EZ Baccarat is a commission-free baccarat variant where Banker wins normally pay even money, except a Banker win with a three-card total of 7 usually pushes instead of paying. That rule replaces the old 5% Banker commission. EZ Baccarat is not Super 6. Super 6 commonly uses Banker 6 half-pay; EZ Baccarat uses the Banker three-card 7 push.
Quick Facts
- EZ Baccarat removes the normal 5% Banker commission.
- The main pricing rule is the Banker three-card 7 push, often called Dragon 7.
- Banker wins other than the Dragon 7 usually pay 1:1.
- Player wins usually pay 1:1.
- Ties push Banker and Player bets, as in standard baccarat.
- Dragon 7 and Panda 8 are common EZ Baccarat side bets.
- The main Banker bet can be slightly cheaper than standard commission baccarat, but the side bets are much more volatile.
Plain Talk
EZ Baccarat looks attractive because the dealer does not collect commission on every winning Banker bet. The table moves faster, the math is easier for the player, and the chip rack does not fill with unpaid commission markers.
But the missing commission is not a gift. It is replaced by a special Banker result: if Banker wins with three cards totaling 7, the Banker bet pushes. That result is commonly known as Dragon 7. The Wizard of Odds EZ Baccarat page explains this Banker push rule and the Dragon 7 and Panda 8 side bets. California’s official Bureau of Gambling Control EZ Baccarat rules also describe Dragon 7 as a three-card winning Bank hand totaling 7.
That detail is the whole game. If you confuse EZ Baccarat with Super 6 Baccarat, you will misunderstand the payout. Super 6-style games usually half-pay Banker wins with 6. EZ Baccarat usually pushes Banker wins with a three-card 7.
Start from the baccarat guide if you need the base game first. For the numbers, compare baccarat odds and baccarat house edge.
How It Works
The cards are dealt like normal baccarat. The player does not decide whether Banker or Player draws. The drawing rules stay automatic.
The settlement changes only on one special Banker result.
| Final result | EZ Baccarat main bet settlement |
|---|---|
| Banker wins with two-card 6, 8, or 9 | Banker pays 1:1 |
| Banker wins with three-card 6 | Banker pays 1:1 |
| Banker wins with three-card 7 | Banker pushes |
| Banker wins with 8 or 9 after three cards | Banker pays 1:1 |
| Player wins | Player pays 1:1 |
| Tie | Banker and Player push |
The important wording is three-card 7. A two-card Banker 7 is not Dragon 7. A Banker 7 that loses to Player 8 is not Dragon 7. A Banker 7 that ties Player 7 is not a Banker win.
Dragon 7 and Panda 8
EZ Baccarat layouts often include two side bets:
| Side bet | Typical trigger | Common payout |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon 7 | Banker wins with three-card 7 | 40:1 |
| Panda 8 | Player wins with three-card 8 | 25:1 |
Massachusetts Midi Baccarat rules define Dragon 7 and Panda 8 for EZ-style midi baccarat. Some casino rule cards, such as Rivers Casino’s EZ Baccarat rules, also describe Dragon 7 as the Banker three-card 7 push and Panda 8 as a Player three-card 8 win.
Do not mix the side bet with the main bet. Dragon 7 is bad for a main Banker bettor because the Banker bet pushes. It is good only if you also placed the Dragon 7 side bet.
Baccarat Table Example
You are at a $25 EZ Baccarat table.
| Coup | Your bet | Final result | Main bet settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $25 Banker | Banker 8 beats Player 3 | +$25 |
| 2 | $25 Banker | Banker three-card 7 beats Player 6 | Push |
| 3 | $25 Player | Player three-card 8 beats Banker 4 | +$25 |
| 4 | $5 Panda 8 | Player three-card 8 beats Banker 4 | Side bet pays by layout |
| 5 | $25 Banker | Banker 6 beats Player 2 | +$25 |
On coup 2, many new players feel cheated. Banker won, but the Banker bet did not get paid. That is EZ Baccarat’s replacement for commission.
