Blackjack Side Bets Payouts – The Detailed List
Table Of Content
Blackjack side bet payouts refer to the additional wagering options in blackjack where bets like 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Lucky Ladies offer unique odds and payout ratios, ranging from modest wins to potential jackpots.
Ever sit down at a blackjack table and get curious about those little side boxes next to your main bet? You’ve probably seen options like Perfect Pairs, 21+3, or Royal Match flashing up on the felt. That’s where blackjack side bets come into play. And while the payouts on these side bets can look tempting, sometimes really tempting, it’s crucial to understand how they actually work before throwing your chips in.
I’ve played blackjack for years, both in high-stakes rooms and $5 casual tables, and I’ll tell you this: side bets can be a fun twist, but only when you know what you’re getting into. Let’s break down blackjack side bets payouts in simple terms, with real examples, odds, and a few personal insights to keep you from blindly tossing money at flashy odds.
Why Are Payouts the Core of Side Bet Strategy?
Here’s the deal: Side bets in blackjack are designed for entertainment, not edge play. They offer high-reward outcomes at the cost of higher house edges. But the catch is in the payout. If the potential reward doesn’t match the risk, it’s not a good bet.
That’s why understanding blackjack side bets payout is so important. It helps you choose which bets are worth a shot—and which ones are better left alone.
What Are the Payouts of Side Bets?
Check the list and learn the blackjack side bets payouts.
1. 21+3 Side Bet Payouts
- Flush: 5 to 1
- Straight: 10 to 1
- Three of a Kind: 30 to 1
- Straight Flush: 40 to 1
- Suited Trips: 100 to 1
Example:
- Your cards: 7♠, 8♠
- Dealer upcard: 9♠
→ That’s a suited straight flush = 40:1 payout.
Hit Rate Estimate: Flush or better hits ~7% of the time.
Don’t forget: most of the time, this bet misses. The 21+3 odds are steep, and the house edge can be high.
2. Perfect Pairs Side Bet Payouts
- Mixed Pair (e.g., 7♠ 7♦): 5 to 1
- Colored Pair (e.g., 7♦ 7♥): 10 to 1
- Perfect Pair (e.g., 7♦ 7♦): 25 to 1
Hit Rate Estimate: Any pair ~7.5% of the time. Perfect pair ~1.7%.
These odds can shift slightly from casino to casino, but that’s the general structure. It’s one of the easier side bets to understand—and one I’ll throw a chip on now and then if I’m feeling lucky.
3. Lucky Ladies Side Bet Payouts
- Any 20: 4 to 1
- Suited 20: 10 to 1
- Matched 20 (same value & suit): 25 t0 1
- Two Queen of Hearts + Dealer Blackjack: 1000 to 1
Example:
- You’re dealt Q♥ and Q♥, and the dealer has an Ace + 10 → 1000:1 jackpot.
Hit Rate Estimate: Any 20 occurs ~9% of the time. 1000:1 hand is ultra-rare (less than 0.001%).
4. Buster Blackjack Side Bet Payouts
- 3–4 card bust: 2 to 1- 4 to 1
- 5-card bust: 4 to 1- 6 to 1
- 6-card bust: 15 to 1
- 7-card bust: 30 to 1- 50 to 1
- 8-card bust + Player Blackjack: 800 to 1- 2000- to 1
Example:
- The dealer draws 8 cards, then busts while you have blackjack → you win 800:1 (or more).
Hit Rate Estimate: Dealer busts ~28% of the time, 6+ card busts are very rare.
5. Hot 3 Side Bet Payouts
- Suited 7-7-7: 100 to 1
- Total 21 (unsuited): 10 to 1
- Total 20: 3 to 1
- Total 19: 1 to 1
Example:
- You get 7♥, 7♥ and dealer has 7♥ = Suited Trips → 100:1
Hit Rate Estimate: 19-21 total happens fairly often; suited 7s = very rare.
