Most live dealer games offer side bets.

They are available in Blackjack and Baccarat, where they can add more excitement to the gameplay due to high payouts you can win on them. When it comes to Live Poker, things get even more interesting as with certain side bets you can win a progressive jackpot.

Evolution Gaming is a live casino solutions provider that offers a host of Live Poker variations. Each of them comes with one or two side bets offering mouth-watering prizes. What’s great about these side bets is that they pay out regardless of what happens in the main game. Practically, even if you lose with a weaker poker hand, you can still win a prize with a side bet. Let’s take a closer look as Live Poker Side bets.

Pair Plus Bonus Bet – Live Three Card Poker

Live Three Card Poker is one of the most popular games by Evolution. It offers an optional side bet called Pair Plus Bonus where the objective is to make a pair or better. The top prize you can win with this side bet is 100:1 awarded when you have a mini royal.

HandPayout
Pair1:1
Flush4:1
Straight5:1
Three of a Kind30:1
Straight Flush40:1
Mini Royal100:1

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Another optional side bet available in this Poker variant is called Six Card Bonus.

To win with this one, you need to create a three of a kind or better 5-card poker hand combing your and the dealer’s cards. The maximum potential win stands at a staggering 1,000:1.

HandPayout
Three of a Kind7:1
Straight10:1
Flush15:1
Full House20:1
Four of a Kind100:1
Straight Flush200:1
Royal Flush1,000:1

  Jumbo 7 Jackpot Side Bet – Live Casino Hold’em

Another popular Poker variation that offers two side bets. The first one is a Bonus bet that pays when you have a pair of Aces or better. It is based on the first five cards you receive. Here is a paytable for the Bonus bet.

HandPayout
Pair of Aces to Straight7:1
Flush20:1
Full House30:1
Four of a Kind40:1
Straight Flush50:1
Royal Flush100:1

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In addition to the Bonus bet, Live Casino Hold’em offers a side bet that provides you with an opportunity to win the progressive jackpot at a live table.

It pays on a straight hand or better and the top prize called Progressive Jumbo 7 Jackpot is triggered with a 7-card straight flush hand. This prize is not capped and it keeps growing with each bet placed on the game until it is hit.

HandPayout
Straight2:1
Flush4:1
Full House5:1
Four of a Kind50:1
5-Card Straight Flush100:1
6-Card Straight Flush250:1
7-Card Straight FlushJackpot

Trips Bonus Bet – Live Ultimate Texas Hold’em

When you play a Trips Bonus bet, you should create a three of a kind hand or better to win a prize.

It is based on a 5-card poker you create by combining your two cards and three of the five community cards. A top prize is awarded on a royal flush hand.

HandPayout
Three of a Kind3:1
Straight4:1
Flush7:1
Full House8:1
Four of a Kind30:1
Straight Flush40:1
Royal Flush50:1

AA Bonus Bet – 2 Hand Casino Hold’em

At 2 Hand Casino Hold’em, you can play two separate hands at the same time.

On top of two main bets, you can play two optional AA Bonus bets. To win with this bet, you need to create a hand of a pair of Aces or better with your first two cards and the first three community cards also known as flop cards.

HandPayout
Pair of Aces7:1
Two Pairs7:1
Three of a Kind7:1
Straight7:1
Flush20:1
Full House30:1
Four of a Kind40:1
Straight Flush50:1
Royal Flush100:1

First Five Jackpot Side Bet – Live Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker

Once again, we have an optional side bet that can earn you a progressive jackpot.

In Live Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker, it is called a First Five Jackpot side bet, and just like other progressive bets, it also qualifies you for one of fixed prizes of lower value. It is based on the first two player’s cards and three community cards. The weakest hand you can win a prize on with this bet is a three of a kind.

A royal flush earns you the top First Five Progressive Jackpot prize. It is shared between all the players who have placed this side bet at the table where the jackpot is hit.

HandPayout
Three of a Kind3:1
Straight10:1
Flush25:1
Full House50:1
Four of a Kind250:1
Straight Flush2,500:1
Royal FlushJackpot

5+1 Bonus Bet – Live Caribbean Stud Poker

Another Poker variant coming with a progressive jackpot offers two side bets.

The first one is called a 5+1 Bonus bet and if you go for it, your objective is to make a five-card poker hand by combining your five cards and the dealer’s first face-up card. To win with it, you must have a three of a kind or better. The top prize is won with a royal flush hand and pays a whopping 1,000:1.

HandPayout
Three of a Kind7:1
Straight10:1
Flush15:1
Full House20:1
Four of a Kind100:1
Straight Flush200:1
Royal Flush1,000:1

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If you want to win the progressive jackpot at Live Caribbean Stud Poker, you will have to place the Progressive bet.

With it, you can also win a range of fixed lower-value payouts. To win a prize, you need a three of a kind hand or better. Once again, a royal flush earns you the progressive jackpot that increases until it is won.

Again, all players at the table where a royal flush is hit will share the progressive jackpot displayed on the screen.

HandPayout
Three of a Kind3:1
Straight10:1
Flush25:1
Full House50:1
Four of a Kind250:1
Straight Flush2,500:1
Royal FlushJackpot

Should You Play Live Poker Side Bets?

Side bets are an exciting addition to Live Poker games as they can earn you bigger payouts than those you can win when playing main bets. Yet, you should keep in mind that they have lower RTPs, which simply means that they come with a higher house edge.

For instance, Live Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker comes with an RTP of 97.96% up to 99.47% in the main game. The Bonus bet in this Poker variant has a theoretical return to player of 91.46% while its progressive bet has an abysmal RTP of 81.84%.  All these figures are not given to persuade you not to play side bets ever. Instead, they should warn you that you can go for them from time to time and act responsibly as they involve more risk.

Click here to visit some of the best Evolution-powered live casinos if you want to give Live Poker games a try!