What is a bonus bet in casino poker?
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A bonus bet in casino poker is a side wager that pays based on the strength of your dealt hand, independent of whether you beat the dealer. These bets are placed at the start of the round and settled based on specific hand criteria.
How bonus bets work
The most common are Pair Plus in Three Card Poker, Pair Plus in Casino Hold’em (called AA+ or Trips Plus), and Pair Plus in Pai Gow. These bets pay a fixed amount if your hand meets the threshold — usually a pair or better — regardless of the main game outcome. You can win a bonus bet while losing your main hand.
Are bonus bets worth it?
Bonus bets carry higher house edges than the main game. Pair Plus in Three Card Poker has an edge around 7%. The appeal is the payout structure — landing a straight flush while playing the table game is a memorable moment. Treating them as occasional extras at a small fraction of your main bet is how most experienced players approach them.
Ben Barber got into the gambling industry through the poker rooms of London in the early 2000s. After building up a solid grounding in casino, sports betting and poker, he made the move to Malta where he spent close to a decade writing for some of the biggest affiliate networks in the region. A few years ago he relocated to Bali, which shifted his focus toward website strategy and affiliate marketing. The casino side never really left, though. He still writes reviews, how-to guides and in-depth pieces on everything from slots and live dealer tables to crypto casinos and sweepstakes sites. His approach is fact-first: help players understand how online gambling actually works before they deposit a cent.