Blackjack Side Bets & Payouts Explained

Have you ever encountered side bets at the blackjack tables and wondered whether they’re worth placing?

This guide explains many of the most common blackjack side bets, their payouts, and the house edge they carry. Plus, as we delve into popular side bets such as Insurance, Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and Bet Behind, we’ll also give you our opinion on whether you should bother using them.

What are blackjack side bets?

In short, side bets are optional bets you can place when playing a round of blackjack. Most bets, except the Bet Behind, are independent of the result of the main game and are usually determined by things such as the two cards you’re dealt, the dealer’s face-up card, and whether the dealer busts.

Now, while these side bets can add excitement to a hand of blackjack, you’re better off sticking to the main game if you’re a percentage player. Many of these side bets give the casino a big edge – at least, much bigger than the 0.5% house edge of the main game on most live casino blackjack tables. That said, if you play them sparingly, some of these side bets could reward you with significant payouts – even as much as 2000:1 in some cases!

In this guide:

• Bet Behind: Learn how to place bets at tables with no seats available while you wait for your favourite dealer
• Insurance: Find out what the insurance bet entails and why Las Vegas pros call it the ‘Sucker Bet’
• 6 Side Bets Explained: Perfect Pairs, 21 +3, Suit ’em Up, Lucky Ladies, Hot 3, Buster Blackjack
• 5 More Side Bets in Brief: A quick overview of more interesting side bets
• Pros & Cons of Side Bets: A list of the good, the bad, and the ugly side of side betting
• A List of Blackjack Tables with Side Bets: This list gives you live blackjack tables available online right now and the side bets available
• FAQ: Commonly asked questions by players that want to know more about side betting are covered in a neat FAQ section

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Want to learn how to play Blackjack? If you’re completely new to blackjack, make sure you read through our live casino blackjack guide. This will explain the rules, payouts, and odds, and how to use basic blackjack strategy to improve your chances of winning. As a bonus, it also points you in the direction of the best blackjack games and casinos!

Bet Behind Side Bet

Easily the most unique blackjack side bet and one of the four most common alongside Perfect Pairs, 21+3, and Insurance, the Bet Behind side bet is placed on another player’s hands rather than your own. Part of the thinking behind this side bet is giving players waiting in line for a seat at a blackjack table, something they can do before a seat becomes available.

You place your Bet Behind side bet as if you were playing the hand yourself. The only difference is you’re not playing and have no control over the other player’s actions. If the player wins the hand, you win. If they lose, so do you. You receive the same payouts as the player and the RTP of the blackjack variation the player is playing will apply to your side bets.

Obvious Tip: If you’re going to play the Bet Behind side bet, make sure you choose your player wisely. You stand to lose on a frequent basis if the player has no idea how to play blackjack to a high standard. Ideally, you want to stick to players using a basic blackjack strategy.

Blackjack Insurance Explained

Although for most players the insurance is not often refereed to as a side bet, it is still essentially a side bet. However, before I get into how to play Blackjack insurance, a word of warning. This is not a good bet.

The insurance bet is there as an option for players to win their entire bet back if the dealer wins the round with a natural Blackjack hand. FYI – a natural Blackjack hand is when the dealer has a 10-value + Ace. That means at this stage of the betting round all cards are on the table and it is your turn to hit, stand, double, split, or take insurance if the option is available.

What are the pros and cons?

• The first negative point is the house edge for the insurance bet is 5.89%, while the main blackjack game on most tables have an average house edge of 0.5%! House edge is calculated as 35-to-16 (51 cards) as the dealer already has an Ace up-card making it 51 cards versus 16 cards with a 10 value.
• As insurance pays 2-1, this actually calculates as 32-16 making the house edge 5.89% and player RTP 94.11%. Also, the expected win rate for the house is 66.33%, while yours is a mere 33.33%.
• Another disadvantage with this bet is that if you take in insurance and lose, plus you lose the bet on your original hand, you have lost your main bet + 50%.
• The only pro is that you win your bet back if the dealer has blackjack, but this is a bit of a moot point considering the above disadvantages.

