How to Play Punto Banco

Objective of the Game

PUNTO BANCO is a derivative of Baccarat. The game is played with a "six-pack" of six decks of 52 cards.

Each card has its nominal value except for the 10s and face cards, which are worth 0. The dealer ensures the smooth running of the game.

PUNTO (the Punt), BANCO (the Bank), or EQUALITY?

To win: I simply need to have bet on the outcome that has a total of points closest to nine.

Game Procedure

With a maximum of 7 players seated at the table (in a semicircular shape), I must bet on the outcome of a duel between PUNTO (the Punt) and BANCO (the Bank), or/and EQUALITY.

After shuffling the cards or drawing cards from the shuffler, the dealer has the player cut the "six-pack", then in turn inserts a cutting card between the tenth and eleventh cards of the deck to mark the last hand of the game.

The first card drawn from the shoe determines the number of cards that will be "burned" by the dealer (if the drawn card is a 7, seven cards will be burned; if the drawn card is a 10 or a face card, ten cards will be burned).

Before each deal, I place my bet on the table, on the spot above the number that represents me.

The bets cannot then be removed or modified until the next deal.

Before the card distribution, I choose to bet on:

1. The victory of the Punt ("PUNTO");
2. Or the victory of the Bank ("BANCO");
3. Or on the equality ("ÉGALITÉ") between the Punt and the Bank;
4. Or simultaneously on the equality ("ÉGALITÉ") and one of the other two cases ("PUNTO" winning or "BANCO" winning).

The dealer draws the cards one by one, alternating the distribution, starting with PUNTO then BANCO. The dealer places PUNTO (the Punt) cards on the right and BANCO (the Bank) cards on the left.

The PUNT is revealed first, then the BANK; the payout table is then applied:  

• PUNTO is paid at parity;
• BANCO: if BANCO wins with 6, the winning bets are paid at half;
• EQUALITY, with a maximum payout that cannot exceed one-eighth of the maximum bet, is paid 8 to 1;
• For PUNT as for BANK: a total of 8 or 9 obtained with 2 cards is a "natural"; no other card can be drawn.

After drawing the two cards:

• For PUNT: a total between 0 and 5 requires the drawing of an additional card;
• For BANK, the drawing of an additional card is determined by the attached table.

In case of a dealer error during the card drawing, the round is reset and a no-bet round is given (with no bets), and if it is impossible, it is annulled.

In the event of a dispute, the decision made by the Management is final.