Las Vegas Casinos Can't Stop Adding Progressive Side Bets

 _{A player took home nearly $400,000 after being dealt a seven-card straight flush in Face Up Pai Gow at Harrah’s Las Vegas. (Photo: Harrah’s Las Vegas / X.com)} 

Progressive side bets continue to grow in popularity in Las Vegas casinos and across the nation. The chance to add a few bucks to a wager for a shot at a big jackpot appeals to many recreational gamblers.

Like last year, the push and pull was a major topic again at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Multiple panels discussed progressive table-game side bets, like "The Progressive Shift: Modernizing Table Games Without Losing Their Soul." Casino operators and game manufacturers shared mostly positive stories about why the bets are so popular."

Progressive side bets can start as low as $1 for thousand-dollar jackpots in smaller casinos. More expensive side bets with jackpots linked across multiple properties can produce life-changing million-dollar payouts. Both can be fun despite the large difference in jackpot size.

Casino operators love these bets because they create excitement and generate revenue beyond the base bets in games such as blackjack. Players like them because they can win jackpots for a relatively small wager.

Unfortunately for players, side bets can carry a higher house edge than the base game. They may not be the smartest bets in a casino, but they're fun.

Although these bets are geared toward recreational gamblers looking for jackpots rather than a low house edge, even the best of us can get caught up in the side bet game. I recently played a $1 side bet at Three Card Poker at the Silverton, a small off-Strip casino, because the price was so low.

I didn’t win a progressive, but I did get a smaller win, and I can understand why players enjoy these bets. The cost of FOMO watching others score some of the bigger wins is real. 

Bonus Spin Xtreme Filling the Void 

Las Vegas casinos offer several kinds of progressive side bets. One of the most popular, especially outside of the Vegas Strip, is Bonus Spin Xtreme by AGS.

This progressive side bet is available for most table games. When triggered, the game pauses for a moment, so three digital wheels can spin and award the winner a prize.

The progressive side bet is now available on more than 1,000 table games around the country. AGS recently announced the milestone after adding Bonus Spin Xtreme to 10 table games at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The company now has a total of 2,000 side bets in casinos.

In 2023, AGS installed Bonus Spin Xtreme at 40 of the 50 table games at Palms. Earlier this year, the near-Strip casino celebrated its first million-dollar progressive winner, who was playing baccarat.

The popularity of progressive side bets isn't limited to Las Vegas. Last year, a player won a $2 million jackpot with Bonus Spin Xtreme at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. A player at WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma kicked off the year with a $3.6 million jackpot on a different progressive side bet.

Side Bets Challenging for Casinos

Progressive side bets are a relatively new addition to games such as blackjack, baccarat, and Three Card Poker. The first side bet most referenced is the Over/Under 13 wager at Caesars Tahoe in 1989.

Although side bets can add excitement, they're not for everyone. Some players love progressive side bets, others hate them, and people like me are open to playing them now and then. 

Casino operators would like to add every available side bet to every table game, but not all players want these distracting bets. Some players just want to play the games they've loved over the years and avoid the funny business of side bets. That poses a constant challenge for casinos seeking to maximize revenue.

If they add too many side bets, they could upset the veteran players who are the foundation of revenue. At the same time, they want to increase the amount of money they make from these games.

It's easy for casino operators to get caught up in adding bells and whistles to make one segment of players happy, but that could alienate others.

Although slot machines dominate casino floors, the table game pits are often the epicenter of excitement, with loud cheers from games such as craps and roulette. Progressive side bets help more mellow games like blackjack and baccarat deliver a similar feeling.

Operators have to consider whether branded progressive side bets such as Monopoly or Bonus Spin Xtreme will attract more players or push them away. Players don't have to place bets, but their participation affects the pace of the game.

Some players don't want these speed bumps and might choose casinos that don't have the distraction. The steady pace is one reason many players are drawn to these games in the first place.

As a longtime gambler, I see both sides. The excitement can be fun or annoying depending on my mood.

One reason I've moved most of my table game play to pai gow is that it offers a little of both. The base game is pretty mellow with an even payout, while multiple side bets add a little fun for those who play them. They bring occasional bumps of excitement to the game, which can slow down the game to help stretch a gaming budget a little more.

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