Here’s how it works:

• The Trigger: The option to take insurance triggers when the dealer has an ‘Ace face-up card‘
• The Why: You can insure your main bet in case the dealer has Blackjack
• Insurance Bet: If you decide to take insurance, you place half the amount of your original bet on the table
• Multi-Hand Blackjack: If you are playing multiple hands, you will need an individual insurance bet for each one
• Non-Peek Rule: The game then plays out as normal until all player’s hands are over and the house settled insurance bets at the end of the round
• Peek Rule: After the insurance bets are decided, the dealer will peek at the face-down card. If he/she has blackjack, the dealer automatically wins and the round ends
• Winning: If the dealer does in fact have blackjack, and you took insurance you win 2/1 on your insurance bet
• Losing: If the dealer does not have blackjack, your insurance bet is lost

Did you know? In Vegas pro blackjack players call the Insurance Bet the Sucker’s Bet because according to the rules of basic strategy, this bet weighs in favour of the house in the long run.

How to Play Perfect Pairs Blackjack

One of the most popular side bets in Blackjack Perfect Pairs. As the name implies, you need to match pairs, which happens on your first two cards dealt when the betting round begins.

There are 3 ways to win playing the Perfect Pairs blackjack side bet: Perfect Pair, Coloured Pair, and Mixed Pair. Each and the Perfect Pair odds and payout are in the accompanying table.

• Place a bet on the Perfect Pairs side bet alongside your bet for the main game
• The dealer will now deal the cards to each active seat (seats with an active bet on the main game)
• To win your first two cards need to form a pair
• Your Perfect Pair Blackjack payout will depend on the pairs created
• If your first 2 cards do not form a pair, the house wins the side bet

What are the pros and cons?

• The advantage to playing this bet is the attractive payouts if you win
• The disadvantage is the house edge is a staggering 10.7% (on average the main game’s house edge is 0.5%)

Which other live casino games use the Perfect Pairs blackjack side bet? Yes. You will also find it available on live baccarat table games and on some of the live poker games.

How to Play the 21 3 Side Bet

Another of the more common side bets is the 21 + 3 blackjack side bet. This is a side bet that combines blackjack with three-card poker and can payout between 5 to 1 and 100 to 1. The outcome of this side bet involves the first two player cards and the dealer’s face-up card. When playing the 21 3 side bet, the idea is to create a three-card poker hand using those three cards. The Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Straight, and Suited Three of a Kind are the hands that will earn you a payout.

Now, there are several versions of this side bet, so make sure you check the rules and the paytable for this side bet if you come across it at a blackjack table. For the purpose of this guide, I will talk about the most common version used in live casino blackjack games. The house edge of this side bet depends on the number of decks used:

• 8 Decks: 2.74%
• 6 Decks: 3.24%
• 4 Decks: 4.24%
• 2 Decks: 7.26%
• 1 Deck: 13.3%

As you can see, the house edge of the 21+3 is more attractive than most other side bets. However, it is still higher than the main game and not worth playing for any other reason than adding a bit of extra fun to a hand. If you care about RTP and have better odds, you’re better off sticking to the main game and its 0.5% house edge.

• Place a bet on the 21+ 3 side bet and a bet on the main game
• As normal, the dealer deals the cards to the players and himself
• If your cards and the dealer’s face-up card create one of the five poker hands, your side bet wins
• The payout you receive depends on the poker hand created
• You receive your winnings at the completion of the main game
• If a poker hand is not created, you lose the side bet

What are the pros and cons?

• The advantage is this side bet (if played at tables with 8 decks) has one of the better house edges compared to others
• The disadvantage is the house edge is still much lower the 0.5% of the main game

What are the best live blackjack tables featuring the blackjack side bet 21 3? As one of the most common blackjack side bets, you will not struggle to find tables featuring it. Most Evolution 7-seat tables offer this side bet while that live supplier’s Infinite Blackjack and Pragmatic Play Live’s ONe Blackjack also have this side bet.

