The tie pays 8 to 1 and wins about one hand in ten. That sounds close to fair until the arithmetic is done. Here is the house edge of the tie and of the common side bets, and why one small side bet can cost more than your main stake.
Tie at 8:1 and 9:1PairsDragon Bonus
The tie bet wins when banker and player finish on the same total. It happens about once in ten and a half hands. A fair payout for that would be about 9.5 to 1. Most tables pay 8 to 1; a few pay 9 to 1. The gap between fair and paid is the house edge.
The tie, priced
| Tie pays | Wins | House edge | Cost of $10 a hand over 100 hands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 to 1 | 9.52% | 14.36% | $143.60 |
| 9 to 1 | 9.52% | 4.84% | $48.40 |
| for comparison: banker | 45.86% | 1.06% | $10.60 |
"The tie is due"
Ties come at random. A run of 20 hands without one happens about 13.5% of the time from any point in a shoe, and the hand after it has the same 9.52% chance as any other. Waiting for a "due" tie and then betting it does not change the edge.
Side bets
Live tables offer a menu of side bets next to the main three. Their paytables differ by studio and table, so the edges below are typical values for eight decks, not guarantees for every table:
| Side bet | Wins when | Typical pay | Typical house edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player Pair | player's first two cards are a pair | 11 to 1 | about 10.36% |
| Banker Pair | banker's first two cards are a pair | 11 to 1 | about 10.36% |
| Dragon Bonus, Player | player wins by a margin or with a natural | sliding scale | about 2.65% |
| Dragon Bonus, Banker | banker wins by a margin or with a natural | sliding scale | about 9.37% |
| Perfect Pair, Either Pair and others | various | various | often above 10% |
Dragon Bonus on player is the exception: a modest edge for a side bet. The rest cost several times the main bets. The info screen of each table shows its exact paytable.
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When a side bet costs more than the main bet
| Bet | Stake | Edge | Expected cost per hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banker | $25 | 1.06% | $0.27 |
| Player Pair | $5 | 10.36% | $0.52 |
| Tie at 8:1 | $5 | 14.36% | $0.72 |
A $25 banker bet with $5 on a pair and $5 on the tie costs about $1.51 per hand. The two small bets account for more than four-fifths of it.
If you enjoy the big payouts
Side bets are entertainment, and some players like the chance of a 11-to-1 or 25-to-1 hit. Two ways to keep them in proportion:
- Budget them separately, as a fixed amount per session, not per hand.
- Bet them occasionally, not on every round. Fewer stakes, smaller cost.
Tie bets at RNG and original tables
RNG baccarat and some casino-made versions publish their payouts and return in the game's info screen. A tie at 9 to 1 or a higher return changes the numbers above; check before assuming the 8-to-1 figure.
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Questions and answers
Should I bet on a tie in baccarat?
Not as a routine bet. At 8 to 1 the tie has a house edge of 14.36%, more than thirteen times the banker bet. At 9 to 1 it falls to 4.84%, still four times banker.
How often is there a tie in baccarat?
About 9.52% of hands with eight decks: roughly one in ten and a half.
What happens to banker and player bets on a tie?
They push: the stake is returned or stays on the table. Only the tie bet wins.