Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games around, offering players the chance to win big cash on a simple wager. But while casual baccarat players can stick with the basic banker, player and tie bets, more advanced baccarat enthusiasts are likely to look for ways to increase the excitement of this card game with a range of side bets.
Players place bets on either the banker or player hand, betting that the winning hand will be closest to nine. A 5% commission is applied to winning bets on the banker, which lowers the payout odds to 1 to 1. The Tie bet offers much higher payout odds at 8 to 1, but this bet can also result in large losses.
During the deal round, the dealer will deal two cards to himself and two to the players or bettors. Once the bets are placed, the hands are compared and the winner determined. If a hand totals eight or nine, it is known as a ‘natural’ and a third card will not be drawn. However, if the hand is a six or seven, then a third card must be drawn.
Although baccarat is considered a sophisticated game, it is actually a fairly simple card game that relies on luck and the ability to predict the outcome of the hand. But despite its simplicity, the game still generates a significant chunk of Nevada’s table-gaming revenue. And this is largely down to its popularity with Asian tourists who are willing to bet bigger sums for the chance of winning big cash prizes.