In this article, we're going to look at blackjack side bets, how you can get a good blackjack side bets payout, and the best side bets in blackjack. We'll also examine a solid blackjack side bet strategy that you can use to help you win.
Do you want some side action on your blackjack game? There are several popular blackjack side bets to try out, such as Insurance, 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Bet Behind.
In this article, you'll learn which side bet to play and where for maximum profitability.
If you're a Blackjack player who likes to play side bets or wants to give them a try, then you should take note.
You're losing money if you're playing side bets at the wrong casinos, and you're losing money if you're playing wrong side bets.
What are Side Bets in Blackjack?
Side bets in Blackjack are just that: optional bets that you can make in addition to your main hand bet.
The bets cover things that happen during the main hand play that aren't covered by the normal playing rules of Blackjack.
Side bets generally have no link to the main hand outcome, apart from Bet Behind which I'll explain more about later.
Casinos Love Side Bets (and so do players)
Side bets are great for live Casinos, as it's through these they can make additional income.
Whilst the payouts offered are very attractive, there is a greater house edge with these bets.
If you're a percentage player you'd do well to avoid them.
However, saying that, if your bankroll allows, it's worth playing them, even for small sums, as it adds a bit more fun to the game.
Neil’s TOP Blackjack Side Bet Casinos
Why play Blackjack side bets?
Side bets are a way to add excitement and fun to what is otherwise a very repetitive game. Side bets offer the potential of a big payout.
The House edge rises a bit for side bets (more on that in tables below), and the outcome of these bets is totally random unless you're counting cards.
Players who seek to use their skill and strategy to beat the dealer will generally stay away from side bets.
The Four Most Common Blackjack Side Bets
Perfect Pairs, Insurance, Bet Behind, and 21+3 Blackjack Side Bets are the most common and are generally the same at all live casinos.
Be careful though, not all casinos use the same payout structure, and some are better than others.
I've created a Payout Comparison Table where I reveal the casinos with the best side bet payouts.
Perfect Pairs
Perfect Pairs is a blackjack side bet that lets you bet on whether your first two cards will be a pair.
If they are, the payout will depend on what kind of a pair is it.
A perfect pair would be two identical cards, of the same rank and suit – for example, two Kings of spades.
A coloured pair is a pair of two cards of the same colour – for example, King of spades and King of clubs.
Finally, there's a red/black pair.
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Perfect Pair | 25:1 | Pair in the same suit |
| Coloured Pair | 12:1 | Pair in the same colour |
| Mixed Pair | 6:1 | A mixed coloured Pair Red/Black |
Evolution Gaming uses the above pay table on their live blackjack tables. The House edge is 4.10%.
Note: Playtech Live Casinos offer the option to play the dealer hand for a perfect pair side bet. So it's possible to play two Perfect Pair Side bets in one game round! You can try it for yourself at Playojo.
Insurance
Blackjack Insurance is a side bet offered to the player if the dealer's up-card is an Ace. The bet is half your initial stake and will pay 2:1 if the dealer has a blackjack.
Now let me explain why the general consensus is that Insurance is not a good bet to take.
The chance of the dealer's hole card having a value of 10 is 31.4% and it increases to 32.7% if neither of your own two cards has a value of 10.
Meaning, playing the Insurance side bet is a losing proposition in the long run (house edge is 7.40% with 6 decks) unless you're a skilled card counter.
Example of Why Insurance Is Not a Good Bet
Let’s say you have bet 100, and the dealer shows an Ace and offers you insurance. You place an insurance bet of 50.
If the dealer has blackjack, you win 2:1 on your insurance bet, so you get back 150. However, you lose your initial 100 stake, so you end up even. In this instance, the bet has worked — happy days!
But if the dealer doesn’t have blackjack, you lose your insurance bet. If you go on to win your hand, you win at even money, so take back 200. But you actually only have 150, because of your losing 50 insurance bet.
This means the payout on that particular hand is reduced to 1:2. Obviously, if you lose the hand, then you’re out of pocket by the full 150.
So the best you can do is even money return, and the worst you can do is lose your insurance bet and initial stake as well.
If you choose not to take insurance and win, you get even money; but if you lose, you only lose your initial stake.
Given the dealer is more likely not going to hit a blackjack, this is one of those bets not to take, however much it hurts when he does have a blackjack.
21-3 Poker Hands (Rummy)
The 21+3 blackjack side bet takes the idea of Perfect Pairs a bit further as it looks at your first two cards and the dealer's first card. These three cards can create five interesting 3 Card poker hands.
