Why Do Casinos Love Side Bets?

Across gambling forums and social media, particularly Reddit, casino players often discuss their experiences with dealers offering them side bets. And this isn’t a new occurrence. There is a long-standing poll by Wizard of Vegas about dealers pushing side bets. “Management wants them to hard sell side bets", "They really believe side bets benefit the player”, and “They just want to see people lose fast” received the top votes in descending order.

Evidently, players are often skeptical of side bets but are drawn to the higher potential payouts. Casinos, on the other hand, love them for the profits they bring and the dynamism they introduce to gameplay. But why is there a disparity in interest? Find out in this article as we reveal the insider truth about casino side bets.

What Is a Casino Side Bet?

A casino side bet is an optional wager that players can place alongside main bets. These bets are commonly independent, offer high payouts, and have a high house edge.

Casino side bets are peculiar to table games, including blackjack, baccarat, craps, and roulette.

Blackjack

When side bets are talked about, blackjack is the most referenced. The game of 21 is famous for its side bets, which are based on the player’s first two cards and the dealer’s up-card.

Blackjack side bets include:

1. Perfect Pairs: You are betting that the first two cards you are dealt will be an identical pair of the same suit, the same color, or the same rank but different suits. The highest payout for this bet is 25:1.

2. 21+3: You are betting that a combination of your two cards and the dealer’s up-card will form a three-card poker hand. You win if the hand forms a Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, or Straight Flush. Your payout will be based on the hand formed.

3. Lucky Ladies: This is one of the most popular blackjack side bets. You win if your first two cards total 20. Payout varies depending on the cards that make up the total and the number of card decks.

4. Insurance: This is a side bet you can place if the dealer shows an Ace up-card and you believe the hand is a blackjack. If the dealer does have blackjack, you get a 2:1 payout.

Roulette

Roulette’s side bets are the “racetrack” or “call” bets. They can be placed alongside the main wagers (inside and outside bets). However, you can only find them on European and French tables.

1. Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero): Wagering on a specific arc of 17 numbers near the zero.

2. Tiers du Cylindre: Wagering on the numbers located on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero.

3. Orphelins: A wager on the 8 numbers not covered by the above two

4. Jeu Zéro: A wager on 7 numbers closest to zero

Craps

Craps has multiple side bets available:

1. All, Tall, Small (ATS)

This is a bet on various kinds of numbers being rolled before a 7 appears.

• Small (2, 3, 4, 5, 6): if the shooter hits all five before a 7, they get a 30:1 payout.
• Tall (8, 9, 10, 11, 12): if all five are rolled before a 7, the player gets a 30:1 payout.
• All: If, by chance, the dealer rolls both small and big numbers (excluding 7), the player gets a 150:1 or 175:1 payout.

2. Proposition Bets (One-Roll Bets)

These wagers are settled on the very next toss of the dice:

• Yo (11): Pays 15:1
• Ace-Deuce (3): Pays 15:1
• Aces (2) Pays or Boxcars (12): Pays 30:1
• Any Craps (2, 3, or 12): Pays 7:1

3. Hardways

The player is betting a number 4, 6, 8, or 10 will roll as a pair (e.g., two 4s called a Hard 8) before a 7 rolls.

• Hard 6 or 8: Pays 9:1
• Hard 4 or 10: Pays 7:1

Why Side Bets Feel Exciting

The excitement of side bets is that they are high-risk, high-reward wagers. They offer a massive upside in terms of payout for a relatively small wager size. The possibility of winning $500 on a $5 bet is indeed enticing. Also, they are independent, i.e., unaffected by the outcomes of the main bets. You will be paid if you win, whether you win the main bets or not.

Additionally, in moments where you feel your outcome will lead to a loss, a side bet can change that for you. Let's use blackjack as an example. If you are dealt a 16 against a dealer’s Ace up card, you may feel like you are going to lose to the dealer’s blackjack. However, if you bet insurance, you can save yourself from a loss.

Side bets can provide consolation wins when the main game‘s outcome is a loss.