Suit ’em Up Side Bet

The Suit ’em Up is nowhere near as common as the other live casino blackjack side bets we have explained so far, but it is possible you will come across it on certain 2-deck or 6-deck blackjack tables. The 6-deck variation carries a 50:1 top payout and a total house edge of 4.65%  (though the house edge for each hand varies). As for the 2-deck version, this has a 60:1 top win and an overall house edge of 10.16%.

This side bet involves your first two cards only and the goal is to create a suited hand. However, how much you win will depend on the suited hand created. For example, the top 50:1 (or 60:1) payout is awarded if you land suited aces. If you get a suited blackjack, that’s worth 10:1, while other variations of suited hands will pay between 2:1 and 5:1. I have detailed the winning hands, their payouts, and the combinations possible using the 6-deck variation of this blackjack side bet in the accompanying table.

This is how you use the Suit’em Up side bet:

• Place your Suit’em up blackjack side bet wager
• The dealer hosts the main game as standard
• If your first two cards are suited, you win a payout
• How much you win depends on the type of suited hand created
• Once the main game finishes, you receive your side bet payout irrespective of winning/losing the main game
• You lose your bet if your first two cards are not suited

What are the pros and cons?

• The advantage is you have five different ways to win and potential payouts of between 2:1 and 50:1
• The disadvantage is the 2-deck variation has a whopping 10.16% house edge (that’s even higher than playing video slots!)

Did you know? There is virtual table game developed by Felt Gaming called Suit ’em Up 21 Blackjack. Released in 2013, it is an S17 blackjack game focused on the Suit’em Up blackjack side bet.

Lucky Ladies Blackjack Side Bet

So far, the blackjack side bets payout numbers have been good but not amazing. The best before we got to the Lucky Ladies side bet was the 100:1 payout possible via the 21 + 3 side bet. However, if you win the Lucky Ladies side bet, you could receive a top win of 1,000:1! The flip side is this is one of the worst blackjack side bets as it gives the house an edge of 17.64%. Professional blackjack players steer well clear of this side bet, and rightly so!

As the name suggests, this side bet is centred on the ladies in a deck of cards – the Queens. However, you do not require a Queen among your first two cards to win this side bet. It is the bigger wins the Queen helps you collect. If your first two cards total 20, you win the side bet and at least 4:1. As you will see in the accompanying table, there are another four combinations you can achieve, with the best involving the Queen. The best payouts come when you land two Queens (both hearts), as you will win 200:1 as standard or an epic 1,000:1 if the dealer also hits a blackjack!

• Lay down your Lucky Ladies side bet
• Wait for the dealer to deal the main blackjack round
• If you have a pair of cards totalling 20 you win the side bet.
• The size of your payout depends on the pair you have
• You receive your payout when the main round finishes
• Any other combination loses the bet

What are the pros and cons?

• The advantage is the potential of winning a massive 1,000:1
• The disadvantage is the massive house edge of 17.64%, making it one of the worst blackjack side bets

Did you Know: The Lucky Ladies side bet is known as vulnerable to card counting. Professional card counters used to exploit this side bet as it revolved primarily around 10-value cards (already a premium card in blackjack). They would play basic blackjack strategy while counting the cards, waiting for the right time to place the Lucky Ladies side bet. Land-based casinos countered this by lowering the max betting limits of this side bet and now constantly monitor players that enjoy this popular side bet a little too much.

Hot 3 Side Bet

This is a side bet you will only find on Evolution’s Infinite Blackjack and Power Blackjack but is also very similar to the Lucky Lucky side bet. It also shares similarities with the 21+3 side bet as it is your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card that determines whether you win or lose. The top side bet blackjack payout of 100:1 will come if those three cards are sevens. You also win if your two cards total 19, 20, or 21 meaning you get an added bonus if you’re drawn a good hand. The RTP is 94.60% which is middle-of-the-road for blackjack side bets but still too high for us to recommend you play it much.

• Before the hand starts, place your Hot 3 blackjack side bets
• Await the dealer to deal the cards and playout the main game
• You win if your hand is any of those in the accompanying table
• The payout you receive depends on the hand you have
• Once the round ends, you receive your blackjack side bets payout
• You lose your bet if your hand is not three 7’s or has a value of 19, 20, or 21

What are the pros and cons?

