- The Dragon Bonus is a side bet available in many baccarat games.
- Standard Dragon Bonus rules translate to boosted payouts for winning bets.
- Dragon Bonus wagers should be carefully planned because they increase players’ risks.
Among all online casino games, baccarat is among the simplest. That doesn’t mean it’s boring, though, as elements like the Dragon Bonus side bet and its increasing payouts for backing a winner who wins big can pack the anticipation into each play.
Playing online baccarat is a fantastic way to try out the Dragon Bonus baccarat options to see if it fits in your wheelhouse for baccarat bets. It’s a rare opportunity to win not just for being right but to win more based on how right you are. 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
A primary component of when to bet the Dragon bonus in baccarat depends on whether the game you’re playing allows for that particular baccarat side bet. Not all of the different types of baccarat provide that opportunity, although most do.
For example, some Punto Banco baccarat games that you’ll come across include the Dragon side bet. But the only way to know for sure is to consult the game rules of the particular table you’ve selected.
Before you can start winning live dealer games or digital versions of table games, you need to know the basics. Before you start to think about Dragon Bonus baccarat strategy, ensure that you know the baccarat fundamentals.
How is Baccarat Played?
BetMGM’s beginner’s guide to baccarat breaks down the scoring system for the game and the basic probabilities, but here is a quick summary of how the game is played.
How to play baccarat is quite simple. You wager on whether you think the banker’s hand will best the player’s hand, vice versa, or whether there will be a tie.
At the start of each hand, the dealer deals two cards for both the banker’s and the player’s hands. Baccarat counts cards ace through to nine at face value (the ace counts as a one). 10s and face cards count as zero.
When the hand values are totaled, the one with the closest value of nine wins. However, if the hand value is more than 10, only the second number is counted. For example, the player’s hand is dealt a seven and an eight, giving an initial total of 15. But to get the true hand value, the first digit is removed, giving the player a total of 5.
Ultimately, if you’re new to the game, the simplest baccarat betting strategy starts with knowing that the banker’s hand has a slight edge over the player’s hand, and the tie result is the least likely outcome.
Baccarat Dragon Bonus
The simplicity of baccarat is one of the reasons why baccarat has remained a popular casino game, but for those who prefer a bit of variety, the inclusion of side bets is undoubtedly one other benefit. The Dragon Bonus is one of the many side bets in baccarat.
Many people interested in baccarat side bets often start out with the Dragon Bonus because it’s one of the more commonly available side bet options in many baccarat games.
In this side bet, you’re wagering on whether the player’s hand or banker’s hand will win, separately from your standard wager. The criteria for a Dragon Bonus win also included the gap in points between the winning and losing hands. The bigger the gap between the two hands, the bigger the payout.
In this way, the Dragon Bonus can be a way to kind of “double down” on your prediction for the upcoming round or “hedge your bet” for the same.
For example, you could emphasize the Banker bet in baccarat by placing your Dragon side bet and your main bet on the banker hand. Alternatively, you could place your main bet on the banker’s hand and your Dragon Bonus wager on the player’s hand.
Although some games allow for it, the general thinking behind baccarat play is that it’s usually not a winning move to wager on the Dragon Bonus bet for both the banker and player hand on a single round. That’s because the return typically won’t outweigh the risk over time. Just like other baccarat misconceptions, bettors sometimes discount the risk associated with the reward.
How Much Does Dragon Pay on Baccarat?
The foundations of all the best baccarat strategies include always checking the rules of the game before placing any wagers to verify payouts and betting ranges for all options, but especially for side bet choices.
With this in mind, you’re likely wondering, “How much does the Dragon Bonus pay in baccarat?” That depends on whether you backed the winning hand with your Dragon Bonus and, if so, the margin of that victory. In standard games with Dragon Bonus side bets, payouts range from 30:1 to 1:1 for winning wagers. Just how large that payout is depends on the margin of victory for the winning hand that you backed with your side bet. 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 |
Responsible gambling requires you to keep in mind that only these conditions offer a payout, even if you pick the winning hand for this side bet.
What Is a Natural in Dragon Baccarat?
Traditional baccarat table rules use a few unique terms, including a special meaning for the word natural in the context of the game. In baccarat games with standard rules, the ideal score for a hand is nine. Hands that produce that score or an eight are called “natural,” and the best the other hand can do in games like First Person Baccarat is a tie in these instances.
One of the most common baccarat mistakes is not understanding how a natural affects a Dragon Bonus. In that context, a natural win for the hand the bettor backed with their side bet produces a 1:1 return, while a natural tie (when both the banker and player hands score eight or nine) is most often ruled a push.
How Much Does Dragon 7 Pay in Baccarat?
If you’ve explored the Dragon Bonus, you might have also wondered what is a Dragon 7 in baccarat and if it is connected to the Dragon Bonus. Dragon 7 is a separate side bet that is available in some of the most exciting baccarat games at BetMGM. This side bet wins if the banker’s hand has three cards and a total of 7, and if the player’s hand has a total of less than 7.
As baccarat scoreboards from variants with the side bet will show, the Dragon 7 payout baccarat is one of the most generous in the game at a typical 40:1. However, the risk is higher than the game’s standard house edge at 7.61%.
The baccarat odds and outcomes for this side bet are usually narrow because it only pays out if you place the Dragon 7 bet on the banker. At some tables, you won’t be allowed to place a Dragon 7 bet if your main bet is on a tie, too.
Dragon Bonus Baccarat Strategy
As previously mentioned, the Dragon Bonus can be viewed as a potential hedge against your standard bet, depending on how you want to wager. This is because 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.
Incorporating the Dragon Bonus into baccarat betting systems in a smart way requires a good understanding of the additional risk you’re taking on to get a chance at a more valuable reward. Anytime you increase the cost of your betting, you must win more to offset that cost to avoid going through your bankroll quickly.
People who practice good baccarat bankroll management keep in mind that chance is the ultimate determinant of all baccarat wagers. That’s why the Dragon Bonus should be part of an overall betting strategy that allocates part of your bankroll to that side bet while making allowances with the rest of the budget for the increased risk.
If you’re interested in trying out the Dragon Bonus, you could play more conservatively with your other bets to compensate. BetMGM has other tips for trying to build a sustainable gambling bankroll.
Learn More About Dragon Baccarat With BetMGM
When you’re in the mood to play live baccarat with or without the Dragon Bonus, BetMGM is your online destination. BetMGM has the widest array of baccarat titles, including digital versions that you can play at your own pace.
You can consult BetMGM’s live dealer baccarat guide for everything you need to know about the game so you can approach your bets confidently. Along the way, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of being a BetMGM customer.
Your enjoyment of those perks and exploration of the Dragon Bonus in baccarat begins when you register for BetMGM. Playing at BetMGM is a dragon-sized bonus in and of itself.