6. Royal Match Side Bet Payouts
- Any suited cards: 5 to 2
- King & Queen of the Same Suit: 25 to 1
Example:
- K♠ + Q♠ → Royal Match = 25:1
Hit Rate Estimate: Suited hands occur ~23%; Royal Match less than 1%.
7. Free Bet Blackjack Bonus Side Payouts (where available)
- Player BJ + Dealer Bust: 15 to 1- 50 to 1
- Player uses Free Split, then wins: Bonus (varies)
Note: Not all Free Bet games have cash payouts—some offer only the free option itself.
8. Over/Under 13 Side Bet Payouts
- Standard Payout (Over or Under): 1 to 1
- Exactly 13: Usually a losing outcome for both over and under (some tables push on 13).
Example:
- 3♣ + 10♦ → Total = 13 → Outcome: Losing bet (or push, per house rules)
Hit Rate Estimate: Exactly 13 occurs in roughly 8.4% of two-card deals; therefore, about 91.6% of the time your hand will be over or under 13.
9. Suit ’Em Up Side Bet Payouts
- Suited Pair (same rank, same suit): around 5 to 1 – 10: to 1
- Any Two Suited Cards: around 2 to 1 or 3 to 1
Example:
- 7♦ + 7♦ → Suited Pair wins at 5:1 (or 10:1 if the table uses the higher premium payout)
Hit Rate Estimate: In a multi-deck game (e.g., a 6-deck shoe), there are 5 matching cards left out of 311 once the first card is drawn—approximately 1.6% chance of receiving a suited pair.
For any two suited cards: In a 6-deck game, after drawing the first card, there are roughly 77 remaining cards of that suit among 311 cards—a hit rate of about 24–25%.
10. Super Sevens Side Bet Payouts
- 7 on the First Card: around 3 to 1 or 5 to 1
- 7-7 on First Two Cards: around 50 to 1 (not suited) – 100 to 1 (suited)
- Three 7s (if you draw a third 7): off-suit often pays 500 to 1 or more, suited triple 7 often pays 100 to 1
Examples:
- Off‑Suit: 7♣ + 7♦ + 7♥
- Suited: 7♠ + 7♠ + 7♠ (from different decks in a shoe)
Hit Rate Estimate: The probability of drawing three 7s consecutively in a 6‑deck shoe is about 0.04% (roughly 1 in 2,475 hands). For a suited triple (all three 7s the same suit), the chance is much lower—approximately 0.0016% (around 1 in 62,500 hands).
11. Match the Dealer Side Bet Payouts
- Exact Match (same rank and suit): typically around 11 to 1
- Rank Match Only: typically around 4 to 1
You can be paid twice if both your cards match the dealer’s up card in rank.
Example:
- Dealer’s up card: Q♥
- Player’s card: Q♥
- Outcome: Exact Match → Wins at 11:1
Hit Rate Estimate: In a multi‑deck game (e.g., a 6‑deck shoe), after the dealer’s card is revealed, there are about 5 identical copies left among roughly 311 remaining cards. Across two player cards, this yields an approximate overall chance of ~3%.
12. Bet the Set Side Bet Payouts
- Same Rank Pair: around 11 to 1
- Suited Pair: usually pays more, around 15 to 1 or better
Example:
- Example Hand: 8♦ + 8♣ (a pair of eights, regardless of suit)
Hit Rate Estimate: In a 6‑deck shoe, there are 24 copies of each rank. Once you draw a card, 23 cards of that rank remain among roughly 311 remaining cards, yielding about a 7.4% chance (approximately 1 in 13–14 hands).
For a suited pair, once you draw a card there are 5 remaining copies of that specific card (same rank and suit) in a 6‑deck shoe (since there are 6 total copies, one from each deck). This gives you roughly a 1.6% chance (about 1 in 62 hands).
