Side bets are an alternative type of bet available with certain table games. Sometimes they’ll require you to be dealt a certain starting hand, while other times they require you to win in a specific manner. However, one thing that they all share is that they tend to have good odds.
This differs from the most popular types of bets at table games which tend to pay out at pretty close to 1:1, making them an enjoyable alternative to spice up gameplay when playing these classic casino-style table games. And in fact, for some players, side bets are where the real money is at. Of course, that’s not to say they’re without controversy. As while some players love them, others consider them to be a waste of money and something that only rookies bet on.
For that reason, our chief editor decided that it was time to get to the bottom of this issue. And so in this guide, we’ll be looking at how side bets work, which are the best, and whether or not they’re even worth playing to begin with.
#1 Perfect Pairs in Blackjack
Blackjack is arguably the best table game for side bets.
And of these side bets, none are as popular as the Perfect Pairs side bet, which pays out whenever your starting hand features a pair. Exactly how much it pays out does tend to vary a little from site to site. However, generally speaking, if your starting hand is made up of a pair that is not of the same suit or color, you’ll score a 5:1 payout, if it’s the same color, you’ll get 10:1, and if it’s the same suit, you’ll walk away with 20:1.
Personally, I’m a huge fan of this side bet. As while of course nothing’s better than getting matching cards that both have a value of ten, as you’ll typically be walking away with a main bet win in addition to your side bet win. Perfect Pairs also takes the sting out of some of the lousier hands. As all of a sudden paired 6s, 7s, or 8s aren’t that bad of a sight anymore.
Mega Bonanza is my favorite sweepstakes casino to go for a Perfect Pairs side bet as pretty much all of their blackjack variants allow it. Although keep in mind, sometimes they just call it Pairs.
#2 Progressive Jackpot in Selected Table Games
The progressive jackpot side bet is one of my favorite things about sweepstakes casinos. As while this type of side bet is often used when playing slots, certain sites also make it active during select table games.
Placing this side bet is a little more tricky than other side bets, as you don’t do so while you’re actually in the game. And instead, if the sweepstakes casino that you’re playing at offers it, you’ll need to navigate to its jackpot page and manually opt in.
This is a bit of a controversial side bet as there’s no strategy involved in it. However, if you ask me, the payouts speak for themselves. And you won’t find any other side bet at sweepstakes casinos that has the chance to award you with legitimately life-changing money.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the WOW Vegas progressive jackpot side bet. As in addition to being available for most of its table games, it’s not uncommon for the top prize to sit at well over 500,000 SC.
#3 Grand Bonus in Baccarat
Available exclusively in ICONIC21’s Grand Bonus Baccarat game, the Grand Bonus side bet is an extremely unique side bet that rewards consecutive wins.
With this side bet, whenever you bet on either the player or the banker, you’ll be required to make a 20% contribution to the bonus share. At the start of each round, a random multiplier is applied to this bonus share. Though to have your chance at winning it, you’ll need to win at least four consecutive hands — with the fifth hand determining whether you walk away with the mega bonus (when losing the fifth hand), or if you score the big grand bonus by taking down the fifth hand.
This side bet is not new player friendly. Requiring you to score at least four consecutive wins, you’ll really need to know your stuff if you’re going to go for it — as otherwise, that 20% mandatory contributions can decimate your profits. However, if you’re comfortable with your baccarat play and don’t mind leaning on the luck of the multipliers, it can get you some serious bank that normal baccarat simply can’t offer.
Truth be told, Grand Bonus Baccarat isn’t all that common at sweepstakes casinos. Fortunately though, one of the very best sweepstakes sites in Hello Millions does offer it — with a similar side bet also available for Grand Bonus Blackjack.
#4 21+3 in Blackjack
Sometimes simply called Poker 3, the 21+3 blackjack side bet can be seen as a more difficult, although more lucrative variant of the previously covered Perfect Pairs side bet. As when taking part in this bet, it’s not just your two starting cards which are important, but also the dealer’s shown card.
