Citi: Big/Small 7 side bet expands to most casino baccarat tables

Investment bank Citigroup’s Monday memo reveals that Macau’s casino operators are innovating with baccarat side bets, introducing the new Big/Small 7 wager to boost revenue and hold rates at their properties.

Just a month after noting Sands China’s rollout of a progressive jackpot on baccarat tables, analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau have recently highlighted that several other casinos have embraced this fresh betting option with differing strategic approaches.

So far, Citi states, Melco, MGM, and Wynn have adopted a “less is more” tactic, removing traditional Lucky 6 and Lucky 7 bets while adding Big/Small 7 alongside Big/Small 6 and Super Lucky 7.

Meanwhile, Sands China and Galaxy have taken an “all-in” approach by keeping all side bet options available.
Citi’s note emphasizes the financial impact, stating that the “introduction of new side bets (and the popularity of them) can increase hold rates and provide an extra boost to GGR (gross gaming revenue).”

The analysts assert that both strategies should prove successful long-term, drawing parallels to similar approaches in Singapore’s gaming market.

“We expect both strategies to work well in the long run, much like what the Singapore casinos experienced,” said the analysts.

In its August table survey, Galaxy Entertainment led the premium mass baccarat segment with around 34% of total wagers, aided by hosting Cantopop star Eason Chan’s concert series, while Sands China held about 23%.

The group’s premium mass survey revealed that average wagers rose by 10% year-over-year to HKD21,543, contributing to a total wager amount of HKD13.4 million, up 5% from the previous year.

The high roller “whale” segment showed increased activity in August, with Citi observing 32 whales across casino floors – up from 25 a year earlier – and the month’s largest single bet reaching HKD450,000 at Galaxy Macau’s Horizon Room.