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The Best Online Punto Banco Games

Punto Banco, also known as Baccarat, is an oldie table game that dates back to pre-1490 when the Italians introduced it to the French. This version has proven to be an online casino favourite, especially amongst high rollers and VIPs. There are many high stakes side bets that appeal to these risk takers, but the base game continues to be popular among beginners as well.

Baccarat carries some of the best return-to-player stats around when playing this simple game. Punto Banco is indeed the most played version of the game.

Card games are extremely popular at online casinos today. Competitive gamblers enjoy pitting their skills against the house for wins. Most of them are skill-based, with a little bit of luck involved when it comes to the draw. This means that your ability can determine how successful you are at the casino. Because of this, they (including Punto Banco) carry some of the lowest house edges.

Play Punto Banco for Real Money

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By

Deni
  • Games: 1

  • Updated: December 18, 2025

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Contents

Contents

A Beginner's Online Punto Banco Guide

‘Punto Banco’ is directly translated from Italian as ‘Player Banker’. It is a Baccarat game where the player competes directly against the bank. It's one of the most played variants online.

Another popular version is Chemin de fer (or Chemmy), where players play against each other. Each takes a turn at being the bank.

What are the differences between Punto Banco and Baccarat? They are extremely subtle, in some casinos even non-distinguishable. For example, in Punto Banco, your moves are forced by your cards. Baccarat generally allows for more choices (and bets).

Punto Banco works far better with the online casino setup. The house is always the banker in this instance. Even better, the game is available at both RNG and live dealer casinos, which allows you to choose between different devices, platforms, gameplay, and privacy levels.

Many people shy away from Baccarat and its versions, thinking that it's an exotic game and that Poker and Blackjack are far easier to grasp. The truth is that it's pretty easy to learn and play.

How Do You Play Punto Banco?

The point of the game is to have a hand with a value of 9 (or as close to this as possible). The cards have different values, which you can use to succeed at the goal.

Royal/face cards (King, Queen, Jack) and the 10s have the value of 0, while the Ace will bring you 1. The cards between 2 and 9 are the most important in the game, as they are the ones that count the most towards wins. They maintain their face value.

So, if you have a 2 and a 7 in your hand, you get 9 (which basically gets you the win). If you're dealt those two cards in the first or second round, this is called a Natural. It means that the hand ends immediately and you get the winnings.

What happens if you get two cards that sum up to a double-digit score? In this case, you get its last digit as the value (i.e., 5+9=14, so your hand total would be 4).

Before the game starts, you can bet on one of three outcomes:

  1. Player wins
  2. Banker wins
  3. Tie

The interesting thing is that here, you don't bet on your success. Instead, you bet on the casino game itself.

Different variants offer other side bets, such as Pairs, Small/Big, Dragon’s Bonus, Sum Bonus, Tie Bonus, and Egalité Bonus. These are a bit riskier, as they carry a higher house edge, so we recommend them for more advanced players. If you want to learn more about them and what they entail, refer to our in-depth guide to Punto Banco.

Game Odds

Playing the basic three-option version of the game equates to the lowest house edge offered. The return to player (RTP) ratios for the three main bets go as follows:

  • Punto – 98.76%
  • Banco – 98.94%
  • Tie – 86%

This means that betting on the player/yourself (Punto) carries a 1.24% house edge, while betting on the bank/casino (Banco) comes with a 1.04%. The most unfavourable bet of the three is the tie, as it presents with a whopping 14% house edge.

Top Tip: Read more about the casino house edge and how it influences the outcome and gameplay of your preferred game.

The best payout in the game and a favourite amongst high rollers is the Egalité Bonus. This win can only be made in conjunction with a tie bet, but you will need to predict the exact number of cards used by both parties. The odds are offered at 220:1 (220x total bet).

However, that's also the bet that comes with the highest risk and an extremely high house edge, so we recommend you avoid it (especially if you are a beginner).

Tips for Playing Punto Banco

Punto Banco is a great game for beginners. Yes, there's still a lot to entertain more advanced players, which explains why it's also popular among high rollers.

However, it generally comes with easy to learn gameplay and rules, especially when you exclude the optional and more risky side bets. The main thing about the base game is that it relies mostly on luck, so there's not that much space for complicated strategies.

Still, it'd be helpful to come prepared with some tips, as these will help you make smarter plays. Here are some tricks to lower the risk and improve your chances of success playing Punto Banco:

  • Get to know your bets: Learn their house edges, as these will help you decide which bet you want to make and which one you want to avoid. Generally, the latter would be the tie, because it comes with a huge house edge.
  • Set a budget before you start playing and don't go over it: Even if you're on a losing streak, take a break instead of grinding and going deeper. The most important thing is to play for fun and be responsible.
  • Take advantage of bonuses: Punto Banco comes with great table games bonuses, so make sure you don't skip on the offers, as those will help you maximise your time playing.
  • Play for free at first: Practice in games with free-to-play demo modes before you wager any of your real money. This will help you get to know the game better and get a run or two on it, so that you'll be more confident in your skills.

Best Casinos to Play Punto Banco Online

We understand the need for players to feel safe when playing their favourite casino games. We have therefore selected a very exclusive list of Punto Banco casinos with some of the best reputations in the business.

LV Bet has an enviable game collection (including some great Punto Banco titles) and one of the best promotions in the business.

The casino has earned a WOW score of 97 due to its one-of-a-kind gameplay and many extras, e.g., 3,000+ games, exclusive awards and currencies, and the best customer service.

Bizzo is a hybrid casino that stands out with a great game portfolio, secure gameplay and exclusive promotions to its players.

Each Punto Banco game is courtesy of some of the best providers in the industry. As such, those providers work only with the leading casinos, so go ahead and press 'Play' at any one of these and you won't be disappointed.

CasinoWow Round Up

We find it hard to believe that Punto Banco is not more popular. It does have quite a loyal following, which explains why it's included only in the top-notch casinos, but we feel it deserves more recognition.

It comes with great odds, entertaining gameplay, and best of all, it's really easy and fun to learn and play. Head to a recommended online casino and experience for yourself the excitement that comes along with it. We are sure you'll be charmed! Don't forget to memorise our tips from above to get the best of the game.

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