In total, there are five ways to win this bet. And while the exact payouts can differ depending on where you’re playing at, a flush will typically see you score a payout of about 4:1, a straight will get you 10:1, three of a kind will earn you 20:1, a straight flush pays 30:1, and suited trips will offer you the best payout of 100:1.
For my money, this is the perfect tag-along side bet for Perfect Pairs. And while I don’t play the 21+3 side bet anywhere near as much as I do the Perfect Pairs, it still serves as a fun little way to add some spice to your standard blackjack play.
21 + 3 is a pretty popular side bet at sweepstakes casinos. However, of the sites that do offer it, you can’t go wrong with RealPrize sweepstakes casino.
#5 Lucky Dip in Roulette
Lucky Dip is unique as while it is typically played as a side bet, it can also be a main bet in roulette.
As when selected, you’ll get an option to either use the Lucky 5, Lucky 7, or Lucky 8 variant — with the number being how many numbers will be randomly chosen to have a “straight up” bet placed on them. And like a typical straight up bet, payouts are 35:1.
While it can be a main bet, Lucky Dip for me is always a side bet. As while I almost never will go for an actual straight up bet, a nice Lucky 5 can be an awesome way to put an exclamation point on an already good session.
PlayFame is my pick of the bunch when it comes to the Lucky Dip side bet. Because while this is a side bet that’s unlikely to pay off for most people, it can be a good way to spend your daily login bonus, which can be as high as 2 SC when playing at PlayFame.
Other Popular Side Bets at Casino Table and Card Games
In all honesty, there is no singular most popular side bet. And instead, what side bet you’ll prefer will mainly come down to what your experience level is, as well as what you’re looking to get from your side bet. For that reason, below we’ll be looking at some other popular side bets based on what table and card players commonly are looking for.
Side Bets with the Biggest Payouts
Sweepstakes table games tend to be low volatility and offer pretty standard payouts. For a lot of players, this is exactly what they’re looking for. But for players (especially those coming from slots) who want to get in on the table game action without having to sacrifice the chance to score huge wins, there are some options.
Of course, the previously mentioned progressive jackpot side bets will trump everything. However, they aren’t the only way to win big. As when playing Gravity Blackjack, all side bets can randomly have multipliers of up to x10 applied to them. And this can turn an already potentially huge payout of 300:1 (when opting into the Dealer Bust side bet) into a massive 3000:1 payout.
Maximizing The Game Odds
The brutal truth is that side bets never increase your odds. So if you’re absolutely set on optimizing your RTP, the best strategy regardless of what table game you’re playing, is going to be to ignore the side bet and stick to the main bet. But with that being said, that doesn’t mean side bets have to tank your RTP. And there are some side bets which can still offer some pretty good bang for your buck.
Unsurprisingly, as blackjack is the most profitable table game, it also has the most profitable side bets. We’ve already covered the 21+3 side bet which offers a 96.34% RTP. However, the Any 20 & Queens side bet is also a pretty good option — offering an RTP of 94.66%.
Fun Side Bets for Beginner Casino Players
For my money, the best reason to play side bets is simple. And that’s to have fun. I love that sweepstakes casinos have really started to embrace live dealer games — as for me, chatting with the dealer and the other players as you all go for side bets makes for a great time.
Outside of the live dealer setting though, the funnest side bets in my opinion are those played away from the more popular table games.
Retro Solitaire for example is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. And while a bad deal can lead you to a miserable start, taking advantage of either the Red or Black side bet or the No Moves side bet is a great beginner-friendly way to get yourself a bit of extra insurance.
Risky Side Bets vs Online Slots Play: Last Thoughts
Whenever side bets get brought up, people always ask the same question. Slots or side bets? However, I personally don’t look at one as being better than the other, just like I don’t regard a singular slot as being better than all others. They all have different RTPs, different volatility, and different gameplay. So instead, I look at these risky side bets as being a perfect way to spice up a normal gaming session, regardless of what you play.
If you’ve been grinding blackjack with optimal strategy, a side bet is a great way to have a little extra fun. Similarly, if you’re more of a slot player, these side bets are a great way to try out classic sweepstakes table games without having to sacrifice the potential for huge wins.
Author: Alex Windsor
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