Some Baccarat side bets offer huge payouts, but are they worth it? Check out the 7 best options, their odds, and smart strategies to play them right.

Baccarat is a favorite among casino games, renowned for its speed of action and straightforward rule sets. Though the foundation wagers—Banker, Player, and Tie—bear comparatively low house advantages, most gamers seek added excitement through side wagers. Side wagers bring the added level of excitement through placing bets on outcomes, for instance, a winning hand containing a specific overall total card number or a duplicated match.

Why side bets are so appealing is the promise of ginormous payouts. Some offer players odds of up to 25:1 and higher, which gamblers with an eye for huge awards will be crazy about. There is one issue: most of the side bets come with a tougher house edge than regular Baccarat bets.

This article will analyse the 7 best Baccarat side bets, breaking down their payouts, house edge, and best play strategy for playing them intelligently.

How Side Bets Work in Baccarat

Side bets on baccarat are secondary bets players place on top of the game. While betting on the Banker or Player to be the winner, baccarat side bets explained how these additional wagers focus on specific events, such as a hand winning with a particular number of points or two cards forming a pair. Side bets add more excitement and variety but introduce more risk due to their high variance.

How side bets differ from main bets:

• The Banker bet has the lowest house edge (~1.06%), and therefore, it is the best bet.
• The Player bet is riskier with a house edge of 1.24%.
• Tie bets have large payouts (8:1 or 9:1) but enormous house edges (over 14%).
• Side bets have varying odds, some with huge 30:1 payouts and house edges of up to 20% or more.

Risk vs. Reward in Side Bets

Side bets are attractive because they have very large payouts, yet they cost a lot. The house edge on these bets is usually much higher than the main bets. For example, the Panda 8 bet offers a payout of 25:1, yet its house edge is over 10%. This means that, in the long run, the casino is heavily favored.

That said, not all side bets are bad choices. Some offer reasonable odds and can be strategically played to increase your chances of winning. After going through the 10 best side bets reviewed, we’ve narrowed it down to the top 7 that offer the best balance between excitement and fair odds.

The 7 Best Baccarat Side Bets

Baccarat side bets offer high returns but more danger. The good ones will increase the enjoyment of the game and your potential payouts. Here are the 7 best side bets, such as payout design, house advantage, and betting tips.

1. Dragon Bonus

The Dragon Bonus is the most widely played side bet on Baccarat. It is settled if the winning hand is natural (8 or 9) or if it wins comprehensively. The larger the difference between the two hands, the larger the payout.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Natural win: 1:1
• Win by 4 points: 2:1
• Win by 5 points: 4:1
• Win by 6 points: 8:1
• Win by 7 points: 10:1
• Win by 8 points: 30:1
• House edge: ~2.65% (Player) / ~9.37% (Banker)
  
  

Strategy Tip: The Dragon Bonus is ideal when the game has a hot winning trend for the Player or Banker. When you notice a pattern in which one of the sides is experiencing huge margins of winning, this bet would be a great addition to your game strategy.

2. Panda 8

The Panda 8 is a winner if the player's hand is an 8 three-card total. It doesn't occur very often, but it is a good payoff.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Wins at 25:1
• House edge: ~10.19%
  
  

Strategy Tip: As this bet is based on a total of 8 from three cards, it performs best when the Banker is winning. This way, Player hands will likely receive a third card, so your chances of being dealt a Panda 8 are higher.

3. Lucky 6

The Lucky 6 wins if the Banker wins with a total of 6. The pay varies according to the number of cards used to achieve this total.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Two-card win: 12:1
• Three-card win: 20:1
• House edge: ~13.98%
  
  

Strategy Tip: The Lucky 6 bet is especially valuable in no-commission Baccarat games, where the standard Banker bet lacks the 5% commission. These games are tilted in favour of the Banker wins, and hence Lucky 6 becomes attractive.

