Banker in baccarat is one of the two main sides in the game. The player does not control this hand directly and does not become the banker in the usual sense. It is simply the name of one of the positions at the table, alongside Player.

How does Banker work?

In baccarat, two hands are compared: Player and Banker. The winner is the one that ends closer to 9 points. The Banker hand has its own drawing rules, and those rules determine whether a third card is taken or not. The player has no control over that decision.

What can you bet on here?

In the standard game, there are usually three options:

• a bet on Banker;

• a bet on Player;

• a bet on Tie.

A Banker bet is one of the most popular choices because its math is often slightly better than a bet on Player. But the casino usually charges commission on a winning Banker bet. That is the main nuance: this side may look stronger by probability, but the payout usually comes with a deduction.

Why does it matter?

Many beginners confuse Banker with a real person or the owner of the table. In baccarat, it is simply the name of one of the hands. Understanding that term makes the rules much easier to follow.