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What is Live Side Bet City?

Evolution Side Bet City brings an 80s vibe to an innovative new poker-based card game.

If you’ve ever played online live dealer Casino Hold’em or Ultimate Texas Hold’em, you will have come across Side Bets.

These are normally additional bets you make alongside the main game hand. A winning hand is formed when a combination of the players and dealers cards make a valid poker hand.

With Side Bet City, the side bet has become the central theme of the game.

There’s no main hand to distract you. Seven cards are dealt from a single deck to form the best three or five-card poker hands.

If a winning hand is formed, you’ll receive a predetermined payout dependent on the type of bet you placed.

There’s also the option to place a bet on there being no winning hand!

How is Live Side Bet City Played?

The beauty of Evolution Side Bet City is how simple the game is to play.

It’s not necessary to have any prior knowledge of poker to play this game. However, if you have a basic understanding of poker hand rankings, you will enjoy playing the game more.

The game is played with one deck of 52 playing cards, that is fully shuffled once each game round has completed.

Side Bet City

Betting Options

There are four betting options:

  • 3 Card – where your result is determined by the first 3 cards dealt from the deck.
  • 5 Card – where the result is determined by the first 5 cards dealt.
  • 7 Card – where the best 5 card hand is determined from all 7 cards dealt.
  • All Lose – where you’re betting on there being no winning hand.

Side Bet City Bet Types

Winning Hands

Once you’ve placed your bet, the dealer deals seven cards face up on the table.

Winning hands, if any, are calculated for each bet type, with the hand values highlighted on the screen.

Valid Winning Hands:

  • Pair – Two cards of the same value.
  • Pair JJ to AA – only payable on the 5 Card hand, pairs of Jacks or Better.
  • Two Pairs – two sets of pairs, only payable on the 5 card hand.
  • Three of a Kind – 3 Cards of the same value.
  • Straight – a run of cards in sequential number order.
  • Flush – all cards are the same suit.
  • Full House – a hand containing 3 of a kind and a pair.
  • Four of a Kind – the same number card from each suit.
  • Straight Flush – a run of cards in sequential order in the same suit.
  • Royal Flush – a run of cards of the same suit from the Ace down — i.e Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten.

Cards dealt on table

Payout Table

The payouts for winning hands under each bet type (3 Card, 5 Card and 7 Card) are all different.

The best payouts for hands covered is the 5 Card Bet. However this is for good reason, as they are also the most difficult to achieve!

The 3 Card Bet has the least amount of qualifying hands with average payouts.

While the 7 card payouts are the lowest, but more likely to occur.

The interesting thing is the RTP for 7 card is 94.34% while 3 card is 96.69%. So a 3 Card Bet in theory is the better bet.

Not to be forgotten is the “All Lose Bet” that pays 0.70:1.

Winning Hand3 Card Hand5 Card Hand7 Card Hand
Royal Flush100:11000:1500:1
Straight Flush40:1250:1100:1
Four of a Kind100:150:1
Full House50:17:1
Flush4:140:15:1
Straight5:125:14:1
Three of a Kind35:17:13:1
Two Pairs4:1
Pair JJ-AA1:1
Any Pair1:1
All Lose pays 0.70:1

Betting On Live Side Bet City

Here’s what you need to know about betting on Evolution Side Bet City.

There’s no fool proof strategy for betting on Live Side Bet City. However, with a better understanding of the RTP of each bet type, it’s possible to place your bets in such a way that it:

  • Limits your losses – i.e. allows you to play for longer.
  • Keeps you in with a chance of a big payout.

There’s no guarantee that you’ll win. If you’ve ever played Side bets on other games you’ll know they favour the house more.

This game is no different, and the most likely outcome is you’ll lose. My advice is to play another game if you want frequent wins and a better turnover of your bankroll.

female dealer

How should I bet?

Lets examine the published RTPS’s for the game.

  • 3 card RTP is 96.69%.
  • 5 Card RTP is 95.21%.
  • 7 Card RTP is 94.34%.
  • All Lose RTP is 96.29%.

These figures tell us two things. Firstly the game does not have a good overall return to the players. It’s about the same as a good slot, but well below Blackjack at 99%.

Secondly, if you’re betting. the 3 Card and All Lose Bets are the best to play.

Should I bet on all Options?

Unless you’ve got a shed load of money, the answer is no. You may increase your chances of winning something, however, you’ll be picking up scraps of wins for most of the time, which won’t cover your initial outlay.

Unless you hit a big win early you’ll likely lose your bankroll quickly.

What about the All Lose Bet?

Statistically, the All Lose Bet has an RTP of 96.29%, which is marginally lower than the 3 Card Bet. I tend to use this as an insurance bet.

You’re not going to win much as it only ever pays 0.70:1, so you’ll recover your stake and 70% profit.

If you’re playing one of the other bets and that loses, you’ll end up in the negative by 30% (assuming you’re betting the same on each spot).

Surely I should always bet on 5 Card as it pays out the most?

While the 5 Bet pays out the best on all hands except three of a kind, the RTP of 95.21% suggests that in the long term it’s the worse bet to place.

However, it’s a bet that I would be playing a lot of the time. You’ve got to be in it to win it as they say.

My Side Bet City Strategy

I have two strategies I use when playing the Side Bets. I generally only play this when I want some excitement. I’m not looking to grind out a long session, so my bet types reflect this.

I bet on 3 and 5 Card hands and may, depending on how the cards are falling, place the odd All Lose Bet.

If I want a long session then a bet on the 3 Card and All Lose positions is what I do.

Playable Interfaces

Desktop View

side bet city

Mixed Mode

classic view

The playing interface can be used on all device types and is particularly suited to mobile devices. The on screen options are optimised for bet placing and viewing the cards as they’re dealt.

The Desktop interface has two viewing modes. One has been adapted to be used when internet connection speeds are poor.

However, this classic interface is good if you like to chat with the dealer, as you also get to see others players chat without it disappearing from the screen.

Side Bet City Video Review

side bet city video

Why Play Live Side Bet City?

For starters, the 80s theme of Live Side Bet City is nice, and as someone who grew up in the 80s, it all looks very familiar.

I’d like to see perhaps more 80s-related chat, but that may exclude a lot of players and also be difficult for the dealers, who are a bit young to remember that time. Perhaps Evolution should get some older dealers in to help with reminiscing!

The Miami Vice-style Jackets are a nice touch, but to be authentic, they really need to roll up those sleeves!

I’d certainly recommend giving the Evolution Side Bet City a try. The entry stakes are low, so play a few hands and see what you think.

I’ve listed above the casinos I consider to be the best for playing Side bet City at.

Summary

As card games go, Live Side Bet City is a fast-paced game. By that I mean the actual dealing of the cards through to the game end.

To be honest, the game plays just a bit too quick for me.

I like to study the results, rather than relying on the computer-generated images to tell me the result.

I know this helps keep the game moving along, but it just happens all too quick for me.

The dealing of the cards could be a bit slower, just to help build the climax that maybe the next card will make the hand you need.

Some of the dealers are good at talking this through while others don’t.

The betting is fine, but this is a game about making poker hands from seven cards being dealt. It’s tough to get good winning hands. Anyone who has played side bets on other games will tell you that.

You can, of course, get lucky and get that magic hit, but they don’t come round that often.

Making a profit on this game is tough.

I do like the dealer/player interaction, as the dealer really does have to talk and be engaging for this game to work.

Recommended Reading

My Blackjack Side Bets article explains all of the different side bets available when playing.

Try this article for Roulette with Side Bets.