4. 5 Treasures

It's five individual side bets combined into one bet. Each of the sub-bets pays out and has odds, so multiple ways to win.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Fortune 6: 3:1
• Golden 8: 8:1
• Phoenix Pair: 25:1
• Dragon 7: 40:1
• Royal 9: 1,000:1
• House edge: Varies (4% - 25%)
  
  

Strategy Tip: Instead of betting on all five opportunities, play the lower house edge bets like Fortune 6 and Golden 8. The higher payout bets (e.g., Royal 9) may be appealing but rare.

5. Either Pair

Either Pair bet is a winner when the Player or Banker's hand starts with a pair of identical cards. For example, when the Player is dealt two Kings, the bet is a winner.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Wins at 5:1
• House edge: ~14.54%
  
  

Strategy Tip: This is optimal in multi-deck games (6 or 8 decks) because more cards increase the chances of pairs coming up. This is a good bet if you enjoy short-term thrills, but in the long term, it has a large house edge.

6. Perfect Pair

Perfect Pair is a variant of Either Pair, and the two identical cards must be suited (two Queens of Hearts). It is less likely to hit but with higher rewards.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Perfect Pair (same suit): 25:1
• House edge: ~13.03%
  
  

Strategy Tip: This bet works best in 6-8 deck games, where suited pairs are a more probable occurrence. But still, it's a high-risk bet, so play it occasionally but not every round.

7. Big & Small

The Big & Small bet is placed on the number of cards dealt in a round.

Payouts & House Edge:

• Small (4 cards in total): 1.5:1
• Big (5 or 6 cards in total): 2:1
• House edge: ~5.27%
  
  

Strategy Tip: This is one of the lowest house edge side bets and is, thus, a safer choice. Keep an eye on patterns in the game—rounds with less than 5 cards are common when both hands are dealt naturals (8 or 9).

Winning Baccarat Side Bet Strategy

Baccarat side bets are fun, but without strategy, they will empty your bankroll in seconds. The following are some vital tips to optimise your chances of winning while containing your losses.

Bankroll Management

Side bets are more dangerous than standard Baccarat bets, so it's important to establish a budget first. Use only a small portion of your bankroll for side bets, and never raise the size of your bet after losing. 

Monitoring Patterns

Certain side bets, like the Dragon Bonus, play effectively under certain trends. If one side (Banker or Player) is winning all the time by big margins, a Dragon Bonus bet would be a smart bet. Trends in Baccarat never exist, so use this strategy carefully.

Steer Clear of High-House Edge Bets

The house edge varies greatly between side bets. For a higher chance of winning, place a bet on those with a house edge of below 10%, such as:

• Dragon Bonus (Player) – 2.65%
• Big & Small – 5.27%
  
  

Avoid placing bets like Either Pair (14.54%) and Lucky 6 (13.98%) because they have a very low expected return.

Combine Bets Wisely

Having several risky side bets all in a single round is not advisable. If you must combine bets, have a low-risk bet (like Big & Small) with a high-pay-out bet (like Panda 8) to reduce risk.

More on Baccarat Wiki

Baccarat is a simple game, but other than side bets, there are a few advanced strategies and variations that influence the way you play. Some casinos offer No Commission Baccarat, Super 6, or EZ Baccarat with slightly different rules and betting options.

If you’re looking for more on Baccarat Wiki, you can find detailed insights on game variations, strategies, and professional tips whether you're a beginner or an experienced player. Knowledge of game mechanisms and side bet odds can streamline your choices and improve your game sessions.

Is Baccarat Side Betting something You Should be Doing?

Side bets in baccarat introduce an exciting element to the game with their gigantic potential winnings but higher risks engaged. Certain side bets have reasonable odds, while others have overwhelmingly high house edges, which are not preferable over the long term.

The key to optimising side wagers is intelligent playing. Do not place bets of high house edges, wisely bankroll your finances, and refrain from risking many bets together simultaneously. Instead of rushing after enormous prizes blindly, wager strategically and progressively to get greater chances over a long time.

Now that you know the 7 best Baccarat side bets, their payoffs, odds, and strategies, you can make better choices when you play next.