The game of Punto Banco is a very popular casino game among Kenyan players. It follows a traditional format and is relatively easy to master. In essence, Punto Banco is a game of chance and is based around the principle of matching a player’s “hand” with that of the dealer, by betting on one of three possible outcomes - Punto (player’s hand), Banco (dealer’s hand) or a tie.
In the game, there are two hands - Banco and Punto. The Punto hand includes two cards and is played by the player, while the Banco hand includes two cards and is played by the dealer. The object of the game is to guess the winner of the hand, and wagers are placed in the form of chips on the Punto, Banco, or Tie field. Since the game is essentially a game of chance, the odds of the game are dependent on the number of decks and card combinations in play.
The rules for Punto Banco at Kenyan mobile casinos are slightly different than the ones found in traditional casinos. Players must place all their bets before any cards are dealt. After that, two cards are dealt to the Punto player and two cards to the Banco player. If the Punto player has an 8 or a 9, the game is considered a “Natural” and the game is then over. If this is not the case, the Punto player has the option to hit or stand, based on the cards they have.
If the Punto player has less than 5 points, they must draw a third card. If the total of the Punto hand is 5 or 6, the player must stand. When the Punto player stands, the Banco player then has the option to hit or stand depending on the total of their hand. The winner is then determined by the point values. If the Punto player has a lower total than the Banco player, Banco wins, and if the Punto player has a higher total, Punto wins. In case of a tie, the bet is returned to the player. The game then finishes and the next round begins.