Players may place a wager on either the bank or the player. Two hands (one for the bank and one for the player), each consisting of two cards, are dealt.

Later, a third card may be required for either hand. A pre-established set of rules, known as the tableau, determines the draw. The winning hand is the one that totals the closest to 9.

Baccarat is played on either a 7 or 9 playing position table. Baccarat can be played with 3, 4, 6 or 8 decks of cards. All cards from 2 to 9 are counted at face value and an Ace is counted as 1. Picture cards (Jack, Queen and King) and tens are counted as zero. When adding card totals together only the right-hand digit will be counted.  For example: 6+5=11, counts as 1 in Baccarat.

The game begins with four cards will dealt: the first and third cards will be the Player’s hand and the second and fourth cards will be the Banker’s hand. The dealer announces the initial point totals and should either hand add up to 8 or 9, this hand is called a Natural and no further cards are dealt. If neither hand is a Natural, one additional card may be dealt to each hand in accordance with the Table of Play.

Winning bets on the Player’s hand are always paid even money (1 to 1). Winning bets on the Banker’s hand are paid according to the version of the game being played. Winning bets on a Tie are always paid at odds of 8 to 1.

At first glance this may look confusing; however, to play Baccarat it is not necessary for you to know the Table of Play. The cards are drawn strictly in accordance with the Table of Play and there are no optional draws. Just remember that it is the card that is drawn as the Player’s third card (not the total of the cards on the Player’s hand), which controls whether the Banker’s hand has to draw a third card.

Each casino game has a theoretical house margin which is the percentage of money wagered that is retained by the casino. The lower the house margin, the higher the proportion of money that is returned to players. With games of skill it is possible for players using betting/decision strategies to reduce the house margin, while for games of chance no betting system will change the house margin. In the long run, most players are unlikely to come out ahead. Each casino game played at The Star must be conducted in accordance with rules approved by the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority.

Baccarat is considered to be a game of chance. The house margin for the traditional game of Baccarat played at The Star is around 1.2%. The house margin may vary if other wagering options and payment odds are offered. The house margin for Tie wagers is around 14.36%.The house margin for Even Money Baccarat is around 1.7%. The house margin for the Dragon Bonus option may vary between 2.46% and 9.37%. The house margin for the Baccarat Pairs is around 10.3%.

Baccarat Pairs are optional bets offered on certain Baccarat tables. The concept of the bet is simple. You may choose to wager that the first two cards drawn to the bankers hand and/or the players hand are of the same number or the same picture type (such as 2-2 or King-King). A Pairs Player is a wager that the first two cards dealt to the players hand will be of the same number or the same picture type. It wins at the odds of 11-1 if they are of the same number or picture type and loses if they are not. A Pairs Banker is a wager that the first two cards dealt to the bankers hand will be of the same number or the same picture type. It wins at the odds of 11-1 if they are of the same number or picture type and loses if they are not.

To play Baccarat Pairs simply place a bet in the Pairs Player or Pairs Banker area of the layout. You may choose to place a wager on the Pairs Banker, a wager on the Pairs Player or a wager on both the Pairs Banker and Pairs Player, but may only make one wager per option. You are not required to make an initial Baccarat wager.A maximum of three Pairs Player wagers will be permitted per Pairs Player box and a maximum of three Pairs Banker wagers per Pairs Banker box. All bets must be placed before any cards are dealt. If the first two cards dealt to the Banker’s or the Player’s hand is of the same number or picture type, you win if you have the corresponding.

Please note that the casino may limit the placement of Baccarat Pairs wagers to those players who also have a Baccarat wager on the Player’s Hand, Banker’s Hand or Tie and will display a sign at the table when this applies.

Super Six is an optional bet offered on cetain Baccarat tables. You may choose to wager that the banker's total at the end of the hand is equal to 6. A winning Super Six wager is paid at odds of 15 to 1. 

HOW TO PLAY

To play Super Six simply place a bet in the Super Six betting area of the layout. 

All bets must be placed before any cards are dealt. If the total of the winning banker's cards at the end of the hand, equals 6, you win the corresponding Super Six payout odds if you have made a Super Six wager.

Please note that the casino may limit the placement of Super Six wagers to those players who also have a Baccarat wager on the Player's Hand or Tie and will display a sign at the table when this applies.