Like all casino games, online baccarat carries a small house edge against the players. But is there a way for the gambler to get an edge on the house? Maybe the flat betting system is the answer.

Let's take a closer look at this simple-to-use staking plan. Whether you're into Baccarat Gold, Live Baccarat, or low-stakes regular baccarat games, the flat betting plan might be for you.

How the flat betting system works 

Most casino betting systems work on a "progression" framework: if you lose or win, your stake goes up or down according to the rules of that system.

The flat betting system in baccarat works slightly differently. With this staking plan, the wagers remain exactly the same on every hand. So, if you lose, your stake remains the same. If you win a hand, don't increase or decrease the wager on the next game.

While the benefit of the flat betting plan is that you won't lose too much cash in the long run, neither will you win huge amounts.

Flat betting system in practice: profit and loss

In baccarat, two cards each are dealt to the player and the banker.

The aim is to have a total as close to nine as possible. Picture cards and the 10s count as zero, while the cards two to nine are worth their face value.

The punter places a bet on one of three outcomes: that the banker or player will win, or that the hands will tie. A player win pays 1/1 while the banker win pays 19/20. A tie pays 8/1.

Let's take a look at how profits and losses can vary over a series of hands. We'll assume the gambler is betting on the banker at 19/20. Unit stakes are £1.

Statistically, the banker will win more often than not in baccarat. But the return on the banker is just 19/20 (the casino takes the other five per cent), you will need to win more hands than you lose in order to come out in profit.

Now let's compare the flat betting system to the Martingale, using the same results.

In this example, our stakes have quadrupled by the sixth hand with five wins and three losses, however, our total winnings are £3.60. In the first table, our total winnings are just £1.75.

Advantages and disadvantages of the flat betting system

So, why does flat betting work so well in baccarat? Simply, the house edge is low enough that you can ride out the downswings without altering your wagers too much.

Baccarat has a 'three card rule' which determines what - if any - cards are drawn by either the player or banker. This depends on what the two hands are showing at the start of a game.   

For example, if the player has six or seven and stands (takes no more cards) and the banker has five or less, he will take another card. The banker's move is always determined by what the player's hand does.

This is why using a flat staking plan and betting on the banker is the smartest move in baccarat.

The downside to flat betting is that players can never make use of their winnings.

There is no increase in stake so players will always take longer to make bigger profits. This is a safe betting system for baccarat players of all wallets.

Give the flat betting system a try

The flat betting system is steady and safe and good for players just getting used to staking plans. The risk is low, but so are the potential profits.

However, baccarat is a unique casino game in that one of the most profitable bets is odds-on (19/20 on the banker). That means it can pay to be cautious when structuring your bets.