Should you always bet on the banker in baccarat? On a standard table that charges 5% commission, Banker is the cheapest bet, with a 1.06% house edge against 1.24% on Player. But 'always' goes too far: on popular no-commission tables using the Super 6 rule, Banker rises to 1.46% and Player becomes the better-value bet.
Standard 5% commission table: Banker 1.06% beats Player 1.24%.
Super 6 no-commission table: Banker 1.46%, so Player (1.24%) is cheaper.
EZ Baccarat: Banker drops to 1.02%.
The gap between Banker and Player is small: about £1.80 per 100 hands at £10.
Following streaks or switching sides doesn't change the odds of the next hand.
Banker edge (5% commission)
1.06%
Player edge
1.24%
Banker edge (Super 6)
1.46% (8 decks)
Banker edge (EZ Baccarat)
1.02% (8 decks)
Banker win rate
45.86% of hands
Should you always bet on the banker in baccarat? It depends on the table
If the table pays Banker wins at 19 to 20, the classic even money less 5% commission, then yes, Banker is the bet that costs least on average. If the table advertises 'no commission', read the small print first, because the way it pays Banker wins can make Player the better choice. The right answer is less 'always Banker' and more 'always check the Banker rule'.
Both main bets are among the cheapest in any casino, so the difference between them is modest. The Tie bet and most side bets are the ones that really cost you. For the basics of each bet, see our banker bet and player bet guides, or start at the baccarat hub.
Best baccarat bet by table type
Banker against Player by baccarat variant (eight decks)
The Banker hand wins slightly more often because, under the third-card rule, it acts after the Player hand and its drawing decisions take the Player's third card into account. With eight decks, Banker wins 45.86% of hands, Player 44.62%, and 9.52% are ties. Leave ties out, and Banker wins 50.68% of the hands that are decided.
Here is the expected value per £10 bet with eight decks, ignoring ties (which push on both bets):
Banker: 45.86% × £9.50 win − 44.62% × £10 loss = about −10.6p, or a 1.06% edge.
Player: 44.62% × £10 win − 45.86% × £10 loss = about −12.4p, or a 1.24% edge.
Many live lobbies feature no commission baccarat. In the most common version, a Banker win with a total of 6 pays only half the stake, and every other Banker win pays even money. Evolution's No Commission Baccarat (opens in a new tab) works this way, paying 0.5 to 1 on a Banker 6.
That rule costs more than the 5% commission it replaces. The Banker edge rises to 1.46%, higher than Player's unchanged 1.24%. So on a Super 6-style table, betting on the Player is the cheaper choice, by about 2.2p per £10 hand. The optional Super 6 side bet, which pays 15 to 1 when Banker wins with 6, is a separate wager and not part of this comparison.
Fees change the picture too. Lightning Baccarat adds a 20% Lightning Fee to each total bet, and Peek Baccarat charges 20% for its card preview. Evolution's pages don't publish RTPs for these, so check the help screen before assuming Banker is still the best value.
How much betting on the banker really saves
The difference between Banker and Player is real but small. Here is the average cost over 100 hands at different stakes. Your actual results will vary a lot more than these averages in any one session.
Average cost per 100 hands, standard and Super 6 tables
Stake per hand
Banker, 5% commission (1.06%)
Player (1.24%)
Banker, Super 6 (1.46%)
£2
£2.12
£2.48
£2.92
£10
£10.60
£12.40
£14.60
£25
£26.50
£31.00
£36.50
£50
£53.00
£62.00
£73.00
Compared with the Tie at 8 to 1, which costs £143.60 per 100 hands at £10, the choice between Banker and Player is a fine-tuning decision. Our baccarat house edge page compares every bet.
Should you switch between banker and player?
Switching sides based on recent results doesn't help. Each hand is dealt under the same rules, and earlier hands don't make Banker or Player 'due'. A run of six Player wins leaves the next hand's odds exactly where they always are. Score cards and road maps are a record of what happened, not a forecast; our gambler's fallacy page explains why streaks mislead.
Staking systems run into the same wall. Doubling up on Banker after a loss, as in the Martingale, doesn't change the 1.06% edge; it just raises the stakes and risks hitting the table limit. Flat betting on the cheapest side keeps your expected cost lowest for the amount you stake.
Banker bet myths and facts
Advantages
Fact: on 5% commission tables, Banker has the lowest edge of the main bets.
Fact: Banker wins 45.86% of all hands and Player 44.62%.
Fact: ties push on Banker and Player bets, so your stake is returned.
Drawbacks
Myth: Banker always wins in the long run. It wins more often, but the commission means the bet still loses 1.06% on average.
Myth: no commission tables are always better. On the Super 6 rule, Banker costs more.
Myth: you can tell when Banker is 'hot'. Past hands don't affect the next one.
How to pick the best baccarat bet at any table
Open the table's help screen before you place a chip.
