Take a step back in time to the mid-1980s with Evolution Gaming’s Las Vegas-themed poker variant, Side Bet City. For all those poker-loving players, you’ll have encountered side bets from playing online live dealer Casino Hold’em or Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
Side bets are an additional bet that can be made alongside the main event with the intention of forming a winning hand from a combination of the dealer and players cards. However, when playing Side Bet City, those additional bets are the main event.
Exclusive to Evolution Gaming, Side Bet City prompts players to wager on a winning 3 Card Hand, 5 Card Hand or 7 Card Hand. Alternatively, players can bet on ‘All Lose’ if they believe that there will be no winning hand. The betting range on Side Bet City allows for both low and high-stakes play, starting at 0.50 and rising to 250 per round.
The Return to Player (RTP) fluctuates depending on the winning hand. 3 Card is 96.69%, 5 Card is 95.21%, 7 Card is 94.34%, and All Lose is 96.29%, which shows us that the 3 Card and All Lose stakes are the optimum bets to play.
How to Play Side Bet City
The Side Bet City rules are fairly simplistic, and players don’t need to be poker experts to play the game, though a basic understanding of the poker hand rankings will be useful. Side Bet City is played with a 52-card deck that is shuffled following every round. Seven cards are dealt to form the best 3 Card or 5 Card Hand and a pre-determined payout is awarded depending on the bet placed.
There are multiple betting options according to the Side Bet City rules, as follows:
3 Card – the result is determined by the first three cards dealt
5 Card – the result is determined by the first five cards dealt
7 Card – the best 5 Card Hand is determined from all seven cards dealt
All Lose – players bet on the result of no winning hand
Once bets are placed, seven cards are dealt face up on the table and winning hands, if any, are calculated for each bet type. Here is an overview of winning hands:
Pair – two cards with the same face value
Pairs JJ to AA – only payable on 5 Card Hands
Two Pairs – only payable on 5 Card Hands
Three of a Kind – three cards with the same face value
Straight – cards of sequential number order
Flush – all cards are of the same suit
Full House – combination hand of three of a kind and a pair
Four of a Kind – four cards with the same face value
Straight Flush – cards of sequential number order in the same suit
Royal Flush – cards of the same suit from Ace down (A, K, Q, J, 10)
There is no hard-and-fast Side Bet City strategy. However, when looking at the RTP rates for each betting type, it is possible to limit your losses and keep yourself in with a chance of a sturdy payout. Of course, there’s no guarantee of winning and, in fact, when playing side bets on other games, they usually favor the house more than the player.
Side Bet City Rating
You don’t have to be a poker genius to play Evolution Gaming’s Side Bet City, and while having a little knowledge is helpful, it’s certainly not a necessity to enjoy this online game. The Side Bet City rules are easy to understand, and players have multiple betting options, a low to high-stakes range of 0.50 to 250 per round, and fluctuating RTP rates that max out at 96.69%. Side Bet City is a fast-paced game suitable for both new and seasoned players.
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There’s no foolproof Side Bet City strategy. However, understanding the RTP rates will sway your thought process for playing the game. All Lose and 3 Card Hand tends to be the more optimum bets.
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Players can bet from a range of 0.50 to 250 per round on 3 Card Hand, 5 Card Hand, 7 Card Hand or All Lose.
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No, the Side Bet City rules are pretty straightforward as this is not a complex game to play. Players don’t need to be poker experts, though a basic knowledge of poker hand rankings would be a plus.