Payouts are, of course, much better than with Perfect Pairs
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Suited three-of-a-kind | 100:1 | Three of the same cards in the same suit. |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | Consecutive cards in the same suit. |
| Three -of-a-kind | 30:1 | Three of the same card. |
| Straight | 10:1 | A run of consecutive Cards. |
| Flush | 5:1 | Three cards of the same suit. |
House edge will vary depending on the paytable and the number of decks used. The above paytable, with a house edge of 3.70%, is probably the best I've seen. Evolution Gaming uses that on their live dealer blackjack tables so visit one of Evolution Gaming live casinos such as Playojo.
The software providers have different payouts, so it’s worth checking to make sure you’re getting the best value for your side bet.
Straight Flush
Here's a picture of a Straight Flush I got when playing. I've also had trips plenty of times but not suited ones and loads of flushes and straights. They're like London buses; you never see one, then three come along simultaneously!
BLACKJACK SIDE BET STRATEGY: Bet Behind
You can place a bet on other players’ cards, just as if they are your own set of cards.
The difference here is that you have no say in how the hand is played, so it’s worth watching how the other players on the table are playing before laying any bets.
Ideally, you want to use a player who is using the basic blackjack side bet strategy and seems to be getting good cards!
These blackjack side bets are useful if you’re waiting for a seat at the table and want some of the action. Or if you’re playing at a seat and want to bet on someone else’s hand on the same table. Both options are available.
The minimum and maximum blackjack side bets stakes at some of the live casinos can be at a lower range than the general table stakes, so it’s worth looking out for that.
Live Casinos with The Best Blackjack side bets
Not all online Live Casinos have the same blackjack side bets and not all tables have the same.
As a rule of thumb, all live casinos will have the 4 common side bets or 21+3, Bet Behind, Insurance, and Perfect Pairs. These will be available on all of their tables, mostly the 7 seat ones.
The unlimited player tables, like Infinite Blackjack, AllBets Blackjack, Power Blackjack, and Free Bet Blackjack, have more side bets available. That's because they have more room on the table to offer them. My top tip is to explore these games to find the other types of blackjack side bets.
| Casino | Stakes | No of Decks | Bet Behind | 21-3 (Poker) | Perfect Pair | Hot 3 | Top 3 | Bust It | Buster | Lucky Lucky | Honey Bonus | Lucky 7 | Software | Star Rating | Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | £0.50 - £5,000 | 8 |  | | | | | |  | | | | Evolution |   | Goto Casino |
 | 0.50 - 5k | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution |  | Goto Casino |
 | £5 - 5,000 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution Playtech | | Goto Casino |
 | £0.50 - £10,000 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | £0.50 -£2,500 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | 0.50 - 20k | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | £5 - £5,000 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | £5 - £25,000 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | £5 - £5,000 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | 0.50 - 5k | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Evolution | | Goto Casino |
 | €5- €500 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Ezugi | | Goto Casino |
 | £1 - £7,500 | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | Playtech | | Goto Casino |
| €1- €500 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | Visionary Igaming | | Goto Casino |
 | £1- £2,000 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | BetConstruct | | Goto Casino |
More Blackjack Side Bets
Casinos constantly invent new blackjack side bets, and there are over 50 of them and counting. I sometimes come across a new one, some are fun while some are best avoided.
If you think a certain side bet is fun, and it's paying well with a house edge that's tolerable, then by all means play it. Here are some fun ones I've found.
Honey Bonus
This is the same as the 21-3 Poker hand side bet, but with the addition of a payout for a suited Blackjack.
The Honey Bonus is not found at many live casinos.
In fact, I've only seen it at BetConstruct casinos.
The great thing with this side bet is the payouts are far in excess of the ones offered at Evolution Gaming Live casinos.
Honey Bonus Payouts
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Suited three-of-a-kind | 100:1 | Three of the same cards in the same suit. |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | Consecutive cards in the same suit. |
| Three -of-a-kind | 25:1 | Three of the same card. |
| Straight | 15:1 | A run of consecutive Cards. |
| Flush | 10:1 | Three cards of the same suit. |
| Suited Blackjack | 5:1 | A same suit Blackjack. |
Lucky 7
This is another exclusive side bet from Betconstruct.
The bet is on the number of 7's in your hand.
