A Complete Guide to the Punto Banco Game
In Canada, Finland, and the USA, a version of Baccarat called Punto Banco is commonly played. In Punto Banco, the casino typically acts as the dealer throughout the game, which usually leads to a faster pace. You can choose to bet on either “Punto” (the Player) or “Banco” (the Banker). These two terms refer to the hands that compete against each other in each round.
This type of Baccarat is also the most popular online. If you’ve played Baccarat online before, chances are you’ve played Punto Banco. Recently, many online casinos have started referring to the game simply as Punto Banco.
Punto Banco Rules
Cards are dealt face down. First, one card goes to the Player, then to the Banker, then another card to the Player, and finally to the Banker. This is the first round, where each hand gets two cards. Both cards are then flipped over, and their values are added together. The dealer announces the total values (e.g., five for the Player and three for the Banker). From this starting point, the Punto Banco table rules determine whether more cards need to be drawn. Depending on the value of the two hands, either the Player or the Banker will either draw another card or stand. The hand with the highest value wins.
If either the Player or the Banker reaches a value of 8 or 9 on the first deal, known as a “natural hand,” no further cards are drawn. If not, the game continues as follows:
If the Player has a total of 0-5 after the first round, the Player draws one more card. If the Player’s first value is 6 or 7, the Player stands.
The Banker’s play depends on the Player’s hand and whether the Player draws a card, based on the following conditions:
- If the Player does not draw a card, the Banker draws a card if they have 0-5 but stands if they have 6-7.
- If the Player draws a 2 or a 3, the Banker draws a card if they have 0-4 but stands if they have 5-7.
- If the Player draws a 4 or a 5, the Banker draws a card if they have 0-5 but stands if they have 6-7.
- If the Player draws a 6 or a 7, the Banker draws a card if they have 0-6 but stands if they have 7.
- If the Player draws an 8, the Banker draws a card if they have 0-2 but stands if they have 3-7.
- If the Player draws an Ace, 9, 10, or any face card, the Banker draws a card if they have 0-3 but stands if they have 4-7.
The dealer distributes the cards according to the table rules and then announces the winning hand—either the Player or the Banker. The losing bets are collected, and the winning bets are paid out according to the rules. Typically, even money or 1-1 is paid out if the Player wins, and 95% is paid if the Banker wins, with a 5% commission going to the house.
Some casinos offer even money or 1-1 payouts for both Player and Banker wins, with the exception that if the Banker wins with a 6, the house takes 50% of the winnings or half of the original bet. In this case, the house edge on a Banker bet is 1.46%, while the edge on Player bets and Tie bets is the same as in regular Punto Banco.
If both the Banker’s and Player’s hands have the same value at the end of the round, the dealer will announce “Égalité – tie bets win.” All tie bets are paid out at odds of 8:1, and bets on the Player or Banker remain in place and can be used in the next round (depending on the casino’s rules, players may or may not have the option to take these bets back).
Despite its simplicity (or perhaps because of it), the Punto Banco version of Baccarat offers some of the lowest house edges you’ll find in a casino. A bet on the Player gives the house a 1.24% edge, while a bet on the Banker gives the house a 1.06% edge. A tie bet, however, gives the house a much larger advantage of 14.44%, assuming six decks are in play.
Punto Banco Strategy
Punto Banco is mainly a game of chance, where luck determines whether you win or lose in the long run. However, by using our Punto Banco strategy, you can greatly improve your chances of winning during a single session. Check out our baccarat strategy for the best tips.
Punto Banco in the USA
The traditional American version of Punto Banco, most commonly found in Las Vegas. It is played on an oval table, similar to the one used in the Baccarat version called Chemin de Fer. The table is staffed by one dealer who manages the game, and two other dealers who handle the bets, payouts, and commission tracking. Six or eight decks are used, typically shuffled only by the dealer.
Just like in Chemin de Fer, the “Shoe” is passed around from player to player, who takes on the role of dealer and acts as the “Bank.” However, this role is purely ceremonial, and the player is not actually the Bank. The player can place bets on either the Player’s hand or the Banker’s hand, and they can also choose to pass the role of Bank to another player.
The player who places the highest bet on the Player’s hand is given the Player’s cards and announces the total value after turning them over. The dealer then instructs the Banker on whether more cards should be dealt and announces the winning hand.
In casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this version of Punto Banco is typically played in private rooms, separate from the main gaming floor, creating an exclusive atmosphere. Security in these rooms is usually very tight due to the large sums of money involved. This game frequently attracts some of the world’s biggest high rollers, who can spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single hand.
One notable player was Australian tycoon Kerry Packer, who had a particular fondness for the game and won and lost massive sums over the years. Minimum bets are usually quite high, starting at around $25 and going up to $500. It is not uncommon to see maximum bets of $10,000 on a single hand.
Because Baccarat often attracts wealthy players, the casino can win or lose millions of dollars in a single evening. The outcome of Baccarat can even influence a casino’s quarterly financial performance. Reports of the impact of significant Baccarat wins or losses frequently appear in the quarterly statements of publicly traded casino companies.
