The best and worst side bets in blackjack
Lesson description
Discover which side bets are worth your bankroll and which wagers to avoid with Mr Blackjack. He analyzes their payouts, edge, and odds of winning to help you play smarter.
Side bets promise big payouts but do come with more risk. Discover which side bets are worth your bankroll with me.
Before we discuss specific wagers, we need to establish that side bets are bets with a high house advantage; of around 10-20%, depending on the casino's rules, the wager, etc.
Before we even discuss which side bets are best, we need to understand that the casino has a considerable edge in these wagers, which will ultimately affect how much we walk away with.
We also have to look at the payout structures and the math behind them. Should you look up any potential payout structure listed on you will see where the payouts should be, and how close they are to the math and 10% house edge.
For example, if you are playing 21+3 and you get a straight, the payout is 5:1. You will know that it should be closer to 10:1. Therefore this side bet should not be played as the house edge is way too high.
So, combined with a good payout structure you want to look for potentially high payouts. Something with progressive or 1,000:1 payouts makes the game and chance of winning very exciting.
You have to think of a side bet as a chance to win it big and run. You will not make money, in the long run, playing these wagers, so stick to the ones where you can win big.
You can find these big payouts with the Lucky Ladies Perfect Pair combined with dealer blackjack. That will get you a 1,000:1 payout. Spin the Wheel also offers big payouts; your blackjack could get you the extra $5,000 bonus.
So, to recap: only choose side bets with big payouts and good payout structures. Anything else is just you handing money over to the casino.
What this lesson covers
- Factors to consider with side bets
- How house edge affects side bets
- Why payout structures influence your side bet choices
- The best & worst side bets
Meet Mr Blackjack
With a career spanning two decades, Mathieu Blake knows his way around a blackjack table. He's taught and entertained over 100,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel . In this series he'll take you through basic strategy, card counting, and bankroll management. Take a seat with Mr Blackjack and become a winning player.
Blackjack Side Bets
Blackjack Side Bets 101
Perfect pairs
21+3 - the 3-card poker side bet
5/6/7 Card Charlie
Lucky Ladies side bet
Spin the Wheel
The best and worst side bets in blackjack
Should you play side bets in blackjack?
Want to learn more about Blackjack?
You may also be interested in...
Top 10 most watched videos
Top 10 most searched videos
FAQs
- What is the most popular side bet in blackjack?
-
The insurance bet is undoubtedly the most popular side bet in blackjack. Every online blackjack game and casino worldwide offers this wager.
- Is it worth doing side bets in blackjack?
-
Side bets are only worth making if you want to add some extra excitement to your blackjack game. They should not be considered part of basic strategy or other ways of winning more at blackjack.
- What is the best blackjack side bet payout?
-
Lucky Ladies and Bonus Spin offer the biggest payouts for side bets in blackjack. The top hand in Lucky Ladies has a 1,000:1 payout, and the best prize in Bonus Spin has a progressive jackpot of up to $5,000.
- What Vegas casino has the best blackjack side bets?
-
Mr Blackjack recommends Golden Nugget and Planet Hollywood as Vegas casinos with some of the greatest variety of side bets in their blackjack games.
- How can I win side bets in blackjack?
-
Side bets are largely based on chance. The only way you can improve your chance of winning some of them is to know what cards are remaining in the shoe. Card counting can help you understand what composition of cards remain unplayed in the game, but only to a certain extent.
- What is the worst side bet in blackjack?
-
There are many side bets players should avoid, but the insurance bet is one of the worst. It’s popular with players, despite the fact they only have an approximately 30% chance of winning these side bets.
- Why do casinos offer side bets?
-
Casinos know players are happy to make small additions to their gameplay for more fun in blackjack. With side bets, casinos get more money with limited effort on their sides, because most players lose these wagers.