Five Ways to Boost Your Wins with Side Bets
Would Blackjack be as popular as it is now if your only options were to hit or stand? Probably not. Side bets are the spice of casino life, and they’re included in a lot more games than you’d think. Join us as we dive into the wonderful world of side betting with explanations on what side bets are and how to use them effectively, so that you can play Slots.lv live dealer games (and standard games too) with the confidence of a seasoned bettor.
What are Side Bets?
If you’re wondering what side bets are, you’re not alone. Most people learn to play a game on a basic level and stick to that, especially with more complex games like Craps. A side bet is any bet that is not mandatory. To return to our Blackjack example, hit and stand are mandatory actions; the round cannot conclude without you choosing to hit or stand. However, bets like double, surrender, and split are considered side bets and they contribute to a more colorful Blackjack experience.
How to Effectively Use Side Bets to Boost Your Wins for Each Game
Knowing the odds, payouts and house edge for each game’s side bets will allow you to improve your overall returns and hone your casino strategy. Here are five side bets in particular that should be included in your arsenal of moves:
1- Load up on the odds in Craps
Craps is unique in that it offers a side bet with zero house edge, and knowing this greatly improves your position as you learn how to win Craps payouts. The catch, however, is that you must first make one of the main bets in order to reach the aforementioned side bet known as the odds. Your best bet is to select the main bet with the lower house edge (the Don’t Pass bet), and if a point is established (by rolling a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 on the come-out roll), you want to then load up on the Don’t Pass Odds; you’ll notice that there’s always a cap on these Craps side bets as they’re essentially free bets. Of course, you can also do the opposite and bet on the Pass Line followed by a maximum bet on the Pass Odds. The choice is yours.
2- Use the surrender option when faced with a tough dealer card in Blackjack
Most new Blackjack players never use the surrender option. After all, you’re playing a game, and it’s no fun to forfeit a round that you paid into. But you’ll improve your long-term returns if you employ the surrender side bet when the odds of you beating the dealer are slim. For example, any time the dealer shows a Nine, Ten, or Ace, and you have a lousy 16, go ahead and sacrifice 50% of your bet. Retrieving half is better than none.
3- Use the Call bets in European Roulette
The best thing you can do to improve your returns in roulette is to play European Roulette which has half the house edge of its American counterpart. After that, most people think that they have to choose between high-risk/high-reward bets like single numbers vs. low-risk/low-reward bets like reds/blacks, or even/odd. But a nice middle ground option available exclusively in European Roulette are the call bets, which you can pull up by clicking the Racetrack button at the bottom of the screen. These three betting options cover a range of small bets automatically, which gives you a good chance of winning something at a decent price.
4- Keep an eye on the progressive jackpot in Caribbean Hold’Em and Stud
Caribbean Hold’em and Stud are two of our poker-based table games that share a progressive jackpot, so it grows fast. In order to be eligible for the jackpot, you must put $1 on the Progressive Jackpot side bet at the start of the round. In order to win the entire thing, you must be dealt a Royal Flush, but getting a Flush, Full House, 4 of a Kind and Straight Flush will also earn you a portion of the pot. The trick is to play the game when the jackpot reaches a high enough point to flip the edge in your favor, so keep your eyes peeled and get ready to jump in when the water’s warm.
5- Watch the Jackpot in Let ‘Em Ride
Let ‘Em Ride is another poker-based game that includes a progressive jackpot as a side bet. Just like with Carribean Hold’Em and Stud, you must put $1 on the side bet at the start of each round in order to be eligible for it. The jackpot payout works the same way, in that 100% is awarded for a Royal Flush, while increments that range from $75 to 10% are awarded for anything from a Flush to a Straight Flush. Play when the jackpot is big enough to make it worth your while.
Live Dealer Games that Offer Side Bets
Many of our Live Dealer casino games include side bets that aren’t otherwise available, such as what you’d find in Baccarat and its sister game, Super 6. Both Live Dealer Baccarat and Super 6 include a Dragon Bonus side bet that pays when the hand you bet on wins by a Natural, or by a margin of four points or more. The payout ranges from 1:1 for a Natural to 30:1 for a 9-point win margin.
Another Live Dealer game that offers more side bets than the standard is Live Blackjack, which offers an early payout option. This makes it possible to cut to the chase and take an early payout in every step of the round. The payout is based on the dealer’s up-card and your hand, and will be greater when you have strong odds of winning. It’s an interesting option that helps further cut down the house edge and improve your returns in a game that offers an expected return of 99.50%.
These are some of the more popular side bets available in our casino, but there’s more out there waiting for you to discover. Explore and find new ways to win playing your favorite casino games. We’ll see you at the felt.