishes closer to 9. Because of the third-card rules, the banker hand wins slightly more often than the player hand. To balance this, casinos usually take a 5 percent commission from winning banker bets. A winning bet of 10 pays 9.50. Even with the commission, the house edge on the banker bet is about 1.06 percent, the lowest in the game.

Tie bet

The tie bet wins if both hands have the same value. It usually pays 8 to 1, sometimes 9 to 1. Ties are fairly rare, and at 8 to 1 the house edge is around 14 percent. That makes it one of the most expensive bets in the casino.

If the result is a tie and you bet on player or banker, your stake is usually returned.

No-commission variants

Some tables offer no-commission punto banco. Instead of taking 5 percent, they change the payout in specific situations, for example paying only half when the banker wins with a total of 6. Check the rules, as the house edge can differ.

Side bets

Many tables offer side bets, such as on pairs in the first two cards. These usually have a higher house edge than the main bets.

What this means for players

The banker and player bets have relatively low house edges compared with many casino games, but the casino still has an advantage. No pattern or system changes that, as explained in responsible play. The drawing rules behind these odds are in the third card rule.

Play only at licensed casinos, set a budget and only play if you are 18 or older.