# What are Panda 8, Dragon 7 and other baccarat side bets? Canonical HTML: [What are Panda 8, Dragon 7 and other baccarat side bets?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-are-baccarat-side-bets/) Published: 2026-10-30 Updated: 2026-10-30 Publisher: HowToCasino Language: en-GB Topic: Baccarat ## The short answer A baccarat side bet is a separate wager with its own qualifying event and paytable. In the specific EZ Baccarat rule example below, Panda 8 requires Player to win with exactly three cards totalling eight; Dragon 7 requires Banker to win with exactly three cards totalling seven. A two-card eight, a tied eight or a losing three-card seven does not satisfy those conditions. The exact Panda/Dragon document is a Nevada version, not confirmation of GB availability. Published GB rules also describe other side bets, which must be read separately. ![In an explicitly non-GB EZ Baccarat rule example, a Player two-card eight does not qualify for Panda 8; Player winning with a three-card eight does. A Banker three-card seven must also win to qualify for Dragon 7.](https://howtocasino.uk/illustrations/baccarat-side-bet-qualifying-hand.png) Educational conditions from the Nevada EZ Baccarat Progressive Version 5 rules. They are not a GB table-availability claim or game screenshot. Exact card count, final total and winning-hand requirement all matter; a main-hand outcome alone does not settle every side wager. ## How does a side bet differ from Player, Banker or Tie? A side wager puts additional money on a specified event, such as an opening pair, a winning margin or a particular three-card result. It is not extra profit automatically attached to the main stake. The main hand can win while the side wager loses, and some side conditions do not require the selected hand to finish ahead. Read the exact name, provider and rules together. Panda 8, Dragon 7, Dragon Bonus and a progressive wager are not interchangeable labels. Even where names resemble one another, qualifying events, payouts, permitted stakes and main-wager requirements can differ. For GB context, Sky’s public Evolution Baccarat Live help describes Player/Banker Pair, Either Pair, Perfect Pair and P Bonus/B Bonus. Our exact Panda/Dragon example comes from the Nevada regulator’s EZ Baccarat Progressive Version 5 document. It explains a rule model; it is not a claim that those bets are currently available to a GB account. The [main odds guide](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/baccarat-odds-and-payouts/index.md) covers conventional Player, Banker and Tie probabilities and returns. This page concentrates on additional qualifying conditions and their separate cash accounting. Sources: - [Baccarat Live: scoring, drawing matrix and payouts](https://skybet.com/casino/game/baccarat-live-sev/g-baccarat-live-sev) — Sky Bet Games. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ## What exactly qualifies for Panda 8 or Dragon 7? In the named Nevada EZ model, all three parts of each condition are necessary: the correct hand, exactly three cards, and the required total on a winning hand. Its fixed side paytables give Panda 8 at 25:1 and Dragon 7 at 40:1. These are profit odds for those wagers, separate from any progressive meter. | Illustrative final position | Does the named side wager qualify? | Reason | | --- | --- | --- | | Player wins with a two-card natural eight | Panda 8: no | The winning hand has two cards, not three | | Player wins with a three-card eight against Banker seven | Panda 8: yes | Correct hand, three cards, total eight and a win | | Player three-card eight ties Banker eight | Panda 8: no | The Player hand did not win | | Banker wins with a three-card seven against Player six | Dragon 7: yes | Correct hand, three cards, total seven and a win | | Banker three-card seven loses to Player eight | Dragon 7: no | The Banker hand did not win | | Banker three-card seven ties Player seven | Dragon 7: no | A tie is not the required Banker win | Card count is not the same as point total. Baccarat scoring uses the final unit digit, while naturals and three-card hands have different roles. The [third-card guide](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/baccarat-when-to-draw-a-third-card/index.md) explains how the ordinary drawing procedure reaches a final hand; it does not give the player a choice to draw specifically for a side bet. The Nevada document permits six or eight decks; the probability examples below use eight. It also requires a main wager in that version. A separate US operator document uses different local stake and standalone-side conditions, so neither policy should be treated as universal GB access or minimum-stake evidence. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat: Philadelphia table-game rules](https://www.riverscasino.com/philadelphia/casino/table-games/ez-baccarat) — Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Checked 2026-10-30. ## What do the side bet and main wager return together? These are fictional pound calculations applying the stated Nevada model’s ratios, not pound stakes offered at that venue or a recommendation to play there. Assume one £10 main wager plus one accepted £1 side wager, no other bets, fee, payout cap, rounding or promotion. Each branch commits £11 in total. | Separate qualifying branch | Main return | Side return including its £1 stake | Combined cash return | Net result after £11 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | £10 Banker + £1 Dragon; Banker wins with three-card seven | £10 main stake pushed | £41: £40 profit + £1 stake | £51 | +£40 | | £10 Player + £1 Panda; Player wins with three-card eight | £20 ordinary main return | £26: £25 profit + £1 stake | £46 | +£35 | In this EZ model, a winning Banker three-card seven pushes the main Banker wager. The Banker hand has still beaten Player; the