Punto Banco: Rules and How This Baccarat Variant Plays

Punto Banco is the casino-banked baccarat variant in which the casino always acts as the banker and every draw decision is predetermined.

Players have no say in how the hands are played. This makes it the standard baccarat format on UK casino floors, with the action centred entirely on betting rather than strategy.

The aim is simple: back the hand that finishes closest to 9. Cards 2 to 9 count at face value, 10s and face cards count as 0, and Aces count as 1. If a hand’s total goes above 9, only the last digit counts, so a hand of 7 and 8 (totalling 15) becomes 5.

These Punto Banco rules cover everything you need to know about how to play Punto Banco, from the basic setup through to the fixed drawing decisions that make Punto Banco baccarat different from other variants.

How a Round of Punto Banco Works

Before any cards are dealt, players place a bet on one of three outcomes: Player, Banker, or Tie. The casino then deals two cards to both the Player and Banker hands.

From this point, there is no decision-making at the table. Every action that follows is governed by fixed rules, which is the key difference between Punto Banco and player-driven variants like Chemin de Fer.

Natural Hands

If either hand totals 8 or 9 on the first two cards, that is a natural and the round ends immediately. No third card is drawn for either hand when a natural decides the result. A hand of 4 and 4, for example, totals 8 and wins the round outright as a natural.

Third Card Drawing Rules

The Player hand acts first. Whether the Banker then draws a third card depends on the Player’s total and, if the Player drew a card, the value of that card.

Player Hand Rules

The Player hand stands on a total of 6 or 7 and draws a third card on a total of 0 to 5. If the Player has a natural 8 or 9, the round ends before any third-card rules apply.

Banker Hand Rules When the Player Stands

If the Player stands on 6 or 7, the Banker draws on a total of 0 to 5 and stands on 6 or 7.

Banker Hand Rules When the Player Draws a Third Card

If the Player draws a third card, the Banker’s action depends on its own total and the value of the Player’s third card:

• Banker total 0 to 2: always draws
• Banker total 3: draws unless the Player’s third card was an 8
• Banker total 4: draws if the Player’s third card was 2 to 7
• Banker total 5: draws if the Player’s third card was 4 to 7
• Banker total 6: draws if the Player’s third card was 6 or 7
• Banker total 7: always stands

These rules are fixed for every hand, which is why Punto Banco is often described as a pure betting game. Neither the dealer nor the players make a judgment call at any stage.

Punto Banco Payouts

• The Player bet pays 1:1.
• The Banker bet also pays 1:1, but a 5% commission is deducted from winnings.
• The Tie bet typically pays 8:1, though this can vary by casino.

The Banker bet is the most commonly favoured of the three, since the commission offsets a lower house edge compared to the Player bet. The Tie bet carries the highest payout but wins far less often.

Punto Banco vs Chemin de Fer

Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer both belong to the baccarat family, but they play very differently. In Punto Banco, the casino is always the banker and the game runs on fixed drawing rules from start to finish.

In Chemin de Fer, players take turns acting as banker and make their own drawing decisions, giving the game a more interactive feel and a greater role for table dynamics.

If you’re moving between baccarat variants, Punto Banco is the simpler, more structured format, while Chemin de Fer puts more responsibility in the hands of the players.

Key Takeaways

• Bet on Player, Banker, or Tie before the cards are dealt
• A natural 8 or 9 on the first two cards ends the round immediately
• The Player hand stands on 6 or 7 and draws on 0 to 5
• The Banker hand follows fixed drawing rules based on its total and the Player’s third card
• Player pays 1:1, Banker pays 1:1 minus 5% commission, Tie typically pays 8:1
• Unlike Chemin de Fer, the casino always acts as the banker in Punto Banco

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