Punto Banco is a variant of baccarat and is a simple card game where you play against the house – not against other players. The objective is to predict which hand will come closest to 9: “Punto” (the player) or “Banco” (the banker). You can also bet on a tie.
The game begins by placing your bet on either Punto, Banco, or tie. The dealer then deals two cards to both Punto and Banco. The value of the cards is added together, where aces count as 1, cards from 2–9 have their face value, and 10s as well as face cards count as 0. Only the last digit of the total counts (for example, 15 becomes 5).
Depending on the result, a third card may be drawn according to fixed rules – this happens automatically and requires no decisions from the players. Once all cards are dealt, the hands are compared, and the one closest to 9 wins.
Payouts depend on your bet: Punto typically pays 1:1, Banco also pays 1:1 (usually with a small commission), while a tie offers a higher payout. Punto Banco is easy to play and requires no strategy – it’s simply about choosing your bet and following the game.