Punto banco is simply the French name for Baccarat. While English speakers refer to baccarat, punto banco tables can also be found at online casino sites. Historically, the origins of punto banco and classic baccarat date back to the 19th Century when the card game was predominantly played by the French aristocracy. It would then travel across the Atlantic to be played at riverboat casinos in the French southern states in America.

Bets & House Edge

With punto banco, there are three core bets. If anyone backs the dealer, they can expect a house edge of 1.06% with a 5% commission that is paid if the bet wins. While there is no commission for winning when betting on the player, the house edge is slightly higher at 1.24%. As for the tie option, this bet carries a house edge of 14.36% and often pays out at 8/1 or 9/1 depending on the casino site in question.

Punto Banco Rules

In punto banco, the player and the dealer receive two cards each after the bets have been made. While the value of cards 2-9 reflect the number shown, aces are scored 1 and face cards will be worth zero. When adding the cards, the left digit will be drawn if the score is 10 or greater (for example, 17 is 7). The hand ends if either has a “natural” 8 or 9. Alternatively, if there is a 6 or 7 and the other participant has 5 or fewer, third cards can be drawn.

Side Bets

With punto banco, an array of side bets can be placed depending on the online casino and the table that has been designed. For starters, backing the player to win with three cards is 4/1 or 5/1 for the banker. Other examples include 4-5-6, all red or black, bad beats, and odd or even, among others.