13. Top 3 Side Bet Payouts
- Suited Trips (e.g., K-K-K of hearts): around 270 to 1 or 300 to 1
- Straight Flush (e.g., Q-K-A of clubs): around 180 to 1
- Three of a Kind (non-suited): around 90 to 1
Hit Rate Estimate: Occurs roughly 1 in 270 to 1 in 300 hands (≈0.33%–0.37% chance) for suited trips, 1 in 180 hands (≈0.56% chance) for a straight flush and 1 in 90 hands (≈1.11% chance) for three of a kind.
14. Double Attack Blackjack Side Bet Payouts
- Dealer Busts on 3–4 cards: around 2 to 1
- Dealer Busts on 5 cards: around 5 to 1
- Dealer Busts on 6 cards: around 10 to 1
- Dealer Busts on 7+ cards: around 50 to 1 or better
Example:
- Scenario: The dealer shows a 10. Hidden card is a 4, then the dealer draws a 8 to bust with a total of 22 in three cards.
- Scenario: The dealer’s upcard is 5. Then they draw 3, 2, 4, and finally an 8—totaling 22 over 5 cards, resulting in a bust.
Hit Rate Estimate: The first one is relatively more common, occurring in roughly 14–15% of hands. The second one may occur in about 7–8% of hands. The dealer busts on 6, and more cards may occur rarely.
Bonus: Insurance
This one looks like a side bet since it is separate from the main wager, but it’s technically not. Still, let’s cover it.
If the dealer’s upcard is an Ace, you can bet “insurance,” usually half your original bet on the dealer having blackjack. If they do, you get paid 2 to 1. Otherwise, you lose the insurance bet and play your hand as normal.
Many pros avoid it unless they’re counting cards. The payout might be 2 to 1, but the odds aren’t in your favor unless you really know what’s left in the shoe.
Side Bets with Highest Payouts
Side Bet Type | Max Payout | Combo Required |
Lucky Ladies | 1000:1 | Two Q♥ + Dealer Blackjack |
21+3 (Suited Trips) | 100:1 | Same rank + same suit from all 3 cards |
Buster Blackjack | 800–2000:1 | 8-card dealer bust + player blackjack |
Hot 3 | 100:1 | Suited 7-7-7 |
These are long shots, but the adrenaline rush when they hit? Priceless.
Understanding Side Bet Volatility vs. Payout
Here’s something that gets overlooked: just because a side bet pays 100:1, doesn’t mean it’s better. It usually means it’s harder to hit.
Think of it like this:
- High payouts = low frequency
- Low payouts = more frequent hits
So if you’re playing side bets casually for fun, lower-tier wins like flushes or suited 20s keep your chip stack alive. But if you’re chasing jackpots? Go for the 21+3 suited trips or the Lucky Ladies grand slam.
Just know the odds and manage your expectations.
Is the Payout Worth It?
Here’s the bottom line: blackjack side bets payout well but hit rarely. Casinos know players love the thrill of a huge win. That’s why the house edge on most side bets is significantly higher than the base game.
But if you play them for fun, small stakes, and understand the odds—there’s no harm in mixing it up now and then.
The key is to know your payouts. Don’t guess. Know what you’re betting for.
FAQs
1. What do side bets do in blackjack?
Side bets in blackjack let you wager on specific card combinations (like pairs, flushes, or suited trips) before your hand plays out. They’re separate from your main bet and usually come with higher payouts and higher risk.
2. What’s the best blackjack side bet in terms of payout?
21+3 offers the biggest potential return (up to 100 to 1 for suited trips), but it also has one of the highest house edges. Perfect Pairs is a solid balance of entertainment and payout for casual players.
3. How often do side bets hit?
Not very often. Most side bets hit between 4% and 8% of the time, depending on the combination. That’s why the payouts are so high, it makes up for all the times you lose.
4. Are blackjack side bets better online or in a casino?
It depends on the platform. Some online blackjack side bets payout more generously, while others adjust payouts to offset high player volume. Always check the digital pay table.
5. Do blackjack side bets count toward comps or loyalty points?
In most casinos—yes! Side bet wagers count toward play totals, which can earn you comps or cashback. But this varies by property.