Lucky 8

Introduction

Lucky 8 consists of two unique side bets in baccarat, each one based on achieving a total of eight points, with one wager for the Player and another for the Banker.

I encountered this wager at the Palace Casino located in La Center, Washington, on June 5, 2015.

Rules

Below is the payout structure for both of these bets. All winnings are calculated on a 'to one' basis, which means your initial bet will also be returned on a successful wager. Only the highest qualifying wins will be paid out, with detailed descriptions following the payout table.

Explanation of paying events.

• Double suited 3-card 8: Both the Player and Banker have formed a suited combination totaling eight with their three cards, although their suits may differ.
• Suited 3-card 8: Only the selected hand, either Player or Banker, achieves a suited total of eight with three cards.
• Double 8: Both the Player and Banker each hold eight points.
• Unfortunate 8: The chosen hand, whether Player or Banker, ends up with a total of eight points but does not win.
• Lucky 8: The selected hand (Player or Banker) achieves a winning total of eight points.

Analysis

The subsequent table illustrates the probabilities and payouts associated with the Player's Lucky 8 bet in an eight-deck game, revealing a house edge of 13.65%.

The next table presents the probabilities and payouts connected to the Banker’s Lucky 8 wager in an eight-deck game, indicating a house edge of 16.60%.

Written by: Michael Shackleford