Baccarat Side Bets: Every Option, Payout, and House Edge Explained
The Banker bet costs you $1.06 per $100 wagered. The Player bet costs $1.24. Then you look at the side bet circles on the felt and see payouts of 25:1, 30:1, even 200:1. It’s hard not to be tempted. Baccarat side bets are the casino’s most effective lure for pulling money away from the main game’s excellent odds and toward wagers with significantly higher house edges.
Some side bets carry edges of 5%. Others hit 10%, 13%, even 16%. That doesn’t mean you should never touch them. It means you should understand exactly what each one costs before you put a chip on it. This guide covers every major baccarat side bet you’ll encounter at a live casino or online table in 2026, with honest numbers on payouts, probability, and the true price of each wager.
- The Dragon Bonus is the most popular side bet, paying up to 30:1 for a 9-point winning margin, with a house edge of 2.65% on Player and 9.37% on Banker
- Pair bets pay 11:1 (standard pair) or 25:1 (perfect/suited pair), with house edges around 10% to 13%
- Big/Small bets have the lowest side bet house edges at 4.35% (Big) and 5.27% (Small)
- Panda 8 pays 25:1 but carries a 10.19% house edge; Dragon 7 pays 40:1 with a 7.61% edge
- Every side bet has a higher house edge than the Banker (1.06%) or Player (1.24%) main bets
- Side bets are entertainment, not strategy; treat them as occasional extras, not the core of your session
What Baccarat Side Bets Actually Are
Side bets are optional wagers placed alongside your main Player, Banker, or Tie bet. They don’t replace the core game. They sit next to it, occupying additional betting circles on the table layout. You can play the main game without touching a single side bet, and most smart players do exactly that most of the time.
Side bets pay more than the main bets because they hit less often. A 30:1 payout sounds incredible until you realize the event only happens about 3% of the time. The casino builds its profit into the gap between the true odds and the offered payout, and that gap is wider on side bets than on any main bet in baccarat.
Different casinos offer different side bets. Some tables have two or three options. Others, particularly at online baccarat platforms, offer a dozen or more. The selection varies by game provider, region, and table format. What doesn’t vary: every side bet gives the house a bigger advantage than the standard Banker or Player wager. If you want the core math on the main bets, our baccarat odds and house edge guide covers them in full.
Dragon Bonus
The Dragon Bonus is the most widely available and most popular baccarat side bet. You’ll find it at most live tables and on virtually every online platform. It pays based on the margin of victory for the hand you bet on.
How It Works
You place a Dragon Bonus bet on either the Player or Banker side. If your chosen side wins, the payout depends on the point difference between the winning and losing hands. A natural win (8 or 9 on the first two cards) pays the lowest. A blowout win by 9 points pays the highest. If your side loses, you lose the bet. If the result is a natural tie (both hands dealt 8 or 9), it pushes.
| Winning Margin | Payout |
|---|---|
| Natural win (2-card 8 or 9) | 1:1 |
| Natural tie (8-8 or 9-9) | Push |
| Win by 9 points | 30:1 |
| Win by 8 points | 10:1 |
| Win by 7 points | 6:1 |
| Win by 6 points | 4:1 |
| Win by 5 points | 2:1 |
| Win by 4 points | 1:1 |
| Win by 0-3 points or loss | Loss |
The Real Cost
The Player Dragon Bonus carries a house edge of approximately 2.65%. That’s the lowest of any baccarat side bet and actually not terrible by casino standards. The Banker Dragon Bonus, however, jumps to approximately 9.37%. The asymmetry exists because the Banker hand already wins more often (45.86% vs 44.62%), so the casino adjusts the Banker Dragon Bonus payout structure less favorably to compensate.
If you’re going to play a Dragon Bonus, the Player side gives you significantly better value. This is one of the few situations where betting on the Player side has a mathematical advantage over Banker on a per-bet basis.
Pair Bets
Pair bets wager that the first two cards dealt to either the Player or the Banker will form a pair. There are several variations.
Player Pair and Banker Pair
These are the standard pair bets. You’re betting that the first two cards dealt to one specific side will be the same rank (for example, two 7s or two Kings). Suit doesn’t matter. The typical payout is 11:1, and the house edge sits at approximately 10.36% for both Player Pair and Banker Pair.
Either Pair
Some tables offer an “Either Pair” bet that wins if the Player hand or the Banker hand (or both) is dealt a pair. The payout is typically 5:1, with a house edge of approximately 14.54%. It hits more often than a single-side pair bet, but the reduced payout and higher edge make it worse mathematically.
