Side Bet City is a live casino game from Evolution. In this game, you bet on a winning poker hand in 3 cards, in 5 cards, in 7 cards, or no winning poker hand at all. That gives you a maximum of 1,000 times your bet. With a maximum bet of € 250.00 per game, you can win up to a quarter of a million euros in this game.
In this article, you will find out everything about Side Bet City. This way, you will learn the rules of the game, how to play, and what a winning Side Bet City strategy is. You also understand the differences between poker and where you can play it all.
How to Play Side Bet City?
Side Bet City Features a simplified version of poker, where you bet against the bank instead of other players. Each round involves the dealer placing seven cards on the table in three phases: first three cards, then two more, and finally, two additional cards. After each round, the deck is shuffled by a machine.
In this game, you are asked to predict the outcome of the cards in advance. You have 14 seconds to place your bets each turn. If a combination is formed after three, five, or seven cards, that’s when you place your bet. There’s also an extra betting option, the ‘All Lose’ bet, where you predict that no valid card combination will emerge after seven cards.
What makes this game appealing is its unique setting, reminiscent of the 80s with bright neon colours, predominantly in pink and blue. The atmosphere in the room, complete with a live dealer, is more relaxed compared to other live casino games. Side Bet City is an easy-to-understand and fast-paced version of online casino poker. This game might be a good start for newbies who need a gentle introduction to the world of poker.
Payouts of Live Side Bet City
At Side Bet City Game the poker payout table is used. There are thirteen different card combinations, plus three betting options. Add to that the All Lose option, and you have a total of 23 different payouts. In the table below, you see all options, including the fractional odds.
Winning Hand | 3 Card Hand | 5 Card Hand | 7 Card Hand |
Royal Flush | 100:1 | 1000:1 | 500:1 |
Straight Flush | 40:1 | 250:1 | 100:1 |
Four of a Kind | – | 100:1 | 50:1 |
Full House | – | 50:1 | 7:1 |
Flush | 4:1 | 40:1 | 5:1 |
Straight | 5:1 | 25:1 | 4:1 |
Three of a Kind | 35:1 | 7:1 | 3:1 |
Two Pairs | – | 4:1 | – |
Pair JJ – AA | – | 1:1 | – |
Andere Pairs | 1:1 | – | – |
All Lose 0.7:1 |
Side Bet City Odds
Side Bet City odds will be calculated by bet type and the hand values displayed on the screen once the dealer has dealt all the cards. Side Bet City Odds are influenced by the probabilities of forming specific poker hands. The odds for each hand type vary based on the complexity and rarity of the hand in a standard deck of 52 cards. Here’s an overview of the poker combinations that can be formed in the game from the lowest value to the highest value:
- Pair – Two cards of the same value.
- Pair JJ to AA – Only playable with the 5 card poker hand – pair of Jacks or higher.
- Two Pairs – two sets of pairs, only playable with the 5 card poker hand.
- Three of a Kind – 3 cards of the same value.
- Straight – 5 cards of increasing value in a row.
- Flush – 5 cards of the same suit (hearts, spades, diamonds or clubs).
- Full House – a hand consisting of a 3 of a kind and a pair.
- Four of a Kind – 4 times a card of the same value.
- Straight Flush – a straight of the same type.
- Royal Flush – a straight of the same suit from ten to ace.
Side Bet City RTP
The Return to Player at Side Bet City Live Casino game varies per bet. The 3 Card Hand is the most favourable here, with a percentage of 96.69%. This is followed by the All Lose option, with 96.29%. With the 5 and 7 Card Hand you have slightly less chance of winning. There the percentages are 95.21% and 94.34%.
Stake | Return to Player (RTP) |
3 Card Hand | 96.69% |
5 Card Hand | 95.21% |
7 Card Hand | 94.34% |
All Lose | 96.29% |
These payout percentages show that the 7 Card Hand has the highest house edge: 5.66%. That is an extremely high house edge for a table game. The 5 Card Hand is also a bet to avoid: it has a house edge of 4.79%.
Live Side Bet City Hands
Side Bet City is simple. Before the live dealer places the seven cards on the table, you will be given the opportunity to place your bet. There are four different options for this. These are the ‘3 Card Hand’, ‘5 Card Hand’, ‘7 Card Hand’ and ‘All Lose’.
