Blackjack Side Bets
What Are Blackjack Side Bets?
Blackjack is loved for its simplicity. It’s a simple and straightforward challenge of getting closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. Most play it in its purest form, but side bets offer a way to play differently.
The best online blackjack sites offer side bets, which are optional wagers on top of your normal hand. These side bets allow you to predict specific outcomes, like landing a pair of forming a poker-style hand.
Side bets do not affect the main game, but instead offer a chance for bigger payouts in exchange for an increased risk.
Popular options like Perfect Pairs and 21+3 keep blackjack even more engaging!
Popular Side Bets in Blackjack
21 + 3
21 +3 is one of the most if not the most popular blackjack side bet. This side bet is based on your first two cards and the dealers upcard. Check out our in-depth analysis of 21 + 3 in blackjack, including how to play it, pros, cons and payouts.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is a popular blackjack side bet focusing on the first two cards dealt to the player. The aim is to form a pair, with payouts depending on the type of pair received from the dealer. Read more about perfect pairs and their payouts here
Insurance Bets
Insurance Bets aren’t a side bet in the traditional sense, but a wager offered against the dealers upcard to protect yourself from a dealer Blackjack. This involves placing a bet equal to half of your wager. If the dealer has Blackjack then insurance pays 2:1
Super Sevens
The goal of the Super Sevens Side bet is to wager on how many 7’s will appear in your hand. The payouts increase with each additional 7 you receive. This side bet is solely based on your cards, not the dealers. The more 7’s, the better your payout.
Split Aces
The split aces side bet in blackjack is a wager placed on the possibility that you will be dealt an Ace as your first card. This pays out more if the player is dealt a pair of Aces. Split Aces is an easy-to-understand side bet for new players.
Lucky Lucky
Lucky Lucky is a side bet for blackjack based on the combination of the player’s first two cards and a dealer’s upcard, similar to 21 + 3. If the sum total of the 3 cards is 19, 20, or 21 then you win. Lucky Lucky pays differently depending on the composition of the cards.
Royal Match
Royal Match is a popular side bet focusing on the player’s first two cards, specifically betting on whether these cards will form a suited pair. Royal Match pay outs vary depending on whether players are dealt a King and Queen or other suited pairs.
Suit ‘Em Up
The Suit ‘Em Up side bet is simply a bet to guess if the first two drawn cards for the player are of the same suit. Win sizes will vary depending on the rank of the cards, with Suited Aces, Suited Blackjack or any other suited pairs being valued differently.
5-Card Charlie
5-Card Charlie may be offered as an additional side bet or as a rule to the main game as standard. You are offered a payout if you’re dealt 5 cards without going bust. A 5-card charlier can beat a dealer’s 21, providing it’s not a Blackjack hand.
Bet Behind
The Bet Behind Side bet is an option to share the hand of another player. You’re essentially betting on the outcome of another player’s hand. This allows you to play, but without making the decision, which can be a pro or a con.
Which Side Bets Are Offered at Online Casinos?
The most common side bets offered at online casinos are 21+3 and Perfect Pairs. Many casinos also offer the option to bet behind other players, which proves popular when tables are full.
Among the most popular blackjack games with side bets are those offered by Evolution Gaming, a leading provider in the live casino sector.
| Game | 21+3 | Perfect Pairs | Bet Behind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Blackjack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Speed Blackjack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Infinite Blackjack | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Easy Blackjack | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Lightning Blackjack | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Power Blackjack | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Salon Privé | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Our list of the best UK casino sites list tried, tested and reviewed casinos that offer Blackjack with side bets.
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Are Blackjack Side Bets Worth It?
Side Bets are popular with many, but they’re not mandatory and many love to play blackjack without side bets. They offer a chance for big payouts, but whether they’re worth it depends on your risk tolerance and your understanding of the odds.
Pros
- Higher Payout Potential
- Increased Excitement
- Low Entry Cost
Cons
- High House Edge
- Low Probability of Winning
- Risk of Increased Losses
Side bets do not factor in skill or strategy, it’s simply the luck of the draw. This makes side bets appealing to many looking to boost their balance but remember, the house edge is higher when you include side bets.
| Game Element | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Blackjack (Main Game) | 0.5% |
| 21+3 Side Bet | 3%-10% |
| Perfect Pairs | 4-11% |
| Insurance | ~7% |
| Lucky Lucky | 3.5%-7% |
| Buster Blackjack | 6%-8% |
| Royal Match | 6%-10% |
| Suit ‘Em Up | 6%-10% |
Low-risk side bets like Lucky Lucky has a lower house edge because it incorporates more frequent and achievable outcomes, whereas perfect pairs have a higher house edge because of the rarity of specific pairs.
The Odds of Blackjack Side Bets
The odds of Blackjack Side Bets can vary depending on the casino and rules, but their lucrative payouts certainly make a case for their inclusion.
Perfect Pairs
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Perfect Pairs | 25:1 |
| Coloured Pair | 12:1 |
| Mixed Pair | 6:1 |
21+3
| Hand | Payout |
|---|---|
| Suited Trips | 100:1 |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 25:1 |
| Straight | 10:1 |
| Flush | 5:1 |
Casinos Where You Can Try Blackjack Side Bets
We’ve compiled a tailored list of casinos that allow blackjack and side bets. For even more options, check out our top online casinos list.
Blackjack Side Bet FAQs
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What are Blackjack side bets?
Side bets are additional optional bets that you can place with your main bet. With side bets, you’re betting on outcomes different to that of reaching/getting closer to 21 than the dealer
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Are side bets a good idea?
Side bets are a great way to enhance your experience, but it should be noted that the risk is greater. If you’re a conservative player then it may be worth avoiding side bets, or placing smaller side bets as they have a low entry cost
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Can you win your main hand and a side bet simultaneously?
Side bets are independent from the main bet. Both can be won simultaneously or independently of each other.
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Do all games offer side bets?
Not all offer side bets. It depends entirely on the developer and whether they’ve included it as an option. If you want to play side bets then join a lobby and check the rules.
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Do land-based casinos offer side bets?
Yes. Many land-based casinos across the world allow side bets. Check with the croupier if side bets are allowed