Baccarat is one of the most popular table games both at brick-and-mortar and online casinos. It is not really difficult to see why it has attracted a massive community of devoted players from all parts of the world.
The overwhelming simplicity of its rules, the low house edge, and the glamour and glitz often associated with baccarat (to some point thanks to the classic James Bond movies) have all made the game a darling to both seasoned and casual casino players.
Out of all main baccarat variations, it can be said that there is one that shines brighter than the rest. It’s called Punto Banco and it is hugely popular at some of the world’s largest casino hubs, including Macau, Las Vegas, and the UK.
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The game has simple and straightforward rules, the only decision players are expected to make is which of two sides to bet on.
Little can be said about Punto Banco’s origin. Some sources say that the game hails from Mexico, others argue that it was invented in Argentina. It is believed that it first appeared across casino floors in Las Vegas in the 1950s. Punto Banco is also often referred to as North American baccarat.
Nowadays, it enjoys particularly big popularity in Macau. Since the game’s outcome is purely dependent on chance, and there is little strategy (nearly no strategy at all) involved, it appeals to the highly superstitious Chinese gamblers, many of whom believe that winning should be a matter of luck and not so much of skill.
But enough with the chitter-chatter. It is now time to delve into the game’s essentials and how it is played.
Punto Banco: Important Terms
Punto Banco is one of the easiest casino card games, even easier than classic baccarat variations. As mentioned earlier, it is a game of chance where players simply have to predict an outcome.
Unlike other card games such as blackjack where players’ decisions can affect the outcome of a hand, in Punto Banco players need to make one decision only, which side to back, the Player (punto) or the Bank (banco).
Despite these designations, players do not bet against themselves if they choose to bet on the Bank. That is to say, the Player is not associated with the casino patron and the Bank is not associated with the house.
There is also a third option; players can bet on a tie. That third option is known as égalité.
The winning hand is the one in which the sum of its cards is closest to nine.
Baccarat Rules and Odds
Baccarat Table Layout
Baccarat Terminology
Baccarat Shoes
Punto Banco Rules
Punto Banco is played with 6 or 8 decks of cards that are shuffled together. Before a new coup (round) of Punto Banco kicks off, the dealer will burn or remove the first card from the shoe face up. The dealer will then burn as many cards as the value of that first card. This is done so that card counting is prevented.
In Punto Banco, the number cards 2-9 are scored at their face value, tens and picture cards are scored as zero, and aces are scored as 1.
As mentioned above, a winning hand in the game is the one closest to nine. If the sum of the cards dealt within a hand exceeds 10 points, the tens are not counted. In other words, if a hand has an 8 and an 8, totaling 16, then it counts as 6.
At the start of each hand, players are asked to place their bets on either the Player’s or the Bank’s hand. Or if they think both hands will have the same total, they should place their bet in the égalité box.
Two hands comprising two cards are dealt to the Player and the Bank. The values of the two cards in each hand are added together. If the Player or the Bank, or both, achieve a total of 8 or 9, the hand is over and the result is announced. This is known as a natural win.
However, if neither the Player, nor the Bank has achieved a total of 8 or 9, the game continues and the sides can be dealt an additional third card. An additional third card is dealt under the following rules:
Player’s rule:
- 0 to 5 score – the Player is dealt a third card automatically
- 6 or 7 score – the Player stands
- 8 or 9 score – the Player stands and the round is finished
Bank’s rule:
The Bank gets a third card:
- If the Bank’s total is 0,1, or 2, regardless of the Player’s total from three cards
- If the Bank’s total is 3 and the Player’s total is less than 8
- If the Bank’s total is 4 and the Player’s total is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7
- If the Bank’s total is 5 and the Player’s total is 4, 5, 6, or 7
- If the Bank’s total is 6 and the Player’s total is 6 or 7
The Bank stands:
- If the Bank’s total is 6 and the Player’s total is 6 or 7 from two cards
- If the Bank’s total is 7, 8, or 9
Once the dealing and drawing of cards is over, the hand closest to nine is announced as the winning one and the house pays out all winning bets. If the Player’s and the Bank’s hands are even, the house pays out all égalité bets.
In case of a tie, all losing bets on the Player and the Bank remain active for the next coup.
Punto Banco Payouts and Odds
There are three types of payouts in Punto Banco depending on the winning hand and whether there’s a tie. Even money, or 1:1, are paid out on Player bets. Winning Bank bets are paid out at even money minus a 5% house commission, which results in a payout of 0.95:1.
Winning égalité bets are paid out at 8:1, which makes them particularly attractive, even though the chance of a tie is minuscule compared to the other two options.
Even though it can be said that Punto Banco is an even-money game, it still has a house edge due to its drawing rules. Bank bets have a house edge of around 1.17%, Player bets have a house edge of 1.36%, and égalité bets have a house edge of 14%.
Punto Banco and the Martingale Strategy
Some players believe that the principles of the Martingale system can be applied to the game of Punto Banco, using a 1-3-2-4 or 1-3-2-6 sequence of bets. According to this strategy, players should increase their bet every time they lose.
And increasing the bet should cover the losses when players eventually win. However, a losing streak can last for a while and if a player continues to raise their stake, they risk emptying their bankroll or reach the table limit before the Martingale strategy finally pays out.
