Card games have always been popular at land and online casinos, and Dragon Tiger is another one to add to the list. Simpler than other card games but played in the style of baccarat, it’s made a seamless transition to online play.
Originating from Cambodia, Dragon Tiger is a hugely popular live casino card game in Asia. In 2018, industry giant Evolution Gaming brought it to online casinos with their live dealer version.
Easy to learn but fast-paced, Dragon Tiger is a big hit with new players, high rollers and those who enjoy streak betting.
Just like baccarat, Dragon Tiger is all about predicting the outcome, not holding the highest cards. In fact, you won’t even be holding a hand in Dragon Tiger as you’ll be watching a battle between two other players, the dragon and the tiger.
The game is played using a 52 deck of cards, with no jokers. The cards are dealt from a blackjack shoe which holds a total of eight decks. Some variants of the game are played with just six decks of cards. Aces are low in Dragon Tiger, while the picture cards are high. Only two cards are drawn and in play; one for the dragon’s hand and one for the tiger’s hand.
You place your bets before the cards are dealt. There are many different bets you can choose from, which are covered in more detail below. Once your bet has been placed, the two cards are dealt by the live dealer face up. This means you can instantly see who has won the round.
The aim of playing Dragon Tiger is simple; your prediction must be right. This could be as simple as guessing who will have the winning (higher) hand. Different bet types have their specific odds and distinct house edge.
The simplicity of the game means that it’s played quickly, which is something to be aware of when placing your bets. You can play a round in less than a minute before moving onto the next, so if you’re betting high, you can very quickly wipe out your balance if you hit a losing streak.
Dragon Tiger shares many similarities with baccarat, so if you enjoy one, there’s an excellent chance that you’ll also enjoy the other. However, there are some features of Dragon Tiger, which are unique, such as:
The amount you can win on Dragon Tiger depends on the stake and the type of bet you place. The betting range typically runs from 1.00 to 10,000, which can be placed on the bet type of your choosing.
Not all bets offer the same returns. The ones with the highest odds are much less likely to land. Conversely, the wagers which are easier to win have lower odds. It’s therefore, up to you to decide what level of risk/reward you want to take.
The bets you can choose between and their relative payouts are:
Some of the bets are self-explanatory, such as choosing either a dragon or tiger hand to win or picking the suit for that hand. If you pick one hand to win, a tie will result in the house keeping half of your stake.
Dragon or Tiger Small is a bet that the chosen hand will have a card value lower than 7. Dragon or Tiger Big is a bet that the chosen hand will have a card value higher than 7. If the number 7 is drawn with these types of bet, you lose no matter whether you bet Big or Small.
Ties and Suited Tie bets are the most difficult to land, which is why they have the highest odds.
Dragon Tiger is primarily a game of luck, and you’ll need some good fortune for the cards to land the way you want. However, you can give yourself a helping hand by using the roadmap provided by the interface.
Baccarat also uses a roadmap, and it can take some time to get accustomed to understanding the data. In a nutshell, the roadmap shows the pattern of the cards which have been dealt, and it can be useful in helping you decide the likelihood of future hands to be drawn.
You don’t have to use the roadmap; it’s not essential to play. If you choose not to, you might want to adopt a strategy such as picking a bet and sticking with it, rather than chopping and changing every turn.
Whichever strategy you use, remember to keep a close eye on your account balance. Tiger Dragon is a remarkably fast game with 25 seconds to play and 15 seconds to bet. This means a complete round can be finished in just 40 seconds. If you hit a losing streak and continue to play every hand, you could quickly clear your account. Some players prefer to pace themselves in Dragon Tiger, but the strategy you choose will depend on the size of the bet you’re placing and the balance available to play.
Before you join in with the fun playing Dragon Tiger Live, it’s understandable that you may be concerned about whether the game is rigged.
All casino games have a house edge which means that they have a slight advantage during play. However, this is very clearly published and isn’t a guarantee that they will win. The statistics are based on the mathematical probability of results. The casino does not know what the next result will be, nor does it have any control over who wins and by how much.
In Dragon Tiger, this means that the cards are not loaded a certain way. Each turn offers a genuine chance of winning, and the live dealer has no way of influencing the turn of events.
Evolution Gaming are the creators of Liver Dragon Tiger, and they are one of the largest companies in the industry. They have a rock-solid reputation for creating top-class live dealer games such as Monopoly Live and Crazy time. Crucially, they are licensed and regulated by some of the most stringent regulators globally, including the UK Gambling Commission. It means that all of their practices will be monitored for signs of unfair play, and they will be expected to adhere to the highest standards.
Although the fact that Dragon Tiger Live is an Evolution Gaming creation should be reassuring, you need to ensure that you’re playing at a licensed casino too. This is to ensure your data is treated securely and that when it’s time to withdraw your funds, there aren’t any delays or problems. Regulators such as the UK Gambling Commission enforce high standards on casinos, but not all regulators worldwide have the same code of conduct. A casino that has been regulated elsewhere may not deliver the same experience, so it’s advisable to check where the casino has been regulated and licensed specifically. Along with the UK, the Malta Gaming Authority and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission are also some of the world’s best regulators.