Baccarat Dragon Bonus Calculator: The Margin Matters

The Dragon Bonus is baccarat's most popular side bet—paying based on winning margin or natural wins. Our calculator shows exact probabilities and payouts, revealing a 2.65% house edge that's reasonable for a side bet.

What Is the Dragon Bonus?

Dragon Bonus pays when your chosen side (Player or Banker) wins by a natural (8 or 9) or by a margin of 4+ points. Higher margins pay more. It's a side bet placed alongside your main wager, adding excitement to standard baccarat.

Quick Answer: Dragon Bonus pays on: Natural wins (8/9) or non-natural wins by 4+ margin. Payouts: Natural tie = push, Natural win = 1:1, 4-point margin = 1:1, 5 = 2:1, 6 = 4:1, 7 = 6:1, 8 = 10:1, 9 = 30:1. House edge: ~2.65% (Player side) or ~9.37% (Banker side). Better than most side bets.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Dragon Bonus Calculator →

Enter bet details to see expected value and probabilities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select Side: Player or Banker bonus

2. Enter Bet Amount: Side bet size

3. View Payout Table: All outcomes

4. Calculate Probability: Each outcome

5. See Expected Value: Overall EV

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Side Selection	Player or Banker	Player
Bet Amount	Side bet wager	$10
Natural Win	8/9 two-card	1:1 payout
9-Point Margin	Max payout	30:1
House Edge	Casino advantage	2.65%
Expected Loss	Per $100 wagered	$2.65

Dragon Bonus Payout Table

Standard Payouts

Winning Outcome → Payout

Natural Win (8 or 9): 1:1
Natural Tie: 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 1-3 points: Loss
Other side wins: Loss

Player Dragon Bonus

House edge: 2.65%
More favorable side

Why better:
No 5% commission
Natural odds slightly better
Popular choice for side bet

Banker Dragon Bonus

House edge: 9.37%
Less favorable

Why worse:
Banker wins push some naturals
Commission affects structure
Most players bet Player Dragon

Probability Breakdown

Natural Outcomes

Two-card natural 8: 9.52%
Two-card natural 9: 9.52%

Combined naturals: ~19% of hands
Either side could have natural
Your side's natural = payout

Margin Outcomes

Win by 9 points: 0.34%
Win by 8 points: 0.80%
Win by 7 points: 1.39%
Win by 6 points: 2.87%
Win by 5 points: 4.75%
Win by 4 points: 6.53%
Win by 1-3 points: ~19%

Large margins are rare
Big payouts compensate

Expected Value Calculation

Player Dragon Bonus

Per $100 wagered:

Natural win (1:1): +$7.72
9-margin (30:1): +$10.20
8-margin (10:1): +$8.00
7-margin (6:1): +$8.34
6-margin (4:1): +$11.48
5-margin (2:1): +$9.50
4-margin (1:1): +$6.53

Total wins: $61.77
Total losses: $64.42

Net: -$2.65 per $100
House edge: 2.65%

Comparison to Other Side Bets

Dragon Bonus (Player): 2.65%
Pair bet: 10-11%
Lucky 6: 10-30%
Tiger bet: 12-28%
Big/Small: 4-5%

Dragon Bonus is best side bet option

Strategy Considerations

Main Bet Correlation

Dragon Bonus independent of main bet:
Can bet Player main + Player Dragon
Can bet Banker main + Player Dragon

No requirement to match
But correlating makes sense
Win both on good outcomes

Bankroll Allocation

Side bets should be small:
Main bet: $25
Dragon Bonus: $5

Never size Dragon Bonus > main bet
It's additional action, not primary

When to Consider Dragon Bonus

Reasonable if:
- Entertainment value wanted
- Bankroll supports additional action
- Understanding of house edge

Skip if:
- Tight bankroll
- Grinding for comps only
- Edge matters significantly

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Natural Win

Situation: $10 Player Dragon Bonus Result: Player wins with natural 8

Payout:

Natural win pays 1:1
Bet: $10
Win: $10
Net: +$10

Plus main bet wins (if also Player)

Example 2: Maximum Margin

Situation: $10 Player Dragon Bonus Result: Player 9, Banker 0

Payout:

9-point margin pays 30:1
Bet: $10
Win: $300
Net: +$300

Rare but exciting
0.34% probability

Example 3: Close Loss

Situation: $10 Player Dragon Bonus Result: Player wins by 2 points (7-5)

Payout:

Win by 2 = no Dragon Bonus
Margin must be 4+ for payout
Bet: $10
Loss: -$10

Main bet wins, side bet loses

Example 4: Natural Tie

Situation: $10 Player Dragon Bonus Result: Both sides natural 8

Payout:

Natural tie = push on Dragon Bonus
Bet: $10
Return: $10
Net: $0

Better than loss
Main bet also pushes

Odds Deep Dive

Win by 9 Points (30:1)

Requires:
Your side: 9 total
Other side: 0 total

Probability: 0.34%
Expected once per 294 hands
Rare but pays well

Win by 8 Points (10:1)

Requires:
Margin of exactly 8

Examples:
9-1, 8-0

Probability: 0.80%
Expected once per 125 hands

Natural Wins (1:1)

Two-card 8 or 9

Most common Dragon payout
~9.5% for each side
Good base return

Common Mistakes

1. Oversizing Dragon Bets

Mistake: Dragon Bonus = main bet size Problem: 2.65% edge on extra money Fix: Side bet = 10-20% of main bet

2. Banker Dragon Bonus

Mistake: Bet Banker Dragon habitually Problem: 9.37% edge vs 2.65% Fix: Player Dragon only if betting

3. Expecting Frequent Margins

Mistake: Expect regular 30:1 payouts Problem: 9-margin hits 0.34% of time Fix: Understand probability realistically

4. Ignoring Main Game

Mistake: Focus on Dragon Bonus Problem: Main bet has lower edge Fix: Main bet primary, Dragon secondary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dragon Bonus a good bet?

For a side bet, yes. 2.65% edge is reasonable. But main baccarat bets (1.06% Banker) are better mathematically.

Player or Banker Dragon?

Player Dragon at 2.65% is much better than Banker Dragon at 9.37%. Stick with Player.

How often does 30:1 hit?

About once per 294 hands. Don't expect it regularly—it's a bonus, not an expectation.

Can I just bet Dragon Bonus without main bet?

Most casinos require a main bet. Dragon Bonus is a side bet, not standalone.

Does card counting help Dragon Bonus?

Marginally. Some advantage play research exists, but edge is small and difficult to exploit.

What's the best baccarat side bet?

Dragon Bonus (Player) at 2.65% is among the best. Most side bets are 10%+ edge.

Pro Tips

• Player side only: 2.65% vs 9.37%

• Small sizing: Side bets stay side bets

• Entertainment view: It's for fun, not profit

• Understand margins: 4+ points required

• Naturals help: 1:1 on natural wins adds value

Related Calculators

• Baccarat Odds Calculator - Main game odds
• Baccarat Commission Calculator - Banker 5%
• House Edge Calculator - Compare games
• Expected Value Calculator - Bet EV
• Gambling Bankroll Calculator - Session sizing

Conclusion

Dragon Bonus offers baccarat's most reasonable side bet—2.65% house edge on the Player side. Our calculator shows exact probabilities and payouts, helping you understand when margin-based wins and naturals create payout opportunities.

Calculate Dragon Bonus Odds Now →

For players wanting extra action beyond standard baccarat, Dragon Bonus represents the best side bet option. Our calculator quantifies the value, revealing why Player Dragon at 2.65% beats most other side bets significantly.