Bust Bonus Blackjack Side Bet

Bust Bonus is another in a long line of dealer bust blackjack side bets.  This version is distributed by Galaxy Gaming, Inc and originally got it’s start in Colorado, but has since spread to other locations.  The interested thing about this side bet is that the bet is made after all players have played their hands, but right before the dealer plays theirs.  This is a rare feature in blackjack side bet games to allow a bet to be placed after everyone has already played their hands out to completion.  It might be the only side bet of its kind.

How to Play Bust Bonus Blackjack Side Bet

When playing the Bust Bonus Blackjack side bet the cards are dealt out just as they are in standard blackjack.  All players play their hand just like standard blackjack as well.  The Bust Bonus side bet is a wager on if the dealer will bust after all players have completed their hand.

Interestingly, even players who have busted their own hand can play the Bust Bonus side bet after they’ve busted.  Any player dealt into the hand to start the round is eligible to play the Bust Bonus.

Once all players have played their hands and just before the dealer exposes the down card, the dealer will ask if anyone wants to place the Bust Bonus.  All players can see what the dealer’s up card is and decide if they want to play based on that knowledge.  A dealer bust with an ace or face card as the dealers up card will pay a larger amount than if the dealer has a 5 or 6 showing.  There is also a bonus if all the cards in the dealer’s hand that created the bust are the same suit.  The following is the paytable for Bust Bonus.  All payments are to 1.

Up Card
Non Suited
Suited
Ace
3
50
2
1
25
3
1
15
4
1
10
5
1
5
6
1
3
7
2
15
8
2
10
8-8-8
25
75
9
2
20
10
2
20

House Advantage

The house advantage using a six deck shoe playing the Bust Bonus can be broken down into individual house advantages based on the dealer up card.  As you can see from the chart below, the 8 is the lowest up card as far as house advantage.  This is because of the bonus for the dealer busting with 888.  Many people will play this bet exclusively because of the noticeably lower house advantage compared to the other up cards.

Up Card
House Advantage
A
9.05%
2
7.67%
3
8.47%
4
7.19%
5
8.92%
6
7.98%
7
6.19%
8
4.88%
9
10.34%
10/A
8.85%