No, No, Never

18 May 2023

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: Every game has its rules of play. You must know the rules –

ABBY: And traditions such as the things you should and should not do at a craps table. These traditions are sometimes not written down but violate them and other players will get very, very annoyed.

CINDY: Correct. But the many and various traditions are not on the agenda now. Today, we are going to give you the Royal Flushes’ rule for almost every game – all at once. It is one rule and the reason for that rule and why it should be obeyed by every casino player.

ABBY: Yes, there is this one rule that you should obey no matter what game you are playing.

CINDY: One rule, just one just one little one.

ABBY: Here it is folks: Do not make any side bets at any game. Let me repeat this one rule: Do not make any side bets at any game in the casino.

CINDY: Just play the traditional game. If it is blackjack, just play the straight game. Same with craps, Pai Gow Poker and roulette and all the other games. If the table where you’re playing offers other options and you have to pay for those options, don’t do it!

ABBY: Every option will cost you money. Of course, every option that is added as a side bet has a house edge and if you make this side bet – which is just another bet at the game – you are asking to lose more money over time. Some of these side bets are relatively small; many more are large. But all of them are costly to the player.

CINDY: Craps incorporated a ruthless side bet called the Fire Bet. The house edge on this bet, depending on the payoff, was 20 to 25 percent. Can you imagine that?

ABBY: That was higher than almost every slot machine in every casino in the world!

CINDY: Yet, you played at craps tables that had this bet and players happily played it. Some players bragged about playing it, too. I have no idea why.

ABBY: And lost it almost every time!

CINDY: Now, sadly, many games have multiple bets that they offer. Take roulette or craps. A part of those games is the option to “let it all hang out.” The more bets at craps, the worse your prospects in the long run and maybe even short run. At such games, make the lowest house edge bets and not too many of those either.

ABBY: Many of the new games encourage multiple bets as a part of the fabric of those games. Are these games good games to play?

CINDY: Yes and no. Many of the new games come in with house edges over two percent and some of these bets can go up to three and maybe four percent. Those are somewhat high edges.

ABBY: I’ve never liked multiple bet games that make you have to bet more than once. You have this option; that option, and those options, that you pay for separately, will ultimately do you in. These options are merely separate bets, not part of the proper strategy for playing the original game.

CINDY: Let me make this clear. There are side bets that have been added to games and require a separate bet just on that option. You do not have to make that bet. But if you do, you are playing another game within the game you are playing. That game is costly.

ABBY: Correct. At blackjack, if you double down on the correct hands, you are not making a side bet, you are playing the proper way in a given situation.

CINDY: Pai Gow Poker is a great game but many side bets have popped up at that game and none of these side bets are necessary for playing the base game, which is a fun game. But players are now making those bets all the time at that game.
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ABBY: Because Pai Gow Poker is a slow game, the casino has added those side bets to earn more money from the players.

CINDY: Now for our chorus.

CINDY and ABBY: No, no, never make side bets!