Baccarat Side Bets Calculator: High Payouts, Higher House Edge

Baccarat side bets offer exciting payouts that dwarf the main game—but with house edges often 5-15× worse than banker/player. Our calculator reveals the true cost of each side bet so you can make informed decisions.

What Are Baccarat Side Bets?

Side bets are optional wagers separate from the main banker/player/tie outcomes. They typically bet on specific hand compositions, margins of victory, or card combinations. Casinos love them because their house edges far exceed the main game.

Quick Answer: Most baccarat side bets have 5-15% house edge vs 1.06% for banker. The tie bet (14.36%) is one of the worst bets in the casino. Dragon Bonus (2.65-9.37%) is the best side bet if you must play one. Pairs (10.36%) and Super 6 (12.15%) are poor value. Side bets are entertainment, not strategy—expect to lose more playing them.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Baccarat Side Bets Calculator →

Select side bets to see house edge and expected loss.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select Side Bet: Choose from available bets

2. Enter Bet Amount: Your wager

3. View House Edge: Percentage disadvantage

4. See Expected Loss: Per bet average

5. Compare to Main Bets: Relative value

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Side Bet Type	Which bet	Dragon Bonus
Bet Amount	Wager	$10
House Edge	Casino advantage	2.65%
Expected Loss	Per bet	$0.27
Payout Structure	Win table	Natural win 1:1 to 30:1

Common Side Bets Analyzed

Tie Bet

Payout: 8:1 (sometimes 9:1)
House Edge (8:1): 14.36%
House Edge (9:1): 4.84%

P(tie) = 9.52%
Fair odds: ~9.5:1
8:1 underpays significantly

Verdict: Avoid (even at 9:1)

Player/Banker Pair

Bet: First two cards form pair
Payout: 11:1
House Edge: 10.36%

P(pair) = 7.47%
Fair odds: ~12.4:1
11:1 underpays by ~1.4 units

Verdict: Poor value

Either Pair

Bet: Either hand has pair
Payout: 5:1
House Edge: 14.44%

P(either pair) = 14.38%
Fair odds: ~5.96:1
5:1 underpays

Verdict: Very poor value

Perfect Pair

Bet: Same rank AND same suit
Payout: 25:1
House Edge: 13.03%

P(perfect pair) = 3.25%
Fair odds: ~29.8:1
25:1 significantly underpays

Verdict: Poor value

Dragon Bonus (Player)

Natural win: 1:1
Win by 9: 30:1
Win by 8: 10:1
Win by 7: 6:1
Win by 6: 4:1
Win by 5: 2:1
Win by 4: 1:1
Natural tie: Push

House Edge: 2.65%

Verdict: Best side bet available

Dragon Bonus (Banker)

Same structure as player
House Edge: 9.37% (commission impact)

Verdict: Worse than player dragon

Super 6 / Lucky 6

Bet: Banker wins with 6
2-card 6: 12:1
3-card 6: 20:1
House Edge: 12.15% (typical)

Verdict: Poor value

Panda 8

Bet: Player wins with 3-card 8
Payout: 25:1
House Edge: 10.19%

Verdict: Below average

House Edge Comparison

Side Bets Ranked

Bet	House Edge
Dragon Bonus (Player)	2.65%
Tie (9:1)	4.84%
Dragon Bonus (Banker)	9.37%
Panda 8	10.19%
Player/Banker Pair	10.36%
Super 6	12.15%
Perfect Pair	13.03%
Either Pair	14.44%
Tie (8:1)	14.36%

vs Main Bets

Bet	House Edge
Banker	1.06%
Player	1.24%
Best side bet	2.65%
Worst side bet	14.44%

Side bets are 2-14× worse than main game

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Dragon Bonus Value

Bet: $25 Dragon Bonus (player side) House Edge: 2.65%

Expected results per 100 bets:

Total wagered: $2,500
Expected loss: $2,500 × 2.65% = $66.25
Compare to banker bet: $26.50 loss

Dragon Bonus costs 2.5× more
But offers excitement of big wins

Example 2: Tie Bet Cost

Bet: $10 tie bet per hand, 100 hands

8:1 payout:

Total wagered: $1,000
Expected loss: $143.60 (14.36%)

