The enigmatic card game of baccarat conjures images of high-rollers in tuxedos laying down chips at a table in an opulent casino. But baccarat online is far more accessible than it may seem, a simple game that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home.
The game has been around for centuries and continues to attract gamblers from all over the world, especially Asia. It is one of the most popular games in casinos, and it accounts for a significant portion of total casino profits in Macau, Singapore, and even the Las Vegas Strip. But baccarat’s popularity stems from more than just its ease of play. The rules of baccarat are relatively simple and the house edge is much lower than that of other casino games.
Players who wager on the player or banker hand are paid out based on their respective odds, with the winner being determined by which hand comes closest to nine without going over. The winning player or banker hand also pays a 5% commission, which reduces the payout odds to 1:1. A bet on a tie is paid out at a much higher odds of 8:1 or more, depending on the game and the casino.
A good way to understand baccarat odds is by looking at an example hand played by Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond and Famke Janssen’s Xenia Onatopp in the 1995 film GoldenEye. Here’s a look at the results of the two hands: