Blackjack Side Bets Guide: Payouts, Odds, and Pro Tips

1. Perfect Pair

One of the most common side wagers at casinos is the Perfect Pairs bet. Players have not one, but three ways to win this wager.

For the perfect pairs bet, you need to be dealt a pair in your first two cards. Your payout will depend on the quality of the pair you are given.

The house edge for the perfect pairs bet usually ranged from 5% to 7%, depending on the payout.

It is impossible to predict when you will be dealt pairs, but it does happen. So, if you want to add this wager to your strategy, you are better off making it every hand and absorbing your losses when it does not hit.

Many casinos offer perfect pairs, and for good reason. It is one of the easiest bets to make and significantly increases the casino’s house edge. If you want to try it, BetUS Casino offers a version of 21 with perfect pair side bets.

2. Dragon Multiplier

Another 21 side bet to watch for is the Dragon Multiplier wager. This bet is different than many other side bets as you need to beat the dealer for it to hit.

If you beat the dealer with your main hand, you are guaranteed to win a prize multiplier with this side wager.

To take advantage of this wager, you have to place a separate stake on the Dragon Multiplier side bet before any cards are dealt. Then, play the round as normal and do your best to beat the dealer.

A random multiplier from 2x to 50x will be selected for each hand you make this wager. In multi-hand variations, each hand will have its own unique multiplier.

The multiplier only applies to the stake you place on the side bet. So, your winnings for the round will look like this:

• • Ante winnings + (Dragon multiplier ante * Dragon multiplier)

Increasing your overall stake does increase your risk. However, with the right strategy, the Dragon Multiplier feature can drastically increase your total winnings during a given session.

If Dragon Multiplier Blackjack sounds like the right variation for you, you can try it today at BetOnline.

3. 21 + 3

The 21 + 3 side wager combines the joy of blackjack with the fun of another popular card game, 3-card poker.

To win a  21 + 3 side bet, you need a winning three-card poker hand. You create this hand by taking the dealer’s up card and your starting hand.

The payouts for this bet vary based on the strength of your poker hand:

• • Flush = 5:1
  • Straight = 9:1
  • Three-of-a-kind = 30:1
  • Straight Flush = 40:1
  • Suited three-of-a-kind = 100:1

With such a wide range of payouts, your RTP can vary from session to session. However, the house edge for this side wager is generally around 3.24%, putting it on par with the average online slot.

Lucky Rebel offers a great selection of blackjack games, including a 21 + 3 variation.

4. Insurance

Casinos love side bets, especially wagers like insurance. It is one of the few side bets you can make after the starting hands have been dealt.

If the dealer has an ace showing, they will offer you the chance to make the insurance wager. This wager only wins if the dealer has a natural blackjack.

Insurance bets typically pay 2:1, and you cannot wager more than your initial ante.

If the count is high and the odds of either hand hitting a natural are higher than normal, there is an argument for making the insurance bet. However, most of the time, this is a bad side bet, in part due to its high house edge of 7.5%.

Also, there is no guarantee that you will beat the dealer even if they do not have a natural. So, taking his wager when the count is low increases your odds of losing twice on the same hand.

5. Royal Match

The Royal Match in blackjack is one of the easiest side wagers to win. All you need to claim victory is to be dealt suited cards in your starting hand.

Your winning payout from this wager depends on the quality of your match.

The house edge for this version of blackjack usually ranges from 3.5% to 8.0%. If the casino offers a Crown treasure payout, it is often tied to a jackpot rather than a fixed payout. I haven’t seen this one online.

6. Lucky Ladies

A 20 can be a frustrating hand in blackjack because you just missed the payout for a natural blackjack. Also, you can still lose if the dealer gets 21.

The Lucky Ladies side bet in blackjack helps to offset some of the frustration by rewarding players who are dealt a 20 as their starting hand.

A typical Lucky Ladies pay table in blackjack includes:

• • Unsuited 20 = 4:1
  • Suited 20 = 9:1
  • Matched 20 = 19:1
  • Queen of Hearts pair = 125:1
  • Queen of Hearts pair and dealer has Blackjack = 1000:1

The payout for a Queen of Hearts pair that loses to a Dealer’s blackjack can vary from 250:1 to 1,000:1 depending on the casino. Depending on the pay table, the house edge for this bet can range from 5.19% to 29.89%. With such a large range, it is important to check the pay table before committing any money.

7. Supreme 777 Jackpot

The Supreme 777 side bet, also called Lucky 7s, is one of the highest-paying blackjack side bets. Players must be dealt at least one 7 in their starting hand to have a chance to win this bet.

• • One 7 in your starting hand = 1:1
  • Pair of 7s in starting hand = 5:1
  • Three 7s = 100:1
  • Three 7s of the same suit = Jackpot

Some casinos will offer a portion of the jackpot if the player gets three 7s of the same color but different suits. You may also need a specific suit, such as spades, to win the grand jackpot.

The best part of this side bet is that you can usually play it for the table’s minimum bet. So, you can bet the minimum and still have a chance at the jackpot. A version of this one is available at BetUS Casino.