main push is a special settlement rule, not evidence that the hands tied. Do not subtract a conventional 5% Banker commission from this different model or add an ordinary £20 Banker return to the Dragon branch. For another separate branch, suppose Player wins with a natural two-card eight. The £10 Player main wager returns £20, but the £1 Panda wager loses because the card-count condition fails. The combined net gain is £20 − £11 = £9. A main win did not make the side bet win. If both selected wagers lose, the £11 layout returns £0 and loses £11. On an ordinary tied outcome under these rules, the £10 Player or Banker main stake returns, while a non-qualifying £1 Panda/Dragon side wager loses: £10 returned and a £1 overall loss. These are independent examples, not outcomes to add together. The conventional [commission guide](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-is-baccarat-commission/index.md) explains a different main payout model. A no-commission main adjustment and an optional side wager are separate rules even when they appear on the same named table. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ## Which other side bets appear in the published GB example? The Sky public help consulted on 30 October 2026 gives the following kinds of additional wager. This is a limited account of that page, not an exhaustive GB catalogue or a tested game build. | Named wager or family | What to establish in the exact rules | | --- | --- | | Player Pair / Banker Pair | Whether the selected hand’s initial two cards form the defined pair | | Either Pair | Which hand’s opening pair qualifies and how simultaneous pairs are treated | | Perfect Pair | The required matching rank/value and suit, and whether one or both hands qualify | | P Bonus / B Bonus | Natural wins, natural ties and non-natural winning margins, each under its own schedule | A pair condition concerns the specified opening cards, not just the final baccarat score. For a specifically documented rank example, PG Soft’s dated 2019 Baccarat Deluxe rules define Player/Banker Pair by the same rank. That historical supplier rule clarifies why two different ranks that both count as zero, such as a jack and a queen, must not automatically be treated as a pair; it is not proof of today’s Sky build. In Sky’s P Bonus/B Bonus description, a qualifying natural win and a natural tie have different treatment from a non-natural margin result. Do not read natural-tie stake return as a rule that every tied side wager pushes. Its side rules also attach particular stake conditions; a main minimum does not establish side eligibility. Dragon Bonus is another name that needs its own document. The Canadian BCLC rule set describes a natural/margin wager rather than Dragon 7, and its published margin schedule differs from Sky’s P Bonus/B Bonus schedule. Similar concepts do not establish the same branded game or allow one jurisdiction’s paytable to replace another’s. Sources: - [Baccarat Live: scoring, drawing matrix and payouts](https://skybet.com/casino/game/baccarat-live-sev/g-baccarat-live-sev) — Sky Bet Games. Checked 2026-10-30. - [Baccarat Deluxe Traditional / Super 6 rules, June 2019](https://www.pgsoft.com/uploads/GamesResource/3b421dc8-4742-4128-91ff-5e005835310d.pdf) — PG Soft. Checked 2026-10-30. - [Rules for Play: Baccarat, Dragon Bonus section](https://www.casinosbc.com/content/dam/casinosbc/about-games/how-to-play/baccarat/Rules-For-Play-Baccarat.pdf) — British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Checked 2026-10-30. ## Do large side-bet payouts mean favourable odds? A payout ratio is not the probability of qualifying. Using a complete eight-deck model with the exact winning-hand conditions and fixed prices above, independently enumerated outcomes give the following approximate values. They do not describe an individual partially used shoe or a tested GB table. | Fixed side model | Qualifying probability per round | Winning £1 wager: total return | Theoretical house edge per side stake | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Dragon 7 at 40:1 | About 2.2534% | £41 | About 7.61% | | Panda 8 at 25:1 | About 3.4543% | £26 | About 10.19% | For Dragon, expected return per £1 staked is 41 times the qualifying probability; the difference from £1 gives the theoretical house edge. For Panda, the corresponding multiplier is 26. These multipliers include the returned winning side stake. They are not 40% and 25% win probabilities. The edge describes a mathematical average under those exact assumptions, not the amount a person must lose or a guarantee that a large prize will appear after a given number of rounds. Another price, deck model, progressive component or qualifying condition needs another calculation. A run of failed side wagers does not make the next one due. Past winner boards also omit information needed to reconstruct the remaining shoe. The [scorecard guide](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/can-baccarat-scorecards-predict-a-win/index.md) addresses those limitations and why progression systems do not guarantee recovery. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat: original Dragon and Panda analysis](https://wizardofodds.com/games/ez-baccarat/) — Wizard of Odds. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ## What should you check before interpreting a side-bet result? 1. Record the full provider/title and exact side-bet name, with the rule version where available. 2. Check the target hand, initial/final card count, required total, rank/suit, margin and winning-hand condition as applicable. 3. Read the profit-versus-total-return convention and every relevant push or exception. 4. Identify the separate stake, main-wager requirement, permitted range and any aggregate/payout cap. 5. Settle each accepted wager separately, then subtract all cash committed for the combined net result. 