Mini-Baccarat vs. Baccarat: Which One is Better for You?

Mini-Baccarat and Baccarat have many similarities but they are not the same game. It’s worth considering the house edge, rule variations, and other factors before choosing which one to play. Mini-baccarat is a faster-paced version of baccarat where players play on a smaller table for smaller stakes and the banker handles all the cards.

Where to play

Both of these games are popular at land-based and online casinos. Players can play them at a table in a land-based casino or at an online casino using a casino app on a mobile device. An advantage of playing at an online casino is that players can make use of a welcome bonus to extend their bankrolls and learn how to play without using their own money.

Similarities between the two

Betting options

Before receiving the cards, both games give players three different betting options. They can bet on a banker’s hand to win, the player’s hand to win, or a tie. The goal is to bet on the hand that is closest in value to nine.

Card values

Once players make a pick, the player and the dealer will receive two sets of cards. The 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings count as zero. Aces count as one. Cards two to nine have their face value. If the two cards exceed 10, players will drop the first digit from the added value. For example, if the total value of the two hands is 14, the actual value is 4.

Winning hands

Each hand has a maximum of three cards. The banker’s hand follows certain rules when it comes to drawing the third card, depending on the banker’s hand total and the player’s hand total. If the player has two hands and chooses to stand, the banker follows suit. The banker will draw a third card with a total of five or less and stand with six or seven.

The hand with the total closest to nine wins. If both hands have the same total, it’s a tie. The banker hand has slightly higher odds of winning than the player hand.

Players can engage in video chatting when playing baccarat or mini-baccarat online. In-game chat can help them make new friends and share tactics.

Differences between the two

The card decks and banker

In standard baccarat, there are usually eight card decks and players take turns being the banker. In mini-baccarat, there are only six card decks and the dealer is the only banker in the game.

The number of players

Baccarat tables will allow up to 14 players and three dealers at once. In land-based casinos, a section of the main casino floor is often dedicated to baccarat. In mini-baccarat, a maximum of seven to nine players per table is the norm in most casinos.

The stakes

The stakes are high in baccarat as it’s a game that attracts high rollers and serious players. The stakes are lower in mini-baccarat. This is ideal for players who don’t have large bankrolls and want to limit their losses.

The house edge

The house edge is what gives casinos a mathematical advantage over the long term and allows them to make a profit. What makes baccarat so appealing is that it has one of the lowest house edges.

When betting on the banker’s hand, it only has a 1.06% advantage over a player. When betting on the player’s hand, this advantage increases slightly to 1.24%. Betting on a tie is one of the worst wagers, as the house edge increases to 9.5%.

The house edge in mini-baccarat is usually slightly different from the house edge in baccarat, but strategies for lowering the house edge remain the same.

Speed of play

Players usually play mini-baccarat at a higher speed than baccarat. Many tables at land-based and online casinos typically only have two other people playing. At smaller tables, players will often play hundreds of hands per hour. When feeling bored, a quick session of mini-baccarat may be exactly what’s needed for some excitement.

Standard baccarat is much more methodical and deliberate. As players can participate in dealing the cards, the pace is slower than in mini-baccarat where the banker handles the cards.