From the Casino Side:
EZ Baccarat solves a real operational problem: commission handling slows baccarat down. In standard commission baccarat, the dealer must track unpaid commission, collect it, calculate fractional values, and clear disputes when players forget what they owe.
EZ Baccarat removes that routine. The dealer does not need a commission marker for every Banker win. The game is cleaner and often faster.
But the casino gains a different risk point: Dragon 7 recognition. The dealer, floor supervisor, and surveillance team must identify the exact event correctly. The Banker must win. The Banker total must be 7. The Banker hand must have three cards.
A dealer who pays Banker on Dragon 7 has just given away the rule that protects the game. A dealer who incorrectly calls a two-card 7 as Dragon 7 has shorted the player. Both errors matter.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking “EZ” means easier to beat.
- Thinking no commission means no house edge.
- Confusing Dragon 7 with any Banker 7.
- Confusing EZ Baccarat with Super 6 Baccarat.
- Betting Dragon 7 because it sounds like a bonus, without checking hit frequency.
- Forgetting the main Banker bet pushes on Dragon 7.
- Treating Panda 8 as part of the base game instead of a side bet.
Hard Truth
EZ Baccarat did not delete the casino edge. It moved the edge from a visible commission box into one ugly Banker result: three cards, total 7, no Banker payout.
FAQ
What is EZ Baccarat?
EZ Baccarat is a commission-free baccarat variant where Banker bets usually pay even money, except Banker wins with a three-card total of 7 push.
What is Dragon 7?
Dragon 7 is a Banker hand that wins with three cards totaling 7. In EZ Baccarat, the main Banker bet usually pushes on this result.
What is Panda 8?
Panda 8 is usually a side bet that wins when Player wins with a three-card total of 8.
Does EZ Baccarat have commission?
Usually no. The commission is replaced by the Dragon 7 push rule.
Is EZ Baccarat the same as Super 6 Baccarat?
No. EZ Baccarat usually pushes Banker three-card 7. Super 6-style baccarat usually half-pays Banker wins with 6.
Is the Banker bet still the best main bet in EZ Baccarat?
Often yes, depending on the exact rule set. But it remains a negative-expectation bet.
Should beginners play the side bets?
Not as a default. Dragon 7 and Panda 8 can create exciting hits, but they add volatility and usually cost more than the main bets.
Deeper Insight
EZ Baccarat works because players dislike commission more than they dislike hidden pricing. A 5% Banker commission feels like a tax. A rare push feels like bad luck. Casinos know the emotional difference.
From a math view, both mechanisms do the same job: reduce the value of the Banker bet. Standard baccarat taxes every winning Banker bet. EZ Baccarat lets most Banker wins pay full, then cancels the payout on one specific Banker win.
This is why EZ Baccarat needs its own page in the course. It is not just “no commission.” It is a full pricing model.
The side bets also shape the atmosphere. Dragon 7 is loud because it produces a big side-bet payout while making main Banker bets push. That split result creates drama at the table: one player cheers, another asks why Banker did not pay.
Formula / Calculation
For the main Banker bet in EZ Baccarat:
Expected Value = (Banker paid wins × 1) + (Dragon 7 pushes × 0) + (Ties × 0) - (Player wins × 1)
Expected Loss = Total Amount Wagered × House Edge
Example with a $25 Banker wager over $1,000 total action:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Banker action | $1,000 |
| Approximate house edge | 1.02% |
| Expected loss | $10.20 |
Expected Loss = $1,000 × 0.0102 = $10.20
Formula Explanation in Plain English
Most Banker wins pay. Dragon 7 does not pay. Player wins still beat you. When all hands are averaged together, that one push rule replaces the old commission and creates the house edge.
Related Reading
Read the full baccarat guide before choosing variants. Compare this page with standard commission baccarat, no-commission baccarat, and Super 6 Baccarat. For the math, continue to EZ Baccarat house edge and baccarat odds. To price your own session, use the baccarat odds calculator or the expected loss calculator.