Best Baccarat Side Bets: Which Are Worth Playing?
Baccarat side bets add extra ways to win, and that’s why they pull so much attention. Alongside Player, Banker, or Tie, you can also bet on outcomes like pairs, big win margins, or specific three-card finishes.
These Baccarat side bets often offer bigger payouts than the main game, which makes them tempting during a slow session.
At the same time, Baccarat bonus bets usually hit less often and have more risk; they work best as occasional add-ons.
On Jackpot.bet, many Baccarat tables include popular side wagers. So, our clear breakdown helps you choose which ones fit your style and which ones deserve caution.
What Baccarat Side Bets Are and How They Work
Baccarat side bets are optional wagers placed alongside the main Player, Banker, or Tie bets before the cards are dealt.
They focus on specific outcomes within a hand, such as whether the first two cards form a pair, the size of the winning margin, or the number of cards used in the round. Such bets resolve independently, which means they can win even if your main bet loses, and vice versa.
What makes side bets stand out is their payout structure. While Player and Banker usually pay close to even money, side bets often offer double-digit payouts.
That higher reward comes with a trade-off. Side bets occur less frequently and are built with a higher house edge, which increases volatility.
Instead of steady, small wins, you get long stretches of losses followed by occasional larger hits. So, side bets work best as supplements to standard Baccarat play rather than replacements for it.
Common Baccarat Side Bets You’ll See on Jackpot.bet
Most Baccarat tables on Jackpot.bet include a familiar set of side bets that experienced players recognize immediately.
While the exact layout can vary by game version, the core wagers follow the same principles and risk profiles.
Player Pair and Banker Pair
Player Pair and Banker Pair bets focus on the first two cards dealt to each hand. If those two cards match in rank, the side bet wins. It does not matter what happens later in the round or which hand ultimately wins the game.
These bets usually pay around 11:1, which makes them attractive at a glance. In practice, pairs occur infrequently, so long dry spells are common.
The appeal lies in their simplicity. You either see a pair immediately, or you don’t.
Because of the low hit rate, these bets suit players who enjoy occasional high-payout moments and tolerate frequent losses between wins.
Either Pair and Perfect Pair
Either Pair expands on the same idea by covering both hands at once. If either the Player or the Banker starts with a pair, the bet pays, usually at a lower rate such as 5:1.
The wider coverage increases the chance of winning, but the house edge remains high due to the reduced payout.
Perfect Pair takes the concept in the opposite direction. Instead of just matching ranks, the two cards must match both rank and suit. It makes the event much rarer, which is why payouts are significantly higher, often around 25:1.
Perfect Pair bets create extreme volatility. They can sit dormant for many rounds, then suddenly deliver a large win. For most players, this is a bet to approach sparingly and with small stakes.
Dragon Bonus and Other Margin-Based Side Bets
The Dragon Bonus side bet shifts focus away from specific card combinations and looks instead at how decisively a hand wins.
Rather than simply predicting Player or Banker, this bet pays based on the margin of victory. The larger the point difference between the winning hand and the losing hand, the higher the payout.
In most versions, the bet starts paying at even money when the chosen side wins by a moderate margin. Then increases step by step as the gap grows.
Wins by six, seven, eight, or nine points unlock progressively larger payouts, with the highest rewards reserved for near-perfect outcomes. Natural wins still qualify for smaller payouts, which helps the bet land more often than many other side wagers.
Dragon Bonus carries medium-to-high volatility. It does not hit as rarely as Perfect Pair, but it still produces uneven results.
Because payouts scale with margin size, many wins will be small, while big payouts remain uncommon.
EZ Baccarat Side Bets: Dragon 7 and Panda 8
EZ Baccarat introduces two side bets that revolve around very specific three-card outcomes. Dragon 7 applies to the Banker hand and wins only when the Banker finishes with a three-card total of seven.
Panda 8 works the same way on the Player side. It triggers when the Player wins with a three-card total of eight.
The bets exist to add excitement to situations that would otherwise feel anticlimactic. In EZ Baccarat rules, certain outcomes alter how the main bet is paid or pushed.
The side bets turn those moments into opportunities for large payouts, often ranging from 25:1 to 40:1 depending on the event.
Since these outcomes are rare, both Dragon 7 and Panda 8 come with high volatility. Long stretches without a win are normal, and bankroll swings can feel dramatic.
