How to Play Dragon Tiger: Rules, Ties and Odds
How to play Dragon Tiger: one card each to Dragon and Tiger, what each bet pays, how the tie rule works, and why the best bet carries a 3.73% house edge.
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About this video: How to Play Dragon Tiger
How to Play Dragon Tiger explains one of the simplest card games in the casino. The dealer gives one card to Dragon and one to Tiger, and the higher card wins. The video also shows what each bet pays and what it costs.
First, it works through a £10 bet on Dragon. Dragon shows a 9 and Tiger shows a 4, so you get £20 back. However, if both cards are 6s, the result is a tie, and most tables return only £5.
Next, it covers the main bets. Dragon and Tiger pay 1 to 1, a tie usually pays 11 to 1, and a suited tie pays 50 to 1. With eight decks, a tie comes up about 7.47% of the time.
Finally, it compares the house edge on each bet. Dragon or Tiger costs 3.73% when half your stake comes back on a tie. As a result, it costs more than European roulette at 2.70% or the baccarat Banker bet at 1.06%.
However, rules and offers change. For that reason, we check every video against the Gambling Commission and other official sources. In fact, we last checked this one on 16 October 2026.
Read the transcript
Dragon Tiger is one of the simplest games in any casino. Here’s how a round works, what each bet pays, how ties work, and what the house edge is.
The dealer deals one card to Dragon and one to Tiger, usually from a shoe of eight decks. The higher card wins. Aces are always low and kings are always high.
For example, you stake £10 on Dragon. Dragon shows a 9 and Tiger shows a 4, so you get your £10 back plus £10 winnings. If both sides show a 6, it is a tie. On most tables you lose half your stake and get £5 back.
Dragon and Tiger both pay 1 to 1, with no commission. A tie usually pays 11 to 1, but some tables pay only 8 to 1. Where offered, a suited tie pays 50 to 1.
With eight decks, a tie comes up about 7.47% of the time. Dragon and Tiger share the rest equally, at about 46% each.
So the best bet is Dragon or Tiger at a table that returns half your stake on a tie, with an edge of 3.73%. A table that takes your whole stake doubles that. And a tie at 8 to 1 costs over 32%.
Dragon Tiger is simple, but it isn’t cheap. Its best bet costs more than European roulette or the Banker bet in baccarat. Rounds are quick, and scoreboards of past results tell you nothing about the next one.
18+. Please gamble responsibly.
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