Commission meaning: in a casino, a commission is a percentage the house takes from a winning bet instead of paying it in full, most often 5% on baccarat Banker wins and on pai gow poker wins. It exists where a bet would otherwise favor the player, and it is how the house builds in its edge.
A casino commission is a cut taken from winnings, usually 5%.
On a $100 baccarat Banker win, 5% commission means you're paid $95.
Commission turns a Banker bet that would favor players into a 1.06% house edge.
Fees on deposits or withdrawals are a different thing from game commission.
Affiliate commission is what review sites like ours earn when readers sign up.
Term
Commission (casino)
Typical rate
5% of the winning amount
Main games
Baccarat Banker bet, pai gow poker
Also called
Vig or vigorish (craps, sports betting)
Baccarat Banker edge after commission
About 1.06% (computed)
Commission meaning: the house's cut of a win
Most casino bets build the house's margin into the payout. A roulette number pays 35:1 when true odds are 36:1, and a slot's pay table returns less than it takes in. A few bets work differently: they're paid at or near fair odds, and the casino takes a percentage of each win instead. That percentage is the commission, and our casino glossary groups it with other cost terms such as house edge.
You'll also hear it called the vig, short for vigorish, especially in craps and sports betting. The idea is the same: a small slice of a win goes to the house so the bet carries a built-in advantage.
Which casino games charge a commission
Where commission shows up in casino games
Game or bet
Usual commission
Charged on
Why it exists
Baccarat Banker bet
5%
Winning Banker bets
The Banker hand wins more often than the Player
Pai gow poker
5%
Winning hands
Bets are paid at even money and need a house margin
How the 5% commission works in baccarat, in dollars
Under standard eight-deck rules, the Banker bet wins about 45.86% of rounds and loses about 44.62%, with ties returning the stake. If the casino paid Banker wins at even money, the average result on $100 would be (0.4586 × $100) − (0.4462 × $100) = +$1.24 for the player.
The 5% commission changes that. Each win now pays $95: (0.4586 × $95) − (0.4462 × $100) = $43.57 − $44.62 = about −$1.06. That swing of about $2.30 per $100 turns a bet that would favor you into a 1.06% house edge, still the lowest of the three main baccarat bets.
Effect of the 5% commission on Banker bet payouts
Banker bet
Paid without commission
Commission (5%)
Actually paid
$10
$10.00
$0.50
$9.50
$25
$25.00
$1.25
$23.75
$100
$100.00
$5.00
$95.00
In online play the commission is normally taken from each win automatically. On some land-based tables it's tracked and collected later, which is why baccarat layouts have small numbered commission boxes. Our how to play baccarat guide covers the full rules.
Commission vs fees: what the casino charges outside the games
Game commission is separate from banking charges. Offshore casinos publish their own fees, and they can add up. Silver Oak's banking page lists card deposit fees of 3–10%, and SlotoCash's two banking pages give different bank wire withdrawal fees ($50 on one, $60 on the other), so check the cashier before you request money.
These charges come off your balance whether you won or lost, unlike a commission on a winning hand. Our withdrawal fees page and our casino fees question explain what to look for.
Affiliate commission: how casino review sites earn
Commission has a second meaning you'll meet on sites like this one. Casino affiliates are paid a commission by casinos when readers sign up or deposit through their links. We earn commission from the partner casinos listed on our pages, and we rank them in a commercial order, which our advertiser disclosure explains.
That's a reason to check any review's claims against the casino's own terms. Our answer to how affiliate casino sites make money covers the business model, and we state where facts come from third parties.
Checking a commission rule before you play
Open the game's rules or help screen and look for the payout on a Banker or winning hand.
Note whether it says 0.95:1, 19:20 or "5% commission"; all three mean the same thing.
On no-commission tables, find the result that pays less, often a Banker win on six.
Work out the cost in dollars on your usual stake before you start.
Set a session limit and keep to it; commission is a cost of play, not something to win back.
Commission games at casinos with an offer via our links
Baccarat and Pai Gow Poker are reported in the RTG lobbies of Slot Madness, Planet 7 and Royal Ace, which is why these partners are listed; check the lobby to confirm. They are offshore casinos, not licensed or regulated by any US state, so you'd have no state regulator for disputes and no state backing for your balance. Check your state's law before playing. Their welcome bonuses are slot-based, and table games are commonly excluded or weighted lower. We earn commission from these links, and the order is commercial.
Slot Madness Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). LCB's listing (opens in a new tab) reports 30x (bonus plus deposit) on slots, a $30 minimum deposit and no max cashout. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named Slot Madness on August 14, 2025. See our Slot Madness Casino review.
Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews report 30x (bonus plus deposit) on slots and a $1,000 max cashout, and Blockonomi (opens in a new tab) says baccarat doesn't count on its free chip. Michigan's regulator named Planet 7 on April 9, 2025. Read our Planet 7 Casino review.
Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). LCB (opens in a new tab) reports 30x (bonus plus deposit) on slots, 60x on blackjack and video poker and a max cashout of 10 times the deposit; other sources describe a different package, so the terms at sign-up apply. See the Royal Ace Casino review.
Ad21+ (18+ where allowed). Ranked by us in a commercial order; we earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 275% match up to $2,750 with code MAD275; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and keno (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Anjouan, Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, August 14, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: None (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Planet 7 Casino#5 on our listRealTime Gaming slots
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews report a 200% match with code WELCOME200; the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Named in a Michigan Gaming Control Board cease-and-desist release, April 9, 2025.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus (reported). Max cashout: $1,000 (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
Royal Ace Casino#6 on our listSlots and specialty games
Published terms (reported): Third-party reviews disagree on the package (200% up to $4,000, or 250% up to $2,500 + 35 spins); the casino site could not be checked directly. Eligible games: Slots and specialty games (reported).
