The Best Casino Table Game Side Bets: Are They Worth It?

The standard, mathematically sound bets in table games are no longer enough to satisfy the modern, thrill-seeking casino player.

However, beneath the flashing progressive jackpot meters lies a harsh mathematical reality that every player must understand.

The True Cost of Chasing the Jackpot

While a standard hand of blackjack has a house edge of under 1%, the side bets attached to it are entirely different.

Casinos heavily promote these bets because they represent pure, unadulterated profit for the corporation over the long term.

• The ’21+3′ blackjack side bet, which uses your two cards and the dealer’s upcard to make a poker hand, usually carries a 9% house edge
• Card counters completely ignore side bets because the variance is too high and it draws unwanted attention from the pit boss
• The flashing lights and massive payout numbers printed on the felt are designed to distract you from the incredibly poor mathematical probability

When Is It Okay to Play a Side Bet?

However, gambling is ultimately about entertainment, and side bets undeniably add a massive adrenaline rush to the game.

If you want to play purely for the mathematical edge, stick to the main game; if you want a lottery ticket, throw a dollar on the bonus.

If you understand the math and still want to play them for fun, do so with strict, unbreakable limits.