Punto Banco

Punto Banco is a popular card game, also known from the James Bond films. If you have never played this game before, you might think it is a difficult game with complicated rules. But nothing could be further from the truth! Punto Banco is actually very simple. You only have to make one bet and the croupier does the rest. Wondering how it works? Then read on or watch the video below!

You can play Punto Banco in the following Holland Casino venues: Amsterdam Centre, Amsterdam West-Sloterdijk, Breda, Enschede, Rotterdam, Scheveningen, Utrecht and Venlo.

On the gaming table, you see two boxes: Punto and Banco. The object of the game is to predict which box will come out closest to 9 points. There are three possible outcomes: Punto or Banco wins, or there is a tie (Egalité).

1. Placing your bet

In Punto Banco you try to predict which pocket is closest to 9 points. There are three possibilities: you can bet on Punto, Banco and Egalité.

2. Game flow

Have you placed a bet? Then the croupier alternately draws two cards for Punto and two cards for Banco. A third card may be drawn. If both Punto and Banco have been dealt two cards, the croupier will draw according to the number of points:

• Not draw another card: if either Punto or Banco has 8 or 9 points, the winner is immediately determined;

• Give Punto a third card;

• Give Banco a third card;

• Give both Punto and Banco a third card.

3. Who wins?

Once the croupier has drawn the cards for both Punto and Banco, it becomes clear who is closest to 9 points and has won this round. Did you bet correctly? Then you've won!

How do you bet?

Punto Banco is played with value chips. You can exchange money for value chips at the cash register or directly with the croupier by placing money on the gaming table. But before you play, always pay close attention to the table's minimum and maximum stake. This varies per establishment and is always indicated on the table. The table minimum applies per player. Do you have questions about deployments? Ask our staff in the establishment.

When do you bet?

The croupier indicates when you can place your bet. You can bet until the croupier says you can't place any more bets and makes a waving arm movement across the table. From then on, your bet is final.

• Did Punto win and did you predict correctly? Then you win 1x your bet!

• Did you bet on Punto and did Banco win? Then unfortunately you lost; 

• Did you bet on Banco and Banco wins, then you win 1x your bet. There is one exception: if Banco has a card value of 5 points and Punto has a lower card value (0-4), you get half your bet paid out;

• Is there an Egalité (draw) and did you predict it correctly? Then you win 8x your bet;

• Is there a tie and did you bet on Punto or Banco? Then your bet stands. You can use this again in the next round. 

Have you finished playing and want to cash out your winnings? You can exchange your value chips for cash at the cash register. 

Sometimes a third card has to be drawn. When exactly that happens is according to a fixed draw table, also called the Punto Banco Tableau or tirage. You don't need to know the exact rules for this; the croupier does this for you. However, to give you a bit of an idea of how it works, we've provided an overview of the Punto Banco Tableau below.

Punto

Punto with two cards has a total number of points of:

• 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: Punto gets a third card, unless Banco has 8 or 9;

• 6 or 7: Punto passes. If Banco has 0 to 5 points, Banco gets a third card;

•  8, 9 points: Punto passes. Neither Punto or Banco get a third card.

Banco

With two cards Banco has a total of:

• 0, 1, 2: Banco gets a third card, unless Punto has 8 or 9;

• 3: Banco gets a third card, unless Punto has 8 or 9, or unless Punto's third card is an 8;

• 4: Banco gets a third card, unless Punto has 8 or 9, or when Punto's third card has a value of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7;

• 5: Banco gets a third card, unless Punto has 8 or 9, or when Punto's third card has a value of 4, 5, 6, or 7;

• 6: Banco passes when Punto passes. Banco gets a third card when Punto's third card has a value of 6 or 7;

• 7: Banco passes;

• 8 or 9: Banco passes. Both Punto and Banco do not get a third card.

Example

• The first card for Punto is a 2 (2 points);

• The first card for Banco is a King (0 points);

• The second card for Punto is a 4 (makes a total of 6 points);

• The second card for Banco is a Jack (remains 0 points).

Outcome: Punto has a total of 6 points and passes. Banco now has 0 points, also called Baccarat. Since Banco has 0 points, according to the Punto Banco Tableau, the croupier draws a third card for Banco. This is a 4. Banco now has a total of 4 points. Punto wins! Did you predict this correctly? Then you win this round!

In the example above, Punto has won. Here you can find what other outcomes are possible and what the payout is.

When you win, it is customary to tip the croupier. Experienced players then say: 'Piece for the staff.' Want to stop playing? In Punto Banco, you can decide not to continue playing after each round. If you have a seat at the gaming table, you clear your place for other players.

Punto Banco is a high-risk game. Read what that means here.

• Baccarat: a card value of 0 points;

• Croupier: a croupier deals the cards. This is also called 'the dealer' or 'the bank';

• Egalité: a draw;

• Draw table: Punto Banco Tableau of tirage.