With its simple rules and thrilling high-stakes nature, baccarat has become an all-time favourite among Singaporean gamblers. This classic tabletop game is now a staple in both land-based and online casinos.
You can play baccarat in two ways. There are commission free baccarat (or no commission baccarat) and the commission baccarat. While both versions follow the basic principles, they have differences that may influence a player’s strategy.
To maximise your winning chances in live casino Singapore baccarat, it’s essential to discern the differences between these game versions and determine which one offers better odds.
Baccarat: A Refresher
To fully understand the intricacies of each baccarat version, you must first grasp the basics of this casino game.
The objective is to bet on which hand has cards whose value is closest to 9. You can either wager on the banker’s hand, the player’s hand, or a tie (the banker and player have equal card values on hand).
In traditional baccarat, a card’s worth is its face value (e.g. Two of Hearts has a card value of 2). Cards 10, King, Queen, and Jack are worth 0 each, while the ace cards have a card value of 1.
The hand value is the sum of the card values. But if the sum exceeds 10, the value is the second digit of the sum. For instance, if the cards on hand are 6 and 7, the hand value is 3.
A “natural” win happens when either the player or banker gains a hand value of 8 or 9. Otherwise, the player draws another card if his total is 0 to 5 or stands if his total is 6 or 7.
Meanwhile, the drawing rules for the banker are quite complex as they depend on the player’s third card. The dealer understands these rules and automatically completes the hands.
Commission vs. No Commission Baccarat
The main distinction between these versions is the existence of the casino’s 5% commission on banker wins. Statistically speaking, banker bets have a slight edge over player bets, so the casino balances this by imposing a commission.
Commission baccarat imposes this 5% commission on banker bets. Say you win a dollar from a winning banker bet. The casino will take 0.05 from your payout, leaving you with only 0.95 payout amount.
Essentially, this deduction serves as a “payoff” for the casino due to the banker bet’s lower house edge (around 1.06%). Due to baccarat’s drawing rules, banker bets are more likely to win than player bets. In 1000 rounds, banker bets win 458 times while player bets win 446 times.
Meanwhile, in no-commission baccarat, the casino won’t charge a 5% commission on banker bet wins. However, it doesn’t mean that the casino is not collecting any form of commission. For instance, in some commission-free baccarat, the casino changes the payout when the banker wins with a 6 on hand. Players who placed a bet on the banker will receive only half of their original bet instead of being paid at a 1:1 ratio.
So Which One Offers Better Baccarat Odds?
As the commission applies only to winning banker bets, then the commission (or lack thereof) does not influence the player bets. In both baccarat versions, the house edge on player bets is roughly 1.24%.
In the absence of commission, the house edge on banker bets is 1.46%, which is higher compared to the 1.06% house edge in games with 5% commission. This means that in the long run, the casino earns more in a no commission game.
Apparently, a baccarat game with a commission has a lower house edge than the one without a commission. Thus, it seems that commission baccarat is the more profitable option for gamblers. However, the game’s immediate returns to bettors are lower due to the commission.
While the no commission game has a higher house edge, it pays higher in the long run, as you’ll receive a full payout if your banker bet wins. Of course, this sounds more viable only to high rollers.
So, which one is better? It boils down to one’s preference. These versions share the same game principles, yet their payout potential depends on the player’s capability to play in the short or long term.
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