Macau Casino Operators Introduce Baccarat Side Bets Innovation

Macau is so famous for its casinos that people often call it the “Las Vegas of the East.” For casino players, visiting Macau is one of the best options to travel to. Although Macau is geographically relatively small, the revenue from the casino industry is high enough. It has contributed significantly to its economic and tourism appeal.

One of the most recent news items coming from Macau is its decision to add a round of innovation to its baccarat side bets. Citigroup carried out research focused on some of Macau’s top gaming areas. Then, they saw how the operator keeps things exciting for players.

Innovative Baccarat Side Bets

Casino games are now much more accessible. With online casinos launching regularly, players can find trusted sites for playing baccarat online or other casino games that they enjoy. However, the charm of brick-and-mortar casinos hasn’t yet dimmed, especially in Macau.

A month after Citi had done their table survey, they noticed that Sands China now provides a progressive jackpot on their baccarat operations. Several casino operators have started offering a new baccarat side bet called Big/Small 7. Each table provides differing strategies.

Sands China isn’t the only one that jumped into the trend. Melco, MGM, and Wynn followed suit with this innovative side bet. The reason for this new addition isn’t solely to attract more players or keep things interesting. These operators think that they want to keep things simple with a ‘less is more’ mindset.

They took out the Lucky 7 and Lucky 6 side bets, replacing them with the Big/Small 7 option. Meanwhile, some other side bets like Super Lucky 7 and Big/Small 6 remain available in most tables.

This trend is seemingly the starting line for Macau’s casinos, which are likely to keep producing new variations of bets. This move was done not only to keep players engaged but also to raise earnings. Players might think that side bets aren’t the main focus of casino operators. However, side bets have been contributing a significant amount of profit to operators.

Big/Small 7 Mechanics

Big/Small 7 is based on the Lucky 7 side bet, but it gives players more decisions to make. When players bet on the Lucky 7, they bet that either the banker’s or the player’s hand will add up to seven points. However, Big/Small 7 bet asks not only for players to predict if seven is the result, but also if the hand would contain two (small) or three cards (big).

Taking this side bet means players must have a stronger strategy. This makes it interesting for table game players. Many often seek advanced betting situations where skill is involved, and also provides a more varied payout structure.

With the birth of these new side bets, baccarat is likely going through an ongoing development in Macau. Operators are consistently trying to provide unique products while ensuring they can keep profiting through the market’s favorite card game. Currently, baccarat contributes around 85% Macau’s total gaming revenue. Thus, any new additions to the game can be highly advantageous for operators and make them stand out.

Why This New Side Bet Is a Strategic Response to Competition

The addition of Big/Small 7 in casinos happened perfectly when Macau’s casino operators compete to attract players, especially in the mass market. For this market specifically, side bets are particularly well-liked.

This isn’t the first time Macau’s casinos have added new side bets. In the past, players had also seen versions of Small 6 and Big 6 introduced. Other operators had offered progressive jackpots on their baccarat tables before this trend emerged.

After the earlier side bet additions, operators found that they attracted more people to their tables. Furthermore, with additional side bets giving the operators higher profits, casinos begin to give better table performances or fix operational issues.

Impact and Reception

Although this innovation concept is still early, players have mostly welcomed the change. So far, the number of players participating in baccarat side bets keeps increasing.

However, these innovations might have set expectations for casino operators going forward. Players would continue to expect new twists when playing baccarat, making side bets innovations a key component in Macau’s competitive gaming ecosystem. Operators who can adjust to market tastes and trends would likely have a unique selling point that makes them stand out in the industry.

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