Casino & Table Games
Banco game
Banco is the term for the banker hand in baccarat, particularly in the punto banco variant, where players bet on the banker, player, or tie outcomes.
Key points
- In baccarat, banco is the banker side, not a separate game; players back either the banker or player hand12.
- The round is decided by which hand is closer to nine points, with ties possible2.
- Distinct from baccara banque (a three-person zero-sum game) and va banque (a staking phrase)45.
Where this term is used
Related terms
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Baccarat game
Covers the main baccarat variants and how the game is played.
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Punto banco
The most common casino baccarat variant, where banco is the banker bet.
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Punto banco vs baccarat
Explains the differences between punto banco and other baccarat forms.
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Craps game
A dice game unrelated to baccarat or banco terminology.
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Casino baccarat rules
Details the standard rules for baccarat, including the banker bet.
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Baccarat draw rules
Explains when a third card is drawn in baccarat.
Sources
- Baccarat en.wikipedia.org Defines banco as the banker hand in baccarat and provides house edge figures.
- Definitions of terms gamblingcommission.gov.uk Official UK definition of banco as the banker hand in baccarat.
- Rules of casino games in Great Britain wizardofodds.com States the minimum payout for Banco wagers in Great Britain.
- On the three-person game baccara banque arxiv.org Distinguishes baccara banque as a separate three-person game.
- Va banque en.wikipedia.org Explains va banque as a staking phrase, not the baccarat banker side.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.