Quick answer: No-commission baccarat drops the usual 5% fee on Banker wins, but pays only half when Banker wins with a total of 6. That trade makes Banker worse: in an eight-deck shoe the house edge on Banker rises from about 1.06% to about 1.46%, which is higher than the 1.24% edge on Player (our calculations). So at a no-commission table, Player becomes the better main bet, and at a standard table, Banker stays best.
Standard Baccarat: Why Banker Pays Commission
The third-card rules let the Banker hand draw with slightly more information than the Player hand, so Banker wins a little more often. In an eight-deck shoe, Banker wins about 45.9% of hands, Player about 44.6%, and about 9.5% are ties (our calculations). If Banker paid even money, it would be a winning bet for players, so casinos take 5% of every Banker win. Our guide to baccarat rules and strategy covers the drawing rules in full.
How No-Commission Baccarat Works
No-commission tables, often branded “Super 6”, pay Banker wins at even money with no fee, with one exception: if Banker wins with a total of 6, the bet pays only half, 1 to 2. Everything else stays the same. Player still pays even money and ties still push both main bets.
It feels better because most Banker wins are paid in full. But Banker wins with 6 in about 5.4% of all hands, roughly one Banker win in every eight and a half, and the half payout on those costs more than the 5% commission it replaces.
The House Edge on Each Version
| Game and bet | House edge (8 decks) | Expected loss per ₱1,000 bet |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, Banker (5% commission) | 1.06% | ₱10.58 |
| EZ Baccarat, Banker (3-card 7 pushes) | 1.02% | ₱10.18 |
| Player (any version) | 1.24% | ₱12.35 |
| No-commission, Banker (6 pays half) | 1.46% | ₱14.58 |
| Tie at 8 to 1 | 14.36% | ₱143.60 |
All figures are our own exact calculation over an eight-deck shoe, with ties counted as pushes for Banker and Player. They match the figures widely published for these games. EZ Baccarat is another commission-free version where a Banker win with a three-card 7 is a push instead of paying out, and it comes out slightly better than standard.
Worked Example in Pesos
You play 100 hands at ₱1,000 on Banker. On average:
- Standard table: you lose about ₱1,058.
- No-commission table: you lose about ₱1,458, around ₱400 more for the same play.
- No-commission table, betting Player instead: about ₱1,235.
Results over 100 hands still swing a lot either way, but over many sessions those averages are what you pay. Our guide to expected value explains why the average matters more than any single session.
What About the Super 6 Side Bet?
Many no-commission tables add a side bet that Banker will win with a 6, paying something like 12 to 1 or 15 to 1. Like most side bets, it carries a far higher house edge than the main bets, and the exact edge depends on the payout the table uses. See our list of casino side bets ranked by house edge before you add one.
How to Tell Which Game You Are Playing
Open the rules or paytable screen before you bet. Look for “Banker pays 0.95 to 1” or “5% commission” for the standard game, “Banker win on 6 pays 1:2” or “Super 6” for no-commission, and “Dragon 7” or “3-card 7 push” for EZ Baccarat. Live dealer studios often run both standard and no-commission tables side by side with similar names. Our post on live dealer vs RNG games covers other rule differences between formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is no-commission baccarat a scam?
No. The rule is printed in the paytable and the odds are fair for what it pays. It is simply a worse deal on Banker than the standard 5% game, which the name does not make obvious.
Should I bet Player at a no-commission table?
On the numbers, yes. Player keeps its 1.24% edge, while Banker rises to about 1.46%. The best choice of all is Banker at a standard commission table, or at an EZ Baccarat table.
Does the number of decks matter?
Only slightly. With fewer decks the edges move by a few hundredths of a percent, so the order of the bets stays the same.
Can a betting system beat the commission?
No. Systems change the size and order of your bets, not the edge on each one. The house edge applies to every peso you stake.
Final Thoughts
“No commission” sounds like a discount, but the half payout on Banker 6 costs more than the fee it removes. At a standard table bet Banker, at a no-commission table bet Player, and skip the tie and Super 6 side bets. For how baccarat compares with other games, see table games vs slots.
Gambling is for adults aged 21 and over and always carries the risk of losing money, so only play with what you can afford to lose. If gambling has stopped being entertainment, our responsible gambling page lists the support available in the Philippines.