Side bets are an excellent means through which one can add a spark to the familiar blackjack experience, but they soon bring about a question - which side bets should one go for? What do they actually involve, and are they actually worth placing? This series is all about exactly that, and this time around we’re taking a closer look at the spread-bet side bet. This one involves placing up to 3 bets on the total of your first 2 cards being in a pre-defined “spread.” What is this spread, you might ask? That’s what we’re here to answer, so continue reading to learn all about the blackjack spread-bet side bet.
The Spread-Bet Side Bet Basics
The spread-bet is a side bet you can place together with your standard wager when playing blackjack. In this case the game is typically being played with 6 or 8 decks of cards, and the side bet involves the total of your first 2 cards. The “spread” in the name comes from the fact your cards’ total has to be within a set of 3 spreads in order to bring about a payout.
We’ve mentioned how there are 3 sets of spreads in this side bet, but these spreads come in 2 varieties. This is because of the Ace, as depending on the game this can be worth either 1 or 11. Only one of these options should be available at a time, and the ace cannot be equal to both 1 or 11 in the same game.
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How to Place a Spread-Bet Side Bet
These are the basic rules of how the spread-bet side bet works:
- The spread-bet is a set of three side bets. You can place 1, 2, or 3 of these at the same time as you’re placing your main wager.
- The bets are based around the total of your first two cards.
- Depending on the game the ace is valued at either 1 or 11.
- Only one value of the ace will be available at a time, and the ace cannot be worth both 1 or 11 in the same game.
- The side bet pays out as soon as your first two cards are revealed.
The Spread-Bet Ranges Payouts
The Spread-Bet Ranges Payouts
We’ve been talking about the ranges of the spread-bet, but now you’ll surely want to know what these actually involve. We pointed out how the value of the ace can either be 1 or 11, so these differ accordingly.
Betting Options and Payouts when Ace is 1
|
Spread Bet Ranges |
Payout |
|
2-3 |
50:1 |
|
4-5 |
21:1 |
|
6-9 |
5:1 |
Betting Options and Payouts when Ace is 11
|
Spread Bet Ranges |
Payout |
|
4-5 |
50:1 |
|
6-7 |
21:1 |
|
8-11 |
5:1 |
The Optional Royal Blackjack Rule
Side bet rules can differ between games and casino, and the same goes for the spread-bet. In this case you may find the optional Royal Blackjack rule. This states that if the player gets a winning blackjack with their first two cards - which consist of an ace and a face card - then any spread-bet wagers still stand. Note that this rule does not apply if the blackjack consists of an ace and a 10 since, again, only face cards are valid here. You’ll know if this rule is in effect on either the game’s layout or its About or Rules section.
The House Edge of the Spread-Bet Side Bet
Every kind of bet in any casino game involves a house edge. This is how the casino makes a profit, after all, and it’s indeed the case that ultimately the house always wins. The spread-bet side bet has a fairly high house edge that can reach nearly 10%, but this is lower if the Royal Blackjack rule is active. With this in mind let’s take a look at the house edge of this bet:
House Edge When Ace = 1
|
Spread-bet ranges |
Hose Edge |
House Edge if Royal Blackjack rule is active |
|
2-3 |
9.46% |
5.91% |
|
4-5 |
8.87% |
5.32% |
|
6-9 |
7.69% |
4.14% |
House Edge When Ace = 11
|
Spread-bet ranges |
Hose Edge |
House Edge if Royal Blackjack rule is active |
|
4-5 |
9.46% |
5.91% |
|
6-7 |
8.87% |
5.32% |
|
8-11 |
7.69% |
4.14% |
As you can see above, the house edge in these bets is identical regardless of whether the ace is worth 1 or 11. So what’s the house edge if you place all 3 bets at the same time? In this case you’ll get a house edge of 8.67%, which is a bit on the higher side. If the Royal Blackjack rule is active then the house edge for all 3 bets clocks at 5.12%.
Go for the Spread-Bet on your Next Blackjack Game!
Go for the Spread-Bet on your Next Blackjack Game!
The spread-bet is one of the more interesting side bets in blackjack as it brings a number of spreads for the total of your first two cards. Which ones will you go for? Remember that, as attractive as the high-paying top spread can get, its house edge gets pretty high. Then there’s the Royal Blackjack rule, which is not available in all games that offer this side bet.
That said, whichever side bets you go for always remember to play blackjack responsibly. Set a bankroll and stick to it, and keep in mind that this is a game of chance. As such never chase your losses, as there is no such thing as hot or cold streaks in gambling. With all of this in mind you’ll be set to have fun playing this true casino classic!
