Baccarat is one of the best online casino games in terms of odds. It has one of the lowest house advantages of almost all casino table games, which undoubtedly contributes to its popularity in online and in-person casinos.
While the low house advantage and excellent odds make it one of the more attractive casino games for high-stakes players, even the most ardent baccarat fan will admit that the game can get a little monotonous when played regularly.
Luckily, there are a few ways to make the game a little more interesting, and one of the most exciting options is the baccarat dragon bonus. Take a closer look at what the dragon bonus in baccarat is all about, how to use it, and some strategies on how to bet with it.
Baccarat Game Variations
Another way that game creators try to combat baccarat becoming repetitive is by introducing some variations into how the game is played. These variations can include adjusting the game’s mechanics and cutting the amount of time it takes to play the game.
For example, 3Dice Baccarat replaces the cards in the traditional game with dice. As a result, there are new side bets you can make on how the dice land that playing the game the standard way doesn’t allow for.
Speed Baccarat cuts down the time for each round to just 27 seconds, keeping the action moving for experienced players. The rules don’t differ much, it’s just a faster version of the traditional game.
Side bets in the standard game played with cards are another way that BetMGM’s library of baccarat titles can offer diverse experiences. First Person Baccarat offers several options like bonuses and pairs that can really multiply the value of your winnings if you’re lucky.
One example of a bonus side bet is the dragon bonus. True to the reputation of its namesake creature, it’s a high-risk but high-reward wager that can quickly make your game a lot more exciting.
Before you explore all the variants and wager types of BetMGM’s baccarat menu, it’s crucial to ensure that you know the basics. That will help you decide which version of baccarat is right for you.
How Is Baccarat Played?
Baccarat is one of the most straightforward casino games out there. You place a bet on whether you think the banker or the player will have a hand closest to nine. At the start of each hand, the dealer deals two face-down cards to both the banker and the player. They turn over their cards, and the one with the cards closest to the number nine wins. If the number is more than 10, only the first number is counted.
Baccarat counts cards one (ace) through to nine at face value, so five counts as five, and a three is a three. 10s and face cards count as zero.
For example, the banker gets a three and a five, so they end up with eight. The player is dealt a seven and an eight, which means they have 15. The five drops off the end, and they will only have one. The banker wins this hand as eight is closer to nine than one.
There is a complicated set of rules about a tie in baccarat, but you don’t need to worry about this right now, as the dealer handles all of it.
Baccarat Dragon Bonus
Now that you know the rules and, most importantly, how the cards are added up in a baccarat game, you can understand the dragon bonus bet. It’s one of the types of baccarat side bets out there.
In a baccarat dragon bonus, you are wagering on the gap between the banker and the player’s hands. If you take the above example, where the banker won eight to one over the player, the gap would be seven (8-1=7). In this case, the 7-point win gives you a payout of six to one.
The bigger the gap between the two hands, the bigger the payout.
How Much Does Dragon Pay on Baccarat?
Anything less than a four-point gap is not considered a win in the dragon bonus bet. Here is how this side bet pays out according to gap size:
| OUTCOME | PAYOUT |
| Win By 9 Points | 30-1 |
| Win By 8 Points | 10-1 |
| Win By 7 Points | 6-1 |
| Win By 6 Points | 4-1 |
| Win By 5 Points | 2-1 |
| Win By 4 Points | 1-1 |
| Natural Winner | 1-1 |
| Natural Tie | Push |
What Is a Natural in Dragon Baccarat?
If you’re new to baccarat, you might not know what a natural is. Simply put, a natural is the best hand you can get in the game. A natural is when one of the hands is a nine and a face card (0 value), giving you exactly nine points. The dragon bonus allows for a push on the natural tie, which means your wager will be held for the next hand.
How Much Does Dragon 7 Pay in Baccarat?
In standard games that allow for it, the Dragon 7 wager pays out 40 to 1 if it hits. This bet only wins if the banker gets a winning three-card seven, however.
Any other result is a loss when you place this wager. The house edge to this bet is an appropriate 7.61%, meaning that it’s among the riskiest wagers that you can place in traditional baccarat games.
There is another common variant of the Dragon Bonus bet known as the Panda 8. The payout on that bet is 25 to 1 and you win if the player gets a winning three-card hand totaling eight.
While it’s good to know how to place a Dragon Bonus bet, what needs to happen in order for you to win, and what your payout will be if you get lucky, also important is the understanding of when to place such a bet. Baccarat is a game of pure chance but there is some strategy involved.
Dragon Bonus Baccarat Strategy
If you’re trying to figure out how to be a better baccarat player, understanding more about baccarat strategy will help. There are only a few options for strategy in this scenario.
You can bet with or against your main baccarat bet with a dragon bonus bet.
If you want to double down on your main bet and increase your payout should you win both, bet alongside your main bet. So if you bet on the player winning the hand, place your dragon bonus bet on the player’s gap, too.
However, if you want to make your bankroll go a little further and you’d like to hedge your bet, you can bet against your main bet. This means that should your main bet lose, you can still win or, at the very least, lose less money.
If you’re a risk taker, the first option will be your best, while the second option is better for those looking for something a little safer.
Learn More About Dragon Baccarat With BetMGM
Whether you want a range of baccarat games or to learn more about how to play, there’s an array of options waiting for you at BetMGM. Register with BetMGM to play a wide variety of online games and poker tournaments, take advantage of regular promotions, and much more.
