Baccarat side bets usually carry much higher house edges than the main Banker and Player bets, which makes them far more profitable for the casino per dollar wagered. While the main bets carry edges of 1-1.2%, side bets range from about 2.7% (Player Dragon Bonus) to over 14% (Either Pair). Casinos promote them because they are exciting and offer large payouts — but those payouts are funded by substantially worse math.
Our Baccarat Side Bets EV Calculator shows the house edge, expected loss per bet, and hourly cost for every common side bet. It also compares them side-by-side with the main bets, so you can see exactly how much more each side bet costs relative to Banker or Player.
What this tool does and does not do:
- Shows exact house edge for 11 common baccarat side bets, sorted from best to worst.
- Calculates EV per bet and hourly cost at your bet size and table speed.
- Rates each bet: Lower edge, Medium edge, High edge, or Very high edge.
- Compares all side bets against Banker, Player, and Tie in the same view.
- Does not model custom or regional paytable variants — values are based on standard 8-deck paytables.
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter your side bet amount: How much you wager on the side bet per hand.
- Enter table speed: Hands per hour (mini-baccarat: 120-180, full table: 40-70).
- Click Analyze: The table shows all 11 side bets ranked by house edge, with EV per bet, hourly cost, and a rating.
- Compare: The bottom panel shows Banker, Player, and Tie hourly costs at the same bet size for direct comparison.
Side Bet Reference Guide
Tier 1: Lower Edge (2-6%)
Player Dragon Bonus: Pays based on the winning margin. A natural win by 9 pays 30:1, by 8 pays 10:1, and smaller margins pay less. The house edge is approximately 2.65%. This is the best side bet available in standard baccarat — still roughly double the main Banker bet edge, but far better than most alternatives.
Banker Dragon Bonus: Same paytable concept as Player Dragon Bonus, but the house edge is significantly higher — approximately 9.4% under the most common standard paytable. This is because Banker wins more often with small margins (which pay little or nothing extra) and has a less favorable distribution of large-margin wins. Some casinos use a variant paytable where Banker Dragon Bonus has a much lower edge (~2-3%), so always check the posted rules. Under standard rules, Player Dragon Bonus is clearly the better choice.
Royal Match: Pays when the first two cards of either hand form a suited match (e.g., suited King-Queen pays 75:1). Edge approximately 2.6%. Available at some tables, not universal.
Big/Small: “Big” pays if 5 or 6 total cards are dealt (edge ~4.4%). “Small” pays if exactly 4 cards are dealt (edge ~5.3%). These are relatively low-edge by side bet standards but offer low payouts. Exact edges vary by software provider.
Tier 2: High Edge (9-14%)
Banker Pair / Player Pair: First two cards of the respective hand form a pair. Pays 11:1. House edge approximately 10.36%. Occurs roughly once every 13 hands.
Super 6 / Lucky 6: Banker wins with a total of 6. Pays 12:1 for a 2-card 6, and 20:1 for a 3-card 6 (paytables vary). Edge approximately 12.97%.
Tiger Pair: Banker wins with 6 and has a pair. Very rare, pays 11:1 typically. Edge approximately 12.6%.
Perfect Pair: Both cards of the same rank AND suit. Pays 25:1. Edge approximately 13.7%.
Either Pair: Either Banker or Player hand has a pair. Pays 5:1. Edge approximately 13.7% — making it one of the worst standard bets in baccarat, comparable to the Tie bet.
Why Side Bets Exist
Side bets serve the casino in three ways:
- Revenue generation. The main Baccarat bets have low edges (1-1.2%). Casinos rely on side bets to boost table profitability.
- Player entertainment. Side bets add excitement through large potential payouts (25:1, 30:1, 75:1). Players enjoy the variance even though the expected cost is high.
- Extended session time. Players who make side bets tend to stay at the table longer and wager more per hand, increasing total handle.
None of these reasons benefit the player mathematically. Side bets are an entertainment premium — you pay for excitement, not for value.
Worked Comparison
Scenario: $25 per bet, 70 hands/hour, every hand.
| Bet | Edge | EV per Bet | Hourly Cost | Relative to Banker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banker (5%) | 1.06% | -$0.27 | -$18.55 | 1.0x (baseline) |
| Player Dragon Bonus | 2.65% | -$0.66 | -$46.38 | 2.5x |
| Banker Pair | 10.36% | -$2.59 | -$181.30 | 9.8x |
| Either Pair | 13.7% | -$3.43 | -$239.75 | 12.9x |
| Tie (8:1) | 14.36% | -$3.59 | -$251.30 | 13.5x |
Player Dragon Bonus costs about 2.5x what Banker costs per hour. Banker Pair costs nearly 10x. Either Pair and Tie cost 13x more — at the same bet size.
Paytable Warnings
Side bet paytables vary between casinos and software providers. The house edges listed above assume the most common standard paytables. Variants you may encounter:
- Dragon Bonus: Some tables pay 1:1 for a natural win (instead of push), which slightly reduces the edge.
- Pairs: Some tables pay 12:1 instead of 11:1, reducing the edge from 10.36% to about 7.4%.
- Perfect Pair: Payouts of 25:1, 30:1, or even 200:1 (for same-color pair) exist.
- Big/Small: Payouts can differ. Always check the posted paytable before betting.
Limitations
- Standard 8-deck paytables assumed. Your casino may use different payouts, which changes the edge.
- No custom paytable input. The calculator shows fixed edges for standard paytables.
- Card removal effects not modeled. Side bet edges shift slightly as cards are dealt, but the effect is small for practical purposes.
- Not all side bets listed. Regional and proprietary side bets (Dragon 7, Panda 8, Fortune 7, Natural 8/9) are not included in the calculator. Check Wizard of Odds for unlisted bets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Dragon Bonus worth playing?
It depends on which side and which paytable. Player Dragon Bonus (~2.65% edge) is one of the better baccarat side bets. Banker Dragon Bonus is significantly worse under the most common standard paytable (~9.4%), though some variant paytables bring it down to ~2-3%. If you want side bet action, Player Dragon Bonus is the safest option. If you want to minimize cost, stick to main bets only.
Why are Pair bets so popular if the edge is 10%+?
Pair bets pay 11:1, which feels like a large payout. The 10% edge is invisible on a per-hand basis — you only feel it over hundreds of hands. This psychological appeal is exactly why casinos promote pair bets.
Can I gain an edge on side bets by counting cards?
In theory, certain shoe compositions can shift the edge on Pair bets or Dragon Bonus. In practice, the advantage is very small, requires deep shoe penetration, and is easily disrupted by continuous shuffling machines. It is not a practical strategy for most players.
How do side bet edges compare to other casino games?
Most baccarat side bets (5-14% edge) fall in the same range as penny slots (8-15%) and Keno (5-25%). They are significantly worse than the main Baccarat bets (1%), Blackjack with basic strategy (0.5%), or Craps Pass + Odds (under 0.5%). See the House Edge Comparison for a full ranking.