How to Play Baccarat: The Short Answer
In baccarat you bet on which of two hands — Player or Banker — will finish closer to 9, or on a tie. You make no other decisions: the cards are dealt and drawn by fixed rules. With eight decks, the Banker bet has a house edge of 1.06%, the Player bet 1.24% and the Tie bet 14.36%.
Baccarat is legal and widely played in Australia’s casinos, under rules approved by each state or territory regulator. Online baccarat for real money, including live baccarat streamed from a studio, cannot legally be offered to people in Australia. This guide covers the rules as Australian casinos approve them, the drawing rules, the “no commission” versions with their different names, every bet’s real cost, the side bets, and the myths about patterns and scorecards.
Is Online Baccarat Legal in Australia?
No. Baccarat played online for money is a casino-style game under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, and the ACMA lists casino-style games among the illegal online services that cannot be offered to people in Australia. Live baccarat streamed from a studio is no different: the dealer is real, but the game is played for money over the internet.
On a casino floor, baccarat is legal because the casino holds a state or territory licence and its rules are approved by the regulator. Victoria’s regulator, for example, must approve any rule or change to table games at the Melbourne casino — its latest baccarat amendment, of 24 August 2026, introduced Immortal Baccarat (VGCCC). Our guide to whether online gambling is legal in Australia explains the law in full.
Where to Play Baccarat in Australia
| State or territory | Casinos with baccarat | Rules we used |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Crown Melbourne | Crown Melbourne baccarat rules, approved by the VGCCC |
| New South Wales | Crown Sydney · The Star Sydney | Crown Sydney Game Rules – Baccarat v3.5 (NSW Independent Casino Commission, 8 October 2026) · The Star game guide (February 2026) |
| Queensland | The Star Brisbane · The Star Gold Coast · The Ville (Townsville) | Queensland Casino Gaming Rule (from 24 December 2025) · The Star QLD guide |
| Western Australia | Crown Perth | Crown Perth baccarat rules (updated 18 May 2026) |
| South Australia | SkyCity Adelaide | SkyCity Adelaide baccarat rules (approved 9 October 2020) |
| ACT | Casino Canberra | Casino Canberra baccarat guide |
| Tasmania | Wrest Point | Tasmanian baccarat rules (approved 3 February 2025) |
| Northern Territory | Mindil Beach Casino Resort (Darwin) | Mindil Beach table games page |
SkyCity Adelaide calls baccarat its most popular game. The Star Brisbane offers it on the main floor and in private gaming rooms. Minimum and maximum bets are not set in the rules: each casino shows them on a sign at the table, as Victoria’s Casino Control Act requires.
How Baccarat Works
The goal
Two hands are dealt: the Player hand and the Banker hand. Despite the names, you are not the Player and the casino is not the Banker — they are simply two hands you can bet on. The hand closer to 9 wins.
Card values
| Card | Value |
|---|---|
| 2 to 9 | Face value |
| 10, Jack, Queen, King | 0 |
| Ace | 1 |
Only the last digit of a total counts. A 7 and an 8 make 15, which counts as 5. A 9 and a King make 9. The highest possible hand is 9.
The deal
- You bet on Player, Banker or Tie, and on any side bets, before the deal.
- The dealer gives two cards to the Player hand and two to the Banker hand.
- If either hand has 8 or 9 — a “natural” — the deal ends and the hands are compared.
- Otherwise, the Player hand may draw one more card, then the Banker hand may draw one, following the fixed rules below.
- The hand closer to 9 wins. Equal totals are a Tie.
Crown Melbourne’s rules allow 4 to 8 decks, and tables offering Crown Pairs must use 8. Crown Sydney uses 8 decks; Queensland allows 6 or 8; The Star Sydney 3, 4, 6 or 8. Queensland’s rule lets cards be dealt all face up or all face down.
The Drawing Rules
You never decide whether a hand draws. The rules are the same in every Australian casino whose rules we read, and the dealer applies them automatically.
The Player hand
With 0 to 5, the Player hand draws a third card. With 6 or 7 it stands. With 8 or 9 it is a natural and the deal ends.
