• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Monday 1 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Macau operators introducing further baccarat side bet innovations

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 11:50
Editorial – Winning margins: how Macau is set to become more profitable than ever before
43
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

An analysis of the premium gaming areas of Macau’s integrated resorts by investment bank Citigroup has highlighted another round of innovation by operators when it comes to baccarat side bets – further highlighting the impact of smart table rollout across the city’s gaming floors.

A month after Citi’s regular table survey noted that Sands China had added a progressive jackpot to most of its baccarat operations, analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau observed that multiple operators have introduced the new Big/Small 7 side bet to their baccarat tables, albeit with differing strategies.

Melco, MGM and Wynn, Citi explained, have opted for a “less is more” strategy by removing both the conventional Lucky 6 and Lucky 7 side bets from their tables but adding the Big/Small 7 to the mix and keeping Big/Small 6 and Super Lucky 7.

Sands and Galaxy have instead opted to go “all-in” and retain all side bet options. According to Choi and Chau, both strategies should work well in the long run.

The new Big/Small 7 side bet is similar to the conventional Lucky 7 except players must make a call on whether the Lucky 7 winning hand is composed of two cards or three cards.  It is one of a number of new side bet initiatives introduced by operators in recent months as they become more confident in their ability to offer and track these high-edge options given the data generated by smart tables.

In Monday’s note, Citi said, “While player count, wager size and time spent at casinos are key drivers for GGR growth, they are not the only drivers. Introduction of new side bets (and the popularity of them) can increase hold rates and provide an extra boost to GGR.”

The bank’s August table survey also found strong visitation and wager per player, with average wager up 10% year-on-year to HK$21,543. Total wager observed amounted to HK$13.4 million, up 5% year-on-year, despite the total number of players falling by 5% to 624.

“Encouragingly, wager/player has seen four consecutive months of double-digit growth, implying solid player quality improvement,” Citi explained.

RelatedPosts

Auto Draft

Macau sets another post-pandemic record in August as GGR hits MOP$22.2 billion

Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 12:51
Seaport: Proliferation of smart tables has driven Macau’s casinos to rekindle third-party agent model

Seaport: Proliferation of smart tables has driven Macau’s casinos to rekindle third-party agent model

Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 11:26
Macau Legend says no concerns over ability to continue after reaching agreement with lenders to defer HK$2.1 billion in looming repayments

Macau Legend reports US$182 million loss in 1H25 as imminent cessation of satellite casino operations add to going concern uncertainties

Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 06:08
Melco prices US$750 million Senior Notes offering

Melco Resorts parent Melco International back in the black with US$45 million 1H25 profit

Sun 31 Aug 2025 at 08:45
Load More
Tags: baccaratCitigroupGeorge ChoiMacauside bets
Share17Share3
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

SunTrust becomes listed tourism business as Suncity releases first renderings of Manila hotel and casino project

Suntrust confirms “strategic working agreement” with Travellers entities to cede construction, operational control of Manila casino project

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 13:08

Philippines-listed Suntrust Resort Holdings has publicly confirmed that it is pursuing a “strategic working agreement” with Newport World Resorts operator Travellers International Hotel Group Inc (TIHGI) and associated companies aimed at expediting the completion of Suntrust’s US$1.25 billion LETX hotel...

Auto Draft

Macau sets another post-pandemic record in August as GGR hits MOP$22.2 billion

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 12:51

Macau has continued its recent revenue momentum, with the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) reporting Monday that gross gaming revenues for the month of August reached MOP$22.16 billion (US$2.76 billion). This means August set yet another post-pandemic GGR record,...

Seaport: Proliferation of smart tables has driven Macau’s casinos to rekindle third-party agent model

Seaport: Proliferation of smart tables has driven Macau’s casinos to rekindle third-party agent model

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 11:26

The use of agents to bring players into Macau’s casinos is on the rise again, with the recent deployment of smart table technology across gaming floors allowing for greater transparency around who these agents are bringing to the table. Seaport...

Macau Legend says no concerns over ability to continue after reaching agreement with lenders to defer HK$2.1 billion in looming repayments

Macau Legend reports US$182 million loss in 1H25 as imminent cessation of satellite casino operations add to going concern uncertainties

by Ben Blaschke
Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 06:08

Macau Legend Development Ltd, the owner and operator of satellite casino Legend Palace and its surrounding Macau Fisherman’s Wharf precinct, has detailed multiple uncertainties relating to its ability to continue as a going concern after reported a loss of HK$1.42...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English