Live Baccarat Rules

The rules listed here are the standard game rules for Live Baccarat, however it is important to consult any specific rules that may exist for variants of the game. It is the responsibility of each player to verify their understanding of the rules of their chosen game prior to placing bets. Specific rules for each game are accessed by clicking on the ‘Help’ and ‘Paytable’ icons while the game is open.

Game Objective

The objective in LIVE BACCARAT is to predict whose hand will win by having the value closest to 9.

Game Rules

The game is hosted by a dealer and is played with eight standard 52-card decks. Card values are as follows:

Aces are the lowest cards and are worth 1 point each.
Cards from 2 to 9 are worth their numerical face values.
10s and face cards (jacks, queens and kings) are each worth 0.

Only the numeric value of each card is relevant in the main Baccarat game; Each card's suit (hearts, spades, clubs or diamonds) is irrelevant.

Prior to each deal, you must place your bet on whether the Player or the Banker will win the round by having the hand with a value closest to 9. You also have the option to bet that the round will end in a Tie, which occurs when both the Player and Banker hold hands of equal value.

The dealer begins by dealing two cards each to the Player and to the Banker.

Two hands are dealt in Baccarat: one hand to the Player and one hand to the Banker.

If the Player and Banker hold hands of equal value, the round ends in a tie. The Tie bet wins, and bets on the Player and Banker push (are returned).

Each hand's value is calculated by dropping the tens digit in a hand otherwise worth 11 or more. For example, a 7 and a 9 is only worth 6 in Baccarat (because 16-10=6). Similarly, a face card plus a 9 will be worth 9.

If the Player or the Banker receives an initial two-card hand worth 8 or a 9 (a "natural" 8 or 9), no additional cards will be dealt to either hand.

If the Player and Banker receive initial two-card hands worth 0-7, the "Third Card Rule" is consulted to determine if a third card is to be dealt to either hand or both hands. The Player always goes first.

Player's Hand

Player's initial two-card hand

0-1-2-3-4-5 Player draws a third card.

6-7 Player stands.

8-9 (a "natural") No third card to either hand.

Player pays 1:1

Banker's Hand

D - Draw; S - Stand

Banker pays 1:0.95 (5% commission is charged)

If the Player's hand stands on a 6 or 7, then a Banker hand totalling 3, 4 or 5 must draw, while a Banker hand totalling 6 must stand.

Whoever gets the hand closest to a total of 9 wins.

Tie bet pays 8:1.

Side Bets

Player Pair - Pays if the first two cards dealt to the Player constitute a pair.
Banker Pair - Pays if the first two cards dealt to the Banker constitute a pair.
Perfect Pair - Pays 25:1 if two identical cards (in terms of value and suit) are dealt as the first two cards to either the Banker or the Player. Pays 200:1 if two identical cards (in terms of value and suit) are dealt as the first two cards to both the Banker and the Player.
Either - Pays 5:1 if the first two cards dealt to either the Banker or the Player are equal in value or the same in suit.
Player Bonus - Pays when the Player wins the round on a natural 8 or 9 or by at least four points.
Banker Bonus - Pays when the Banker wins the round on a natural 8 or 9 or by at least four points.

Player/Banker Bonus Payouts

Hand Combination Odds

Non-Natural hand wins by 9 points, 30:1
Non-Natural hand wins by 8 points, 10:1
Non-Natural hand wins by 7 points, 6:1
Non-Natural hand wins by 6 points, 4:1
Non-Natural hand wins by 5 points, 2:1
Non-Natural hand wins by 4 points, 1:1
Natural win, 1:1
Natural tie, Push

Please note that any malfunction voids the game round and all eventual payouts for the round. Bets will be returned.

Return to Player

The optimal theoretical return-to-player percentage for Live Baccarat is 98.94%.

The following table displays the return-to-player percentage on the different optional side bets.

Side Bet Return to Player

Banker Pair 89.64%

Player Pair 89.64%

Perfect Pair 91.95%

Either Pair 86.29%

Player Bonus 97.35%

Banker Bonus 90.63%

Place Bets

The BET LIMITS panel displays the minimum and maximum stakes permitted on table in total.

To participate in the game, you must have sufficient funds to cover your bets. You can see your current BALANCE on your screen.

The TRAFFIC LIGHTS tell you the current status in the game round by informing you of when you can bet (GREEN light), when the betting time is nearly over (YELLOW light), and when betting time has expired (RED light).

The CHIP DISPLAY allows you to select the value of each chip you wish to bet. Only chips of denominations that can be covered by your current balance will be enabled. This display will only be illuminated for use when betting time remains (the light is green or yellow).

Once you have selected a chip, place your bet by simply clicking/tapping the betting spot on the game table. Each time you click/tap the betting spot, the amount of your bet increases by the value of the selected chip or up to the maximum limit for the type of bet you have selected. Once you have bet the maximum limit, no additional funds will be accepted for that bet, and a message will appear above your bet to notify you that you have bet the maximum.

NOTE: Please do not minimize your browser or open any other tab in your browser while betting time remains and you have placed bets on the table. Such actions will be interpreted as leaving the game, and your bets will therefore be declined for that particular game round.

The DOUBLE (2x) button allows you to quickly double your bet. This button is enabled after you have placed any bet.
The DOUBLE (2x) button allows to Double the bet up to the maximum limit.
You can double your bet only once.

The REPEAT button allows you to repeat all bets from the previous game round. This button is available only before first chip is placed.

The UNDO button removes the last bet you placed.

You can click/tap the UNDO button repeatedly to remove bets, one by one, in the reverse order of which they were placed. Note that bets can only be removed while betting time still remains (GREEN or YELLOW light).

The TOTAL BET indicator displays the total amount of all bets placed in the current round.

Game Number

Each game round is identified by a unique GAME NUMBER.
This number reflects when the round began in terms of GMT by hour: minute: second. Please use this game number for reference (or take a screenshot of the game number) if you wish to contact Customer Service regarding a particular round.

Error Handling

If there is any error in the game, gambling system or game procedure, the game round will be temporarily paused while the dealer notifies the shift manager. You and other players will be notified via Chat, or by an on-screen pop-up message, that the issue is being investigated. If the manager can immediately resolve the error, the game round will continue as normal. If immediate resolution is not possible, the game round will be cancelled and initial bets will be refunded to all players who participated in the game round.