The Banker hand
| Banker total | If the Player stood | If the Player drew a third card |
|---|---|---|
| 0, 1, 2 | Draws | Always draws |
| 3 | Draws | Draws unless the Player’s third card is 8 |
| 4 | Draws | Draws if the Player’s third card is 2 to 7 |
| 5 | Draws | Draws if the Player’s third card is 4 to 7 |
| 6 | Stands | Draws if the Player’s third card is 6 or 7 |
| 7 | Stands | Stands |
| 8, 9 | Natural | Natural |
Sources: Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney, Crown Perth and the Queensland Casino Gaming Rule.
Payouts and the Commission
| Bet | Traditional baccarat pays | What it means on A$100 |
|---|---|---|
| Player | 1 to 1 | A$100 win |
| Banker | 1 to 1 less 5% commission (19 to 20) | A$95 win |
| Tie | 8 to 1 | A$800 win |
When the result is a Tie, Player and Banker bets stand off — the stake is returned — in the traditional game. Queensland’s rule lets a Banker payout be rounded down to the nearest 50 cents. Not one of the Australian rules we read pays 9 to 1 on the Tie; the only variation is a Crown Perth promotion that pays 16 to 1 on a tie of 8 when a sign is displayed at the table.
Why the Banker pays a commission
The Banker hand draws last, with knowledge of the Player’s third card, so it wins slightly more often. By our infinite-deck calculation, the Banker wins 45.8% of hands, the Player 44.6% and the Tie 9.5%. Without the commission, the Banker bet would favour the player; the 5% turns it into a house edge of 1.06%.
No-Commission Baccarat in Australia
Many Australian tables do not take a 5% commission. Instead, a Banker win with a total of 6 pays only half. The idea is the same in most casinos, but the name changes.
| Casino | Name of the no-commission version | How a Banker win is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Melbourne · Crown Sydney | Crown Baccarat | 1 to 1, except a win on 6 pays half ($100 pays $50) |
| Queensland casinos · The Star Sydney | Even Money Baccarat | 1 to 1, except a win on 6 pays 1 to 2 |
| Crown Perth | Non-Commission (version B) | 1 to 1, except a win on 6 pays 1 to 2 |
| SkyCity Adelaide | Schedule B | 1 to 1, except a winning 6 pays 1 to 2 |
| Wrest Point (Tasmania) | Federal Baccarat | 1 to 1, except a winning 6 pays half |
| Casino Canberra | Standard game (commission only on high-limit tables) | 1 to 1, except a win on 6 pays half |
| Mindil Beach (Darwin) | Main gaming floor | 1 to 1, except a win on 6 pays 1 to 2; commission tables take 5% |
What it costs
By our calculation, the Banker wins with a total of 6 in about 5.4% of hands. Paying half on those wins raises the Banker’s house edge from 1.06% to about 1.46% — the figure The Star (QLD) and Crown Perth publish. The Player and Tie bets are unchanged. In other words, “no commission” is not free: it is a slightly more expensive Banker bet that is simpler to pay out.
Other approved versions
- Immortal Baccarat (Crown Melbourne and Crown Sydney, 2026): a Player win on 7 pays half, Player 7 against Banker 8 or 9 is a push, a Banker win on 6 pays half, and at Crown Melbourne Player and Banker bets lose on a tie.
- 2 to 1 Baccarat (Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth, SkyCity Adelaide): three-card 8 or 9 wins pay 2 to 1, and Player and Banker bets lose on a tie. Crown Perth publishes house margins of 3.62% on Player and 2.20% on Banker.
- Tie Baccarat (Crown Melbourne): Player and Banker bets get 1% to 10% back on a tie, as shown on the table sign.
- Zero Commission Baccarat, where every win pays even money, may only be offered in tournaments at Crown Melbourne and Crown Sydney.
- Even Money at Crown Perth (version D) pays all bets 1 to 1.
Before you sit down, read the table sign: it tells you which version you are playing, and the cost of the Banker bet depends on it.
Why the Banker Draws the Way It Does
The Banker rules look arbitrary, but they follow one idea: the Banker hand draws last and can react to the Player’s third card. A small third card on the Player side (2 to 7) usually improves the Player’s hand, so the Banker draws more often to keep up; an 8 or a 9 on the Player side usually leaves a weak Player total, so the Banker can stand on 3. That extra information is the reason the Banker wins slightly more often — and the reason casinos charge a commission on it.
