Progressive Side Bet

An optional table-game side bet linked to a growing jackpot that increases as players contribute, typically paying its top prize for a rare premium hand.

Definition

A progressive side bet is an extra wager, often a fixed small amount, offered on games such as Caribbean Stud, Casino Hold'em, Three Card Poker and some blackjack variants. Part of each side-bet stake feeds a shared, ever-growing jackpot that pays out for a specified rare outcome, such as a royal flush, while smaller fixed amounts are paid for lesser qualifying hands. Because the jackpot is hit very rarely, these bets usually carry a high house edge that only narrows when the jackpot has grown unusually large. They are a high-volatility, low-probability wager: exciting for the chance of a life-changing sum, but poor value on average, and the qualifying prize typically requires the specific side bet to have been placed.

Worked example

On a Caribbean Stud table you add a $1 progressive side bet each hand. A portion feeds the meter; if you are dealt a royal flush you win the entire displayed jackpot, while a lesser hand like a straight flush pays a smaller fixed amount. The royal flush's extreme rarity is why, on average, the side bet keeps a large edge until the meter climbs very high.

Why it matters

For learners, progressive side bets show how a shared, growing prize changes a bet's value over time yet still averages out in the house's favour. For professionals, they illustrate jackpot seeding and the point at which a normally bad bet becomes theoretically break-even, a nuance worth explaining accurately.

Related

Note: The house edge on progressive side bets varies widely with the paytable and current jackpot size and can be very high until the meter is large; specifics differ by game and operator.