are side bets ever worth it or just pure bait
I've always stuck to the main game when it comes to blackjack, but lately the side bets have been getting more and more flashy. Seems like they want you to think you can hit a jackpot every hand just by tossing a chip on a "pair" or some wild combo. Some nights I see people hitting a perfect pair or those 21+3 bets and cashing in, but most of the time the side bet stacks just get hoovered up fast.
I’m starting to feel like side bets are just the slot machines of the table games, built to look fun but the house edge is nuts. At the same time, the excitement is real when everyone at the table is riding a side bet win, especially live with people cheering. Maybe it’s a discipline thing, like knowing when to walk past a big bonus sign instead of chasing. Curious if anyone actually works them into a profitable strategy, or if most see it as just a bit of action on the side.
Side bets burned my bankroll faster than overwatering a seedling. I learned to treat them as paid entertainment, not a path to steady wins - fun, but never essential.