Most live table games offer side bets. These are usually optional. However, a handful of downtown Las Vegas casinos require players to make a $1, $2, and sometimes $5 side bet on blackjack, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, and pai gow poker games.
A side bet is based on a different outcome than the main hand. For instance, a common blackjack side bet called “Perfect Pairs” pays the player a bonus when the hand starts with a pair. The payout is higher on suited pairs. Most pai gow poker games have a progressive jackpot for a seven-card straight flush. These side bets are typically optional and wins are based on the hand.
The mandatory downtown Las Vegas side bet payouts have nothing to do with the strength of the hand. These are triggered due to predetermined conditions. Once hit, players spin a wheel that is weighted to smaller wins with larger ones infrequently, just like a slot bonus wheel. The equal pie slices of each prize are just an illusion.
Blackjack Side Bet House Edges
A blackjack game holds 0.3% up to 2%, depending on its rules. A 3/2 game that stands on soft 17 will be on the lower end, while a 6/5 game that hits soft 17 is on the higher end. Here is a list of the house advantage of popular blackjack side bets, according to the Wizard of Odds:
- 21+3: 2.7% to 7.3%
- Bet the Bust: 7.9%
- Bet the Set: 2.6% to 10.6%
- Bonus Spin: 23%
- Lucky Ladies: 6.2% to 17.6%
- Lucky Lucky: 2.7% to 5.3%
- Over/Under 13: 10%
As you see from the list above, the house advantage of a side bet is nearly always exponentially higher than the standard one. The only exception is when the progressive meter is much higher than its reset level.
For example, the mandatory Bonus Spin side bets at downtown Las Vegas casinos have a house edge of about 23%. The main game holds from 2% to 3%. Betting $10 on a 6/5 blackjack game causes a theoretical loss of $0.20.
A $1 side bet with a 23% house edge holds $0.23, meaning the player at an $11 6/5 blackjack with this forced side bet gives up $0.46 in expected loss. That makes the house edge jump from 2% for a standard 6/5 blackjack game up to 4.2% when forced to make the Bonus Spin side bet.
Baccarat Side Bets
The main baccarat Banker and Player bets hold 1.06% up to 1.46%, depending on whether the game has a commission or not. Baccarat side bets have a much higher house edge.
- Either Pair: 14%
- Golden Frog: 8.1% to 21.8%
- Lucky Nines: 8.3%
- Perfect Pair: 14.5%
- Lucky 99: 17.5%
Poker Side Bets
All poker pit games come with side bets. One of the most popular is Pair Plus at Three Card Poker. The main Three Card Poker Ante and Raise action holds 2% when played perfectly. The typical Pair Plis paytable has a 7.3% house advantage.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em has a Trips side bet. The main Ultimate Texas Hold’em game holds about 0.5% with perfect play. The Trips side bet has a house edge from 1.9% up to 6.2%, depending on the paytable the casino chooses.
Heads Up Hold’em is like Ultimate Texas Hold’em. It is Brian Christopher’s preferred version of this poker classic because it comes with a built-in bad beat bonus. Its main game holds about 0.6%. At 3.3%, its Trips Plus side bet is about six times higher.
Let It Ride’s house advantage is just under 3% when accounting for stacks left in action. Its main side bet, a 3 Card Bonus, holds about 7%.
Pai gow poker has a standard side bet based on the strength of the hand. It holds about 8%, while the main bet only has a house edge of 1.81% up to 3%, depending on the version played.
Most of these games have progressive meters as additional side bets at some casinos. This may help close the house edge or even swing it in the player’s favor if it grows large enough. However, it is unlikely that a massive side bet progressive will ever overcome the house advantage of the main bet.
Side Bets Add Variance and House Advantage
If you want to win big at baccarat, blackjack, and pai gow poker, consider placing side bets to accomplish that. However, this also adds substantial variance from the base betting. For poker pit games, excluding pai gow poker, big hands already have large bonus payouts tied to the Ante. Side bets will typically just add more to your expected loss while making your big wins larger.
Consider this the next time you see the potential for a massive payout on the felt. You are far more likely to bust your bankroll than hit the big jackpot chasing table game side bets.
What do you think about progressives? Is the house edge different? I was playing recently at the Hard Rock in Cincinnati, OH and got down to my last $50. I put $15 on the main bet and $5 on the Trilux side bet. I wasn’t going to play the $5 progressive, but the dealer talked me into it. I ended up with 3 aces for $2408. Add to that the Trilux for $150, and $60 in the main game, and it ended up being a good day!
When it comes to side bets, progressives also carry a higher house edge than the main bets on the table. But of course, someone’s got to win them, so that tends to be the draw, and when scenarios happen like yours it’s clearly the best case scenario! Side bets tend to draw players who want the potential for a bigger payday, even if the overall odds on those bets are worse than the core game.