6. For a discrepancy, preserve the round ID, cards, accepted stakes and ledger and ask verified operator support for the applied rule. No deposit, practice wager or repeated side bet is needed to read the rules or ask a question. A current supplier catalogue entry or licence badge also does not confirm the exact betting options available to an individual GB customer. If an identified financial discrepancy remains unresolved, use the [unpaid-casino guide](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-to-do-if-a-casino-will-not-pay/index.md) for the complaint process. A side-bet name or main-hand result alone cannot determine whether the recorded payment was correct. Sources: - [Baccarat Live: scoring, drawing matrix and payouts](https://skybet.com/casino/game/baccarat-live-sev/g-baccarat-live-sev) — Sky Bet Games. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat: Philadelphia table-game rules](https://www.riverscasino.com/philadelphia/casino/table-games/ez-baccarat) — Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Checked 2026-10-30. ## Related questions ### What is a Panda 8 bet in baccarat? In the specified EZ rule example, it wins only when Player wins with exactly three cards totalling eight. The Nevada model pays 25:1 profit on the fixed side wager. This explains a rule set, not current GB availability. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ### Does any Banker seven win Dragon 7? No. In that model, Banker must win with exactly three cards totalling seven. A two-card seven, a tied seven or a seven losing to Player does not satisfy the condition. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat: Philadelphia table-game rules](https://www.riverscasino.com/philadelphia/casino/table-games/ez-baccarat) — Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Checked 2026-10-30. ### Why can Banker win while the main Banker wager pushes? The specified EZ rules make a winning Banker three-card seven a main-Banker push. That special settlement differs from a hand tie. A separately accepted Dragon wager can win on the same qualifying event. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ### Are Dragon Bonus and Dragon 7 the same side bet? No. The cited Dragon Bonus rules use naturals or winning margins, while Dragon 7 has a particular winning three-card-seven condition. Check the exact title and paytable; similar names are not interchangeable. Sources: - [Rules for Play: Baccarat, Dragon Bonus section](https://www.casinosbc.com/content/dam/casinosbc/about-games/how-to-play/baccarat/Rules-For-Play-Baccarat.pdf) — British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ### Can a baccarat side bet win when its hand loses? It depends on the side condition. An opening-pair wager does not generally require that hand to finish ahead, while the specified Panda/Dragon wagers explicitly require a winning hand. Read the actual rule. Sources: - [Baccarat Live: scoring, drawing matrix and payouts](https://skybet.com/casino/game/baccarat-live-sev/g-baccarat-live-sev) — Sky Bet Games. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. ### Can I place every side bet without a main wager? No universal permission is established. The cited Nevada version requires a main wager, while another US operator document has different local conditions. Neither establishes current GB standalone eligibility. Check the exact game. Sources: - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat: Philadelphia table-game rules](https://www.riverscasino.com/philadelphia/casino/table-games/ez-baccarat) — Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Checked 2026-10-30. ## Sources and checks - [Baccarat Live: scoring, drawing matrix and payouts](https://skybet.com/casino/game/baccarat-live-sev/g-baccarat-live-sev) — Sky Bet Games. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat Progressive — Version 5: rules of play](https://www.gaming.nv.gov/siteassets/content/divisions/technology/rules-of-play/ez-baccarat-progressive---version-5.pdf) — Nevada Gaming Control Board. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat: Philadelphia table-game rules](https://www.riverscasino.com/philadelphia/casino/table-games/ez-baccarat) — Rivers Casino Philadelphia. Checked 2026-10-30. - [Baccarat Deluxe Traditional / Super 6 rules, June 2019](https://www.pgsoft.com/uploads/GamesResource/3b421dc8-4742-4128-91ff-5e005835310d.pdf) — PG Soft. Checked 2026-10-30. - [Rules for Play: Baccarat, Dragon Bonus section](https://www.casinosbc.com/content/dam/casinosbc/about-games/how-to-play/baccarat/Rules-For-Play-Baccarat.pdf) — British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Checked 2026-10-30. - [EZ Baccarat: original Dragon and Panda analysis](https://wizardofodds.com/games/ez-baccarat/) — Wizard of Odds. Checked 2026-10-30. ## Keep exploring - [Is baccarat 50/50? Main odds and payouts explained](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/baccarat-odds-and-payouts/index.md) - [How do you play baccarat?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/how-to-play-baccarat/index.md) - [What is baccarat commission?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-is-baccarat-commission/index.md) - [When do you draw a third card in baccarat?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/baccarat-when-to-draw-a-third-card/index.md) - [Can baccarat systems or scorecards predict a win?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/can-baccarat-scorecards-predict-a-win/index.md) - [What should you do if an online casino will not pay?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-to-do-if-a-casino-will-not-pay/index.md) 18+; for adults in Great Britain. Gambling involves a risk of loss. Examples are explanations, not offers or guaranteed outcomes. [Support and safer gambling](https://howtocasino.uk/safer-gambling/).