Who runs it: License not shown; third parties report Costa Rica or none. Regulator notes: Third parties report it does not accept Ohio players.
21+ (18+ where allowed). New players. Min deposit $30 (reported). Wagering 30x deposit + bonus on slots (reported). Max cashout: 10x deposit (reported). Withdrawal cap $2,500 / week (reported). Terms source: reported. Terms apply. Offer checked October 28, 2026.
These casinos are offshore operators. They are not licensed or regulated by any US state, and state consumer protections do not apply. Check the law in your state before you play. Terms marked “reported” come from third-party reviews; the terms shown at sign-up apply.
21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
Frequently asked questions
What does commission mean in a casino?
In a casino, commission is a percentage the house deducts from a winning bet, usually 5%. It appears on bets that would otherwise be close to fair or favor the player, such as the baccarat Banker bet and pai gow poker hands. A $100 Banker win paid with commission returns $95 profit. Our baccarat banker entry shows the full calculation.
Why is there a 5% commission on the banker bet?
The 5% commission exists because the Banker hand wins slightly more often than the Player hand. Under standard eight-deck rules it wins about 45.86% of rounds to the Player's 44.62%. Paying even money would give players an edge of about 1.24%, so the commission flips it to a house edge of about 1.06%. Our how to play baccarat guide has more.
Is no-commission baccarat better?
Not necessarily, because no-commission baccarat moves the house margin into a different payout rule. A common version pays only half on a Banker win with a total of six. That rule often makes the Banker bet more expensive than paying 5% on every win. Check the rules screen and compare, using the method in our house edge explained guide.
Is vig the same as commission?
Yes, vig, or vigorish, is another name for a commission the house takes on a bet. It's common in craps for buy and lay bets, which pay true odds and charge about 5%, and in sports betting, where it's built into the odds. In casino table games the effect is identical: a small, fixed cut that gives the house its edge. See our craps pass line entry for craps basics.
Are withdrawal fees a kind of commission?
No, withdrawal fees are banking charges, not a game commission. They apply when you move money, whatever the result of your play. Offshore casinos set their own fees, and some publish conflicting figures, such as SlotoCash's two different bank wire fees. Check the cashier before you withdraw. Our withdrawal fees page lists what to check.
Do casino review sites earn commission?
Yes, many casino review sites, including this one, earn affiliate commission when readers sign up or deposit through their links. We rank our partner casinos in a commercial order and say so wherever offers appear. Treat any site's ranking as a starting point and read the casino's own terms. Our advertiser disclosure explains how we're paid.
How much does the baccarat commission cost over a session?
The 5% baccarat commission works out to about $1.06 for every $100 you bet on Banker, on average. Each win pays 95 cents on the dollar, so a $25 Banker win pays $23.75, with $1.25 kept by the house. Over 100 Banker bets at $25, you stake $2,500 and the expected cost is about $26.50, though the actual result can swing a long way either side. That still makes Banker one of the cheaper bets in the casino. Our house edge explained guide shows how to run the same sum for other games.
Do you pay commission on a baccarat Player bet?
No, a winning baccarat Player bet pays even money with no commission taken. The house edge is built into the odds instead: under standard eight-deck rules, Player wins about 44.62% of rounds and loses about 45.86%, with ties returning the stake. On $100 that averages (0.4462 × $100) − (0.4586 × $100), or about −$1.24, a 1.24% edge. So Banker with its 5% commission is still slightly cheaper than Player. Our baccarat game page covers the main bets and how a hand is dealt.
Is there a commission on online pai gow poker?
Standard pai gow poker charges a 5% commission on winning hands, but RTG doesn’t publish the rule for its online version in the listings we have. RealTime Gaming includes Pai Gow Poker among its table games, and the rules screen inside the game should say whether wins pay 0.95 to 1 or even money. If it’s 5%, a $20 winning hand pays $19. On 50 winning hands at $20, that is $50 kept by the house. Our how to play pai gow poker guide explains how hands are set and settled.
Do Slot Madness, Planet 7 and Royal Ace charge baccarat commission?
Their commission rule isn’t published in the third-party listings we have, so check the baccarat help screen at each casino. Baccarat is reported in the RTG lobbies of Slot Madness, Planet 7 and Royal Ace, and RTG doesn’t publish an RTP for its version. Look for a Banker payout of 0.95 to 1, 19 to 20 or “5% commission”, which all mean the same thing. All three are offshore casinos, not licensed by any US state. Our best baccarat casinos list compares the partners that carry the game.
Can I use a casino bonus on baccarat Banker bets?
Usually not, because offshore bonuses are built for slots and baccarat is a common exclusion. Silver Oak’s terms list baccarat on its excluded-games list, and third-party reviews say baccarat doesn’t count toward Planet 7’s free chip. Betting Banker with bonus funds where it’s excluded can void the bonus and any winnings. Where baccarat does count, it’s often weighted lower, so far more play is needed. Read our table games bonus page and the game weighting entry before claiming.
Where can I play baccarat with commission legally in Nevada?
In Nevada, baccarat with a 5% Banker commission is played legally at the state’s licensed land-based casinos, not online. Nevada licenses online poker only; real-money online casino games aren’t legal there, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board regulates its 227 commercial casinos, as counted by a third party. Gaming is prohibited under 21. Offshore casinos aren’t licensed by Nevada or any other US state. Our Nevada gambling laws page explains the state’s rules in more depth.
We use no tracking cookies. We store one item in your browser to remember this notice. Casino sites may set their own cookies after you follow an advert link. Cookie policy
