Why Side Bets Should Be Avoided By Inexperienced Baccarat Players
✨ Key Reasons
Side bets have a much higher house edge. Compared to standard Player or Banker bets, most side bets significantly favor the casino. New players often underestimate how quickly these odds work against them.
They distract from learning the core game. When you’re still figuring out baccarat basics, side bets pull attention away from understanding how hands play out and how to manage your money effectively.
They accelerate losses for inexperienced players. Bigger payouts come with lower probability. Without experience, players chase wins and end up losing larger amounts in a shorter time.
Baccarat is often recommended as a beginner-friendly casino game, and for good reason.
The core rules are simple, the gameplay is fast, and you don’t need complex strategies to participate.
Where many new players get into trouble is not with the main game—but with side bets.
Side bets can look tempting, especially when they promise big payouts or seem like a quick way to win more with a small wager.
The problem is that they’re designed for players who already understand the flow of the game, the odds, and the risk they’re taking.
If you’re new to baccarat, side bets add complexity before you’ve built a solid foundation.
Many beginners focus on potential payouts without fully understanding how unlikely those outcomes are. As a result, they often lose more money faster than they expect.
Before experimenting with side bets, it’s important to first learn:
How the Player, Banker, and Tie bets work
How baccarat odds affect long-term results
How to manage your bankroll over multiple hands
Side bets may seem simple, but they usually carry a much higher house edge than the main bets.
That means the casino has a bigger advantage, and inexperienced players feel the losses sooner.
In short, side bets aren’t “extra opportunities.” They’re higher-risk wagers that punish players who haven’t yet learned the rhythm of the game.
Side bets are the riskiest bets in baccarat
Side bets on baccarat are among the riskiest bets in the game for inexperienced players.
That’s because side bets have a huge house edge, and they’re much easier to lose compared to the regular bets in the game.
The casino invented side bets to give them an additional way to take your money.
It’s not like you can avoid them, either. Side bets are usually placed in a clearly visible spot to players, and they often have flashing lights and other things intended to capture the attention of the players.
How high are the house edges on side bets?
The house edge on side bets can be pretty high.
That’s because side bets have a higher payout compared to normal baccarat bets.
They have a higher payout because the casino needs to compensate for the fact that many players will lose on these bets.
That’s why you should be cautious about placing them if you’re new to baccarat. House advantages on side bets range from about 5% to as high as 25% or more.
What’s the best way to approach side bets?
As a novice player, it’s best if you just avoid the side bets in baccarat altogether.
That’s because you’re not going to be able to tell the good from the bad when it comes to side bets.
You need a feel for the game before you can decide what side bet rates are worth using.
Some side bets are better than others, but only experienced players can tell the difference.
As a novice, you’ll just be throwing away your money on high house edge side bets.
Side bets will eat up your bankroll quickly
You should avoid side bets because they eat away at your baccarat bankroll at a much faster rate.
It’s easy to get caught up inside bets’ flashiness and the higher payouts, though.
It’s not uncommon for players to lose large sums of money on the side bets, which is something to avoid if you’re a novice player.
When you play baccarat, your main objective should always be to get the most bangs for your buck.
That’s why you should only place regular bets at the baccarat table. If you use side bets, you’ll end up spending all of your money much faster than if you just stuck to the standard game.
Stick to the basic bets when you’re a beginner
The best bet you can make at the baccarat table is the standard bet.
This is known as the banker bet in roulette, while in baccarat, it’s called player.
This kind of bet should be your main focus when you’re learning about baccarat.
It’s the most straightforward bet on the table, and you can avoid all of the confusion that comes with side bets.
The player and banker bets add variety to baccarat, so you won’t get bored easily when you’re a beginner.
Always bet the banker when you’re in doubt
If you have no idea which way to bet, always bet on the banker.
The side bets in baccarat are designed for experienced players.
As a beginner, you’re much better off sticking to the basic bets.
You can learn about side bets as you continue to play the game.
That way, when you have more experience under your belt, you’ll be able to take advantage of the lucrative side bets in baccarat.
Tempting as they may be, side bets are dangerous for inexperienced players.
Stick with the basic bets until you understand how the game works.
Your bankroll will go further, and that means you’ll have more quality time at the table.