Perfect Pair
A Perfect Pair (also called a “Suited Pair”) wins when the two cards are the same rank and the same suit: two 8s of hearts, for example. In an 8-deck shoe, there are multiple copies of each card, so suited pairs are possible. The typical payout is 25:1, with a house edge around 13%.
Big and Small Bets
Big and Small bets wager on the total number of cards dealt in a round, not on which side wins.
A Small bet wins if exactly 4 cards are dealt (two per hand, no third cards drawn). It pays 3:2 (or 1.5:1) with a house edge of approximately 5.27%.
A Big bet wins if 5 or 6 cards are dealt (at least one third card is drawn). It pays 2:1 with a house edge of approximately 4.35%.
These are among the lowest-edge side bets available. The Big bet’s 4.35% house edge is considerably cheaper than most pair bets and exotic side wagers. If you want a side bet that won’t destroy your bankroll quickly, Big/Small is the safest option after the Player Dragon Bonus.
EZ Baccarat Side Bets: Dragon 7 and Panda 8
These two side bets are specific to EZ Baccarat (Super 6), the no-commission variant.
Dragon 7
The Dragon 7 bet wins when the Banker hand wins with a three-card total of 7. Not a two-card natural 7; it must involve three cards. The payout is 40:1. This event occurs approximately 2.25% of the time. The house edge is about 7.61%.
Panda 8
The Panda 8 bet wins when the Player hand wins with a three-card total of 8. Same requirement: must be three cards, not a natural. The payout is 25:1, with a house edge of approximately 10.19%.
Both of these bets target rare, specific outcomes. They’ll sit cold for 30 to 40 hands, then suddenly hit and pay a satisfying chunk. That intermittent reinforcement is exactly what makes them psychologically addictive and mathematically expensive. The psychology of baccarat explains why these rare, high-payout events are so compelling to the human brain.
| Side Bet | Payout | Approx. House Edge | Where Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Bonus (Player) | Up to 30:1 | 2.65% | Most tables |
| Dragon Bonus (Banker) | Up to 30:1 | 9.37% | Most tables |
| Player Pair | 11:1 | 10.36% | Most tables |
| Banker Pair | 10.36% | 10.36% | Most tables |
| Perfect Pair | 25:1 | ~13% | Select tables |
| Either Pair | 5:1 | 14.54% | Select tables |
| Big (5-6 cards) | 2:1 | 4.35% | Many tables |
| Small (4 cards) | 3:2 | 5.27% | Many tables |
| Dragon 7 | 40:1 | 7.61% | EZ Baccarat only |
| Panda 8 | 25:1 | 10.19% | EZ Baccarat only |
Egalite Bets (Specific Tie Bets)
Egalite bets take the standard Tie wager and slice it into specific outcomes. Instead of betting on any tie (which pays 8:1 with a 14.36% house edge), you bet on a tie at a specific total.
Both hands tying at 0 pays 150:1. A tie at 2 pays 225:1. A tie at 5 pays 110:1. Each specific tie has its own probability and payout, and the house edges range from roughly 5% to 15% depending on the specific number and the casino’s payout table.
Egalite bets are most common at live dealer tables from providers like Evolution. They add granularity to the tie bet, letting you target the rarest outcomes for the biggest payouts. The tie at 2 (225:1) and tie at 3 (200:1) are the flashiest, but they also hit roughly once every 250 to 400 hands.
Less Common Side Bets
Several other side bets appear at specific casinos or on specific online platforms. Here’s a quick overview of what you might encounter.
All Red / All Black
Wins if every card dealt in the round (4, 5, or 6 cards) is the same color. All red pays 22:1; all black pays 24:1. Found primarily at live casino tables. The house edge varies but is generally steep because the event requires every single card to cooperate.
Rabbit Play
A Las Vegas-specific set of side bets covering pairs and three-of-a-kind. A suited three-of-a-kind pays 500:1. An unsuited pair on the first two cards pays 7:1. The house edge ranges from 8.07% (Player) to 9.31% (Banker).
Lucky 8 / Unlucky 8
Lucky 8 pays 4:1 when either hand wins with a total of 8. Unlucky 8 pays 8:1 when either hand loses with a total of 8. Lucky 8 carries particularly brutal house edges: 13.65% on Player and 16.60% on Banker. Avoid this one unless you’re purely chasing entertainment.