Find how Banker wins are paid: 5% commission, half pay on a 6, or a three-card 7 push.
If it's 5% commission or EZ rules, Banker is the cheaper main bet.
If a winning Banker 6 pays only half, choose Player for the lower edge.
Check for any extra fee (such as Lightning or Peek) and keep your stake flat within your budget.
UK rules at the baccarat table
Online baccarat in Great Britain must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle, autoplay is banned for all casino games, and your net spend and time played must be shown. The £5 and £2 stake limits apply to slots only, so baccarat limits are set by each table. Age and identity checks come before any deposit. Read more in our guide to UK live casino rules.
Where to play live baccarat in the UK
Our partner offers are designed for slots, so they aren't a reason to choose a baccarat table. Casumo: 50% up to £100 on a first deposit from £20, 10x wagering within 7 days, £5 maximum bet while the bonus is active, game restrictions apply. 10bet: 100% up to £25, 10x wagering on slots within 3 days, £1,000 maximum bonus winnings. Coral: bet £10 on slots and get 100 free spins at 10p each. All are 18+ with terms applying. Live baccarat is often excluded from bonuses or counts for less, so check the terms and the casino's live baccarat tables directly.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only. Opt-in required. 50% deposit bonus up to £100 on first deposit. Minimum deposit £20. 10x wagering on the bonus amount. Maximum bet or spin £5. Bonus valid for 7 days. Game, play and payment method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers only. Select the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and make your first deposit within 7 days. 100% bonus up to £25. Wager the bonus 10x on slots within 3 days. Maximum bonus winnings £1,000. Skrill and Neteller deposits do not qualify. Bonus is not redeemable. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our 10bet reviewLicence: Blue Star Planet Limited, Gambling Commission account 43173. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
Should you always bet on the banker in baccarat?
Only on tables that charge the standard 5% commission or use EZ Baccarat rules. There, Banker has a 1.06% (or 1.02%) edge against Player's 1.24%. On no-commission tables using the Super 6 rule, where a Banker win on 6 pays half, the Banker edge rises to 1.46%, so Player is the cheaper bet. Always check how Banker wins are paid. Our no commission baccarat page explains the variants.
Why does the banker win more often in baccarat?
Because the Banker hand draws after the Player hand, and the third-card rule lets its decisions depend on the Player's third card. That small advantage means Banker wins 45.86% of hands with eight decks, against 44.62% for Player. The 5% commission on Banker wins exists to offset that edge. Our third-card rule page sets out exactly when each hand draws.
Is the banker bet a winning strategy?
No. Banker has the lowest edge on a standard table, but it is still a losing bet on average: about 10.6p for every £10 staked. It wins more often than Player, yet the 5% commission trims each win to £9.50. No bet in baccarat has a player advantage, so the aim is to spend less, not to profit. See can you make money from casino games for the bigger picture.
Is no commission baccarat better for banker bets?
Usually not. In the common Super 6 version, a Banker win with a total of 6 pays only half the stake. That costs more than the 5% commission: the Banker edge goes up to 1.46% with eight decks. Player stays at 1.24%, so it becomes the cheaper bet. EZ Baccarat is different, pushing on a three-card Banker 7 for a 1.02% edge. Our EZ Baccarat page explains that version.
How much does the banker bet cost per hour?
It depends on your stake and the table speed. At £10 a hand and about 75 hands an hour on a standard live table, you stake £750, and 1.06% of that is about £7.95 on average. On a speed table running about 133 hands an hour, the same stake costs about £14.10. Real sessions swing well above and below these figures. Our cost per hour page shows the method.
Do ties affect the banker bet?
A tie is a push on Banker and Player bets: your stake is returned and nothing is won or lost. Ties happen in about 9.52% of hands with eight decks. That's why the edges for Banker (1.06%) and Player (1.24%) are calculated across all hands, ties included. Betting on the Tie itself is another matter, with an edge of 14.36% at 8 to 1. Read is the tie bet worth it to compare.
Should I follow banker streaks?
No. Each hand is dealt under the same fixed rules, so a streak of Banker wins doesn't make the next hand more or less likely to go Banker. The chance stays at 45.86% Banker, 44.62% Player and 9.52% Tie every time. Road maps record history but predict nothing. Our page on the hot hand fallacy explains why streaks feel more meaningful than they are.
Is player or banker better in live baccarat?
On a live table with the standard 5% commission, Banker is slightly better at 1.06% against 1.24%. Live and RNG versions follow the same drawing rules, so the edges don't change because a real dealer is involved. The variant matters more: no-commission and fee-based live tables can flip the answer. Check the help screen. Our live baccarat guide covers the common live formats.
We use no tracking cookies. We store one item in your browser to remember this notice. Casino sites may set their own cookies after you follow an advert link. Cookie policy