Lucky 7 Side Bet Payouts
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Three-suited-sevens | 500:1 | Three sevens of the same suit. |
| Three-unsuited-sevens | 100:1 | Three sevens from any suit. |
| Pair of Suited Sevens | 50:1 | Two sevens of the same suit. |
| Pair of unsuited Sevens | 25:1 | Two sevens from different suits. |
| One Seven | 3:1 | One Seven in your hand. |
Lucky Lucky
This is available on Playtech Allbets Blackjack.
The Lucky Lucky Side Bets pays on the dealer up card and the player's first two hole cards.
Lucky Lucky Side Bet Payouts
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Suited Sevens | 200:1 | Three sevens, all the same suit. |
| 6-7-8 Suited | 100:1 | A straight flush of 6-7-8 |
| Three Sevens | 50:1 | Any three sevens. |
| 6-7-8 | 25:1 | Straight of 6-7-8. |
| 21 Suited | 15:1 | Three cards all of the same suit. |
| Any 19 or 20 | 2:1 | Any three cards making 19 or 20. |
Hot 3
Hot 3 is a side bet unique to Infinite Blackjack by Evolution.
It's very similar to Lucky Lucky as it's also based on the player's first two cards and the dealers up card.
This side bet will pay 100:1 if those three cards are all Sevens, 20:1 if they form a suited 21, 4:1 if it's any card combination that sums 21, 2:1 for the sum of 20, and 1:1 for the sum of 19.
The RTP for this side bet is 94.60%.
Hot 3 Side Bet Payouts
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Three Sevens | 100:1 | The sevens, any suit. |
| Hand totals 21 suited | 20:1 | All three cards have to be the same suit. |
| Hand totals 21 Unsuited | 4:1 | Three cards can be from different suits. |
| Hand totals 20. | 2:1 | Total of three cards is 20. |
| Hand totals 19, | 1:1 | Total of three cards is 19. |
Top 3
The TOP 3 side Bet is only available at Playtech Live casinos on Allbets Blackjack.
Top 3 uses the player's two hole cards and the dealer's face-up card for the side bet.
Only 3 hands qualify for a payout.
Top 3 Side Bet Payouts
| Hand | Usual Payout | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Suited three-of-a-kind | 270:1 | Three cards that are the same value and suit. |
| Straight Flush | 180:1 | Consecutive cards in the same suit. |
| Three -of-a-kind | 90:1 | Three of the same card. |
Buster
Buster pays out when the dealer Busts their hand.
The more cards the dealer busts with the greater the payout.
There are two additional, high payouts if the player also has a Blackjack in their hand.
This side bet is available only on AllBets Blackjack Live by Playtech.
Buster Side Bet Payouts
| Dealers Hand Busts with: | Usual Payout |
|---|---|
| 8 Cards or more with Player BJ | 2000:1 |
| 7 Cards or more with Player BJ | 800:1 |
| 8 Cards or more | 250:1 |
| 7 Cards | 50:1 |
| 6 Cards | 18:1 |
| 5 Cards | 4:1 |
| 3 or 4 Cards | 2:1 |
Bust It
Another side bet unique to Infinite Blackjack, it's about the dealer going bust.
The dealer must bust with 3 or more cards for your side bet to win, and you'll get 1:1 if he busts with 3 cards exactly.
The win will be 2:1 for 4 cards, 9:1 for 5 cards, 50:1 for 6, 100:1 for 7, and 250:1 for 8 or more.
The RTP of this side bet is 93.82%.
BustIt Side Bet Payouts
| Dealers Hand Busts with: | Usual Payout |
|---|---|
| 8 Cards or more | 250:1 |
| 7 Cards | 100:1 |
| 6 Cards | 50:1 |
| 5 Cards | 9:1 |
| 4 Cards | 2:1 |
| 3 Cards | 1:1 |
Perfect 11
Perfect 11 Side Bet is played using the players first two cards.
Aces are low.
If the cards add up to a total of eleven the side bet wins. The biggest payout is for a suited hand.
The side bet also makes a payout for a Blackjack at 5:1 and will be paid in addition to the main hand payout of 3:2.
Perfect 11 Side Bet Payouts
| Players Hand Value | Payout |
|---|---|
| 11 Points (Suited) | 21:1 |
| Any 11 Points | 10:1 |
| Blackjack | 5:1 |
Ten20
Ten20 pays when the players first two cards add up to 10 or 20.
The highest payout is reserved for any Pair of 5's - they don't have to be suited to win.