Why Casinos Push Side Bets So Hard

There are three main reasons why casinos want players to place side bets:

Higher House Edge Means Higher Profits

Have you noticed that side bets are often offered at lower betting minimums than the basic bet? Casinos prefer it this way because these bets have a higher house edge. Taking a large piece of a small bet size is less noticeable than no piece of a larger bet that wasn’t placed. Side bets with a higher house edge increase the house's profit.

Faster Betting Action

Side bets are quick to resolve. Take, for example, the one-roll bets in craps. If you roll a 2, which is termed snake eyes, you win immediately. If any other number is rolled, the bet will lose and be taken down immediately. The instant feedback from side bets leads to faster betting, which the house likes, since multiple wagers can easily be placed.

Increased Revenue Per Player

Casino table games accommodate a sizable number of players. For example, 5 to 6 players can play blackjack against a single dealer. If four of these players place side bets, casinos will earn more revenue per player.

The Psychology Behind Side Bets

The excitement of side bets isn't just about the money. Psychology also plays a role in the following ways:

Bigger Payouts Trigger Excitement

One of the main reasons players love side bets is that they offer big payouts on low wagers. The possibility of an instant big payout excites high-risk players.

Near Misses

Many times, the results of side bets are near misses. Psychologically speaking, a near-miss similarly excites the brain to the point where the brain sees it as a win. Players feel they weren't far from the required result, which heightens excitement for subsequent gaming sessions.

The Lottery Ticket Effect

A low-cost shot at a huge reward mirrors the appeal of a lottery ticket. For example, a $5 Lucky Ladies bet can pay $5,000, but only on the top result: a pair of Queens of Hearts while the dealer has blackjack (1000:1). Losing the $5 feels negligible when the upside looks incredible.

Which Casino Games Have the Most Side Bets?

Blackjack and craps have the most side bets in casinos. Here are a few examples of side bets on popular casino games:

Blackjack Side Bets

Side Bet	Hand Combination	Payout	House Edge (6 deck)
Perfect Pairs	Perfect Pair (Player’s 1st 2 cards same suit and rank)	25:1	6.11%
	Colored Pair (Player’s 1st 2 cards same rank and color)	12:1
	Mixed Pair (Same rank, different colors)	6:1
21+3	Suited Trips	100:1	4.14%
	Straight Flush	35:1
	Three of a Kind	30:1
	Straight	10:1
	Flush	5:1
Lucky Ladies	Queen of Hearts Pair + Dealer has Blackjack	1000:1	17.64% - 24.71%
	Queen of Hearts Pair	125:1
	Matched 20 (e.g., two King of Diamonds)	19:1 to 25:1
	Suited 20	9:1
	Any 20	4:1
Royal Match	Any suited two King or Queen	25:1	5.86%
Super Sevens	Your hand contains one to three 7s (7, 7-7, 7-7-7)	5000:1 (suited 7-7-7)	12.61%
Insurance	Dealer has Blackjack (Ace Up card)	2:1	7.40%

Craps Proposition Bets

Bet	Dice Outcome	Payout	House Edge
All, Tall and Small	All numbers (2-12) before a 7	150:1	20.61%
Small / Tall	2,3,4,5,6 or 8,9,10,11,12 before a 7	30:1	18.30%
One-Roll Bets	Aces (2) or Boxcars (12)	30:1	13.89%
	Yo-leven (11) or Ace-Deuce (3)	15:1	11.11%
	Any Craps (2, 3, or 12)	7:1	11.11%
	Any Seven	4:1	16.67%
Hardways	Hard 6 or Hard 8	9:1	9.09%
	Hard 4 or Hard 10	7:1	11.11%

Roulette Side Bets (European and French Tables)

Bet Name	Numbers Covered	Payouts	House Edge
Voisins du Zéro	17	17:1 (on 5 splits), 8:1 (on 1 corner), 11:1 (on 3-number street)	2.70%
Tiers du Cylindre	12	17:1	2.70%
Orphelins	8	35:1 (on 1 straight-up), 17:1 (on 4 splits)	2.70%
Jeu Zéro	7	35:1 (on 1 straight-up), 17:1 (on 3 splits)	2.70%

