Dragon Tiger is one of the quickest games in the casino: one card each for Dragon and Tiger, highest card wins. It is easy to learn, but the main bets cost more than baccarat's. In the common eight-deck version the house edge on Dragon or Tiger is 3.73%, all of it coming from how ties are settled.
How Dragon Tiger works
- You bet on Dragon, Tiger or Tie, plus any side bets.
- The dealer draws one card face up for Dragon and one for Tiger, usually from an eight-deck shoe.
- Cards rank by value only, with the ace lowest and the king highest. Suits do not matter for the main bets.
- The higher card wins. Dragon and Tiger pay 1:1.
- If both cards have the same rank, it is a tie. The Tie bet wins, and Dragon and Tiger bets lose half their stake.
Why the tie rule matters
Without ties, Dragon and Tiger would each win exactly half the time and the game would be fair. With eight decks, the chance that the second card matches the first card's rank is 31 out of the 415 cards left, about 7.47%. Each time that happens, you lose half your bet. Half of 7.47% gives the 3.73% edge.
That is why the Wizard of Odds notes that Dragon and Tiger, while the best bets in this game, still cost more than the main bets in baccarat.
Bets and house edge
Figures for an eight-deck game, from the Wizard of Odds. We checked every figure by calculation.
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon or Tiger | 1:1 (half lost on tie) | 3.73% |
| Tie | 12:1 | 2.89% |
| Tie | 11:1 | 10.36% |
| Tie | 10:1 | 17.83% |
| Tie | 9:1 | 25.30% |
| Tie | 8:1 | 32.77% |
| Suited Tie (same rank and suit) | 50:1 | 13.98% |
| Big / Small (above or below 7; a 7 loses) | 1:1 | 7.69% |
| Odd / Even (a 7 loses) | 1:1 | 7.69% |
The Tie bet's cost swings enormously with the payout. The Wizard of Odds records Pragmatic Play's version paying 11:1 and SA Gaming's paying 8:1. The help screen shows which one you are playing.
A Suited Tie wins when both cards share rank and suit. With eight decks there are 7 matching cards left out of 415, a chance of about 1.69%, so even 50:1 leaves a 13.98% edge.
On Big/Small and Odd/Even, the card 7 counts as neither and loses, which is 1 in 13 cards: an edge of 7.69% at even money. Some versions use different payouts on Odd or Even, with edges around 5.4% to 5.8%, according to the same source.
What each bet costs, on average
House edge: the share of every bet the casino keeps over the long run.
Video poker: Jacks or Better9/6 pay table, perfect play
0.46%Blackjackbasic strategy, 3:2, 6 decks, dealer stands on soft 17
0.50%Baccarat: Banker8 decks, 5% commission
1.06%Baccarat: Player8 decks
1.24%French roulette: even moneysingle zero, La Partage
1.35%Craps: Pass Line
1.41%European roulettesingle zero, any bet
2.70%Sic Bo: Small or Big
2.78%Dragon Tiger: Dragon or Tigerhalf returned on a tie
3.73%Online slots (typical)94% to 97% RTP; varies by game and version
3–6%American roulettedouble zero, most bets
5.26%Baccarat: Tiepays 8 to 1, 8 decks
14.36%
Strategy basics, honest about limits
- Bet Dragon or Tiger. They are the cheapest bets on the layout, and the choice between them does not matter.
- Treat the Tie and Suited Tie as expensive long shots. Check the payout before you bet.
- Do not plan on counting cards. The Wizard of Odds notes that the Big and Small bets would be highly countable, and some studios close side bets partway through each shoe: after 50 rounds at Pragmatic Play and 25 at SA Gaming, according to the same source.
- Streak charts and "roads" on the screen are history. They do not predict the next card. No betting progression changes the edge; our roulette guide shows why.
Playing online
Dragon Tiger is mostly played as a live dealer game, streamed from a studio, with very short rounds. That speed matters: at a 3.73% edge, more hands per hour means a higher average hourly cost. RNG versions exist too, often with demo play. See our live dealer games guide and studios such as Pragmatic Play.
If you like quick card games, compare baccarat (lower edge on the main bets) and Andar Bahar. Our RTP and volatility guide explains how edge and RTP relate.
Where to play
We list licensed casinos only: UK casinos, Ontario, Alberta, rest of Canada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Availability of Dragon Tiger varies by casino. See how we rate casinos.
Play it safe
Gambling is entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide your budget before you start, use the deposit limits every licensed site offers, and stop when it stops being fun.
Free, confidential help where you liveQuestions people ask
What happens to Dragon and Tiger bets on a tie?
In the common rules you lose half your stake. That half-loss on ties is the whole of the house edge on the main bets, 3.73% in an eight-deck shoe.
Is Dragon Tiger the same as baccarat?
It is a simpler relative: one card each, no drawing rules. The main bets cost more than baccarat's Banker (1.06%) or Player (1.24%) bets.
Is the Tie bet worth it?
It depends on the payout. At 11:1 the edge is 10.36%; at 8:1 it is 32.77%. Both are far worse than Dragon or Tiger.
Is the ace high or low?
In the standard game the ace is the lowest card and the king the highest. Check the help screen, because the ranking decides close results.
Related reading
Sources
- Wizard of Odds: Dragon Tiger
- Wizard of Odds: Baccarat basics (eight-deck house edge on Banker and Player)
Facts checked 14 Oct 2026. Compliance review 14 Oct 2026.
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