3 Card Hands
When you bet, the live dealer starts dealing the first three cards in Side Bet City. The three that form a card combination within it count for your 3 Card Hand. The four cards that follow do not count for the 3 Card Hand.
Several combinations are not possible with 3 Card Hand. These are mainly the options that are not possible with three cards. Examples include Four of a Kind, Full House, and Two Pair.
5 Card Hands
A 5 Card Hand from Side Bet City is all about the first five cards. The two cards that follow apply only to the 7 Card Hand.
In contrast to the 3 Card Hand, almost all combinations are possible here. The only one for which you get nothing in return is Any Pair. Instead, Side Bet gives City Pair JJ-AA as an option. This means that you must have a pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces.
With the 5 Card Hand the payouts are generally the highest. This is because you get fewer cards for most options compared to the 7 Card Hand.
7 Card Hands
In the 7 Card Hand, almost all options are on the table. Only the pairs do not participate in this betting option from Side Bet City. It does not matter in which order the cards appear. It is also irrelevant in the 7 Card Hand whether combinations are created with the first three or five cards.
If multiple combinations are possible, we look at the one with the highest value. This applies to every option you bet on.
All Lose
For the real pessimists, there is the All Lose option. You are betting that after seven cards, you still cannot make a single combination to win a prize. This applies to the 3 Card Hand, the 5 Card Hand and 7 Card Hand.
The All Lose option has an odds of 0.7:1. In that case, for every euro you invest, you get €1.70 back and you make a profit of €0.70.
Strategies For Live Side Bet City
There is no foolproof Side Bet City strategy. There are ways to limit the risk, but it is important to know that there is no way to make a guaranteed profit from this in the long term. Side Bet City is a game of chance and so at the end of the day it remains gambling.
Stay Informed about Hands
If you want to win in this game, you need to first familiarize yourself with the poker hand rankings used in it. Knowing the likelihood of certain hands being formed in 3-card, 5-card, and 7-card formats is crucial.
The best strategy from a purely statistical viewpoint is selecting the bet with the highest average payout. In Side Bet City, the 3-card option has an average Return to Player (RTP) of 96.49%. This makes it a favourable choice for those looking at payout percentages.
The “All Lose” bet also has a relatively high RTP at 96.29%. However, it’s important to note that this bet’s maximum payout is only 0.7x the bet, making it a less favourable option in terms of payouts.
The 5-Card and 7-Card Hand bets offer lower payout percentages, but there is a trick. If your goal is to hit the top prize of 1,000x the bet, this is only possible with the 5-Card Hand game. Opting for this game means accepting a lower payout percentage to hit the big win.
Set Win & Loss Limits
This strategy can be applied to all real money games and it is crucial. Before playing, decide on a budget and stick to it. This helps prevent overspending and ensures you only gamble what you can afford to lose.
You can also set a target for winnings. For example, once you win 10x your bet, you will end that session. Once you reach this target, it’s a good idea to stop playing. This way, you will secure your profits.
Similarly, decide on the maximum amount you’re willing to lose. Stop playing if you reach this limit to avoid further losses.
Responsible Gambling
Being responsible while gambling cannot be emphasized enough. It is important to limit your playing time. Extended gaming sessions can blur your decision-making capacity.
Gaming should be fun. Take regular breaks during your gaming sessions. This will help you clear your mind while also giving you time to reflect on your gaming decisions.
If you find it difficult to adhere to these strategies or feel that gambling is becoming a problem, seek professional help or use online resources for responsible gambling.
Evolution Gaming Also Offers
Side Bet City is a nice and quick card game featuring poker elements and side bets. This makes it the ideal way to get to know poker before getting into the real game. Thanks to the payout table, you will learn playfully what the different poker hands are and which are the most valuable.
Who knows, you might play poker in the future. Until then, you can start practicing with Side Bet City. Although there are no comparable games in the Evolution Gaming casino, we can imagine that you might also find these games interesting:
Video Poker Live: This is a fast phased poker variant from Evolution where you play live video poker.
Blackjack: In this card game, side bets are a popular extra betting option for many players so if you liked Side Bet City, you may enjoy Live Blackjack from Evolution.
Caribbean Stud Poker: This popular poker variation involves a bit more strategy than Side Bet City.