Side Bet City Live from Evolution Gaming Review

Published: 12 March 2020 / Updated: 21 March 2022

If you’re a poker fan, you probably know that in addition to the main game in variants like Ultimate Texas Holdem or Casino Holdem, there are also several side bets you can make. These side bets are played independently of the main hand.

So, Evolution has decided to simplify things for you and has created a game where only side bets can be played, and no main hand to distract you, called Side Bet City.

Game Features

The beauty of Side Bet City is that you don’t need to know all the live casino poker rules, per se, but you’ll still need to have a basic knowledge of the winning poker hands.

The game is played with a single 52-card deck, and seven cards are dealt from it. You have four betting options. You can bet that the first three cards dealt will form a winning hand, called the 3 card hand bet. Then, you can bet that the first five cards dealt will determine the result, called the 5 card hand bet. And, of course, there’s the 7 card hand bet where you’re betting that the best 5-card hand will be determined from all seven cards dealt. Finally, you have the All Lose bet, where you’re betting that no winning hand will appear from the cards dealt.

After you place your bets, the dealer will deal all seven cards face up. Then, the dealer will calculate the winning hands for each bet type. The hand values will be highlighted on the screen.

Side Bet City by Evolution Design

The moment you load the game, you will instantly notice the 80’s vibe, presented to you with pink and blue neon lights. If you’re someone who grew up in that period, the entire atmosphere will look very familiar to you. The dealers are all dressed in outfits representative of the period, too.

The game can be played on any device, just like any other game by Evolution Gaming. You have the Desktop and Mixed viewing modes. On mobile devices, the options for viewing the cards as they are dealt and for bet placing have been optimized for smaller screens.

Wagering

As with any live casino game, the betting range for Side Bet City may vary from casino to casino, mainly because operators have the freedom to customize the games as it suits their players. Therefore, in some online casinos with real dealers, the minimum bet would be $0.20, while in others $0.50. The maximum bet, on the other hand, can go from $250 to $10,000!

The payouts for each bet type are different, but it seems like the best payouts are given for the 5 card hand bet. A Royal Flush, being the best winning hand, gives you 100:1 for a 3 card hand, 1,000:1 for a 5 card hand, and 500:1 for a 7 card hand. Straight Flush, the second-best winning hand pays 40:1, 250:1, and 100:1 for the 3 card hand, 5 card hand, and 7 card hand bets, respectively. You’d be surprised to learn that the All Lose bet pays only 0.7:1. The RTP for the 3 card hand is 96.69%, for the 5 cards 95.21%, for the 7 cards 94.34%, and for the All Lose bet 96.29%.

Verdict

Side Bet City is an excellent game to try if you’re a fan of side bets, found in most live casino games. The beauty of it is that you will only be playing side bets, and no main game will be involved. The 80’s theme adds to the overall atmosphere. The payouts are great, especially those for the Royal Flush for a 5 card hand bet. If you still haven't tried it, now is a good time to do so.

Side Bet City Game Pros & Cons