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Side Bets in Baccarat — Which Ones Are Safe? SPEEDAU Breakdown
Side bets have become a major part of modern live video baccarat. Walk into almost any online baccarat table in Australia today and you’ll see a wide range of optional bets sitting next to the familiar Banker and Player options. Perfect Pair, Either Pair, Big/Small, Banker Pair, Player Pair, Dragon Bonus, Panda 8 and many others promise higher payouts and extra excitement.But higher payouts usually come with higher risk. Many Australian players place side bets without fully understanding how they work, how often they hit, or how much house edge they actually carry. Over time, this can quietly drain a bankroll faster than expected.This SPEEDAU breakdown takes a clear, practical look at baccarat side bets. We explain which side bets are considered relatively safer, which ones should be used carefully, and which are best avoided altogether. The focus is not on hype, but on helping Australian players make informed, smarter decisions when playing live baccarat in 2026.
Why Side Bets Exist in Baccarat
Traditional baccarat is one of the lowest house edge games in the casino, especially when betting on Banker. This is great for players, but less attractive for casinos looking to increase long-term revenue. Side bets were introduced to add excitement and raise the overall house edge without changing the core game.
Side bets appeal to players because they offer:
• Bigger advertised payouts
• More action per round
• Additional ways to win
• A feeling of control or prediction
• Visual excitement during live play
While these features make baccarat more entertaining, they also increase volatility and risk if not used carefully.
Understanding What “Safe” Means in Baccarat Side Bets
No side bet in baccarat is truly safe in the sense of guaranteed value. All side bets have a higher house edge than Banker or Player bets. When SPEEDAU refers to “safer” side bets, we mean bets that:
• Have a relatively lower house edge compared to other side bets
• Trigger often enough to feel balanced
• Do not require long losing streak tolerance
• Do not rely entirely on rare outcomes
• Can be used occasionally without major bankroll damage
Understanding this distinction is critical before placing any side bet.
Why Banker and Player Are Still the Safest Bets
Before diving into side bets, it’s important to establish a baseline. The Banker bet remains the safest wager in baccarat, with the lowest house edge. Player follows closely behind.
Compared to these main bets, all side bets are significantly riskier. Side bets should never replace core betting strategy. They should only be considered as optional additions, used sparingly and intentionally.
Perfect Pair and Either Pair Bets
How Pair Bets Work
Pair bets pay out if the first two cards dealt to either the Player or Banker form a pair.
Common pair bet types include:
• Player Pair
• Banker Pair
• Either Pair
• Perfect Pair (same suit and rank)
Risk Profile
Pair bets have a relatively high house edge compared to standard bets. The outcome depends on a very specific card combination occurring on the first two cards.
Are Pair Bets Safe?
Pair bets are not considered safe for regular play, but among side bets, Either Pair is slightly less risky than Perfect Pair.
Why:
• Either Pair covers both hands
• Hits more frequently than Perfect Pair
• Lower volatility than suit-specific pairs
SPEEDAU Recommendation:
Pair bets should be treated as occasional entertainment bets, not consistent wagering options. Either Pair is safer than Perfect Pair, but still carries significant risk.
Big / Small Bets
How Big / Small Works
Big and Small bets are based on the total number of cards dealt in a round.
• Small usually wins if 4 cards are dealt
• Big wins if 5 or 6 cards are dealt
Why Players Like Big / Small
• Simple to understand
• Outcomes occur regularly
• Less visually complex than pairs
• Often feels more predictable
Risk Profile
The house edge for Big/Small bets is generally lower than many other side bets, making them one of the safer options among side bets.
Are Big / Small Bets Safe?
Among side bets, Big and Small are considered relatively safe due to their higher hit frequency and simpler structure.
SPEEDAU Recommendation:
If you choose to play side bets, Big/Small is one of the better options, especially Small, which tends to hit more often.
Banker Pair and Player Pair Bets
How They Differ from Either Pair
Instead of covering both hands, these bets focus on a specific hand forming a pair.
