Harrah’s Resort SoCal Hands Out $1.4 Million EZ Baccarat Jackpot

One lucky Southern California gambler took home a $1.4 million jackpot this week.

In a press release, Harrah’s Resort Southern California — about 40 miles north of San Diego — said the jackpot was one of the largest won in Southern California this year. An anonymous gambler, identified as M.H., hit a $1,407,630 jackpot playing the table game EZ Baccarat, the casino announced.

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Here’s how it happened:

  • M.H. bet the $5 progressive wager.
  • M.H. received the top qualifying hand (Panda 8 vs. Dragon 7 suited), which led to M.H. being awarded the Cash Spin.
  • The Cash Spin landed on 100% Ultra, which means M.H. got the top prize or 100% of the top meter.
  • M.H. received a $1,407,630 payout.

How EZ Baccarat Works

EZ Baccarat has the same rules as regular baccarat. The only difference is that the Bank hand is a “push” or “barred” when it wins with a total of 7 with three cards. In normal baccarat, the Bank would get a 5% commission with that winning hand.

The objective is to assemble a hand of two or three cards with total values as close to 9 as possible. It’s the Player vs. the Bank.

Cards 2 through 9 are worth face value. Aces are worth 1. Tens, Jacks, Queens, and Kings are worth 0. EZ Baccarat only takes the ones digit into account. So, a hand totaling 8 is the same as a hand totaling 18. Once your hand exceeds 9, it essentially resets to 0.

You can place a bet on your hand winning, the Bank hand winning, or it being a tie. A winning Player or Bank bet pays even money. A winning tie bet pays 9-to-1.

There are two EZ Baccarat side bets to consider, as well:

  • Panda 8 — The Player wins with a hand totaling 8 with three cards. The bet pays 25-to-1.
  • Dragon 7 — The Bank wins with a hand totaling 7 with three cards. The bet pays 40-to-1.

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About the Author

Matthew Bain

Matthew Bain started as News Editor and Content Manager at California Casinos in 2022. Before that, he spent six years as a sports reporter and then deputy sports editor for the Des Moines Register, during which time he won nine statewide journalism awards, including the Genevieve Mauck Stoufer Outstanding Young Iowa Journalists Award. As deputy sports editor, Matthew oversaw the Register's recruiting coverage while also innovating the outlet's high school sports coverage. Matthew graduated from San Diego State and grew up in California, but he's somehow a Boston Celtics fan. Long story.