Product
Side Bet
Definition
An optional additional wager on a table game, settled on a specified event rather than the main hand. Side bets almost always carry a substantially higher house edge than the base game.
Key takeaways
- A side bet is an optional extra wager on a table game, settled independently of the main hand.
- Side-bet house edges are typically many times the edge on the base game.
- Taking every side bet can turn a low-edge game such as blackjack into a high-margin one.
- Operators track side-bet participation separately because it materially raises theoretical win per seat.
Why it matters
Side bets are the table-game equivalent of a high-margin add-on. Blackjack tables offer bets on the player’s first two cards forming a pair or a poker hand; baccarat offers pairs and specified totals; roulette carries various proposition wagers. Each is settled independently of whether the main hand wins, and each is optional, which is the commercial point: the base game is the draw and the side bet is where the margin lives.
The maths is what matters here. A blackjack hand played with correct basic strategy can carry a house edge below 1%, while the side bets offered at the same table commonly run into the high single digits or beyond. A player taking every side bet can therefore turn one of the lowest-edge products on the floor into one of the highest, and the theoretical win per hour on that seat rises accordingly. Casino operators track base-game and side-bet participation separately for exactly that reason, and the same logic drives side-bet availability in live-dealer online studios, where the bets also add decision points that keep engagement up between hands.
Frequently asked questions
Are side bets worth taking?
Mathematically, no. The house edge on a typical table side bet is several times that of the base game played with correct strategy.
Why do casinos offer side bets?
They lift theoretical win per seat without changing the headline game, and they add decision points that keep players engaged between hands.
Do online live-dealer tables have side bets?
Yes. Live-casino studios carry the same pairs, poker-hand and total-based side bets as land-based tables, for the same commercial reasons.