Baccarat reference library

Commission-Free Baccarat

Understand how reduced Banker payouts replace the visible five-percent commission.

Bottom line: Removing commission does not remove the casino advantage. The replacement settlement—often a half-pay or push on a particular Banker result—determines the new return.

Why commission exists

Banker’s conditional draw rules make it win more often than Player. Standard baccarat balances that advantage by collecting five percent of winning Banker wagers.

Commission-free games avoid chips, markers, or end-of-shoe collection, but they must change another settlement to preserve an advantage.

Banker six half-pay

A common version pays only 1:2 when Banker wins with a total of six. Every other winning Banker result pays even money. That concentrated reduction replaces the five-percent charge.

The exact edge depends on the drawing model and any additional rule. Do not compare the phrase commission-free with standard Banker without identifying the six rule.

Banker six push

Another family pushes rather than pays certain Banker-six wins. EZ Baccarat uses a different named exception involving a three-card Banker seven, commonly called Dragon 7.

Half-pay, push-six, and Dragon 7 are not interchangeable. Their side bets can also have distinct pay tables.

How to compare

Calculate the probability and payout of every mutually exclusive Banker result, including the special outcome. Commission collection timing does not change the expected value when the same percentage is ultimately paid.

Convenience may matter operationally, but the lowest published edge under the actual rules is the relevant mathematical comparison.

Practical checklist

  • Find the exact special Banker result
  • Record whether it pushes or pays half
  • Check Dragon 7 or other named exceptions
  • Separate side bets from the base wager
  • Compare edge under the same deck model
Scope and review

Rules, probabilities, and payouts apply only to the model stated on this page. Posted casino rules control when they differ. Last reviewed September 20, 2026.