An example of the rule in action
The Player has 5 and draws a 4, for 9. The Banker has 4. Because the Player’s third card was a 4 — inside the 2 to 7 range — the Banker draws. If the Player’s third card had been an 8, a Banker with 3 would stand. You do not need to memorise any of this to play: the dealer applies it, and the outcome would be the same whoever was at the table.
The House Edge on Every Bet
| Bet | House edge (8 decks) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Banker (5% commission) | 1.06% | The Star (QLD); Wizard of Odds |
| Player | 1.24% | The Star (QLD); Crown Perth; Wizard of Odds |
| Banker, no-commission (6 pays half) | 1.46% | The Star (QLD); Crown Perth; Wizard of Odds |
| Tie at 8 to 1 | 14.36% | The Star (QLD); Wizard of Odds |
| Tie at 9 to 1 (not offered in the rules we read) | 4.84% | Wizard of Odds |
| Pairs at 11 to 1 | 10.36% | The Star (QLD); Wizard of Odds |
| Super 6 at 15 to 1 | 13.82% | The Star (QLD); Wizard of Odds |
| Dragon Bonus on Player | 2.65% | Crown Perth; Wizard of Odds |
| Dragon Bonus on Banker | 9.37% | Crown Perth; Wizard of Odds |
The Star Sydney’s own guide gives margins of about 1.2% for traditional baccarat, about 1.4% for Even Money Baccarat and about 14.36% for the Tie, and says “no betting system will change the house margin” (The Star Sydney).
What it costs over 100 hands
| Bet | House edge | Average cost of 100 hands at A$25 |
|---|---|---|
| Banker (commission) | 1.06% | about A$27 |
| Player | 1.24% | about A$31 |
| Banker (no commission) | 1.46% | about A$37 |
| Tie | 14.36% | about A$359 |
These are averages from the published house edges. Any single session can be far better or worse — but over many hands, the Tie costs more than ten times as much as the Banker bet.
Our Calculation: How Often Each Result Comes Up
We calculated the exact chances with an infinite-deck model, which gives almost the same results as eight decks. Our house edges match the published figures to within a few hundredths of a percent.
| Result | How often | Roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Banker wins | 45.8% | 46 hands in 100 |
| Player wins | 44.6% | 45 hands in 100 |
| Tie | 9.5% | about 1 hand in 10 |
| Banker wins with a total of 6 | 5.4% | about 1 hand in 19 |
| A natural (8 or 9) on either hand | 34.3% | about 1 hand in 3 |
What the numbers tell you
- The Banker wins about 1.2 more hands in every 100 than the Player — which is exactly what the 5% commission is there to offset.
- The Tie comes up about once every ten hands but pays as if it came once every nine, so it is a poor bet.
- Banker wins on 6 are frequent enough — about one hand in 19 — that paying them half makes the no-commission Banker bet a little more expensive.
Baccarat at a Glance: The Key Numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Banker wins | 45.8% of hands | Our calculation |
| Player wins | 44.6% of hands | Our calculation |
| Tie | 9.5% of hands | Our calculation |
| House edge, Banker with 5% commission | 1.06% | The Star (QLD); Wizard of Odds |
| House edge, Player | 1.24% | The Star (QLD); Crown Perth |
| House edge, no-commission Banker | 1.46% | The Star (QLD); Crown Perth |
| House edge, Tie at 8 to 1 | 14.36% | The Star (QLD) |
| Tie payout in Australian rules | 8 to 1 | Every rule we read |
| Decks | 3 to 8, depending on the casino | Approved rules |
| Decisions you make after betting | None | Approved rules |
If you remember three numbers, make them 1.06%, 1.24% and 14.36%: the first two are among the cheapest bets in a casino; the third is one of the most expensive.
Which Bet to Make
Because every baccarat decision is made by the rules, the only choice that matters is the bet. The order is clear from the house edge: Banker with commission is cheapest, then Player, then no-commission Banker. Tie and most side bets are many times more expensive.
Banker or Player?
The Banker bet is slightly cheaper in the long run. The difference is small — 1.06% against 1.24% — and the Player bet is perfectly reasonable if you prefer it. What makes far more difference is avoiding the Tie and the high-edge side bets.