Same money on banker:
Expected loss: $10.60

Tie bet costs 13.5× more

Example 3: Pairs Bet

Bet: $20 banker pair

Calculation:

P(banker pair) = 7.47%
Expected win: 7.47% × $220 = $16.43
Expected loss: 92.53% × $20 = $18.51
Net EV: -$2.08 per bet (-10.36%)

Example 4: Session Comparison

100 hands, $10 per hand

Banker only:

Expected loss: $10.60
Standard result: ±$100

Banker + $5 tie + $5 pairs:

Banker loss: $10.60
Tie loss: $71.80
Pairs loss: $51.80
Total: $134.20 expected loss

12.7× more expected loss

Why Side Bets Exist

Casino Perspective

Main game edges: 1.06-1.24%
Side bet edges: 2.65-14.44%

$1 million in side bet action:
Profit: $26,500-$144,400

$1 million in main game:
Profit: $10,600-$12,400

Side bets dramatically increase profit

Player Psychology

Why players love side bets:
1. Big payout potential
2. Excitement/action
3. "What if" thinking
4. Peer pressure
5. Misunderstanding odds

When Side Bets Might Make Sense

Entertainment Value

If you value excitement > EV:
Side bets provide action
Big wins feel great
Consider it entertainment cost

Budget Allocation

Approach: Allocate small %
$200 session budget:
$180 on banker/player
$20 on side bets (10%)

Enjoy side bets without destroying bankroll

Promotional Play

Some casinos:
Match play on side bets
Free bet promotions
Comps for side bet action

These can make side bets +EV

Card Counting and Side Bets

Theoretical Advantage

Some side bets countable:
Dragon Bonus: Affected by card removal
Pairs: Slightly affected
Tie: Marginally affected

But practical issues:
- Small edge even with counting
- Easy to detect
- Limited opportunities

Not Recommended

Side bet counting:
- Requires separate count
- Edge very small
- Casino heat likely
- Better opportunities exist

Verdict: Not worth pursuing

Common Mistakes

1. Playing Tie Regularly

Mistake: Tie bet every hand Problem: 14.36% house edge compounds Fix: Never bet tie (or rarely, small amounts)

2. Chasing Pairs

Mistake: Increase pair bets after near-misses Problem: Each bet is independent, same bad edge Fix: Fixed, small pair bets if any

3. Ignoring Bankroll Impact

Mistake: Equal money on sides and main Problem: Side bet losses dominate Fix: 90%+ on main bets

4. Believing in "Due" Payouts

Mistake: "Dragon hasn't hit, it's due!" Problem: Each hand is independent Fix: Accept random outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side bet has the best odds?

Dragon Bonus (player) at 2.65% house edge. It's still 2.5× worse than banker, but best among side bets.

Should I ever play side bets?

For entertainment only, with a small portion of your bankroll. Never as a "strategy" to win money.

Are pairs bets worth it?

No. At 10.36% house edge, you lose ~10× faster than on banker. Only play if you specifically want the excitement.

Can I beat side bets with card counting?

Theoretically some are countable, but edges are tiny and detection risk is high. Not a practical advantage play.

Why do high rollers play side bets?

Entertainment value, peer pressure, or the thrill of potential big payouts. Not because they're profitable.

Do side bets affect my main bet?

No. They're completely independent. Winning a side bet doesn't change your banker/player outcome.

Pro Tips

• Skip tie bets: One of worst bets in casino

• If must play, choose Dragon Bonus: Lowest edge

• Limit side bet budget: 5-10% maximum

• Don't chase losses: Side bet losses compound

• Understand true cost: Calculate expected loss

Related Calculators

• Baccarat Calculator - Main game
• Baccarat Banker Calculator - Banker strategy
• House Edge Calculator - Edge comparison
• Expected Value Calculator - EV analysis
• Gambling Loss Calculator - Track losses

Conclusion

Baccarat side bets trade the main game's low house edge for excitement and big payout potential—at a significant cost. Our calculator reveals the true expected loss for each side bet, showing why banker/player remain the only mathematically sensible options.

Calculate Side Bet EV Now →

If you play side bets, do so knowing the price. Dragon Bonus at 2.65% is tolerable; tie at 14.36% is expensive entertainment. Our calculator quantifies the cost so you can make informed decisions about how much excitement is worth paying for.