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 always banks the game and deals both hands from a shoe, 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
These draw and hand‑comparison rules are close to standard baccarat rules.
Cards are dealt face up. 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.
Note: the “Banker wins on 6, pay half” rule (1:2) is used only in variants such as Super 6 or EZ Baccarat, not in regular Punto Banco. In those variants the house edge on a Banker bet rises to about 1.46%.
Mila RoyContent Strategist
Mila RoyIf 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 Player/Banker bets are pushed (returned) rather than left in play.
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
In American Punto Banco (Las Vegas/Atlantic City), the casino always acts as Banker and deals from a shoe—players never assume the banking role nor pass the shoe around. The game is played on an oval table staffed by a croupier who deals and announces totals, plus two dealers handling bets and commission. Six or eight decks are used, typically shuffled only by the croupier.
In VIP rooms, minimum bets often start at $25–$50 on mini‑tables and go up to $5,000–$10,000 (or more on full‑size tables). Maximums can be set to suit high rollers.
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.
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.
