Gambling terms, explained straight

Casino & Table Games

Punto banco vs baccarat

Punto banco is the house-banked baccarat variant where players bet on Player or Banker and the dealer follows fixed drawing rules for both hands.

Also called
Baccarat in many modern sources; some distinguish by shoe size or table label34
Outcomes
Player, Banker, or Tie12
Minimum payouts (UK)
Banco at least 19 to 20; Punto at least 1 to 15

Key points

  • In punto banco, the casino banks the game and deals both hands according to fixed tableau rules — players only choose which outcome to back.17
  • Some sources treat punto banco as a synonym for baccarat, while others use the name to distinguish it from older strategic variants like chemin de fer.17
  • One source notes baccarat uses eight decks while punto banco uses six, though this distinction is not universal.6

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Baccarat game — the broader family name that includes punto banco, chemin de fer, and baccarat banque
Casino games Punto banco Detailed rules and odds for the modern house-banked baccarat variant. Casino games Casino baccarat rules Standard rules for baccarat as played in casinos, including punto banco. Casino games Baccarat odds House edge and probability breakdown for Player, Banker, and Tie bets. Casino games Banco game A term for the Banker bet in baccarat, also used in other gambling contexts. Casino games Baccarat draw rules The fixed tableau rules that determine when a third card is drawn. Casino games Baccarat hit rules Another name for the draw rules that govern third-card decisions.

Sources

  1. Baccarat en.wikipedia.org Defines punto banco as the house-banked form and explains the fixed drawing rules.
  2. Definitions of terms gamblingcommission.gov.uk Provides the official UK definition of punto banco as a house-banked game.
  3. Baccarat Basics - Rules, Strategy, and Tips for Beginners wizardofodds.com Notes that some sources treat punto banco as a synonym for baccarat.
  4. Guia de Bacará Online com Noções Básicas, Probabilidades ... br.wizardofodds.com Portuguese-language guide that distinguishes punto banco from baccarat by shoe size.
  5. Rules of casino games in Great Britain wizardofodds.com Lists the minimum payout rules for Banco and Punto in Great Britain.
  6. Análisis del software de Net Entertainment y 17 casinos ... wizardofodds.com States that baccarat uses eight decks while punto banco uses six.
  7. [1308.1481] The evolution of the game of baccarat - ar5iv ar5iv.labs.arxiv.org Explains that the casino banks the game and players only choose which outcome to back.

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.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.