TablesRules

Dragon Tiger: one card, higher wins

Dragon Tiger is a fast two-card game from Asia. One card goes to Dragon and one to Tiger. You bet on which card is higher. Aces are low and kings are high. A tie costs Dragon and Tiger bets half.

Reviewed Oct 15, 2026

Answer first

90s

01Dragon and Tiger pay 1 to 1.
02On a tie, Dragon and Tiger bets usually lose half.
03The Tie bet pays 8 to 1 or 11 to 1 and has a high edge.

Key numbers

Dragon Tiger in four numbers

2Cards dealtOne per side

1 to 1Dragon or TigerEven money

8 to 1Tie betCommon pay

About 3.7%Main bet edgeHalf lost on tie

In short

Key takeaways

A round takes seconds.
Suits do not matter on the main bets.
The Tie bet has an edge over 30% at 8 to 1.
Some tables offer big/small and odd/even side bets.

On the felt

A round of Dragon Tiger

Dragon
Nine
Tiger
Jack
Result
Tiger wins 1 to 1

Highest card wins; ace counts as one.

Pay table

Main bets

Glance before you bet

Bet	Pays	Approx edge
Dragon	1 to 1	3.7%
Tiger	1 to 1	3.7%
Tie (8 to 1)	8 to 1	32.8%
Tie (11 to 1)	11 to 1	About 8%
Suited tie	50 to 1	About 13%

Edges for an 8-deck shoe; rules vary.

How a round works

You place your bet on Dragon, Tiger or Tie. The dealer draws one card for each from a shoe, usually eight decks. The higher card wins. Aces count as one, so a king is the highest card.

If both cards are the same rank, it is a tie. Tie bets win; most casinos take half of each Dragon and Tiger bet.

Card order

Low to high	Cards
Lowest	Ace
Middle	2 through 10
High	Jack, queen
Highest	King

Suits never decide a main bet.

Why it is popular

Dragon Tiger is popular in Macau and other Asian markets and in live dealer online casinos. A round lasts seconds, the rules take one sentence, and many players track results on scoreboards.

Those scoreboards show past results only. Each new hand is independent.

Sequence

Playing it sensibly

Step 01
Bet Dragon or Tiger
Lowest edge.
Step 02
Skip the Tie at 8 to 1
Edge over 30%.
Step 03
Set a time or loss limit
Rounds are fast.
Step 04
Ignore the scoreboard
No pattern helps.
Step 05
Check the tie rule
Half loss or full.

Speed and cost

Because rounds are so fast, the same 3.7% edge costs more per hour than in slower games. At $25 a hand and 100 hands an hour, expected loss is about $90 an hour.

Slowing down or betting less does more for your bankroll than any betting system.

Floor rules

Dragon Tiger terms

Know before you sit

Dragon: One of the two betting spots.
Tiger: The other betting spot.
Tie: Both cards the same rank.
Suited tie: Same rank and same suit.

Dragon Tiger vs Baccarat

Both are fast, low-decision games popular in Asia. Baccarat has a lower edge on Banker, about 1.06%, while Dragon Tiger is simpler but costs more.

If you like the pace of Dragon Tiger, mini-baccarat offers a similar feel at a better price.

Cost per hour at $25 a hand (rough)

Game	Hands per hour	Expected loss
Dragon Tiger	100	About $90
Mini-baccarat Banker	80	About $21
Blackjack, good rules	70	About $9

Estimates; real speeds vary.

Side bets you may see

Many Dragon Tiger tables add side bets on a single card: big or small (8 and up, or 6 and down, with 7 losing), odd or even, and red or black. These usually pay close to even money but lose when a 7 comes up, which gives them an edge of roughly 7% or more.

Some live dealer versions also offer a Dragon or Tiger suited bonus. Check the paytable on screen; when in doubt, stick to the two main bets, which carry the lowest edge in the game.

Common mistakes

Betting the Tie often: The edge is very high.
Following streaks: Results are independent.
Ignoring speed: Fast rounds cost more per hour.
Thinking ace is high: Ace is low here.

Keep reading

Go play

Where to play in Las Vegas

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After the 90 seconds

Questions before and after you play

A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.

01Basics

How does Dragon Tiger work?

One card goes to Dragon and one to Tiger; the higher card wins. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Is the ace high or low?

Low. It counts as one, so the king is the highest card. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Do suits matter?

Not on the main bets, only on the suited tie bet. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

02Ties

What happens on a tie?

Tie bets win; Dragon and Tiger bets usually lose half. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

What does the Tie bet pay?

Usually 8 to 1, sometimes 11 to 1. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Is the Tie bet good?

No, at 8 to 1 the edge is over 30%. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

03Play

What is the best bet?

Dragon or Tiger, at about 3.7% edge. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Can I count cards?

In theory a little, but the gain is too small to matter in practice. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Is it offered online?

Yes, often in live dealer casinos. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.

Sources

Wizard of Odds — Dragon Tiger Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Licensed table games in Macau
National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 15, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER