Bets positioned alongside the main game of baccarat
In the world of online baccarat, side bets offer a tantalizing allure with their promises of larger payouts. However, these enticing offers come with a catch: significantly higher house edges.
Various Side Bets and Their Characteristics
Here's a rundown of some common side bets in online baccarat and their advantages and disadvantages:
Dragon Bonus Bet, Dragon 7 Bet, Panda 8 Bet
These bets focus on specific winning margins or card combinations for the player or banker hand. While the payouts can be much higher than even money, they come with a much higher house edge, making them unfavourable for long-term play.
Big and Small Bets
These wagers relate to the total number of cards dealt in the round. The house edge is usually higher than main bets, and payouts vary but generally have less favourable odds compared to Player/Banker bets.
Perfect Pair Bet
This bet pays out if the first two cards dealt to Player or Banker form a pair of the same rank and suit (a perfect pair). It offers a high payout (up to 25:1 depending on the casino) but a large house edge, often above 10%, making it profitable only in rare cases.
Either Pair Bet
This bet pays if either the Player's or Banker's first two cards form any pair (not necessarily perfect). It has a lower payout than Perfect Pair but still a significant house edge, usually over 10%.
4-5-6 Bet
A side bet commonly on the banker winning with a 4, 5, or 6 total. This bet may pay better than some other side bets but still carries a higher house edge than main bets.
Lucky Bonus Bet
This bet usually pays based on winning margins on Player or Banker hands with a range of multipliers. It offers attractive payouts but at the cost of a higher house edge, typically making it a risky proposition for players.
Main Bets vs Side Bets
For context, the main bets in baccarat have these typical house edges and payouts:
| Bet Type | Payout | House Edge | |----------------|-----------|--------------| | Banker | 0.95:1* | ~1.06% | | Player | 1:1 | ~1.24% | | Tie | 8:1 | ~14.36% |
*Banker bet usually pays 1:1 minus 5% commission.
Side bets can vary widely depending on the specific rules of the game and the casino offering them, but the common theme is that side bets offer higher payouts but substantially worse house edges, reducing their overall expected value.
The Attraction and Risks of Side Bets
The advantage of side bets is the potential for larger payouts, sometimes multiple times the original bet, which can be exciting and lucrative in the short term. The disadvantage is a significantly higher house edge, making them unfavourable for consistent, long-term profitability compared to betting on the Banker, which remains the safest main bet with the lowest house edge.
It's essential to remember that while side bets can offer attractive payouts, they should be approached with caution due to their higher house edges. Players should look for the most profitable versions of baccarat and avoid side bets with low theoretical return to the player.
Some side bets are so unfavourable to the player that reasonable players would never make them. The "Lucky Bonus Bet," for instance, has a house advantage of -2.34%, making it a risky proposition for players, particularly outside the U.S., where it is less common.
In conclusion, while side bets in online baccarat can provide an adrenaline rush with their high payouts, they come with a higher risk due to their significantly higher house edges. Players should approach these bets with caution and focus on the main bets, particularly the Banker bet, for the best long-term profitability.
Popular Online Casinos Offering Baccarat
Many online casinos offer different versions of baccarat with exciting bonus programs. Some popular sites include Riobet Casino, Next Casino, Stake Casino, SlotoCash Casino, Grand Wild Casino, JackpotCity casino, Admiral casino, IW Casino, Hippodrome Casino, and more. These casinos offer a variety of baccarat games, including those with side bets, providing players with numerous options to choose from.
- What about trying casino-gambling side bets like the Dragon Bonus, Dragon 7, Panda 8, Big and Small, Perfect Pair, Either Pair, 4-5-6, Lucky Bonus, within the context of online baccarat games at casino-and-gambling sites such as Riobet Casino, Next Casino, Stake Casino, and more?
- These casino-games side bets offer enticing allure with their promises of larger payouts, but it's important to remember that they come with a catch: significantly higher house edges, which can make them unfavourable for long-term play.
