Baccarat Against Blackjack

GuidesPublished September 18, 2026Checked October 16, 2026

In a casino, baccarat is a game where the player simply wagers on an outcome, while blackjack gives players decisions that move the house edge around. Each table asks two different questions: in baccarat, the question is which outcome to back, and in blackjack, the question is whether that table’s rules make it worth playing correctly.

Baccarat Against Blackjack — illustration — Photo: hj_west from USA. — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On this page

What baccarat is doing
What blackjack lets the player control
The add-on bets

What baccarat is doing

Baccarat is a game where players wager on one of three outcomes: the banker, the player, or a tie. The outcome is decided by a fixed table of extra-card draws that neither player can influence.

The main baccarat bets are named after the hands that can win. “Banker” bets on the banker’s hand, while “player” bets on the player’s hand. Both pay at even money, but the “banker” bet carries a 5 per cent commission. The “tie” bet pays off much more than the other bets, but wins far less often.

Why baccarat edges differ

In standard baccarat, the banker bet has a slight edge of a slight edge, the player bet has a slight edge, and the tie bet has a much higher edge. This big difference exists mainly to compensate the casino for the rare big payouts of the tie bet.

The banker commission exists to balance out the bet’s slightly higher win probability. The tie bet, while rare to win, offers odds highly in favor of the casino. As a result, the tie bet is seen as the worst bet of them all.

What blackjack lets the player control

In contrast to baccarat, blackjack gives players decisions to make. Correct play is a key factor in the game. The player decides when to hit, stand, split, double, and surrender, while the dealer follows a fixed set of rules.

Playing basic strategy turns blackjack into one of the lowest-house-edge games in the casino, with a house edge of just 0.5% at most. This makes it one of the lowest-edge bets on the floor.

What changes the blackjack edge

The house edge in blackjack changes with the table’s rules, as well as the player’s strategy. The most common rules affecting house edge are the number of decks, whether the dealer draws to a soft 17, whether you can double after splitting, and how much blackjack pays.

Interestingly, a reduced blackjack payout can raise the house edge enough to outweigh most other favourable rules, such as a low number of decks or a double-after-split rule. A payout of 6:5 rather than a full traditional 3:2 payout has a measurable impact on the player’s expected return.

The add-on bets

Baccarat and blackjack side bets carry a much higher edge than the main bets. These added-on wagers, such as Super 8s, Lucky Lucky, and extra pair, are designed with the casino’s advantage in mind.

side bets keep the player “hooked, feeling in control, even though the odds are worse than playing slots.” Super 8s and Lucky Lucky can have a high house edge.

How to read the baccarat table

To pick a baccarat table, check the game’s payout schedule. In summary:

Ensure the game you’re playing is under the standard rules, or is a variant where you know the house edge.

Calculating the house edge of a blackjack table is more involved, for .

In summary - these things to think about for blackjack:

Insurance bets are never recommended, as they have a large house edge.
Outside bets have an extremely high edge.
Single-deck blackjack often offers lower house edges than choices with more decks.
Most players try to use card-counting on multiple deck blackjack, though the complexities of this strategy put it outside the scope of this article.

Which to play

So which casino table is best for you: baccarat or blackjack? Sit at baccarat if you want to make a wager, then relax, and do not wish to be troubled by math or decisions. Sit at a blackjack table if you want to involve strategy and live with the inevitable edge of the casino.

The Japanese position. Betting through an online casino from inside Japan is an offence under articles 185 and 186 of the Penal Code, and since 25 September 2025 advertising or soliciting for overseas casino sites is separately banned. Public betting — the four racing sports, the football lottery and the national lottery — is legal from the age of 20 through official channels. Free help in Japan is listed here.