The next payout is for a total of ten and the last for a total of 20.
BustIt Side Bet Payouts
| Players 1st Two Cards | Payout |
|---|---|
| Pair of 5's | 22:1 |
| Total of 10 | 10:1 |
| Total of 20 | 3:1 |
Match
The Match side bet, which is available on Fun Fun 21 Blackjack, uses the player's first two cards and the dealer's upcard.
To win, one of the Players' cards has to match the dealer's card. Several combinations give payouts, which can be up to 24:1 for a Double-Suited match.
The RTP is 97.01%.
Match Side Bet Payouts
| Bet Type | Payout |
|---|---|
| Double Suited Match | 24:1 |
| Suited + Non-suited Match | 15:1 |
| Suited Match | 12:1 |
| Double Non-suited Match | 6:1 |
| Non-Suited Match | 3:1 |
Royal Match
The Royal Match Side Bet, more commonly found in a land-based casino will pay you 5:2 if you have two suited cards and 25:1 if you have a suited King and Queen.
Super Sevens
Another land-based casino side bet is Super Sevens – If you have one or more Sevens, you'll win from 3:1 all the way up to 5000:1 if you have two suited 7s and the first dealer card is also a suited 7.
Lucky Ladies
My final Side Bet is a personal favorite of mine. I play this a lot when in the Encore Casino in Las Vegas. This bet pays out if the sum of your cards is 20. Unsuited 20 pays 4:1, suited 20 pays 10:1, and if you have two Queens of Hearts you'll get 200:1.
Important Blackjack Side Bets Payout Information
If you’re anything like me you probably thought that the payouts from all the providers are the same.
Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, they’re not.
There are some marked differences between the software providers that you really ought to know if you like playing blackjack side bets.
Which Best Side Bets in Blackjack am I talking about?
I’m talking about the Perfect Pairs and 21+3 side bets as these are where the differences are.
There are other side bets, like Bet Behind, which isn’t really a side bet. You’re just getting the chance to bet on someone else’s hand, while either playing your own or waiting for a seat at the table.
The Honey Bonus and Lucky 7’s side bets are specific to BetConstruct live casinos. I’ve listed them for completeness' sake.
The Differences
There are two main ways that the side bets differ:
- A difference in the payouts for individual hands. For example in the 21+3 side bet, Evolution and Pragmatic Play have a 30:1 payout for Three of a Kind, Ezugi only pays 25:1.
- A blanket payout is given for all winning side bets. For example, regardless of the hand value, you’ll get a flat 11:1 for Perfect Pairs and 9:1 for 21+3 hands with Visionary iGaming.
Why the Differences?
If I’m being honest I think it’s all down to the bottom line: money.
Obviously, it’s better for the casino to pay out less when someone wins. But I think this is a bit short-sighted of the operators.
As players gain more experience and want to manage their bankrolls more efficiently, things like payouts really do matter. If players feel they are getting a rough deal, they'll go hunting for better deals.
There will be players who know no difference and are happy to accept the payouts where they are playing.
That’s actually ok, but I think it’s important to have a choice and know what else is available.
Best Side Bets in Blackjack Compared
This little table breaks down the payouts for the side bets by the software provider.
As you can see from the payout table, Evolution Casinos have the best returns on payouts.
The casinos from Visionary iGaming are the worst for payouts, but they have one of the best Blackjack games around. They are worth playing for the Early Surrender option.