Following streaks
Many tables display a scorecard of recent results. Switching between Banker and Player to follow a streak does not change your odds: each hand is dealt from the shoe by the same rules, and the house edge on each bet is the same whatever happened before.
Side Bets in Australian Casinos
| Side bet | What it pays | Where we found it | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Player or Banker Pair | 11 to 1 | Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney, Crown Perth, Queensland, SkyCity, Casino Canberra, Mindil Beach | 10.36% (8 decks) |
| Perfect / Crown Pairs | Mixed 6 to 1, coloured 12 to 1, perfect 25 to 1 (8 decks); 5/10/30 to 1 with 6 decks in Queensland | Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney, Queensland, Tasmania | — |
| Super 6 | 15 to 1 or 16 to 1 (12 to 1 at SkyCity) | Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney, Crown Perth, Queensland, SkyCity, Mindil Beach | 13.82% at 15 to 1; 8.43% at 16 to 1; 29.98% at 12 to 1 |
| Dragon Bonus | 1 to 1 for a natural win or a win by 4, up to 30 to 1 for a win by 9 | Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney, Crown Perth, Queensland, Casino Canberra | 2.65% on Player; 9.37% on Banker |
| Tiger and Dragon Tiger bets | From 12 to 1 up to 100 to 1 by result | The Star, Queensland, Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney, Crown Perth, SkyCity, Casino Canberra | About 7% to 15% (The Star Sydney) |
Side bets are separate wagers with their own pay tables. Super 6 is a good example of how much the pay table matters: the same bet costs 8.43% at 16 to 1, 13.82% at 15 to 1 and almost 30% at 12 to 1 (Wizard of Odds). Check the payout on the sign before you place one.
A Round Played Out
You bet A$50 on Banker at a traditional table. The Player hand is dealt 4 and 2 (6); the Banker hand 3 and King (3).
- Neither hand is a natural.
- The Player has 6, so it stands.
- The Player stood, so the Banker draws on 0 to 5: with 3, it draws a card — a 5, for a total of 8.
- Banker 8 beats Player 6. Your A$50 Banker bet wins A$47.50 after the 5% commission.
At a no-commission table, the same win would pay the full A$50 — but if the Banker had won with a total of 6, it would have paid only A$25. Over 100 Banker bets of A$50, the average cost is about A$53 with commission and about A$73 without it, from the published house edges.
Mini Baccarat and the Big Table
Australian casinos run baccarat on standard tables, mini-baccarat tables and in private gaming rooms. Queensland’s rule covers baccarat, mini-baccarat and premium mini-baccarat; Casino Canberra plays Mini Baccarat with eight decks. The rules and payouts are the same; what changes is the pace, the limits and who handles the cards. Electronic baccarat is also covered by Queensland’s rule, and inside a casino it is legal.
Choosing a Baccarat Table
| Check | Where | What you want |
|---|---|---|
| Commission or no commission | The table sign | Commission tables give the cheaper Banker bet (1.06% against 1.46%) |
| Tie payout | The table sign | 8 to 1 is standard; there is no cheaper Tie in the rules we read |
| Side bet pay tables | The table sign | Super 6 at 16 to 1 costs far less than at 12 to 1 |
| Minimum and maximum bet | The table sign | A minimum that lets your budget cover many hands |
| Version | The table sign | Traditional, Crown/Even Money, Immortal, 2 to 1 — each pays differently |
Your First Night at a Baccarat Table
From the dealer’s side of the table, a baccarat game runs smoothly when players know four things.
- Buy in between hands. Put cash on the table and the dealer will change it for chips.
- Place bets in the right box. Player, Banker and Tie each have their own area; side bets have theirs. Bet before the dealer calls no more bets.
- Do not touch the cards unless invited. Some tables, especially in private rooms, let the highest bettor turn the cards; on most tables the dealer does everything.
- Commission is settled by the dealer. At commission tables the dealer tracks or deducts the 5% on winning Banker bets; ask how the table handles it before your first Banker win.