Players who choose these bets usually do so for entertainment value, treating them as occasional shots rather than regular wagers. They suit players who enjoy chasing big moments and accept that patience is required.
Big and Small Baccarat Bets Explained
Big and Small side bets take a different approach. They focus on how many cards are dealt during a round instead of who wins or what cards appear.
A Small bet wins if the round ends with four total cards, which means neither hand draws a third card. A Big bet wins if five or six cards are used, which happens when at least one hand draws.
The bets hit more frequently than most other side wagers, especially Big. It covers the majority of rounds.
The trade-off comes in the payout. Big pays less than even money, while Small offers a modest return that sits between standard and premium side bets.
Because of their higher hit rate, Big and Small bets produce lower volatility. Wins arrive more often, but they do not dramatically change the course of a session.
Such bets appeal to players who want side action without extreme swings and who prefer steady outcomes over rare jackpot-style payouts.
Which Baccarat Side Bets Are Actually Worth Playing?
Not all Baccarat side bets serve the same purpose, and lumping them together often leads to poor decisions. Some side bets lean toward frequent, low-impact wins, while others exist almost entirely for rare, high-payout moments.
Lower-volatility side bets, such as Big and certain Dragon Bonus outcomes, tend to suit players who want steady side action without extreme swings.
The bets hit more often and help keep sessions balanced, even though their payouts remain modest. They work best when treated as small additions to a main Player or Banker bet, rather than standalone wagers.
High-volatility bets, including Perfect Pair, Dragon 7, and Panda 8, fall into a different category. Such bets trade frequency for excitement.
Wins can be memorable, but losing streaks are common. Players who enjoy these bets usually accept that they are chasing moments, not consistency.
How Side Bets Fit Into a Baccarat Strategy
Side bets should never replace the core structure of Baccarat play. The main bets exist for a reason: they offer the best balance between payout and probability. Side bets, by comparison, are built to add variety rather than stability.
A good Baccarat strategy approach treats side bets as optional enhancements. When used occasionally, they can add excitement without significantly damaging a bankroll.
When used constantly, they tend to erode funds faster than expected. It happens because higher house edges compound quickly over many rounds.
In addition, proper sizing matters. Side bets should almost always be smaller than main bets, often a fraction of the base wager.
It keeps risk contained and prevents a single long streak from undoing an otherwise controlled session.
Finally, discipline matters more than timing, since no side bet becomes more favorable because it has not appeared recently.
Common Mistakes Players Make With Baccarat Side Bets
One of the most common mistakes involves chasing rare payouts. When a Perfect Pair or Dragon 7 fails to appear for many rounds, players may feel tempted to increase their stake, and they assume the outcome is overdue.
In reality, each round remains independent, and previous results do not improve future chances.
Another mistake comes from betting side wagers on every hand. Even entertaining bets lose their appeal when they become routine drains on a bankroll.
Side bets work best when chosen selectively rather than treated as mandatory additions.
Some players also ignore bankroll structure. Betting the same amount on side bets as on Player or Banker exposes too much money to higher-risk outcomes.
Over time, this imbalance usually leads to frustration rather than enjoyment.
Conclusion
Baccarat side bets can add variety and excitement, but they come with trade-offs that are easy to overlook. Higher payouts always reflect higher risk, and most side wagers lose more often than the main game bets.
On Jackpot.bet, the wide range of available Baccarat side bets gives players flexibility, but smart selection matters.
For players who value balance, lower-volatility options and occasional Dragon Bonus bets offer a reasonable middle ground.
High-payout bets like Perfect Pair, Dragon 7, and Panda 8 work best as rare treats rather than regular habits. When used intentionally and sized carefully, side bets can enhance a session without undermining control or enjoyment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Baccarat side bets?
Baccarat side bets are optional wagers placed alongside Player, Banker, or Tie bets. They focus on specific outcomes, such as pairs, win margins, or card totals, and resolve independently from the main bet.
Are Baccarat bonus bets worth playing?
They can be enjoyable, but they usually carry a higher risk. Side bets work best as occasional additions rather than core strategy elements, even when playing Baccarat on Jackpot.bet.
What is a perfect pair in Baccarat?
A perfect pair occurs when the first two cards of a hand match in both rank and suit. Such an outcome is rare, which is why payouts are high.
Do Baccarat side bets improve winning chances?
No, side bets do not improve overall odds. They increase volatility and should be used for entertainment rather than long-term advantage, whether on Jackpot.bet or in a live casino.
