Royal 9 Baccarat Side Bet

Introduction

The Royal 9 is a side bet in baccarat that has a progressive payout. A minimum wager of $5 is required. Wins occur when the Player or Banker hand contains a 'Royal 9,' which is defined as a nine combined with any face card. Some victories also depend on matching a specific 'Royal 9' configuration displayed at each betting position. This side bet is promoted by AGS.

Rules

In baccarat, I typically capitalize 'Player' and 'Banker' when discussing those specific bets, while using lowercase 'player' to refer to the individual participating in the game. All payouts are made on a 'for one' basis.

1. The bet amount is a flat $5.
2. Each betting area showcases a pre-assigned two-card combination. In a table with six seats, the designated hands are displayed.K 9, K 9, K 9, K 9, K 9, K 9.
3. A 'Royal 9' consists of a nine teamed up with any face card from the original two cards dealt to either the Player or the Banker.
4. The main prize is the 'Star Jackpot.' It can be won if both the Player and Banker hands correspond to the printed cards at the player's position.
5. The 'Spade Jackpot' is awarded if only the Banker hand exactly matches the pre-printed cards at the player's position.
6. The 'Heart Jackpot' is granted when only the Player hand precisely aligns with the pre-printed cards at the player's position.
7. A guaranteed win of $5,000 is awarded if both the Player and Banker hands align with any other pre-printed cards, excluding those at the player's position.
8. A fixed payout of $1,500 is received if both the Player and Banker hands display a suited Royal 9, without needing to be identical.
9. A fixed payout of $250 is earned if both hands reveal a Royal 9, regardless of them being suited or identical.
10. A payout of $50 is available if either the Player or Banker hand contains a suited Royal 9.
11. A payout of $25 is granted if either hand showcases a non-suited Royal 9.

Eight-Deck Analysis

The following is my evaluation for an eight-deck game setup with six player positions. The returns section reflects the multiplicative result of the win, probability, and 1/5. Dividing by five provides a comparison of the return based on a $5 wager.

Notes:
* The overall return from all set wins is 50.23%. Each $100,000 in the Star Jackpot is valued at 0.85%. Each $100 in the Spade and Heart Jackpots is valued at 1.48%. A seventh player’s spot holds a value of 0.04%.

Six-Deck Analysis

The following is my assessment of a six-deck game with six player positions. The return column shows the result of the win multiplied by probability and 1/5. The division by five is to illustrate the relative return against a $5 wager.

Notes:
* The fixed winnings yield an overall return of 50.19%. Each $100,000 contribution to the Star Jackpot is worth 0.77%. Similarly, each $100 in the Spade and Heart Jackpots has a value of 1.48%. The seventh player spot is worth 0.04%.

Images

Here are some visuals from the table featuring the Lucky 9 side bet. Click on any image for a larger view. Photo credits go to Mdawg.

Acknowledgements

My gratitude goes to AGS for providing me with their GLI math report concerning Royal 9. My findings align with those presented in the report.

External Links

• Last updated: Oct 16, 2023 — Official Royal 9 page published by AGS, the distributor.
• On this page Royal 9 Baccarat Side Bet

Introduction Royal 9 Baccarat Side Bet