• Banker Pair
• Player Pair
Risk Profile
These bets are riskier than Either Pair because they reduce coverage and rely on a single hand outcome.
Are They Safe?
No. These bets increase volatility significantly and should be avoided for regular play.
SPEEDAU Recommendation:
Avoid Banker Pair and Player Pair bets unless used very occasionally for entertainment.
Dragon Bonus and Panda 8 Bets
How These Bets Work
Dragon Bonus and Panda 8 bets pay based on specific winning margins or card totals.
• Dragon Bonus usually pays if Banker wins with a large margin
• Panda 8 pays if Player wins with a total of 8
Why Players Find Them Attractive
• High payout potential
• Feels skill-based due to margin logic
• Often marketed heavily by casinos
Risk Profile
These bets are extremely volatile. They rely on rare outcomes and offer high payouts precisely because they occur infrequently.
Are They Safe?
No. These bets carry some of the highest house edges in baccarat side betting.
SPEEDAU Recommendation:
Avoid Dragon Bonus and Panda 8 bets for bankroll preservation. These bets are high-risk and unsuitable for consistent play.
Tie Bets — The Most Dangerous Side Bet
Why Tie Looks Appealing
The Tie bet offers very high payouts compared to Banker and Player.
Why Tie Is So Risky
• Very low hit frequency
• Extremely high house edge
• Long losing streaks are common
Is Tie Ever Safe?
No. Tie is one of the worst bets in baccarat from a mathematical perspective.
SPEEDAU Recommendation:
Avoid Tie bets completely. They are not safe under any conditions.
Multi-Card and Combination Side Bets
Some live baccarat tables introduce complex side bets that combine:
• Card totals
• Pairs
• Specific sequences
• Colour combinations
These bets often look exciting but are designed primarily for entertainment rather than value.
Risk Profile
• Very low hit rates
• Complex rules
• High house edge
• Difficult to track long-term performance
SPEEDAU Recommendation:
Avoid complex side bets. Complexity almost always means higher risk.
Which Side Bets Are Safest Overall? SPEEDAU Ranking
Based on house edge, hit frequency and volatility, SPEEDAU ranks side bets from safest to riskiest as follows:
- Big / Small
- Either Pair
- Banker Pair / Player Pair
- Perfect Pair
- Dragon Bonus / Panda 8
- Tie
Even the “safest” side bets should be used cautiously and sparingly.
How Australian Players Should Use Side Bets Responsibly
If you choose to include side bets in your baccarat sessions, SPEEDAU recommends the following approach:
• Treat side bets as entertainment, not strategy
• Keep side bets small compared to main bets
• Avoid repeating side bets every hand
• Never chase side bet losses
• Avoid combining multiple side bets in one round
• Focus most of your wagering on Banker or Player
Side bets should add enjoyment, not pressure.
Why Casinos Promote Side Bets So Heavily
Casinos highlight side bets because:
• They increase house edge
• They create visual excitement
• They encourage additional wagering
• They extend session volatility
Understanding this helps players recognise why restraint matters.
Common Mistakes Australian Players Make with Side Bets
• Believing high payouts mean good value
• Using side bets to recover losses
• Overestimating hit frequency
• Mixing too many side bets together
• Treating side bets as main bets
Avoiding these mistakes significantly improves long-term outcomes.
Are Side Bets Ever Worth Using?
Side bets are not designed to be profitable long-term. However, they can be used responsibly if:
• Played rarely
• Used with very small stakes
• Treated as optional entertainment
• Not relied on for bankroll growth
Understanding limits is key.
SPEEDAU Final Verdict
Side bets in baccarat are not inherently bad, but most are not safe for consistent play. Among them, Big/Small and Either Pair offer the least risk, while Tie, Dragon Bonus and complex combination bets should be avoided by Australian players focused on control and sustainability.The safest way to play live baccarat remains simple: focus on Banker or Player bets, manage your bankroll carefully, and treat side bets as occasional entertainment rather than strategy.SPEEDAU continues to analyse live baccarat trends to help Australian players make smarter, more informed decisions in an increasingly feature-heavy casino environment.
