Blackjack has been a favourite casino game for centuries. There are many things that make the card game so popular; for one, it’s super simple to play, so even beginners can get involved with the action. However, if you’re a more experienced gambler, you might want to make the game more exciting by placing blackjack side bets. In simple words, this type of bet is one that has nothing to do with the standard play but allows you to raise the stakes a little higher. Want to know more about blackjack side bets? You’re in the right place! Here, we explore blackjack side bets explained: are they worth it?
What are blackjack side bets?
Blackjack side bets add another dimension to the classic casino game. While they come with greater risk, they can be hugely rewarding if luck is on your side. Blackjack side bets are best described as additional stakes that are placed during a standard game. Most side bets are based purely on luck and chance, so you don’t need to be a seasoned player to enjoy using them. Typically, you place your blackjack side bets at the start of the round alongside your main stake.
Pros and Cons
As you’d expect, blackjack side bets come with both pros and cons. The main advantage is that it makes the game more exciting, particularly for experienced gamblers who have played blackjack many a time. They allow you to place more than one wager and increase your chances of seeing bigger wins from the card game. However, to win big from blackjack side bets you’ll need to place a large stake before dealing the card. This is why they suit high rollers willing to put everything on the line in order to win big.
The major con of blackjack side bets is that they don’t involve any skill. As they are purely based on luck, there is no way you can increase your chances of winning with strategies or techniques. Of course, there is also no guaranteed that you will win with every side stake – you could play a fair few games without reaping the rewards.
Types of blackjack side bets
There are many blackjack side bets offered in the casino today. If you’re playing online, you’ll see them appear as an additional option that you can use if you so wish. Before using a blackjack side bet, however, it’s important to know how they work and they payouts given for each. Below, we discuss the types of blackjack side bets further.
Pairs
Pairs are one of the most popular blackjack side bets. There are a few different combinations that fall into this category.
Perfect Pair: this is a pair with two cards of the same kind and pays 25:1.
Mixed Pair: a Mixed Pair has two cards with the same value but with a different colour and suit. This pays 5:1.
Coloured Pair: a Coloured Pair has two cards of the same colour and value but of different suits. This bet pays 12:1.
Obviously, the exact return will vary from casino to casino, but you can expect a payout in this region.
Insurance
Insurance is another popular blackjack side bet. One of the reasons people love this bet is because it gives you the upper hand to cover your cards if the dealer draws an ace face-up card. This side bet uses half your actual wager and pays out at 2:1 when the dealer has a blackjack. This brings the overall house edge down and ensures you don’t lose all of your money. Not all casinos offer insurance bets, so it’s worth checking beforehand if you’re interested in placing one.
21+3
Next on the list of blackjack side bets is 21+3, which takes into account your cards and the dealer’s face-up card. Different payouts are made for different combinations.
Straight: Pays 10:1 when all cards are consecutive.
Flush: Pays 5:1 if all cards are suit cards.
Straight Flush: Pays 40:1 if you have consecutive cards with the same suit.
Three of a Kind: Pays 30:1 if you have three cards of different suits.
Suited Triple: Pays a whopping 100:1 if you have three of the same cards.
Super Sevens
When it comes to blackjack side bets, Super Sevens is another one to watch. As the name suggests, 7 is the target number here that can help you to win big. If you get 7s in the dealt card, you’ll receive a decent payout of either 3:1, 50:1, or 100:1 for getting one seven, two unsuited 7s, or two suited 7s respectively. If you manage to bag three cards with seven, some casinos even payout 500:1!
Royal Match
Typically, Royal Match pays 5:2 for suited cards and 25:1 if you’ve got a suited king and queen.
Lucky Ladies
You’ll receive a payout for Lucky Ladies if the card in your hand totals 20. If it’s unsuited it will pay 20:1, matched 20 with the same card suit and rank pays out 25:1, and two queens of hearts with the dealer blackjack pays 100:1.
Under/Over 13
With this side bet, you can bet on whether the total of your first two cards will be over, or under, 13. If you guess correctly, you’ll win the bet – it’s as simple as that! This bet usually pays out at 1:1, so it’s not as rewarding as some of the others on the list.
Want to try them out for yourself? You can do! At NetBet casino, we have a range of standard and live casino games including plenty of blackjack variants.