• The advantages are you have many ways to win and earn an added bonus for receiving a good starting hand
• I don’t like to harp on but again, the RTP of 94.60% is a big negative

Do not confuse the Hot 3 side bet with the Top 3: The latter, which is only available on a selection of Playtech live blackjack tables, pays 270:1 for three cards of the same value, 180:1 for a straight flush, and 90:1 for landing three of the same card. Of course, you must make those hands from the first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card.

How to Play Buster Blackjack Side Bet

The Buster bet blackjack side bet features Playtech’s Allbets Blackjack on OnAir Entertainment’s Eclipse Blackjack and is similar to Evolution’s Bust It side bet. You win a payout if the dealer busts using three or more cards. The most appealing aspect of the Buster side bet is the potential payouts. If the dealer busts with 8 or more cards and you hold a blackjack, you win 2000:1. The smallest but most common payout is the 2:1 you receive when the dealer busts with 3 or 4 cards. This carries a 93.86% RTP which is not the worst but certainly not the best either.

• Wait for the previous round to end and place your Buster blackjack side bet
• The dealer deals the round as normal
• If the dealer busts his hand via the conditions in the accompanying table, you win
• There are 7 different payouts available
• The dealer awards your payout or takes your bet
• If the dealer busts with two cards or doesn’t bust at all, you lose the side bet

What are the pros and cons?

• The advantages of the buster bet are the many ways you have to win and the chance of scooping up to 2000:1
• The disadvantage is the high house edge of 6.14%

Is the Buster blackjack side bet available at land-based casinos? Although not as common as other side bets such as Perfect Pairs or 21+3, you will find this side bet offered at certain tables at various brick and mortar casinos.

Pros & Cons of Side Bets

As with all casino games, there are pros and cons. Blackjack side bets can be fun, but also distracting if you want to become a serious blackjack player. I say this because to play Blackjack according to the house edge, which can be as low as 0.5%, you need to play basic strategy. Playing side bets is a distraction, while these bets are also heavily weighted in favour of the house.

Are side bets just a gimmick? The answer is a resounding yes. The house loves players that place side bets on any casino game like Blackjack or Baccarat. As the RTP is lower than the main gameplay, side bets help casinos make a higher profit per hour.

Other Side Bets on Blackjack

The side bets we reviewed above are what you’re most likely to run into at a live blackjack table, but in all honesty, there are so many more side bets you may stumble across as you switch from table to table. In fact, there’s a good chance we haven’t covered them all. Below are just some of the other blackjack side bets explained.

• Lucky Lucky: Found on Playtech’s AllBets Blackjack and Eclipse Blackjack from OnAir Entertainment, the Lucky Lucky blackjack side bet gives you three ways to win. Using your first two cards and the dealer’s face-up card, three suited sevens pay 200:1. Other winning hands are 6-7-8 suited (100:), any three 7’s (50:1), any 6-7-8 (25:1), 21 suited (15:1), and any 19 or 20 (2:1).
• Super Sevens/Lucky 7s: Called the Super Sevens side bet at land-based casinos and Lucky 7s online, this is one of the most lucrative blackjack side bets you’re likely to find. If the first three cards dealt are suited 7s, you win 5000:1! You also receive 500:1 for any three 7s, 100:1 if the first two cards are suited 7s, or 50:1 for two unsuited 7s.
• Honey Bonus: Although one of the more uncommon blackjack table side bets (only available at BetConstruct casinos), the Honey Bonus side bet is essentially the 21+3 but with an additional way to win. You can win using the same hands of the 21+3 but also earn a 5:1 payout if your first two cards result in a suited blackjack.
• Royal Match: You’re more likely to find the Royal Match side bet at a brick-and-mortar casino, but you may also come across it at various live and RNG-based blackjack tables. In a multi-deck game of blackjack, you win 5:2 (Easy match) when your first two cards are suited. If they are a suited King and Queen (Royal Match), the payout increases to 25:1. The house edge of this bet is 3.7% which is decent when compared to other side bets.
• Bust It: Like the Hot 3 side bet, Bust It is unique to Evolution and currently only available on Infinite Blackjack and Power Blackjack tables. Essentially, you win if the dealer busts with 3 or more cards. The more cards the dealer uses, the more you receive. For 3 cards you get 1:1, 4 pays 2:1, and this goes all the way up to 250:1 if the dealer busts with 8 cards. While that sounds great, the RTP is low at 93.82%.