Baccarat Side Bets

Side Bet	Winning Condition	Payout	House Edge (8 decks)
Player / Banker Pair	The first two cards of the chosen hand are a pair	11:1	10.36%
Either Pair	Either the Player or Banker hand (or both) deals a pair.	5:1	14.53%
Perfect Pair	The first two cards of a hand are identical in rank and suit.	25:1	13.03%
Super 6 (No Commission Baccarat)	Banker wins with a total score of exactly 6.	12:1	29.98%
Dragon 7 (EZ Baccarat)	Banker wins with a 3-card hand total of 7.	40:1	7.61%
Dragon Bonus (Player)	Hand is a natural or wins by a margin of 4–9 points	Up to 30:1	2.65%

Are All Side Bets Bad Bets?

Plainly: Yes. These are the worst casino bets for players but great wagers for the house for the following reasons:

House Edge

Most side bets house edge, a built-in mathematical advantage, are usually high. If you place a $100 bet and the house edge is 5%. It means the house gets $5 per wager. Over many hand plays, this amount adds up to benefit the casino.

However, note that the house edge on side bets varies depending on the casino rules and the number of decks used.

Variance vs Long-Term Odds

Side bets are high-risk because they are highly volatile, meaning lower win frequency but higher payouts. Also, the long-term odds of the best side bets are low, benefiting casinos only.

A combination of high house edge, high variance, and low odds of winning is why side bets often favor the casino.

Why Players Still Love Side Bets

Aside from the bigger rewards on small bets, players who love gambling side bets do so for the social excitement they bring. When a player wins a side bet, it is often a communal experience at the casino. Everyone cheers, knowing how rare it is to win. Side bets draw attention, which some players love.

What Dealers Think About Side Bets

Placing side bets mainly because of high payout offers is one of the common mistakes players make that dealers observe. Dealers mention side bets to players, but not at random. Casinos ask dealers to suggest playing the side bets to players. Also, when the table's energy seems to be low, dealers can mention side bets to bring fresh enthusiasm to the table.

The Most Profitable Side Bets

No side bets are profitable. However, the following offers the lowest house edge among the many high-payout options.

Side Bet	Game	House Edge	Best Payout
Dragon Bonus (Player)	Baccarat	2.65%	30:1
21+3	Blackjack	4.14%	100:1
Royal Match	Blackjack	5.86%	25:1

Should You Ever Play Side Bets?

No. In terms of strategy, you should not play side bets. They are bad wagers for bankroll management. If you must place side bets, play responsibly and select those with low house edges. However, for entertainment purposes only, side bets can be fun.

Final Thoughts

The characteristics of side bets include high risk, high reward, a high house edge, high variance, and low odds of winning. Players love them for high payouts, but casinos love them for every other feature mentioned.

If you must place side bets, ensure you are making an informed decision that is not born of desperation to win or to be cheered on by others in the casinos. Consider your bankroll before playing and know that in the long term, the odds aren't in your favor and the house always wins.

FAQs

Why do casinos push side bets?

Casinos push side bets because of their high house edge and low odds of winning. Plainly put, casinos make money off of them.

Are side bets worth it?

No, they are not worth it.

Which casino side bets have the highest house edge?

Keep in mind that there are new side bets coming out every day. But the common casino side bets with the highest house edges include Lucky Ladies in Blackjack (24.71%), All Tall and Small in Craps (20.61%), and the Super 6 in Baccarat (up to 29.98%).

What is the best blackjack side bet?

Keep in mind that there are new side bets coming out every day. But the Dragon Bonus on Baccarat has a low house edge of 2.65%.

Why are side bets so popular?

Side bets are popular for the high payouts and because they change up the game, adding novelty.

Do side bets increase casino profits?

Yes, side bets increase casino profits because they have high house edges.

Are side bets worse than regular bets?

Yes, side bets are worse than regular bets.