Quik
An unusual side bet based on the combined point totals of both hands. A combined total of 0 pays 50:1. A combined 18 pays 25:1. Totals of 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, or 17 pay 1:1. Everything else loses. Found at select live tables.
The Honest Truth About Side Bet Strategy
Let’s cut straight to it. There is no strategy that makes baccarat side bets profitable in the long run. The house edge is built into the payout structure, and no pattern, no system, and no streak of results changes the underlying math.
Some players track baccarat roads and claim to spot patterns that predict when pair bets or Dragon Bonus bets will hit. This doesn’t work. Each hand is dealt from the same shoe with the same probability distribution. Past results don’t influence future cards.
What you can do is make smart choices about which side bets to play and how much to risk on them.
Ranking Side Bets by House Edge
If you’re going to play side bets, play the ones that cost the least per dollar wagered. The Player Dragon Bonus at 2.65% is the clear winner. Big (4.35%) and Small (5.27%) are reasonable alternatives. Everything else jumps into double-digit territory or close to it.
Sizing Your Side Bets
A good rule: never risk more than 10% of your main bet on side wagers. If you’re betting $50 on Banker, cap your side bets at $5. This keeps the higher-edge wagers from overwhelming your session costs. Our bankroll management guide covers how to structure your overall session budget.
The Entertainment Framework
The healthiest way to approach side bets is as entertainment spending, not as a path to profit. Set aside a small, fixed amount for side bets at the start of your session. When it’s gone, stop placing side bets and return to the main game. Don’t chase side bet losses by increasing your wagers. The winning strategies that actually work in baccarat focus on the main bets and bankroll discipline, not on exotic side wagers.
Should You Play Baccarat Side Bets?
Side bets exist because they’re profitable for casinos and fun for players. Both of those things are simultaneously true. The casino makes more money per hand when you add side bets. You get more excitement per hand when something extra is riding on the outcome. The question is whether that excitement is worth the additional cost.
For most players, the answer is: occasionally, in moderation, with money you’ve mentally written off as entertainment spending. A $5 Dragon Bonus on the Player side adds spice to a session without demolishing your bankroll. A $25 Perfect Pair bet on every hand will cost you roughly $3.25 in expected losses per hand, on top of whatever the main game costs. That adds up fast.
The core of baccarat’s appeal is its excellent main-game odds. The Banker bet at 1.06% and the Player bet at 1.24% are among the best wagers in any casino. Side bets pull you away from that advantage. Play them knowingly, play them sparingly, and always come back to the main game as your foundation. You can practice the core game risk-free on our baccarat simulator before adding side bets to your sessions.
Baccarat Side Bets FAQs
The Player Dragon Bonus has the lowest house edge of any common side bet at approximately 2.65%. It pays up to 30:1 for a 9-point winning margin. The Big bet (5 or 6 cards dealt) is the next best option at 4.35% house edge. Both are significantly better than pair bets (10%+) or the Tie bet (14.36%).
Mathematically, no. Every side bet has a higher house edge than the Banker (1.06%) or Player (1.24%) main bets. As entertainment, they can add excitement to your session. The key is treating them as occasional extras with a fixed budget, not as the foundation of your betting strategy. Our baccarat odds and house edge guide shows why the main bets are always the smarter choice.
The Dragon Bonus pays based on the winning margin between the Player and Banker hands. A natural win pays 1:1, while a 9-point margin pays 30:1. You choose whether to bet the Dragon Bonus on the Player side (2.65% house edge) or the Banker side (9.37% house edge). The Player Dragon Bonus is significantly more favorable.
A standard Player Pair or Banker Pair bet pays 11:1 when the first two cards dealt to that side are the same rank. A Perfect Pair (same rank and same suit) typically pays 25:1. Either Pair (pays if any side gets a pair) pays 5:1. House edges range from about 10% to 14.5% depending on the specific bet type.
Panda 8 is a side bet found in EZ Baccarat (Super 6). It pays 25:1 when the Player hand wins with a three-card total of 8. The event occurs approximately 3.41% of the time, and the house edge is about 10.19%. It’s exclusively available at EZ Baccarat tables.
No strategy can overcome the built-in house edge on side bets. Pattern tracking, streak following, and progressive betting systems don’t change the underlying probabilities. The best approach is to choose lower-edge side bets (Player Dragon Bonus at 2.65% or Big at 4.35%), limit your wager size, and treat side bets as entertainment, not a profit strategy. For overall game strategy, see our winning strategies for baccarat guide.
