This article first appeared in the Jul/Aug 2014 issue of World Gaming magazine.
With baccarat accounting for around MOP$330 billion, roughly US$41 billion, of Macau’s gaming revenue in 2013, it is no surprise that gaming companies are keen to offer up some interesting variations on this hugely popular game. We take a look at the latest variation to hit Macau – Bally’s payout-boosting side bet called Dragon Bonus.
It’s no secret that baccarat is by far the most popular casino game in Asia and, in-particular, Macau. Statistics released by the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau show that between mass market baccarat and VIP baccarat, the game accounted for a staggering 91.5 percent of Macau’s gaming revenue in the first three months of 2014.
Casinos, being the savvy operators they are, have been quick to make the most of this trend by flooding their gaming areas with as many baccarat tables as they can within space and table cap limitations. This is perfectly understandable of course, even if variety is the victim – if players want baccarat, you give them baccarat.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for innovation. In recent years, Macau’s casino operators have recognised greater opportunities within the baccarat bubble and started offering some fun and innovative twists on this ancient card game. Only last issue we brought you a story on Sands China Ltd’s Fast Action Baccarat which allows for up to 60 players on single table and around 70 hands per hour compared with as little as half that number in standard baccarat.
Now we can reveal the arrival in Macau of another spin on baccarat – Dragon Bonus. Unlike some variations on traditional baccarat, Dragon Bonus is a simple side bet option that doesn’t change the way the cards are drawn but offers players the chance to win up to 30 times their bonus bet depending upon the outcome of the hand.
Here’s how it works. Before any cards are dealt, players place their standard bet as usual on either banker or player, however they also have the option of placing a Dragon Bonus bet on banker or player in a specially marked area on the layout. The dealer then deals the hands as normal.
Players either win or lose their standard bet just as they normally would but can also win on their Dragon Bonus bet if the cards fall their way.
And here’s where it gets interesting – Dragon Bonus payouts vary wildly depending on exactly which cards have been dealt. If your winning hand was a natural, you are paid even money on your Dragon Bonus bet but ideally you want to be dealt a winning non-natural in which case the more “points” you win by the greater your payout. For example, if you are dealt a non-natural 9 and the losing hand is a 5, you have won by 4 points. If the losing hand is a 3 instead you win by 6 points.
Payouts work as follows – win by 5 points and your Dragon Bonus bet pays 2 to 1. Win by 6 points and it goes up to 4 to 1. A win by 8 points pays 10 to 1 and if you’re lucky enough to score a rare 9-point win you’ll be rewarded handsomely at 30 to 1! Nothing on a standard baccarat table pays anywhere near 30 to 1 so for those who like to add a bit of spice to their table games, Dragon Bonus provides a unique opportunity to turn a small investment into a large win.
The obvious question is how Dragon Bonus will be received in Macau? To be honest, it’s hard to imagine any baccarat variant performing poorly given Asia’s love of the game. The most surprising aspect of the arrival of Dragon Bonus is that it hasn’t happened earlier given it was first installed in British Columbia’s Gateway casino 11 years ago! In fact, Dragon Bonus boasts 750 installations around the world.
Dragon Bonus was unveiled to Macau at G2E Asia at the Venetian in May with Bally Technologies Director of Table Games Justin Keane stating, “These odds really add excitement for the players and we’re looking forward to partnering up to bring this game to Asia.” Ken Jolly, Vice President (Asia) for SHFL entertainment added, “A number of operators have shown keen interest in Dragon Bonus.”
We’ll be keeping an eye out for Dragon Bonus around Macau in the coming months and let you know how it goes!