Find Software Providers & Blackjack Tables with Sidebets

Below is a list of some of the most well-known live dealer platform brands and their blackjack tables with side bets. There are plenty more out there from other software providers, but the list below gives you a good starting point to locate these games.

Evolution Gaming Blackjack Tables with Side Bets

Playtech Blackjack Tables with Side Bets

Pragmatic Play Live Blackjack Tables with Side Bets

Ezugi Blackjack Tables with Side Bets

More Top Live Dealer Blackjack Games from Reputable Developers

Do side bets count as bonus bets? Yes, side bets count towards the wagering requirement. It makes sense for the casino to allow them because the RTP is lower and house edge is higher. Therefore, I would not recommend side bets when playing a bonus. For more information, see the best live casino bonus guide. There are lists of live dealer bonus offers, casinos, and a full guide covering bonus rules.

Blackjack Side Bets FAQ – Commonly Asked Questions

Which are the best blackjack side bets with the highest RTP?

Technically, the best blackjack side bet is Bet Behind, simply because you’re betting on the main game (albeit via another player’s actions). That means you’re usually subject to a house edge of just 0.5%.

• Bet Behind – 0.5% house edge
• 21+3 side bet – 2.74%
• Royal Match blackjack side bet – 3.7%

What are the worst blackjack side bets?

Some blackjack side bets offer horrendous RTPs and we strongly suggest you avoid these if you’re the type of player that likes to work the percentages. Of those mentioned in our above guide, the following are the worst blackjack side bets:

• Lucky Ladies – 17.64% house edge
• 21+3 (single-deck) – 13.3%
• Perfect Pairs – 10.7%

Are blackjack side bets profitable?

No. quite the opposite. Most blackjack games have an RTP of 99.5% (House Edge 0.5%). On the other hand, side bets have far lower RTPs. Consequently, most pro blackjack players will avoid side bets. Ultimately, they make the casino more money, and if you decide to use them, they should only be used for fun. Or for the casino to make more profit depending on how you look at it.

Note: It is worth noting, no casino game is profitable because the house edge is always weighted in favour of the casino. However, side bets tend to lean further in favour of the house versus standard gameplay.

What is the difference between RTP and house edge?

The two expressions describe the chances of winning a bet from the casino’s point of view or the player’s point of view.

• House Edge: Most table games use house edge to describe the chances of the casino winning on each bet. For example, the casino may have a house edge of 0.5% and therefore should win 0.5% of the time. This is also an overall theoretical long-term average of the percentage the casino will win over multiple sessions.
• RTP (Return to Play): This describes the chances of winning from the player’s perspective. It’s essentially the opposite of house edge. For example, where the house edge is 0.5%, the RTP is therefore 99.5%.

Note: The percentages are not set in stone because variation also plays its part. For example, flipping a coin would have a 50/50 chance of heads or tails landing. However, heads could land 8 times out of 10 flips. However, eventually, variation will catch up. It could take another 100 flips for a matching number of head flips as there were tails.

Is six-card Charlie a side bet?

I thought I would add this one in there just in case you were wondering why the six-card Charlie rule is not mentioned. This is because it’s more of a rule than a side bet. If you win with a hand total of 21 with 6 cards (meaning you hit 4 times), then you automatically win the hand even if the dealer has a natural blackjack or 21.

What alternative games can I play with the blackjack side bets?

There are quite a few live casino games with the same side bets as you will find in Blackjack.

The two most common are:

• Live Baccarat
• Live 3-Card Poker
• Live Texas Hold’em