How to play baccarat

What is baccarat?

Baccarat is a comparing card game played between two hands called Banker and Player. You do not play either hand yourself — you simply bet on which one will be closer to 9, or whether both will tie. The dealer follows fixed rules for drawing cards, so there are no decisions to make during the round. That makes baccarat one of the easiest table games to play.

On PH28 you will find live baccarat tables in the Live Casino section, powered by Evolution Gaming and other providers. The game is streamed in real time with a live dealer.

Card values in baccarat

Every card has a point value used to count the hand total:

• Ace = 1 point
• 2 through 9 = face value (a 7 is worth 7 points)
• 10, Jack, Queen, King = 0 points

Add up the card values. If the total is 10 or more, drop the first digit — only the last digit counts. For example: 7 + 8 = 15, which becomes 5. The goal is to get as close to 9 as possible.

How a round works

1. Place your bet before the timer runs out: Banker, Player or Tie.
2. The dealer deals two cards to the Player hand and two cards to the Banker hand, face up.
3. Check the totals. If either hand is 8 or 9 (called a natural), the round ends and that hand wins. If both have the same total, it is a tie.
4. If neither hand is 8 or 9, the third-card rule decides whether one or both hands receive a third card (see below).
5. The hand closer to 9 wins. Winning bets are paid out.

The third-card rule — in simple words

This is the part that looks complicated, but you do not need to memorize it — the dealer follows the rule automatically. Here is the short version:

Player hand

• If the Player total is 0–5, the Player draws a third card.
• If the Player total is 6 or 7, the Player stands (no third card).

Banker hand

The Banker rule depends on the Player's third card (if drawn):

• If the Player did not draw a third card, the Banker follows the same rule: draw on 0–5, stand on 6–7.
• If the Player drew a third card, the Banker draws or stands based on a table that considers both the Banker total and the Player's third card value. Most live tables show this rule on screen.

You do not need to learn the full Banker table — just know that the dealer will draw or stand according to the fixed rule, and the hand closer to 9 wins.

Banker, Player and Tie bets

There are three main bets in baccarat:

• Player bet: You win if the Player hand is closer to 9. Pays 1:1 (bet ₱100, win ₱100).
• Banker bet: You win if the Banker hand is closer to 9. Pays 0.95:1 (bet ₱100, win ₱95) because the Banker wins slightly more often and the casino takes a 5% commission.
• Tie bet: You win if both hands finish with the same total. Pays 8:1, but ties are rare.

Most players stick to Banker or Player bets because the Tie bet has a much higher house edge. Some live tables also offer side bets like Player Pair or Banker Pair (the first two cards are a pair), but these are optional.

Where to play live baccarat on PH28

PH28 offers live baccarat tables in the Live Casino section, streamed by providers including:

• Evolution Gaming — the largest live casino provider, with standard baccarat, speed baccarat and several side-bet variants.
• Other providers may include Pragmatic Play Live, Asia Gaming and others, depending on availability.

To start playing:

1. Create a PH28 account with your mobile number (adults 21+ only).
2. Deposit from ₱100 using GCash or Maya.
3. Open Live Casino and choose a baccarat table.
4. Wait for the betting timer, place your bet, and watch the round.

You can also find more live games in our live casino guide.

A few reminders

• Every round is random. No pattern, betting system or card-counting method changes the result in online baccarat — the shoe is shuffled after every round in most live games.
• The Banker bet has the lowest house edge, but that does not mean it will win more often in a short session.
• Set a budget before you sit down and stop when it runs out. If you are not enjoying the game, take a break.
• Your play counts toward your VIP level on PH28.