Baccarat in Cambodia
Baccarat is the most popular table game across Asia, and Cambodia is no exception. Casinos in Phnom Penh and border towns such as Poipet and Bavet attract players from across the region, and baccarat tables fill most of their gaming floors.
Who can play? Cambodian law generally prohibits Cambodian citizens from gambling in casinos; they serve foreign visitors. The country also stopped licensing online gambling in 2019. If you're visiting, bring your passport and check the current rules.
Baccarat rules in one minute
You bet on one of two hands, Player or Banker, or on a Tie. The hand closest to 9 wins.
- Cards 2–9 are worth face value; aces are 1; tens and face cards are 0.
- Only the last digit counts: 7 + 8 = 15, which counts as 5.
- Whether a third card is drawn follows fixed rules. You make no decisions after betting.
Best and worst bets
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Banker | 1 to 1, minus 5% commission | about 1.06% |
| Player | 1 to 1 | about 1.24% |
| Tie | usually 8 to 1 | about 14.4% |
Many Asian casinos also offer no-commission baccarat, where Banker pays even money except when winning with certain totals (often 6, which pays half). Its house edge is slightly higher than the standard game.
Side bets
Pairs, Dragon Bonus and similar side bets are fun but carry much higher house edges than Banker or Player. Keep them small or skip them.
Live dealer baccarat
Live baccarat streams a real dealer and real cards. You'll often see:
- Squeeze: cards are revealed slowly for drama.
- Speed baccarat: faster rounds, meaning more hands per hour and faster losses.
- Road maps: grids showing past results.
Road maps are a record, not a forecast. Past hands don't affect the next one.
How to bet smarter
- Bet Banker as your default.
- Skip Tie no matter how "due" it looks.
- Set a session budget and a loss limit, and leave when you hit it.
- Avoid progression systems like Martingale. They raise your bets after losses and can wipe out a bankroll fast.
- Watch the speed. Fast tables multiply the house edge by more hands per hour.
- Take breaks, especially in busy casinos where time passes quickly.
Can you win at baccarat?
In the short run, yes — many players leave with a profit after a session. In the long run, the house edge always wins. Treat baccarat as entertainment with a price.
Like dice games too? Read our Sic Bo guide.