Baccarat Compared With Other Table Games
| Game | House edge on the main bet | Decisions after betting |
|---|---|---|
| Baccarat — Banker (commission) | 1.06% | None |
| Baccarat — Player | 1.24% | None |
| Blackjack, Australian rules, basic strategy | about 0.6% | Every hand |
| Roulette, single zero | 2.70% | None |
| Roulette, double zero | 5.26% | None |
Baccarat is the cheapest table game that needs no strategy at all. Blackjack can be cheaper, but only for a player who follows basic strategy on every hand; our blackjack guide explains how. Roulette costs more than twice as much on a single-zero wheel.
Questions to Ask Before You Sit Down
- Is this a commission or a no-commission table?
- What does the Tie pay, and what do the side bets pay?
- What are the minimum and maximum bets?
- Is this the traditional game or a variant such as Immortal or 2 to 1 Baccarat?
The answers are on the sign at every Australian table we read about. If anything is unclear, the dealer or a supervisor will explain the rules before you play.
Myths About Baccarat
| Myth | What is true |
|---|---|
| “Follow the scorecard — the streak will continue” | Each hand is dealt by fixed rules; past results do not change the odds |
| “Betting systems can beat baccarat” | The Star’s guide: no betting system changes the house margin |
| “No-commission baccarat is cheaper” | The no-commission Banker bet costs about 1.46%, against 1.06% with commission |
| “The Tie is a good bet because it pays 8 to 1” | Ties come about once in ten hands, so the Tie costs 14.36% |
| “Baccarat takes skill” | Every draw is decided by the rules; the only decision is the bet |
| “Live baccarat online is legal in Australia” | Online baccarat for money cannot be offered to Australians, live or not |
A Short Baccarat Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Natural | A two-card total of 8 or 9 |
| Punto banco | Another name for the version where the drawing rules are fixed |
| Commission | The 5% taken from Banker wins in traditional baccarat |
| Even Money / Crown / Federal Baccarat | No-commission versions where a Banker win on 6 pays half |
| Stand off | A push: your bet is returned |
| Shoe | The box holding several decks |
| Scorecard | A record of past results; it has no effect on future hands |
Keeping Baccarat a Game
Baccarat moves quickly, and the low house edge on the main bets is the reason it is easy to play for longer than planned. Decide your budget and stopping time before you sit down, avoid the Tie and the high-edge side bets, and never chase losses. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day on 1800 858 858; our responsible gambling guide covers limits and self-exclusion.
The Bottom Line on Baccarat in Australia
Baccarat is a game of one decision: which hand to back. In Australian casinos, the Banker bet with commission costs about 1.06%, the Player 1.24% and the no-commission Banker about 1.46%; the Tie costs 14.36%. The drawing rules are the same everywhere we looked, but the no-commission version has a different name in almost every casino — read the table sign. Online baccarat for money, live or not, cannot legally be offered to Australians. Our guides to blackjack and roulette and our overview of casino table games compare the other games on the floor.
How We Put This Guide Together
The rules come from the approved documents and official guides of Crown Melbourne, Crown Sydney (version 3.5, NSW Independent Casino Commission, 8 October 2026), Crown Perth (updated 18 May 2026), the Queensland Casino Gaming Rule (from 24 December 2025), The Star Sydney and The Star Queensland, SkyCity Adelaide (approved 9 October 2020), Casino Canberra, the Tasmanian baccarat rules (approved 3 February 2025) and Mindil Beach, all read on 10 November 2026. House edges come from The Star, Crown Perth and the Wizard of Odds; the result probabilities and the cost per 100 hands are our own calculations. Written by Michael Jones, who dealt table games at the WIN 333 casino in Calella, Spain — see how we review. 18+ only. If gambling stops being fun, call 1800 858 858.
Sources
- Crown Melbourne baccarat rules
- Crown Sydney Game Rules – Baccarat
- Crown Perth baccarat rules
- Crown Perth responsible gambling brochure (house margins)
- Queensland Casino Gaming Rule
- The Star Sydney baccarat guide
- The Star QLD baccarat guide
- SkyCity Adelaide baccarat rules
- Casino Canberra — How to play baccarat
- Tasmanian baccarat rules
- Mindil Beach table games
- Wizard of Odds — baccarat
- Wizard of Odds — baccarat side bets
- ACMA — illegal online gambling
