Baccarat Rules and How to Play: What to Know Before Your First Game at a Korean Casino

Baccarat is a table game where you bet on whether the Player hand or the Banker hand will win. You never have to decide whether to draw a card yourself, and the dealer runs every hand by fixed rules, so it is an easy game to join even for first-timers.

This article sums up the rules and how a game works, based on the game guide on Paradise Casino's official website (checked on September 29, 2026). Payouts and table types may differ between casinos, so follow the table signs and staff instructions at the casino where you play. This article explains the rules only. It is not a way to win.

Baccarat rules in a nutshell

Before the details, here is the whole game in five points. Each one is explained in the sections below.

• You bet on "Player," "Banker" or "Tie"
• The hand whose total (last digit only) is closer to 9 wins
• 10s and face cards (K, Q, J) count as 0. All other cards count at face value
• Whether a third card is dealt is set by the rules, and the dealer handles it. The only things you decide are where to bet and how much
• Payouts (examples from the official guide): a Player win pays the same amount as your bet, a Banker win pays 95% after a 5% commission, and a Tie pays 8x

Baccarat basics: what you are betting on

The dealer deals cards to two spots, Player and Banker. The hand whose total (last digit only) is closer to 9 wins. You place chips on whichever side you think will win, Player or Banker. If you think the hands will tie, you can also bet on Tie.

The official guide explains that some people think of Player as the guest's side and Banker as the casino's side, but there is no such rule. You can bet on either side.

How to count the cards

• 10s and face cards (K, Q, J) count as 0
• All other cards count as the number shown
• If the total has two digits, only the last digit counts (for example, 7 and 8 make 15, which counts as 5)

How a hand is won

Once all bets are placed, the dealer deals two cards each, in the order Player, Banker, Player, Banker. What happens next depends on the total of the first two cards.

• Natural: if either hand's first two cards total 8 or 9, no more cards are dealt and the result is decided. If both hands are naturals, the higher one wins, and equal totals are a tie
• Stand: the Player stands on a two-card total of 6 or 7, and the Banker stands on 7, taking no more cards. If both hands stand, the result is decided as is. In an example from the official guide, the Player stands on 7 and the Banker has 5, so only the Banker draws one more card
• Otherwise: when the Player's total is 5 or less and the Banker's is 6 or less, the Player draws a third card first. Whether the Banker draws a third card is decided by the rule below

In the end, the hand whose two- or three-card total is closer to 9 wins. Equal totals are a tie.

When the Banker draws a third card

When the Player's two-card total is 5 or less, whether the Banker draws a third card depends on the Banker's two-card total and the Player's third card. The table below sums up the official guide.

The dealer applies this rule automatically, so you do not need to memorize it. It is enough to understand the flow so you can follow the result.

How payouts work

The official guide lists the payouts shown in the table below. Chips on the winning side are paid, and chips on the losing side are collected.

Types of tables

According to the official guide, Paradise Casino Walkerhill offers tables that combine these options. Once the dealer announces "No More Bets," you can no longer bet.

One round at the table

1. Check the minimum and maximum bet (the limit) on the table sign before you sit down
2. Buy chips from the dealer
3. Place your chips on the spot you want to bet on, such as Player, Banker or Tie
4. Once the dealer announces "No More Bets," no more bets are accepted
5. The dealer deals the cards by the rules. Chips on the winning side are paid, and chips on the losing side are collected

Where you can play in Korea

Baccarat has been confirmed at all 8 major casinos in Incheon, Seoul, Busan and Jeju covered on this site. For how the games differ by casino, see our comparison of Korea's casinos.

Each casino page covers how to get there, entry requirements and the hotel at the same resort: Paradise City (Incheon) / INSPIRE Casino (Incheon) / Paradise Casino Walkerhill (Seoul) / Seven Luck Casino Gangnam COEX (Seoul) / Seven Luck Casino Seoul Dragon City (Seoul) / Paradise Casino Busan (Busan) / Seven Luck Casino Busan Lotte Hotel (Busan) / Dream Tower Casino (Jeju).

Things to check before you play

At the table, you buy chips from the dealer and bet with them. For how to buy chips and exchange money, see Korean casino chips and currency exchange. For entry requirements and passports, see our guide for first-time visitors to Korean casinos.

Rules for other table games are covered in Blackjack rules and how to play and Roulette rules and how to bet.

For the probabilities of Banker, Player and Tie, and our calculations for betting systems such as the Martingale, see Baccarat by the numbers.

Decide how much you will spend at the casino before your trip, and enjoy the game within that amount. The 8 casinos covered on this site are for foreign visitors only (Korean nationals are not admitted) and are open to visitors aged 19 and over.

Summary

Baccarat is a game where you predict whether the Player or the Banker hand will be closer to 9. The dealer deals the cards by the rules, so the only things you decide are where to bet and how much. Payouts and table types may differ by casino, so check the table sign and staff instructions before you sit down.