Punto Banco


Punto Banco (basic game)


Licence type - No Licence Required
Status - Permanent
Trial originated at - N/A
Date placed on trial - N/A
Licensee / proprietor - N/A
Licensee contact details - N/A

Basic Outline Rules / How to Play


The game is normally played with six or eight decks of cards, unless otherwise specified in the club. Punto Banco is a derivation of the traditional game of Baccarat.


The game is normally played in one of two formats. One is the “mini / midi” format, where the dealer draws all cards and acts as the banker, whilst the other is the “full size” game, where the shoe is offered in turn to seated players to assume the role of “banker”. (NB, in such cases, the player only assumes the role for the purposes of dealing the cards and taking ownership of the banker hand. At no time does the player hold or control the bank itself).


Players wager on whether they believe the winning hand after all cards are dealt will be that of the player (“Punto”), the banker (“Banco”) or a tie (“Egalite”).


Normally, six or eight decks are used. Two hands are dealt consisting of two card each, one to the Player (Punto) and one to the Banker (Banco). The winning hand will be that with a score nearest to nine. Cards have a point value of 0-9 inclusive, whereby Ace counts as one, whilst tens, jacks, queens and kings count as zero. For example, 10+5=5, 10+1+5=6.


Hands will consist of two or three cards, according to a compulsory drawing table of play (“the Tableau”). This is as follows:-


Player's Hand
Player having a two card total of: Third Card Determination
0,1,2,3,4,5 Player dealt a third card unless Bank has 8 or 9 (natural)
6 – 7 Player Stands
8 –9 Stands – no third card dealt to either hand

Diagram S - Bank's Hand
Player having a two card total of: Third Card Determination
0,1,2 Bank dealt a third card unless Punto has 8 or 9 (natural)
3 Bank dealt a third card unless Punto third card is an 8
4 Bank dealt a third card unless Punto third card is 0,1,8 or 9
5 Bank dealt a third card unless Punto third card is 0,1,2,3,8 or 9
6 Bank stands unless Punto third card is a 6 or 7
7 Bank Stands
8 or 9 Bank stands – no third card dealt to either hand

Usual odds payable


Winning wagers on the “Banco” hand are normally paid 19 to 20

Winning wagers on the “Punto” hand are normally paid 1 to 1

Winning wagers on a tied hand (“Egalite”) are normally paid 8 to 1


House Edge details



If “Banco” wins - 1.06%
If “Punto” wins - 1.24%
If “Egalite”wins - 14.4%