| Side Bets | Evolution Gaming | Playtech | Visionary iGaming | Ezugi | Extreme Gaming | NetEnt | LuckyStreak | BetConstruct | Wirex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfect Pairs | |||||||||
| Perfect Pair | 25:1 | 25:1 | 11:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 | 30:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 | 25:1 |
| Coloured Pair | 12:1 | 12:1 | 11:1 | 12:1 | 12:1 | 10:1 | 12:1 | 12:1 | 12:1 |
| Mixed Pair | 6:1 | 6:1 | 11:1 | 6:1 | 6:1 | 5:1 | 6:1 | 5:1 | 6:1 |
| 21+3 | |||||||||
| Suited Trips | 100:1 | 100:1 | 9:1 | 100:1 | 100:1 | 100:1 | 9:1 | 100:1 | |
| Straight Flush | 40:1 | 40:1 | 9:1 | 40:1 | 40:1 | 40:1 | 9:1 | 40:1 | |
| 3 of a Kind | 30:1 | 30:1 | 9:1 | 25:1 | 30:1 | 25:1 | 9:1 | 25:1 | |
| Straight | 10:1 | 10:1 | 9:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | 9:1 | 10:1 | |
| Flush | 5:1 | 5:1 | 9:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 | 5:1 | 9:1 | 5:1 | |
| Honey Bonus | |||||||||
| 3 of a Kind | 20:1 | ||||||||
| Straight | 10:1 | ||||||||
| Flush | 5:1 | ||||||||
| Suited Blackjack | 3:1 | ||||||||
| Lucky 7's | |||||||||
| 3 Suited 7's | 500:1 | ||||||||
| 3 Unsuited 7's | 100:1 | ||||||||
| 2 Suited 7's | 50:1 | ||||||||
| 2 Unsuited 7's | 25:1 | ||||||||
| 1st Card is a 7 | 3:1 | ||||||||
| Lucky Lucky | |||||||||
| 7-7-7 Suited | 200:1 | ||||||||
| 6-7-8 Suited | 100:1 | ||||||||
| 7-7-7 Unsuited | 50:1 | ||||||||
| 6-7-8 Unsuited | 25:1 | ||||||||
| 21 Suited | 15:1 | ||||||||
| Any 19 or 20 | 2:1 | ||||||||
| Top 3 | |||||||||
| Suited 3 of a Kind | 270:1 | ||||||||
| Straight Flush | 180:1 | ||||||||
| 3 of a Kind | 90:1 | ||||||||
| Hot 3 | |||||||||
| 7-7-7 (three sevens, unsuited) | 100:1 | ||||||||
| Total hand value 21, suited. | 20:1 | ||||||||
| Total hand value 21, unsuited. | 4:1 | ||||||||
| Total hand value 20, suited. | 2:1 | ||||||||
| Total hand value 19, suited. | 1:1 | ||||||||
| Bust It | |||||||||
| Dealer busts with 8 or more. | 250:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 7 cards. | 100:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 6 cards. | 50:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 5 cards. | 9:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 4 cards. | 2:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 3 cards. | 1:1 | ||||||||
| Buster | |||||||||
| Dealer busts with 8 or more with Player BJ. | 2000:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 7 with Player BJ. | 800:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer Busts with 8 or more. | 250:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 7 cards. | 50:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 6 cards. | 78:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 5 cards. | 4:1 | ||||||||
| Dealer busts with 3 or 4 cards. | 2:1 | ||||||||
| Match | |||||||||
| Double Suited Match | 24:1 | ||||||||
| Suited + Non-suited Match | 15:1 | ||||||||
| Suited Match | 12:1 | ||||||||
| Double Non-suited Match | 6:1 | ||||||||
| Non-Suited Match | 3:1 |
Note: Not all software providers have side bets and that’s why they are not represented in the table.
Are blackjack side bets worth playing?
Blackjack side bets are based on chance, offer a chance of a very big payout, and the house edge is greater than it is for the main game of blackjack.
First and foremost, blackjack side bets are fun and they can break up long boring blackjack sessions as well as offer a chance of a big payout.
Professional blackjack players don't play side bets, but everyone else should at least give them a try.
Summary
In my opinion, you should view side bets as a bit of fun.
If you hit one, they can make a big difference to your bank balance — and I’ve had more success with the 21-3 bet than I have with any of the others.
In the long run, though, I have probably lost. But I don’t think that’s the point when playing these bets — it’s having a bit of fun!
Where to play blackjack side bets in the UK?
As usual, Evolution Gaming leads the way and show their competitors how to do it. They have the best payouts alongside Pragmatic Play.
If you’re playing from the UK then I’d recommend Leo Vegas for Evolution based Casinos. And for Pragmatic I’d say BetVictor.
Ezugi has one difference with payouts: UK players can’t play at Ezugi but others can, so Leo Vegas is another good bet.
FAQ
Should you play side bets in blackjack?
Side bets in blackjack are a fun way to get some big payouts. While the house edge is greater than it is in the main game of blackjack, many players find side bets to be fun enough to be worth the risk.
What are the side bets in Blackjack?
Side bets in blackjack are additional bets you can place on the cards that will be dealt to the player and to the dealer. They are independent of the main game of blackjack and have their own payout structure.
Are Blackjack side bets worth it?
Blackjack side bets can offer big payouts, but each side bet has its own payout structure that is also different from casino to casino. There is no universal answer to whether side bets are worth it, but some of them such as 21+3 might be profitable