In standard commission baccarat, winning Banker bets usually pay even money minus a 5% commission. Casinos either collect the commission immediately or track it and collect later, depending on approved house procedure. No-commission baccarat removes the commission but usually changes a Banker payout rule, such as Banker 6 paying half.
Quick Facts
- Standard Banker wins commonly pay 0.95 to 1 after 5% commission.
- A $100 winning Banker bet usually earns $95 net profit.
- Commission is also called vigorish or vig.
- Some casinos collect commission immediately.
- Others track commission with markers and collect later.
- No-commission baccarat is not “free edge” baccarat.
- Super 6-style games often replace commission with a Banker 6 half-pay rule.
Plain Talk
The Banker bet wins slightly more often than the Player bet. Without adjustment, that would make Banker too favorable compared with Player. Standard baccarat solves this by charging commission on winning Banker bets.
That is why the Banker bet explained page says Banker is usually the best main bet, but not a player advantage. The commission trims the payout so the casino keeps a house edge.
A player sees this as a small deduction. The casino sees it as a procedure that must be calculated, recorded, and collected correctly.
How It Works
Standard commission procedure usually follows one of two models.
| Method | How it works | Operational issue |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate collection | Dealer pays Banker win net of 5% commission | Simple but slower for odd amounts. |
| Deferred collection | Dealer tracks owed commission and collects later | Faster but requires accurate markers. |
The Massachusetts baccarat rules specifically allow selected procedures for collecting vigorish, including collection when the payout is made or later under tracking requirements.
Basic examples:
| Banker bet | Gross even-money win | 5% commission | Net win |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 | $20 | $1 | $19 |
| $50 | $50 | $2.50 | $47.50 |
| $100 | $100 | $5 | $95 |
| $500 | $500 | $25 | $475 |
Some casinos handle fractional commissions with special chip denominations, rounding rules, or table-specific procedures. The posted rule and local regulation matter.
Baccarat Table Example
A player bets $300 on Banker. Banker wins.
Standard commission baccarat:
- Gross win: $300
- Commission: $15
- Net win: $285
The player keeps the original $300 wager and receives $285 profit.
Now compare a common no-commission/Super 6-style game:
- Banker wins with 7: usually pays even money
- Banker wins with 6: may pay half
That is not the same procedure. It is a different rule structure. The no-commission baccarat page and Banker 6 half-pay math page explain why removing commission does not remove the casino edge.
From the Casino Side:
Commission is one of the most important baccarat control points.
The dealer must know:
- which bets are Banker bets,
- which Banker bets won,
- what commission rate applies,
- whether commission is immediate or deferred,
- how to mark unpaid commission,
- when deferred commission must be collected,
- and when to call the floor for a dispute.
The floor supervisor watches commission because it affects both money accuracy and player trust. A missed commission is a casino loss. An incorrect commission charge can become a player dispute. At high limits, either mistake matters.
The Wizard of Odds baccarat basics lists the standard Banker house edge around 1.06% when the normal 5% commission structure is used. That math depends on the commission being applied correctly.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking Banker pays full even money in standard commission baccarat.
- Forgetting commission on a Banker win.
- Charging commission on Player wins.
- Treating Tie as a Banker loss instead of a push on main bets.
- Confusing no-commission baccarat with EZ Baccarat.
- Paying Banker 6 full in a half-pay game.
- Forgetting to collect deferred commission before a player leaves.
Hard Truth
Commission is not a side detail. In standard baccarat, commission is the mechanism that turns the stronger Banker result into a casino-priced wager.
FAQ
Why does Banker have commission?
Because Banker wins slightly more often than Player. The 5% commission adjusts the payout and preserves the house edge.
Is commission always 5%?
Standard baccarat usually uses 5%, but players should always check the posted rules. Different variants may replace commission with special payout rules.
What is vigorish?
Vigorish, or vig, is another word for the commission charged on winning Banker bets.
Can a casino collect commission later?
Yes, if the approved house procedure allows it. Some rooms track commission and collect before a player leaves or before a new shoe.
Is no-commission baccarat better?
Not automatically. The missing commission is usually replaced by a rule such as Banker 6 half-pay. See no-commission baccarat house edge.
Is EZ Baccarat a no-commission game?
EZ Baccarat removes commission, but it uses a specific Banker push rule, not the common Banker 6 half-pay rule. See No-Commission Baccarat vs EZ Baccarat.
Deeper Insight
Commission is really payout engineering.
The shoe does not care what the casino calls the bet. Banker still has a structural advantage because of the drawing rules. The casino can price that advantage in different ways:
- charge 5% on Banker wins,
- make certain Banker wins pay half,
- make a specific Banker win push,
- or create a branded variant with side bets attached.
The California Commission-Free Baccarat Dragon Bonus rules show the common half-pay wording: if the Banker hand wins with a total of six, the wager receives half pay. That is a payout change, not a gift.
This is why players should not compare baccarat games only by the phrase on the sign. “No commission” sounds friendly. The real question is: what rule replaced the commission?
Formula / Calculation
Commission = Winning Banker Bet × 5%
Net Banker Win = Winning Banker Bet - Commission
Example:
$240 Banker win × 5% = $12 commission
$240 - $12 = $228 net profit
House Edge = -Player EV / Initial Stake
Formula Explanation in Plain English
Commission reduces the amount won on Banker. That reduction is why Banker can win slightly more often than Player without becoming a positive-expectation bet for the player.
Related Reading
Read standard commission baccarat first if you want the classic model. Then compare it with no-commission baccarat, Super 6 Baccarat, and EZ Baccarat. For the numbers, use commission math, baccarat house edge, and the house edge calculator.